Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area
5
Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area
By Get Up And Go Kayaking - Tampa Bay
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-120, max of 10 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- Equipment including tandem kayaks, paddles, seats, and dry bags
- Safety equipment including lifejackets and whistles
What's not included- Gratuities
- While we have bottles available, we HIGHLY encourage guests to bring REUSABLE water bottles!
- Start:
- Billy's Stone Crab, 1 Collany Rd, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USAPlease park in the dirt lot to the left of Billy’s Stone Crab Restaurant. You will see Kayak Tour signs. Once you arrive - follow the wooden restaurant entrance ramp the front of Billy’s Stone Crab back to the docks where you'll see the clear kayaks + your guide!
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 173028P1- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- We require one adult per each child under age 12.
- We require two adults per each child 3 years old and under.
- For your safety, we have a weight limit of 250 lbs per guest, and a combined limit of 425 lbs for two people in a tandem kayak
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Where is the departure location for the Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area?
- We meet for this tour at Billy’s Stone Crab, 1 Collany Rd, Tierra Verde, FL 33715Answered Apr 2021
- How many people can participate in the Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area?
- Our fleet is small (5 kayaks) so expect an exclusive experience (no more than 10 people at a time).Answered Apr 2021
- What will I see during the Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area?
- The tour has several stops along the way where you will hear about local wildlife, marine life, and plant life! You will be able to get up close to Florida’s natural mangroves and to hop out on a sandy shoreline or sandbar based on the tide!Answered Apr 2021
- What should I bring with me on the Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area?
- We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle and a towel.Answered Apr 2021
The tour operator has provided the following answers to customers’ questions.- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 173028P1
From
$79.00
per adult
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Itinerary
- 1 Collany Rd, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USAPlease park in the dirt lot to the left of Billy’s Stone Crab Restaurant. You will see Kayak Tour signs. Once you arrive - follow the wooden restaurant entrance ramp the front of Billy’s Stone Crab back to the docks where you'll see the clear kayaks + your guide!
- 1Your guide will welcome you and provide brief paddling and safety instructions. Then, you’ll be off on an adventure as your tour guide leads the way around the mangrove islands, through the shallows, and to the beach. If the tide is high, your guide will lead the way through a hidden mangrove tunnel. You’ll also take a break at Shell Key's beach, where you can collect shells, take in the views, and be surrounded by nature. Your guide will be happy to take photos and make sure you have fun along the way! Be on the lookout for a manatee or the beautiful pink Roseate Spoonbills in the summer months. White Pelicans call the sandbars of Shell Key Preserve their home during the winter months! Throughout the year, dolphins frolic in the crystal-clear waters and cormorants love to swim alongside your kayak. Chances are that you’ll see a variety of wildlife, but sightings are random and not guaranteed.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 967noraha0 contributionsunique and exciting experience !Ben was amazing ! He took such good care of everyone and even attached someone’s kayak when needed to help out. We got to see a dolphin and a raccoon and the views were incomparable ! We would love to go back again😁 he also had a great sense of humor and told interesting stories while answering all of our questions !Written September 21, 2024
- Y6619NUannamariap0 contributionsHad a blastHad a great time tour guide was really nice the clear kayaks were really cool tour guid was very informative and showed us all the good spots in the reserveWritten September 15, 2024
- 965cyndib0 contributionsBioluminescence in the Mangrove Tunnel!We had a great time! Raven was so helpful and so knowledgeable about the fish, birds and interesting facts about the mangroves! We even saw bioluminescent plankton! It was magical! Thanks, Raven! Hoping to come back and set up a birding tour with you!Written September 6, 2024
