PADDLE! The Florida Keys

PADDLE! The Florida Keys

PADDLE! The Florida Keys
5
Eco ToursStand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Bring home a lifetime of memories when you paddle with us! Close to Miami but feels a million miles away. Located between Key Largo and Islamorada on Tavernier Creek, where the wildlife is unmatched! Manatees, turtles, stingrays, sharks! Voted #1 Eco attraction in the Upper Keys 5 years in a row. Kayak & stand up paddleboard tours, rental, sales, and lessons - easy to book ahead on our website or over the phone. Learn to stand up paddle board or go for an eco tour. Our scenic tours are based on your needs. We are Key Largo's highest ranking paddleboard and water sports attraction for a good reason. Our guides are very knowledgeable and we have two racers on staff who can help you dial in your stroke. We are committed to making your vacation memorable. Skateboard sales too!
Tavernier, Florida

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024

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Tours and Tickets by PADDLE! The Florida Keys
Travelers talk about

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
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,256 reviews
Excellent
1,129
Very good
102
Average
9
Poor
8
Terrible
8

John D
5 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
We are experienced paddlers, so it was good just to get out on the water. We had talked to the girl at the shop before we booked. She was very helpful in providing us with information on what to expect and the tide and weather forecast for the next day. We opted for the PM departure, mainly because we are not morning people, but also because we thought it might be a bit warmer in the afternoon.

Our guide was very helpful getting everyone set up in their kayaks. Most of the group had some kayaking or paddling experience. The equipment was decent compared to what have had with other outfitters. (The one couple who did not have kayak experience did have a problem with the seat adjustments. Unfortunately, we were well into the paddle before they realized they had a problem).

The first part of the paddle was not that interesting. Once across the channel, we paddled along mangroves as the guide pointed out things of interest. Once we got into the mangrove forest, it was very good. Of course, we have liked to see more wildlife, but it was so relaxing paddling back into the mangroves.

The guide took many pictures along the way, including ones of each couple at a secluded pool before working our way back to the starting point. The guide didn't have a problem with the experienced paddlers leading the way back. She passed the word to the lead paddlers to pull over and wait for the slower kayakers when we got too far ahead.

We were paddling agonist the wind and the tide, as well as dealing with th e wakes from the inbound power boats. This gave us all a good work out by the time we got back. For me, this was the exciting part of the trip.

At the end of the trip, the guide helped anyone who needed it help to get off their kayaks and dragging them off the ramp. Back at the shop, she transferred all her photos to our phones. (She took a lot).

Paddle the Florida Keys is a very good place to take a tour of a mangrove forest. We would book with them if we ever came back to the Tavernier area.

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Written February 15, 2023
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.
John- thank you for sharing your experience. We are glad you enjoyed your tour! I am glad as a skilled paddler you found some parts to be exciting, but we always strive to make each guest's trip 5 stars. I hope you do visit again so we can provide an even better paddling experience!
Written February 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jamiepB6018ME
Fremont, California7 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Family
This was a truly adventurous experience! We participated in a two hour Mangrove Kayak, departing around 10 and it was a fun and memorable experience! We ventured through the mangroves and even used our hands to maneuver through the branches, as it became quite snug in our “Mangrove Tunnel.” I would recommend taking a single person kayak if you can, for easier maneuverability. Be ready to work since you have to paddle against a current at times and if you can get close to the guide at the front, try to do so. We didn’t get quite the lesson in Mangroves that the front of the group did. Our guide took us to a few additional spots outside of the mangroves to try to see manatees and although we didn’t see any manatees on the tour, we had a fabulous time. I highly recommend this tour if you have an adventurous soul!
Written April 12, 2023
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.
Jamie- we are so glad you had a fabulous time! The mangrove tunnel is so unique which is what makes the extra effort of maneuvering through it worth it. It is so good to hear that you enjoyed your tour despite not seeing manatees. We hope you come back again so we can give you a 5 star experience as typically that is the usual response we get for our tours. Thanks for leaving a review!
Written April 29, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Robert F
Chattanooga14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
Great adventure for family with 3 teens. Susanne K. was our guide and she was very experienced and new the ecosystem very well. She was able to spot mother and baby manatees in a cove lifelong memories were made spending time with these graceful mammals. She was able to snag a jellyfish and let us all safely handle it which I didn’t think was possible. Trip through the mangroves was beautiful. I had never been on a kayak before and am not in the greatest shape by any stretch and was not a difficult trip at all. Kids loved it!
Written June 10, 2023
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.
Robert- we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Susanne is excellent at making the experience memorable for all visitors! Thank you for choosing us for your first kayaking experience. Come back to see us again in the future!
Written June 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kaitlin A
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
Had an absolute amazing time! Went for me and my boyfriends birthday on a Monday & It was great. Everyone was super friendly & so welcoming. Definitely could tell It was a small business due to the kindness of the staff. We did the double kayak & got to go through both trails in the mangroves along with going over to the small island. The girl at the front of the store explained the map perfectly & we felt so confident guiding ourselves through the day. Already recommended this place to so many people. On the tour we came across many fish & sooo many jellyfish! Such a beautiful sight & so much fun.
Written March 7, 2023
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.
Kaitlin- thank you so much! Sharing your experience and recommendation means so much to us. We are so glad we could provide a great experience for your special day! Happy Birthday to the both of you. We hope to see you again in the future!
Written March 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

