Key West is known for being one of the most beautiful, easygoing places in the world! With its unique balance of natural beauty, culture, history, and a vibrant nightlife, there’s never a lack of things to do.
However, one thing I recommend you don’t miss is going kayaking through its crystal-clear blue waters. That’s why I’ve decided to carefully curate the 5 top Key West kayaking tours that are well worth your time and money. Let’s jump right in!
Best Kayaking Tours in Key West
| Key West Island Adventure: Kayak, Snorkel, Paddleboard | Half-Day Trip from Key West with Kayaking, Snorkeling & Sunset | Ultimate Key West Kayak Eco-Tour: Mangrove and Sandbar Adventure | |
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| Location: | 631 Greene St., Key West | 255 Front St., Key West | 201 William St., Key West |
| Start: | 3:30 PM | 9:30 AM | 11:00 AM |
| Duration: | 4.5 hours | 4.5 hours | 5 hours |
| Includes: | Top-of-the-Line snorkel gear, professional instruction, lunch, complimentary water and soda, beer, wine, and champagne | Light refreshments, unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks, professional guide, use of snorkel gear, comfortable wetsuits for colder months, fresh fruit, snacks, water | Beverages, alcoholic beverages, use of snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddleboards lunch, safety vests, restroom on board |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Key West Kayaking Tours For 2024
- Key West Island Adventure: Kayak, Snorkel, Paddleboard
- Half-Day Trip from Key West with Kayaking, Snorkeling & Sunset
- Ultimate Key West Kayak Eco-Tour: Mangrove and Sandbar Adventure
- Key West Full-Day Island T’ing Eco-Tour: Sail, Kayak and Snorkel
- Florida Keys: Key West Kayak Eco Tour with Nature Guide
Best Key West Kayaking Tour Reviews
1. Key West Island Adventure: Kayak, Snorkel, Paddleboard
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Departure: 631 Greene St., Key West
- Departure Time: 3:30 PM
- Includes: Brand new snorkel gear, professional instruction, lunch, complimentary water and soda, beer, wine, and champagne
Starting things off on the right foot, we have the Key West Island Adventure: Kayak, Snorkel, Paddleboard! It’s a tour that gives you the flexibility to choose between different water sports, or simply relax on the sandbar and soak it all up.
With colorful sea critters, pristine waters, and lush mangroves, an unforgettable island experience is waiting for you! We got to choose from either a morning or afternoon start time, which made the 4.5-hour tour easier to fit into my busy schedule.
With my towel and sunscreen in tow, I arrived at the meeting point and was escorted onboard our vessel for the day. We were given breakfast as we left the dock, heading to our remote sandbar that next to no tourists have the chance to visit!
Along the way, our guides even pointed out dolphins playing around and sea turtles swimming along, which was so cool to see! Once we arrived to the sandbar, we were provided and fitted with snorkel gear and fins, heading into the clear waters to explore the other side.
If you’re a snorkeling newbie, this is perfect for you, as the guides are patient and fantastic teachers! After paddling around, we fueled up with a delicious buffet lunch before heading into a kayak to take a guided tour of the area!
If you decide on the afternoon tour, you’ll even receive your choice of sparking wine, regular wine, or beer while watching the sunset – it’s hard to beat that!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Half-Day Trip from Key West with Kayaking, Snorkeling & Sunset
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Departure: 255 Front St., Key West
- Departure Time: 9:30 AM
- Includes: Light refreshments, unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks, professional guide, use of snorkel gear, comfortable wetsuits for colder months, fresh fruit, snacks, water
If you have the morning free and would like to start your day off in the best possible way, this next tour should be at the top of your list.
The Half-Day Trip from Key West with Kayaking, Snorkeling & Sunset will take you on a fun sailing cruise where you’ll get to kayak and snorkel with a friendly, expert crew! With everything you need for a fantastic island adventure, all you have to worry about is having a good time!
Meet up with your crew at 9:30 am and make sure to bring your swimwear, sandals, and plenty of sunscreen because it’s all about having fun in the sun today! There’s no need to bring any sports gear, because they have it all onboard, along with some snacks and refreshing drinks (mostly different types of soda and bottled water)!
Honestly, I would’ve been happy with this tour even if it were just spending a day out sailing with this crew. The guides were really friendly and shared tons of knowledge and interesting anecdotes with us, connecting easily with kids and adults, alike.
For that reason, I’d say it’s one of the best I’ve been on for entire families, if you’re hesitating bringing the kids along for the ride. We then stopped to go on our kayaking trip through the mangroves while learning all about its unique ecosystem – we even spotted some rays and sharks!
Our snorkeling adventure was up next, where we took a leisurely swim in the clear water while our guides pointed out interesting sea creatures to us. Even if you’ve never done either sport before, trust me – this crew does a fantastic job of teaching and making you feel confident!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Ultimate Key West Kayak Eco-Tour: Mangrove and Sandbar Adventure
- Duration: 5 hours
- Departure: 201 William St., Key West
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM
- Includes: Beverages, alcoholic beverages, use of snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddleboards lunch, safety vests, restroom on board
While Key West is a wonderful place to take a load off, imagine a pristine stretch of white sand surrounded by clear turquoise waters and gently-swaying palm trees.
