One of the best ways to explore Sanibel Island in an exciting way is to hop in a kayak and paddle your way through the mangrove forests around the area.
Kayak tours can be one of the most fun things in Sanibel and Captiva Islands to do, and you won’t want to miss the chance to try it out during your vacation to this part of Florida.
There are many options to choose from when you decide to spend a day traveling around Sanibel Island by kayak. You can rent from a company that will give you a guided tour around some special spots, or even grab a kayak, a paddle and a map of the waterways to check things out on your own. Many providers offer pick-up and delivery to the vacation rentals near Sanibel & Captiva islands.
Whichever you go, Gopher Rentals has you covered with a place to stay. Now, for the kayak adventure. Below are some top providers and what you can expect with each one.
Guided Kayak Tours
Tarpon Bay Explorers is just one of the many wonderful touring companies to choose from. Tarpon Bay has been named one of the top ten places in the country to paddle by Canoe and Kayak magazine.
During their tour, you’ll make your way through the mangrove forest along the bay’s Commodore Creek Trail. An experienced naturalist will be your guide during this entire trip, giving you details and facts about the unique habitat you’ll find yourself surrounded by. During the paddle trip, you’ll be able to spot red mangroves, native birds, and other wildlife. One of the best things about choosing this kayak company is that after the guided tour you can keep the kayak to explore on your own. It is provided for the rest of the day at no additional cost.
Sunny Island Adventures
Another leading company is Sunny Island Adventures. Not only do they provide kayak tours off the coast of Sanibel Island, but you can also choose to paddle your way around some of the other nearby areas in this part of Florida.
The kayak eco-tour is given daily and the experts will help you paddle through some of the largely unseen bays of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Here you’ll see different wildlife than you would experience in the mangrove tours. The bay’s boast frequent sightings of dolphin, manatee, stingrays, and water-dwelling birds.
Kayak Rentals
You can also choose to rent a kayak and a paddle for a day, a week, or longer from some companies if you want to check out some of the waterways on your own. Tarpon Bay, Sunny Island Adventures, and other local companies offer rental deliveries directly to your door. This convenient feature makes kayaking one of the most accessible and fun family-friendly activities in Sanibel & Captiva Islands.
If you’re looking to spot some wildlife on your own, Manatee Park allows you to launch from a canal that leads to the Orange River, the perfect place to spot manatee along the way. This alone makes all beach vacations to Sanibel & Captiva Islands even more memorable.
Other Kayaking Options
If you’re staying in one of our wonderful beach vacation rentals on Captiva Island instead, there are fantastic options for kayaking there too. The kayaking tours and trails off of Captiva Island are different than those near Sanibel Island, but just as much fun to paddle through. Buck Key is perhaps the most exciting of them all.
Reach out to us for any and all details about things to do and places to stay.