Best Marco Island Kayak Tours (+ Rentals and Top Places)
🚣♀️ ☀️ Searching for the best Marco Island Kayak Tours? I’ve got you covered!
Marco Island, the gorgeous barrier island off the coast of Southwest Florida, has unique mangrove forests and stunning beaches. It’s truly a fantastic place to visit!
Laid back and stunning, one of the best things to do on Marco Island is get out onto the water. And what better way than via kayak?
Whether you’re more interested in exploring the beautiful mangrove tunnels, seeing manatees, or want someone to teach you the basics of kayaking, there’s a tour for you. Check out these best Marco Island kayak tours below!
My Top 3 Picks: Marco Island Kayak Tours
Best Marco Island Kayak Tours
Kayaking is a really fun way to be active. There’s no better way to explore the mangrove forests and see extraordinary wildlife, especially on Marco Island.
1. Mangrove Tunnels & Mudflats Kayak Tour
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2.5 hours | ✅ Book it!
This Mangrove Tunnels and Mudflats Kayak Tour is the thing to do for a fantastic half day kayaking in the Rookery Bay Reserve. It’s also on the lower end price-wise, so it makes an affordable kayak tour on Marco Island.
Your naturalist guide will teach you all you want to know about the wildlife of the mangrove tunnels, mudflats, and oyster reefs of Southwest Florida. From sea stars to manatees, you’ll see many different animals!
My wife and I had so much fun paddling in both the open water and through the mangrove tunnels! My wife saw a baby dolphin which just swam right up to her boat. The tours guides were very knowledgeable and helped understand the ecology of the mangroves.
-Brian (READ MORE REVIEWS)
No kayak experience is necessary for this 2.5 hour mangrove tour. Bring plenty of water, cash for the parking fee, and wear close toed shoes for kayaking.
You can choose between a single-seater kayak (complete with a cupholder!) or a tandem kayak to explore with friends or family.
Plus, you’ll get free admission to the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, which includes a variety of exhibits, aquariums, an art gallery, a theater, and hiking trails.
Best Marco Island Kayak Tours
2. Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ✅ Book it!
This small and intimate tour is a great opportunity to explore Collier County and spot manatees, alligators, and many different bird species. And, at under $100 per person, it’s also a reasonably priced tour with a maximum group size of 8 people.
You’ll get to explore 4 miles on the water in the 10,000 Islands wildlife refuge before you head back to the marina.
Logan was a wonderful guide through this enchanting natural wonderland. He is so knowledgeable about the ecosystem and it’s inhabitants and also so helpful getting us through the web of mangroves. I would repeat this trip again gladly!
-Margaret (READ MORE REVIEWS)
Spend 30 minutes in the canals on Marco Island looking for Manatees and then 2 to 2.5 hours in the mangrove tunnels nearby.
Other guests have mentioned that you must be able to maneuver your kayak well, but don’t worry— the guides can help you if you’re having trouble.
Pro Tip: You’ll likely see Manatees in the colder winter months!
Best Marco Island Kayak Tours
3. Guided Kayak Mangrove Eco Tour in Rookery Bay Reserve
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✅ Book it!
This Marco Island Kayak Eco tour will take you across the Rookery Bay Reserve and through the mangrove forest in the area.
All the guides are local biologists and Florida naturalists. Learn all about the mangrove ecosystem as your guide leads you through the maze of trees and points out the birds and marine life.
Best guided nature tour I’ve ever been on. Our guides background in zoology really shined educated us in seeing all the easily overlooked wildlife and how they relate to each other and the ecosystem at large. It was especially memorable to handle the different types of conch, hermit crabs and snail eggs.
-Frank (READ MORE REVIEWS)
With over 150 species of birds and loads of Florida wildlife, such as dolphins, you’ll enjoy seeing so much of the Ten Thousand Islands’ wildlife.
Plus, this tour is suitable for both beginner kayakers as well as professionals.
Your tour also includes life preservers, dry bags, and professional photos, but you’ll want to bring $10 for the parking fee.
Best Marco Island Kayak Tours
4. Mangrove Tunnels Kayak and Paddle Board Eco Tour
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✅ Book it!
This Eco Tour is a great way to kayak on Marco Island and explore the coastal mangrove forests. This tour is also the most affordable on this list, and you can pick between your choice of a kayak or paddle board to head out on the water.
If you’ve never been kayaking or paddle boarding, don’t worry! You’ll get hands-on guidance and training from your guide.
Juan and Nelson were awesome. They seem to truly enjoy guiding and explaining the eco system that we visited, nothing was canned or generic. We will definitely be doing this trip again.
-Rob (READ MORE REVIEWS)
Enjoy discovering all there is to know about the unique environment of Southwest Florida. Plus, a fun and personable guide will be with you the whole way.
There are multiple tour times throughout the day so that you can choose the best time that works for you and your trip.
