Shell Key Preserve: Unique Local Kayak Adventure

Join Scott and Karissa, the owners and guides of Island Kayak Tours, for a unique and unforgettable kayak adventure through the mangrove tunnels of Shell Key Preserve. Discover the beauty of St. Petersburg, Florida, and get a chance to see dolphins, manatees, and more!

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Tierra Verde - Tours take place in Shell Key Preserve. As a native Floridian, I will guide you through the backcountry of the preserve. Through shallow grassy meadows we go, watching fish jump and birds hunt; all the while, ducking through the mangrove tunnels (tide permitting) and allowing time for pictures and explanations of the surrounding…
What's Included
  • Kayak, paddle, and lifejacket (PFD) provided
  • Equipped with a whistle or signaling device
Additional Information

Hello, my name is Scott. Along with Karissa, I co-own and operate Island Kayak Tours. Our excursion will lead you through the mangrove tunnels, provided the tide allows, and we tactically time your journey to maximize your chances of seeing dolphins and manatees. We also allocate free time for you to discover Shell Key Island, be it for shell…

Location
Pinellas Bayway South
We launch from a public launch site off Pinellas Bayway in Tierra Verde. Directions & a map will be included with your reservation confirmation message.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(179 Ratings)
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Happyretiredgrammy
Nov 25, 2025
T-giving Family kayaking at Sunset - Karisa and Scott are an amazing team and very knowledgeable of the eco system. That is why we have gone with them several times in the last 10 years. We relaxed while kayaking and enjoying each other and the outdoors. There were 16 of us this trip - our whole family with 8 grandkids ranging from 17 to 4. Have never been disappointed yet. Did the Sunset Cruise this time and it was a spectacular setting. Loved every minute of it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brianto7591tz
Aug 31, 2025
Sun and Fun! - Great family time. Kayaked 4 miles. 2 out. 2 in. Scott was very informative. Great information about the area. Mangrove canopy was neat to see. The shelling was the best. Lots of beautiful shells. We got to see spider crabs in there water too!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T4739tbandreas
Aug 2, 2025
Great trip for the family - We had a wonderful trip with Scott and Karissa. They are very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife and showed us a lot while we kayaked across to shell ley island, including some great mangrove tunnels. They were always mindful of the entire group and made sure everybody had a good experience. The pace was suited for beginners. We highly recommend it and if we are ever in the area again, we will definitely book this kayak adventure again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
390tommyv
Aug 2, 2025
Kayak Tour 2025 - This was our 2nd time using island kayak tours. Scott & Karissa do a great job of making the trip a lot of fun, not just another kayak tour. Highly recommend this guys, you will not regret it and have a great time!
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Jimcu686pi
May 4, 2025
Kayak Adventure - This was a great time and Scott really know how to find dolphins and other sea creatures during out trip. The mangroves were so cool and we loved shell Key. It was a trip we plan on doing again and have told all our friends and family about. A trip worth taking!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sam
Apr 19, 2025
Adventure, some day in the sun lots of dolphin watching - Very entertaining and knowledgeable guides local couple provides phenomenal experience, exploring local natural habitat
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B5079cmmeganm
Apr 12, 2025
Families don’t hesitate to book! - Due to traffic and an accident we were running behind and this tour company worked with us to allow us to join the later kayaking outing. We throughly enjoyed the time we had kayaking and learning about the creatures that live in the area. The shell island was a highlight for all of us too! We found beautiful shells and loved taking in the beauty of the waves crashing. Our guides were accommodating and really educated us about so many things. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daydream49315545509
Apr 11, 2025
Great tour for wildlife lovers and beginner kayakers - We had an amazing time on the tour! We had the most perfect weather and were able to see lots of wildlife, including some dolphins and spider crabs. The mangrove tunnels were interesting - it was nice to grab a quick break from the sun and some pictures, plus hear some of Scottie’s stories from his childhood. It was a nice workout and I’m glad that my husband and I decided to share a tandem kayak so we could easily take breaks and help each other out. We highly recommend the tour and hope to make it back someday!- Jay and Stefanie
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Kristined834
Apr 11, 2025
Go for the adventure and the stories! - Absolutely amazing...all the personal stories were great. I would highly recommend to anyone! Easy paddle and great company!
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809robynr
Apr 5, 2025
Best Kayaking Tour Ever - Kayaking with Scott & Karissa was the absolute highlight of our trip! They were super friendly and really made sure we felt comfortable and safe the entire time. I loved learning more about the local waters and wildlife. Being out in the water was just amazing! I am so glad we booked this, we really couldn’t have asked for a better experience. If you’re on the fence on which kayak tour to do, definitely go with Island Kayak Tours!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $58
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).