Great trip!!! - I'm a fan of kayak tours and have done quite a few along the east coast, including through mangroves. Scott was easily the best tour guide I've ever had! Gave great easy to follow instructions for new kayakers, incredibly personable and friendly, immediately memorized the names of everyone on the group, and shared really interesting local history and facts on all of the animals, fish, plants, etc. that we saw throughout the trip. He was just extremely engaging and helpful. Karissa brought up the rear, making sure everyone was doing ok and no one left behind. One of the coolest parts was the cormorant birds hanging with the group so they could dive for the fish we were stirring up by kayaking. We watched them catch so many fish! Shell Key, as the name implies, is filthy with beautiful shells! I could have stayed there all day. Scott and Karissa had shell bags you could borrow, but we had brought our own plus snorkels, which was a good move.

Best tour! - This was a fabulous tour. The guides were very knowledgeable and we could hear them no matter where we were in the group. Navigating through the mangrove tunnels was a highlight. 💯 recommend this tour if you’re visiting the area.

Not Just for Tourists - Island Kayak Tours offers the best kayaking experience in the Tampa Bay Area. Scott and Karissa, the guides, are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the area. Scott, who grew up exploring these waters, shares fascinating details about the local ecosystem and the mangroves. This was my second time on this tour, and each experience has been exceptional. Kayaking through the mangroves and visiting Shell Key Island for some relaxing beach time is simply amazing. I highly recommend this tour to everyone; the beauty of the surroundings and the expertise of the guides make it unforgettable. If you're considering booking, just do it

Great Experience! - Scott and Karissa were amazing guides. They are patient, kind, full of knowledge & understanding. Our original trip needed to be postponed due to higher than normal winds, which would’ve made our excursion harder and longer. They called ahead of time and we rescheduled before flying back home. They are also very accommodating if someone gets tired and can’t completely paddle back. Our 13 yr needed a tow just about 1/4 mi out from finishing. We would book with them again in a heartbeat! Thank you for a wonderful time!

All around awesome tour! - We all had a wonderful time! They were right there waiting, informative and extremely knowledgeable. Never rushed, nice shell key break and personable! The pricing was fair and I would definitely recommend!

Great day with Scott & Karissa - We had a great time with Scott & Karissa, owners of the Island Kayak Tours. They are really really nice people and will take care of everyone. They made sure all are safe while enjoying the kayaking and seeing all the wild animals. Scott has A LOT of energy and story to share. Our kids had a great time! and we loved exploring the area plus the white sandy Shell Beach. It was a wonderful morning and a perfect weather. Just be there 15-20 mins before the call time so you can prepare and hear the instructions. we HIGHLY recommend this and will love doing again if we will be in the area. Thank you very much especially to Ms. Karissa for all the help when we had hard time navigating our kayak with our kid. It was easy to do but we badly need team work :D

A great outing! Don’t miss out! - Kayaking through the mangroves and spending time on Shell Island was awesome. Scott is very knowledgeable of the area!

Very nice experience to discover this area - Great experience, kayaking through the mangroves and a visit to the gulf og Mexico, and added to that some levture about the area and it’s nature by Scott. All was done very professional yet very friendly, the equipment was good. An experience never to forget.

Great tour of Shell Key - Great way to explore the preserve. The guides were helpful and knowledgeable. We went at high tide and we were able to go through the mangrove tunnels. Highly recommended!

Such an amazing experience - We truly enjoyed our day with Scott and Karissa. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and down-to-earth people. Scott gave great kayak pointers before we started our day to ensure a smooth experience. Gave interesting facts about the wildlife and environment of the mangroves. All in all worth the money and would definitely recommend it!!!