philleende
Delaware, USA15 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
Check in was quick and friendly. 36 kayaks in afternoon. Unusual for Sunday February tours. With so many sign ups and kayaks the birds, manatees, and others were scarce. But the most relaxing kayak tour. So beautiful and peaceful. Easy to maneuver and tour inside the mangrove was wonderful. Keith was an extraordinary guide with so much knowledge and pulling as much nature as he could find to show us. We had 10 in our group and he was safety conscious, educational, and helpful with embarking and disembarking. Not rushed and very peaceful trip. I only gave it 4 stars based on the lack of wildlife that was TOTALLY NOT THEIR FAULT!!!! 5 Stars for the organized; safety conscious; and friendly tour. Highly recommend and would love to come back to see more.
Written February 7, 2023
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 sharing your experience! We always strive to make each guest's experience top notch. I'm glad you were able to relax and enjoy the tour with Keith. It is the beginning of busy season/spring break in the Keys, plus weekends are usually busier which is why we had so many guests that day. Typically, even with a large amount of kayaks out we do see the common megafauna like manatees, stingrays, and sharks (even birds!) but as you said you can't control nature! There's a high chance if you come back and visit that you'll see different/more wildlife so I hope you do come visit again!
Written February 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Annie Leab
6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a group activity. Great views with a unique experience in the mangroves.
Would not recommend going if it is windy or cloudy - these will make for a cold and difficult experience.
Instructor was friendly and very knowledgeable.
Written January 15, 2023
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.
Thanks for leaving a review! While we have warm and sunny conditions most of the year we do get cold fronts in the winter, but these don't last long and customers have still enjoyed paddling in the cooler weather. Just need a jacket! Our creeks are lined with mangroves that offer protection from the wind, so even on windy days it is still an easy paddle. We're so glad you went with a guide, that can make the experience all the better! Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
Written January 21, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Bill C.
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Family
My wife and I are on our honeymoon, and decided to take a guided mangrove tour. I don't recall our guide's name, but she and her dog Slinky took us through the canals and into the mangroves. She was great. We were with a family with two young children, and she was wonderful with them while still engaging us and another couple on the trip. We had so much fun that we returned the next day and rented kayaks for the day without a guide. We saw manatees both days, as well as iguanas and numerous species of fish. All in all, it was a fantastic experience. I cannot recommend it enough.
Written January 1, 2023
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.
Bill- that is SO great! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, we love to hear it! Susanne and Slinky are great guides. We are so happy you got to enjoy your time here and see all the amazing wildlife of the keys-2x!!! Hope to have you back again in the future.
Written January 2, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Brenda W
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
Rented kayaks for the day, price was super reasonable, and everyone in the shop was friendly and helpful getting us ready to go. One super cool thing, they had a rack to hang your car keys on so you didn’t have to worry about getting them wet or losing them. And we saw manatees, baby sharks, and all kinds of birds. And we could pull up to the launch area and get in and out of the water as often as we wanted to, and there were a couple of places to have a drink and a snack right next to PTFK. So it was easy to make a day of it! Highly recommend it!
Written March 21, 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.

Emilyap28
Greenville, SC26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Family
Our family of two adults and two kids (11 and 14) did the mangrove tour and we all loved it! They kept the group small and our instructor, Brittany, was so knowledgeable and kind. She even took pictures of our family and sent them to us! The tour was just long enough, but not too long for the kids. We saw wildlife and going through the mangroves was very cool. I would highly recommend using Paddle the Florida Keys!
Written March 25, 2023
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.
Emily- Thank you so much for leaving a review. We are so glad your family enjoyed the tour with Brittany. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see your family again in the future!
Written March 26, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Michael G
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020
We made use of their Kayak Launch for a fee of $10.00 per kayak which we felt was very reasonable. It is on Tavernier Creek connecting the Gulf with the Atlantic. While it was extremely windy, the Creek stayed relatively calm. We encountered dolphins, a manatee, caught a few fish and explored the mangrove shorelines. Everyone who worked in the store was very personable and extremely helpful pointing out locations to check out and providing us with a free map to use. The store look well stocked with kayaking supplies if you needed anything.
Written November 10, 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.

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PADDLE! The Florida Keys - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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