Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures
Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures
Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures
5
Surfing & Windsurfing • Eco Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Stand Up Paddleboarding • Kayaking & Canoeing
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8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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About
Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures offers spectacular guided kayak and paddleboard tours for anybody wanting to explore the waters around Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, and Sarasota in a uniquely relaxed yet adventurous way! We are a home-grown bunch of expert naturalists & certified paddling instructors and we strive to set the standard of excellence in our industry as we share the happiness of paddling! Beginners, advanced paddlers, and everyone in between are welcome to join us on the water. Aside from our award-winning guided tours, we also offer rentals and lessons. Come see what all the happiness is about!
Anna Maria Island, Florida
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Awards
Travelers' Choice
2022
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Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures
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(44 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
860 reviews
Excellent
845
Very good
12
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Virginia Lee K
2 contributions
May 2023
We loved paddling through the mangroves. Comorants followed us around, diving for fish!
We will definitely book another adventure.
We will definitely book another adventure.
Written May 26, 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.
Discover36467213249
1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
Nick was a great tour guide who kept us entertained. We rowed our kayaks to a small island and got a chance to stop and swim while we took in the beautiful view. Spotted a manatee up close and several dolphins swam by! Definitely worth doing. We had a great experience.
Written May 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.
Dell
4 contributions
May 2023
Great experience doing the mangrove tour with Alan. We saw 11 manatees, several dolphins, young egrets, and other birds. The 3 hour tour was a bit long for the younger people in our group and it was a challenge going through the mangrove tunnel, but we all had a great time. Alan was a great guide & very knowledgeable.
Written May 8, 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.
Carol F
7 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
This was an incredible trip as Alan led us through canals and into the bay. We saw dolphins feeding along sea walls and an island that was a bird rookery. The island had about 7 or 8 types of large birds.
We kayaked over to Beer Can Beach where we were the only people trekking through the sand and cooling off in the water. Several cool photo spots, too.
Alan was very informative and never rushed us. He was also patient with those in our group who lacked the kayak experience.
I highly recommend this trip.
We kayaked over to Beer Can Beach where we were the only people trekking through the sand and cooling off in the water. Several cool photo spots, too.
Alan was very informative and never rushed us. He was also patient with those in our group who lacked the kayak experience.
I highly recommend this trip.
Written April 27, 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.
jennifer b
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Friends
We loved it so much, we are going back again today! Easy to navigate and clear, clean water. We saw so many manatees, dolphins, crabs, rays, turtles and lots and lots of fish. Bird wildlife was everywhere. We have done many paddle board trips around the Anna Maria area and this was by far the best.
Written April 27, 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.
TheSueBird
London60 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
Great fun on the mangrove kayaking tour today. Nick was a super guide- funny, knowledgable, reassuring and fun! It was beautiful and peaceful out on the water. Would definitely recommend.
Written April 13, 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.
Allison W
1 contribution
Apr 2023
Great day paddling on the water. We saw manatees, tons of birds and dolphins from a distance. Alan was a great guide, and interacted equally with the kids and grandparents alike.
Written April 4, 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.
MaryFran D
3 contributions
Mar 2023
We had a great time. It was an easy paddle to a lovey beach. We saw many different species of birds, a few dolphins and a manatee (that swam under my kayak).
Written April 2, 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.
Laura L
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Family
This was the best part of our spring break and our spring break was all around awesome! The guide was fantastic and the kayaking was relaxing and fun!! It was easy for kids too! We had a 12 year old that had no problem! I would do this again in a second!
Written March 29, 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.
OnAir16934865128
1 contribution
Mar 2023
What an amazing experience for our entire group. Nick was so personable, knowledgeable, and funny! What beautiful views we saw on and off the water. Even a mom and baby manatee followed us through the canal! Definitely the highlight of our trip so far!
Written March 29, 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.
Lily T
Longboat Key, FL
Do you get to pick how long you are out for?
aleynasmom
Nashville, TN59 contributions
Hey there it's usually 3 hours If you booked a private one you may get to do it less. We loved it!
Bananer90
14 contributions
What age of child would be too young to do this?
ShaneCatts
Anna Maria Island, FL2 contributions
Hi there! I usually recommend 5 and older. We have tandem and triple kayaks for the little ones. Plus, we'll find lots of critters and wildlife to keep them interested! Give us a call!
Pliget
Morley, UK764 contributions
Do you have a website I can let ok at please?
loveourgirls
West Bend, WI4 contributions
Please correct the ‘ to a . So we can click on link to website. Geeeez
Pliget
Morley, UK764 contributions
Is a professional with you at all times on this? I’d love to do this but scared of capsizing 🤭
Henriette88
Dunblane, UK229 contributions
Yes - and most of the trip was in really shallow water so very very safe.
Mathieu M
Breuil-Cervinia, Italy18 contributions
Hello we can’t find you... What is your exact adress ?
ShaneCatts
Anna Maria Island, FL2 contributions
Hi Mathieu! I must have had notifications turned off for messages on here. Of course, we connected on the phone and I'm very glad you found us and came out last week!
We have launches up and down Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, and we launch from two or three of those locations daily based on conditions and the best chance for wildlife. A list of all of our launch sites on our website.
Thanks again! Hope to see you again next time!
Jennifer O
Ormond Beach, FL171 contributions
Do you rent SUP's? Thanks Jen
ShaneCatts
Anna Maria Island, FL2 contributions
Hi Jen!
Yes, we rent both kayaks and paddleboards. We also have paddleboard tours. For rates, availability, and to make a reservation, please give us a call anytime (941-773-1920). Thanks!
Can you do this tour with you own kayak.
ShaneCatts
Anna Maria Island, FL2 contributions
Absolutely, at a discount, of course. Give us a call if you have any questions (941-773-1920). Thanks!
How young can you be to kayak with a parent?
ShaneCatts
Anna Maria Island, FL2 contributions
Hi there! We usually recommend the tours for children five years and older. Although, that's not a hard and fast rule. You know him or her best, of course, so if you're reasonably confident that he or she will be fine with it, then it's no problem. Young children can ride in the front of a tandem kayak with and adult in the back, or ride in the middle between two adults. Older children can usually paddle on their own in a single kayak at around nine to 10 years old. We usually find lots of smaller critters to keep the kids entertained as we look for dolphins and manatees. Just let me know if you're interested and we'll set it up! Thanks!
Celeste T
Lombard33 contributions
Hi,
Can you tell me when the best time of the year is to see a manatee on your tour?
Thank you!
ShaneCatts
Anna Maria Island, FL2 contributions
Sure thing! As long as the water temperature is above 65 degrees, the manatees will be out feeding and milling about around the bay. So that's mid-March through late November. They spend their summer months out by the beach (where we run the Coastal Mangrove Island Tour), and in the winter, they stay up in the rivers where the water is warmer. During the warmer months, we see them just about every other tour. If you are here during the colder months, there are many rivers and springs where you can find them. The best time of day to find them seems to be mid-morning and late afternoon. It's pretty great to see a manatee in the wild! The wildlife officials do an annual survey every year where they count manatees and a record number of manatees were counted this year (a little over 6,000 in Florida), so things are looking up for them! I'd love to take you out there to see them!
Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures (Anna Maria Island) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
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