Only you and a few others know about this place, and it’s a fantastic hidden gem for enjoying water sports and the local wildlife. If that sounds fun to you, do yourself a favor and check out the Key West Mangrove Kayak Eco Tour and Ultimate Sandbar Adventure!
If you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or any special occasion, I highly recommend this activity, as it is just a blast all the way through. We hopped onboard our vessel for the day, and almost immediately, our guide spotted a mother and baby dolphin, which set the tone for the rest of the tour.
Once we got to the sandbar, we took out the kayaks and paddled around as our guide gave us a proper eco tour through the mangrove isles.
We spotted so many different marine species, though I never once felt unsafe, and it was my first time kayaking, which was cool! Each tour has a master captain and 2 other crew members, so there was never a moment where I felt like we weren’t being tended to.
Even for complete newbies, they offered easy-to-understand instruction and kept an eye on everyone as we cruised along. Skip the restaurant, because they whip up a delicious lunch featuring Cuban sandwiches, hot chicken tenders, fruit and cheese platters, hummus, veggie wraps, and all kinds of drinks!
The drinks do not stop flowing, so whether you’d like to put back a few craft beers or soft drinks – they have you covered! I chose to grab a drink and check out the sandbar with some friends, spotting some local wildlife with our guides and snapping some photos at a safe distance.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Key West Full-Day Island T’ing Eco-Tour: Sail, Kayak and Snorkel
- Duration: 6 hours
- Departure: 205 Elizabeth St., Key West
- Departure Time: 10:00 AM
- Includes: 1-hour kayak tour, professional guide, continental breakfast including eggs, lunch, beer, wine, soft drinks, and homemade sangria, all taxes and fees, snorkeling
This next tour is the longest of any on this guide, and is the “biggest bang for your buck” experience of its kind. The Key West Full-Day Island T’ing Eco-Tour: Sail, Kayak and Snorkel is perfect if you’re short on time or it’s your first time in Key West.
The excursion does a great job of balancing water sports with wildlife spotting, good food, and good company! As we boarded the catamaran, we were welcomed by a fun and friendly crew who seemed eager to make sure we had an unforgettable day.
With a refreshing drink in hand, I made myself comfortable on the deck and enjoyed catching sights of dolphins as we cruised along. We then made our first stop at a grade-A snorkeling spot where we were provided with all necessary gear before plunging into the clear waters to explore vibrant reefs, colorful fish, sea turtles, and more.
After that, I’d worked up quite the appetite, so the delicious lunch consisting of fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and cold drinks was more than welcome. We had plenty of time to digest and soak up the sunshine while chatting with the crew before grabbing a kayak and paddling out to the secluded mangroves.
Here, we caught sight of dolphins, stingrays, sea turtles, and even manatees, which was crazy to see so close up! With plenty of homemade sangria, beer, wine, and soft drinks, we were all feeling great, and those 5 hours flew by incredibly fast. If you’re looking for a comprehensive tour that really offers it all, look no further.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Florida Keys: Key West Kayak Eco Tour with Nature Guide
- Duration: 2 hours
- Departure: 5114 Overseas Hwy, Stock Island
- Departure Time: 2:00 PM
- Includes: Kayak tour, kayaking gear, life jacket, nature guide
The Florida Keys: Key West Kayak Eco Tour with Nature Guide is the perfect opportunity to explore the breathtaking beauty of the Florida Keys while learning about the delicate ecosystems that call this part of the world home.
With an experienced nature guide to lead the way through mangrove forests and secluded coves, I was shocked at just how much I was able to see and learn about in just a couple of hours. If you have a busy schedule but still want to experience it for yourself, this tour should be at the top of your list.
With plenty of different start times available, it was even more convenient fitting the excursion into my packed itinerary. Once we met up with our guide and set out, it was clear that they had vast knowledge and a deep passion for the flora and fauna, offering amazing insights and anecdotes about the diverse lifeforms that thrive here.
We started out by kayak, paddling along the calm waterways as we gazed on at the beautiful marine life and lush greenery all around us.
Throughout the tour, the guide did a great job at sharing fascinating facts about the unique ecosystem here, as well as answering all of our questions. I definitely gained a deeper appreciation for Mother Nature on this tour, witnessing firsthand the interconnectedness of it all.
I even got to snap photos of some elusive birds, like the heron, egret, and osprey! After that, we took a leisurely dip into the crystal-clear waters before settling on a nice, sandy beach to enjoy a tasty picnic lunch.
It was a nice way to really soak everything in, enjoying the fresh local foods with the amazing ocean views in the background. So, whether you’re a nature lover, adrenaline-junkie, or some combination of the two, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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The Key West Island Adventure: Kayak, Snorkel, Paddleboard is our Editors Choice for the best Key West kayaking tour
