Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures
Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures
Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures
5
Water SportsEco ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursKayaking & Canoeing
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
Full view

About
Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures offers spectacular guided kayak tours for anybody wanting to explore the waters around Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Lido 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
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about

Contribute
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
887 reviews
Excellent
871
Very good
13
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Callie P
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Went out on the water today with Nick and had the absolute best time! We started off with a quick but very informative lesson on how to move around, then got in the kayaks! Once in, we shared laughs and saw the sights while listening to Nick share his wealth of knowledge of the surrounding plants, animals, and homes! We made our way to a wonderful little beach where we got to swim around a bit to cool off before heading back. As someone who isn’t the most active, it was not too difficult of a journey at all. This was a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone who wants to have some fun in the sun with a manatee. The vibes were absolutely amazing and I will definitely be coming back again for another tour on future vacations to AMI!
Written July 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.
Awesome! We're in our 10th year now and that's exactly what we aim to provide. I love reading reviews like this and I'm happy you had a great experience. Thank you so much! See you next time!!
Written December 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anna W
Madison, AL6 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
A wonderful family experience! The guys running Happy Paddler are incredibly kind and accommodating- they take genuine interest in the folks on their tours, share interesting information and really strive to make beginner and seasoned kayakers alike feel right at home. Alan was our guide and he really made our kids feel comfortable and made their day when he shared a shark’s tooth he had on hand from Venice Beach. My husband and I chose two tandem kayaks - we each shared a kayak with our 6 and 10 year old. It was a perfect arrangement and I’d highly recommend a tandem for that age range over a single. They were super responsive and helpful during booking and again when we needed to change our reservation due to inclement weather. The tour itself is stunning - “Beer Can Island” is gorgeous. We were also treated to a great manatee sighting toward the end of our course! Well worth a visit and a highlight of our trip!
Written July 9, 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.
Jan H
4 contributions
Nov 2022
This is our first trip to Anna Maria Island. Our group of eight had a great time with Allen this morning. Happy Paddlers seems really well run. Their method for boarding and disembarking from the the kayaks is really safe and very slick.
Allen seems very knowledgeable about the wildlife and general history of the area. Overall, a great way to spend a beautiful day on the water!
Allen seems very knowledgeable about the wildlife and general history of the area. Overall, a great way to spend a beautiful day on the water!
Written November 25, 2022
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.
Sass22
28 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
My son (5years old) and I did the costal tour in a tandem kayak with Nick as the guide. Having never kayaked before I was quite anxious but was immediately put at ease. Nick was very engaging, made a point of speaking individually to everyone in the group including my son. We learnt lots and had fun too. Highly recommended!
Written October 29, 2022
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.
Karen H
10 contributions
Jul 2020
The coastal kayak tour was a highlight of our trip to Anna Maria Island. We often take guided excursions while on vacations and this tour and our guide, Cary, rate at the top of the list of tour excursions we have done. Cary's ability to spot interesting wildlife in the water and then dive down to bring it up so we could see it before returning it safely to its home was outstanding. Don't forget to dress to get wet, you don't want to miss the opportunity to jump into the crystal clear water at the sandbar and island stops to cool off! Don't schedule something directly after this as the tour can shift a bit in time based on weather conditions and you won't want to have to cut this short. We had a mix of experienced kayakers and those who had never sat in a kayak on our trip and we all ended the day saying that this was an excellent activity. Whenever we can get 3 boys ages 12-14 to agree that what the parents chose was fun, we consider it a win!
Written July 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.
Vin
3 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We did the guide tour with Captain Casey. He took the time to point out as much Wildlife as he could find. He was wonderful with the kids. He took the time to make sure that everybody was comfortable and had everything we needed. We never felt rushed. He's very friendly he got to know each one of us as much as you can while socially distancing. He also took pictures for us. I would highly recommend this excursion again it was a wonderful place they really made you feel comfortable and the part of the family.
Written July 31, 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.
Sallie C
Longboat Key, FL1 contribution
Dec 2021
We had so much fun paddling with Mike! He knows tons of fun facts about the birds, plants, animals and architecture in this environment which enriches the experience. Our group of 9 people were varied skill levels and Mike made sure we all stayed safe and accounted for on the busy waterway. He took us to an awesome spot on Beer Can Island where he took our photos with a driftwood sculpture for backdrop. He even showed me how to edit the lighting on the photos to enhance them! Its the perfect photo to remember our family time here on Longboat Key. Thank you Happy Paddler for an unforgettable experience!
Written December 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.
Tabitha D
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Couples
Our kayak tour was amazing. Our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. We saw lots of wildlife, including manatees! Happy Paddler was cautious of the weather prior to our trip to make sure everyone was safe and had a great time.
Written September 16, 2022
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.
William
Overland Park, KS16 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
We rented kayaks with Happy Paddler and thoroughly enjoyed it. We knew the surrounding area from prior trips so opted to rent kayaks vs a tour. They provided a thorough walkthrough of a map of the surrounding water and area with recommendations on where to go to best spot dolphins, manatees, shells, beach etc. It's an easy launch off a dock right behind the shop and you're off to explore. You can tell they care about providing a great time in their tours and kayak rentals. Really appreciated little things like water bottle refill fountain and changing room in the shop after our trip. We'll definitely be back and would highly recommend booking a tour or rental with Happy Paddler.
Written November 4, 2022
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.
RHW
Hernando, MS7 contributions
May 2022 • Family
Great trip for anyone! Our group of 10 ranged in age from early teen to mid-70's and Mike,
our guide, made everyone feel safe and made sure we had a great time. It was the perfect duration for everyone. We saw lots of Florida wildlife and parked on a beach for a swim break. It was a great addition to our weeklong Florida vacation.
our guide, made everyone feel safe and made sure we had a great time. It was the perfect duration for everyone. We saw lots of Florida wildlife and parked on a beach for a swim break. It was a great addition to our weeklong Florida vacation.
Written June 1, 2022
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.
Hey there it's usually 3 hours If you booked a private one you may get to do it less. We loved it!
Written August 8, 2021
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!
Written March 8, 2019
Do you have a website I can let ok at please?
Written May 27, 2018
Please correct the ‘ to a . So we can click on link to website. Geeeez
Written June 6, 2020
Is a professional with you at all times on this? I’d love to do this but scared of capsizing 🤭
Written May 27, 2018
Yes - and most of the trip was in really shallow water so very very safe.
Written May 28, 2018
Hello we can’t find you... What is your exact adress ?
Written April 30, 2018
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!
Written May 12, 2018
Do you rent SUP's? Thanks Jen
Written December 17, 2016
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!
Written December 17, 2016
Absolutely, at a discount, of course. Give us a call if you have any questions (941-773-1920). Thanks!
Written December 7, 2016
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!
Written July 9, 2016
Hi,
Can you tell me when the best time of the year is to see a manatee on your tour?
Thank you!
Written March 31, 2015
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!
Written March 31, 2015
Showing results 1-9 of 9
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.