- ITravl4Fun0 contributionsWonderful tour!We had a wonderful tour with Chris! He is incredibly knowledgeable and pointed out wildlife and gave us information on the area. Highlights were sighting manatee, Burge mangrove tunnel and visiting shell island. Easy to locate and lots of parking. We had an 11:15a tour so we were able to visit the beach and fort in Fort DeSoto Park.Written September 1, 2024
- T5192OFmichaelh0 contributionsKayak tourBe very careful booking this Tour. We booked through Trip Advisor and it was not until we were checking in for the tour that we realized the weight limit for each seat was 250 pounds. The overall weight limit for the kayak is 450 pounds but each person can not weight over 250. My husband is 6' 4" and weighs 260. When we tried to get our money back they would refund my husband but not mine. We booked this for our anniversary so when I was not willing to go alone, they said "tough luck".Written September 1, 2024
- 481alexat0 contributionsBeautiful sunset kayakChoosing the later tour at 6pm, we were a little worried about the weather, and things getting canceled due to late afternoon showers. However, the weather held up and the evening was beautiful! Our guide Carmen was awesome!!Written August 31, 2024
- Curiosity469592560340 contributionsPerfect clear kayak experience!Perfect outing in the bay! We saw manatees, dolphins, numerous birds I even recall because there were so many! Alessia was extremely knowledgeable about the area and wildlife. She was a fantastic guide!Written August 30, 2024
- W6841ZDalexanderl0 contributionsClear Kayak review from Lempert FamilyAlessia is one wonderful tour guide who knows what she is talking about. Amazing, interesting, beautiful!! This is also the greatest ecological experience I’ve ever had: seeing dolphins, manatees, sea birds… WONDERFUL!!!Written August 30, 2024
- J4243QAshaunam0 contributionsA very memorable two hoursI enjoyed this tour a lot - some beautiful beaches and amazing wildlife. Chris was enthusiastic, knowledgable, and waited very patiently for the slow Brit at the back. It’s quite a workout though so be prepared!Written August 25, 2024
- guilhermemI5365EB0 contributionsNight KayakJesse was a real nice guide and we had alot of fun. It’s beautiful out there, so worth it. We had a perfect weather as well, God is good.Written August 24, 2024
- L7420HNianw0 contributionsIt was great all around.We went kayaking with Jesse, this is the coolest nature adventure I’ve ever been on. I’ve never seen the wildlife so active and close. The clear kayaks were such a near niche.Written August 24, 2024
- 428abes0 contributionsKayaking!Alessia was an amazing guide who shared a ton of great information about the area and all the wildlife. She even found us a conch shell which was super cool. Would recommend this to everyone!Written August 24, 2024
- Flyer563359473520 contributionsA fabulous day kayakingAn amazing adventure. Less was so informative, friendly, and found us a conch! It was amazing. Would highly recommend this kayaking trip.Written August 24, 2024
- bobbyy2520 contributionsWe did the glass bottom Kayla and I TOUCHED A FREAKING CONCH!!!!!!Less was sooooooo freaking awesome!!!!! Her knowledge of the water and just everything!!! Made my bachelor party weekend sooooo awesome!Written August 24, 2024
- davidbN2589QL0 contributionsAshley is the best tour guide!Ashley did a phenomenal job as our tour guide. She was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and fun! 10/10 would recommend booking this tourWritten August 23, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
4,293 reviews
Excellent
4,218
Very good
52
Average
11
Poor
4
Terrible
8
Anthony
3 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
My wife and I had an absolutely amazing experience following Chris around and exploring the beautiful views and wildlife of Shell Key. We learned so much from from Chris who was very knowledgeable about the history of the key and especially the wildlife that inhabits it. He kept a great pace that allowed everyone to keep up with minimal effort and we never felt rushed. He definitely encouraged us to take our time and enjoy the views as well as ask any questions we had. We wholeheartedly recommend this trip for anyone looking to spend a few hours together getting a little exercise and enjoying some pretty awesome views and wildlife. We will be back to try some of the other experiences that this company has to offer.
Written September 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your great review!! We are thrilled to know you and your wife had such a fun time on the water with Chris. We really appreciate your recommendation. We can't wait to have you back!
