Our closest tour to Marco Island and Naples makes this an excellent option for guests short on time or for those not quite ready for the full Everglades experience offered through our number-one selling Manatees and Mangroves tour. This tour launches from a small watercraft boat ramp at the end of Shell Island Rd. Guests will first experience a short but detailed safety talk and paddle lesson from our certified kayak guides. Once completed, we will paddle through a small and protected bay, giving guests ample time to find their rhythm while getting to know each other in the group. When exiting this bay, you should immediately be on the lookout for dolphins, waterfowl, and sometimes manatees, as this stretch can be a hotspot for wildlife. From here, you may paddle east or west depending on wind and current, and at any moment, guests might enjoy an unscripted natural history discussion ranging from dolphins to Native Americans. These discussions are often dictated by what might be encountered throughout the tour. We consider this tour our introduction to kayaking and our native ecosystems. This tour will travel around three miles weaving in and out of Bays and small mangrove tunnels.
Do not go to the Rookery Bay Visitor Center. This tour meets at the very end of shell island road. This is a paved road with a number of speed bumps. Guests will pass multiple pull-offs and the Fish and Wildlife offices. Please, drive all the way to the end of Shell Island Road until it dead ends.
Do not go to the Rookery Bay Visitor Center. This tour meets at the very end of shell island road. This is a paved road with a number of speed bumps. Guests will pass multiple pull-offs and the Fish and Wildlife offices. Please, drive all the way to the end of Shell Island Road until it dead ends.