Written September 13, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pincus25
Tampa, FL7 contributions
Aug 2020
We did the sunset paddle with our family (6 adults and 2 kids (8 & 10)). The tour maxes out at 10 people (5 total kayaks) which makes for a more intimate adventure. Our guide was Matt (i.e. Spicoli) and he was excellent. He pointed out lots of sea life and birds - even jumping out of his kayak to pick up a horseshoe crab and let the kids hold it after giving us some great information about them. He was knowledgeable, humorous and great with the kids. The island and beaches were great for exploring and taking amazing pictures. The paddling was fairly easy, even against the current which made for a relaxing time on the water. Overall - highly recommended!
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for joining us for a family adventure! We're thrilled to hear that you all had a great time with Matt while paddling through Shell Key Preserve! We're so glad you had the opportunity to encounter wildlife and learn more about Florida's ecosystems! We greatly appreciate your review and hope to have you join us again soon!
Written August 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cathy S
10 contributions
Jun 2020 • Friends
We went on the Shell Key Clear Kayak Tour -- Sunset Paddle from 6 pm - 8:30 pm. Diana was our tour guide and there aren't enough words to express how wonderful of a job she did. She enjoyed teaching us about the local wildlife, traditions, and history. I would go on any tour that she leads. Her personality is the best and you can feel her zest for life.
We went a couple days before Summer Solstice so the sun was still high in the sky at 8:30 pm. The experience that you have will depend on many factors from time of day, time of year, what the tide is like, what the weather is like, etc. The most important thing is to just have an open mind and enjoy being in nature.
When we went, the tide was very low. There wasn't as much wildlife to see in the water because it was so shallow. Honestly, I didn't care because it was so peaceful and relaxing. The water was like glass and I did not feel any stress in my body at all after being out there.
We did see a little bird that traveled with the group. The bird followed Diana at first and eventually made its way to us. It was so cute. We were able to go out to the sandbar and spend a little time on the beach. Diana told us the tradition at Shell Key Preserve is to find a shell with nothing living in it that has a hole or a curve to it. Then you hang it on a tree and make a wish. I loved that.
I highly recommend this tour and I plan to go on more. We hope to check out the one in Winter Park.
You park in the restaurant parking lot and walk down to the dock. Tip your tour guide!
We went a couple days before Summer Solstice so the sun was still high in the sky at 8:30 pm. The experience that you have will depend on many factors from time of day, time of year, what the tide is like, what the weather is like, etc. The most important thing is to just have an open mind and enjoy being in nature.
When we went, the tide was very low. There wasn't as much wildlife to see in the water because it was so shallow. Honestly, I didn't care because it was so peaceful and relaxing. The water was like glass and I did not feel any stress in my body at all after being out there.
We did see a little bird that traveled with the group. The bird followed Diana at first and eventually made its way to us. It was so cute. We were able to go out to the sandbar and spend a little time on the beach. Diana told us the tradition at Shell Key Preserve is to find a shell with nothing living in it that has a hole or a curve to it. Then you hang it on a tree and make a wish. I loved that.
I highly recommend this tour and I plan to go on more. We hope to check out the one in Winter Park.
You park in the restaurant parking lot and walk down to the dock. Tip your tour guide!
Written June 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow - thank you so much for your kind and detailed review! One of our favorite parts of the preserve is that every tour is different, but you’re always surrounded by nature. We always love it when the friendly Comorants swim along with the boats. We’re glad you enjoyed your time with Diana and we really appreciate your recommendation. We’d love to have you at our other locations as well! Thanks for paddling with us.
Written June 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karla
Miami Lakes, FL1 contribution
Jun 2021
Everything was breathtaking! Jenna our guide was always checking in on everyone and always offered tips to improve paddling. There were also many birds hunting for food nearby and they were "playful" by swimming underneath the both and besides us. It was a fun experience, make sure to do it in the morning or sunset time where the sun isn't at it's strength if in the summer. Hope you have a wonderful time and a guide as amazing as Jenna! :)
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind words about Jenna!! We're so happy you enjoyed your clear kayak adventure and we hope you'll join us again soon!
Written June 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Todd M
Virginia Beach, VA16 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
What an incredible experience. My Wife and I had no prior kayaking experience, but our guide Matt did a great job of giving us a quick tutorial on how to paddle efficiently and not fall in the water. He was also a great guide once on the water...pointing out wildlife along the way making for some great photo ops. I also enjoyed the background he gave on the mangrove and gulf beach biomes.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone that wants to experience the nature of Tampa Bay. One more shout out to Matt...as a great steward of the environment he would collect plastic he found along the way. A true testament of an environmentally conscious guide and company.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone that wants to experience the nature of Tampa Bay. One more shout out to Matt...as a great steward of the environment he would collect plastic he found along the way. A true testament of an environmentally conscious guide and company.
Written April 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your five star review! We are thrilled that you chose us for your first time kayaking and really appreciate your recommendation and share in your passion for the environment! We hope that you can join us again soon!
Written April 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julia Szatmari
4 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
The only available time left for the day when I tried to book was 6pm and I was thinking it's kind of late, but I'm glad we went that time. The sun was still up and hot, but still better than during daytime, don't forget sunscreen.
Our guide was Matt, who was very friendly, funny and professional. He was also very knowledgeable, we learned a lot on this trip and had a great time. My husband was skeptical at first going, but he really enjoyed the trip so glad we went. We also met some very nice and friendly people who came in our group, I would very much recommend this activity to everyone.
Our guide was Matt, who was very friendly, funny and professional. He was also very knowledgeable, we learned a lot on this trip and had a great time. My husband was skeptical at first going, but he really enjoyed the trip so glad we went. We also met some very nice and friendly people who came in our group, I would very much recommend this activity to everyone.
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so glad you ended up enjoying the evening kayak trip!! Thank you for your recommendation, we hope you'll be back soon!
Written June 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patrick M
1 contribution
Sep 2020 • Couples
Had a very amazing time. You can tell Chris really loves giving the tours and takes great pride in them. Saw everything from a Osprey to horseshoe crabs. We where able to find a complete sand dollar on the shell island and many other amazing shells to take home. Would highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys kayaking, or just wants to get a up close view to nature and learn more about what’s off shore!
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for joining us for a kayaking adventure! We're thrilled to hear you had a great time paddling Shell Key with Chris and encountered wildlife along the way! We appreciate your review and hope to have you join us again in the future!
Written September 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Winter A
3 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
A must do if you’re traveling to the area. We loved seeing all of the different birds and a little swim at the sand bar. Hands down our favorite part was a paddle through the mangrove tunnel - it was serene and beautiful. We will be making this part of our next trip down here. We went for the 4:30 pm start and it lined up perfectly, not too hot, not too cold. It’s a must do experience!
If you have a chance to get Jenna as your guide, she’s the best! An upbeat, knowledgeable and fun guide that both of our kids really enjoyed!
Happy paddling! 😎
If you have a chance to get Jenna as your guide, she’s the best! An upbeat, knowledgeable and fun guide that both of our kids really enjoyed!
Happy paddling! 😎
Written April 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the 5-star review!! We're so glad you enjoyed your experience on the kayaks with Jenna! We would love to have you join us again in the future.
Written April 25, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ChristyLC5
Atlanta, GA20 contributions
Get up and go kayaking is a guided kayaking tour of the Florida mangroves in a clear bottom two person kayak. A guide takes you out and points out all kinds of birds and vegetation in the area.
We really enjoyed our tour and especially enjoyed our guide, Jenna. She was very friendly and personable and had a lot of information about the area. She made sure our group stayed together and even towed one kayak when they needed a break!
She provided a wet bag so you can carry your phone and she will even take pictures for you! She recommend taking your shoes off while in the kayak but having something to walk on a rocky beach if you want. If you’d like to tip her and don’t have cash you can ask for her Venmo!
I’d highly recommend get up and go kayaking for an afternoon or evening adventure!
We really enjoyed our tour and especially enjoyed our guide, Jenna. She was very friendly and personable and had a lot of information about the area. She made sure our group stayed together and even towed one kayak when they needed a break!
She provided a wet bag so you can carry your phone and she will even take pictures for you! She recommend taking your shoes off while in the kayak but having something to walk on a rocky beach if you want. If you’d like to tip her and don’t have cash you can ask for her Venmo!
I’d highly recommend get up and go kayaking for an afternoon or evening adventure!
Written June 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind review!! We are so glad you had a great adventure on the water with Jenna. We appreciate your recommendation and hope you'll visit again soon
Written June 14, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul S
Sarasota, FL3 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
My friends and I had a terrific time on this tour! The area is absolutely beautiful, and our tour guide Jay knew it like the back of his hand. Our tour was a mixed group, and Jay did a great job with novices and old hands alike. I was especially impressed when Jay got out of his kayak to collect what turned out to be a kite line and submerged kite, to prevent it posing any risk to the wildlife. All in all, it was a wonderful experience!
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so thrilled to hear you had such a great time with Jay out on tour! Our company and guides try our hardest to put cleaning up our oceans and wear we paddle at the top of our priority list and we're so happy to hear Jay was embodying those values on tour; he truly loves preserving our waterways! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We hope to have you back out with us soon!
Written January 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What happens if we get there and one of our parties is ~10lbs over the weight. is it self reported or via a scale? One of our family members usually weighs 250-260 (just a solid/big guy/weight lifter/former football player) but we're trying to come over the holidays sooooo might be more like 260 with a little holiday food weight lol... is there wiggle room or a larger kayak we could pay extra for or how does that work? he's also a former lifeguard/expert swimmer so not a drowning risk or anything like that but we don't want to drive all the way down there as a family and not be able to participate because we wouldn't leave him behind. Any advice? are there other companies that could accommodate if you can't? thanks!
Written November 21, 2023
From their website's FAQs
Yes, children are welcome on our daytime tours! For our nighttime glow tours, we only allow teens ages 12 and older.
Children 6 and under are required by law to wear a life jacket at all times while on the water. We provide lifejackets for children that are above 30 pounds.
We require children 30 pounds or under to bring their own Coast Guard approved life jacket as the size is very specific and safety is of utmost importance.
We require one adult per each child under age 12.
We require two adults per each child 3 years old and under.
Written May 23, 2023
goforahike
Rockville, Maryland
Is there a better time of day to take this tour? Any recommended time of day to see more wildlife? I would be taking it in mid May.
Written April 18, 2023
Hi there, we went early in the morning, got picked up at the meeting point at 8.30am and were on the boat by 10am. This worked well as it avoided the hottest part of the day. I imagine a late afternoon tour would also be good for this reason. Not sure about the best time for activity for the birds and Alligators but we were impressed by what we saw at that time of the morning. Hope that helps.
Written April 20, 2023
I have a couple additional questions. Is there a phone number to the business that I could call?
Written May 27, 2022
Hi, At Billy's Stone Crab, how do we get into and out of the kayak...is it from a dock or ramp or...? And are there people to help pull you out, as I am an older person with legs that are not as strong now.
Written April 6, 2022
As some already mentioned, there is a dock where the kayaks are launched. It is not difficult getting out of the kayaks, and the tour guides are happy to assist. There some older folks in our tour group. Also, although the tour is 2 hrs, you stop for about a half hour at one of the islands in Shell Key Preserve to look for shells, etc., which provided a nice break before heading back. We grabbed lunch at Billy’s before the tour and the food was great! Overall, a highly recommended trip.
Written April 19, 2023
I booked a trip for 3 28 22 at 1030 and cannot find my reservations receipt sandy pietrzak
Written March 15, 2022
Our receipt was emailed to us. But even if you can't find it you will just need to show ID when you arrive for your tour. The guide has a list of all paid reservations.
Written March 16, 2022
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