Want a group photo? All you have to do is ask the guide, and they’ll take care of that for you!
Best Marco Island Kayak Tours
5. Everglades Kayak Safari Adventure Through Mangrove Tunnels
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | ✅ Book it!
This Everglades Kayak Safari Adventure will take you through Mangrove tunnels in the nearby Everglades area on a fantastic half-day excursion.
With a maximum group size of 8 people, you’ll be on one of the smallest tour groups on the water. Plus, you’ll have the chance to paddle through mangrove forests at your own pace!
I definitely got my money’s worth on this guided tour through the everglades mangrove tunnels. Our tour guide, Patrick was absolutely amazing! We were out in the water for about 4 hours and we saw many different types of animals throughout our trip. We were up close and personal with some alligators! I would definitely take this tour again.
-Kristina (READ MORE REVIEWS)
Your professional naturalist guide will teach you everything you need to know about the Everglades Ecosystem. It’ll be a truly unique way to explore this area.
There’s a morning or afternoon time tour to choose from for flexibility. The kayaks included have adjustable seats (and are super cozy!) and your tour includes high-quality life jackets and (best of all) snacks and bottled water.
Want to bring a nice camera to take some pictures? Dry bags and boxes are provided so you can store your stuff safely.
Best Marco Island Kayak Tours
6. Clear Kayak Guided Tours in Naples
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2.5 hours | ✅ Book it!
While this kayak tour is in Naples, not Marco Island, it’s definitely close by for a fun day trip. It’s a terrific way to explore and enjoy the fantastic views of the Gulf of Mexico and Delnor-Wiggins State Park.
What makes this tour unique is the clear kayaks you use! Your transparent kayak gives you a unique window into the underwater world beneath your feet.
This tour is a great option with a maximum group size of 10 people and a cost per head of under $100!
Wonderful family experience.. highly recommend! Paul was excellent and the views are stunning! Can’t go wrong!
-Jaclyn (READ MORE REVIEWS)
First stop? Barefoot Beach, where you can look out for shells on the soft white sand. Next, you’ll venture into the mangrove forest and hopefully see manatees or dolphins.
Plus, With plenty of photo opportunities along the way, you’ll spend a pleasant 2.5 hours on the water.
A maximum group size of 10 people makes this tour more intimate and a little less chaotic than larger group tours. Make sure to bring an additional $10 for the vehicle parking fee!
Best Places to Go Kayaking in Marco Island
Even if you choose not to go on a guided tour, there are plenty of beautiful places on Marco Island to go and enjoy the outdoors.
Rent or bring your own kayak and check out these beautiful places to go kayaking in Marco Island, Florida.
✔️ Caxambas Park
Caxambas Park is one of the best places to kayak Marco Island and also one of the best boat launching spots. A public boat access point, it’s open for non-commercial, non-motorized paddle crafts. (AKA, you!)
The park is open daily for all visitors and includes a 4-acre park. With concessions and loads of parking, this convenient spot is beautiful in its own right.
Heading out from this boat launch give you easy access to Dickman’s Island, Caxamba’s Pass, and many other places nearby Marco Island.
You could pack a lunch and make a day out of it!
✔️ Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Kayaking around the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a must-do! See thousands of types of water birds and loggerhead sea turtles during the summer days and nights, and enjoy manatees during the winter months.
With two prominent boating access points (Goodland and Port of the Islands Marina), this wildlife refuge is a neat place to go no matter the time of year.
Check the water levels before kayaking in the northern marsh, as the water levels can vary.
Pair your kayaking adventure with an overnight camping trip for the ultimate getaway.
✔️ Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Stretching across 110,000 acres of mangrove forest, uplands, and protected waters, the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a remarkable place to explore the Floridian wetlands. It’s an incredibly popular spot for Marco Island boat tours of any kind.
The Reserve encompasses close to 40% of the Collier County Coastline. Check out its website for the best kayak trails in the Reserve.
They also help preserve the land through research, education, and land protection and operate various programs.
✔️ Tigertail Beach
Tigertail Beach is one of two public beaches on Marco Island and is located off of N Collier Blvd. This popular beach has a 2 mile long lagoon area, which is the place where you’ll want to go kayaking!
The lagoon is calm and full of wildlife, making it an ideal place for kayakers of any level. Plus, with concessions and amenities such as a public bathroom, it’s a fantastic place to relax or be active.
Parking at this beach is $8 daily, so bring some cash.
✔️ Canal System in Marco Island
Marco Island has over 100 miles of manufactured canals connected to the Gulf of Mexico. These canals host a variety of local wildlife.
You can see oysters, crabs, other mollusks, and various fish at low tide if you choose to kayak here. If you’re lucky, you’ll also see manatees and dolphins as they often frequent the canals.
✔️ Cape Romano
A cluster of uninhabited islands located to the South of Marco Island, Cape Romano is a fantastic place to go kayaking.
If you’re up for an adventure, this cape south of Marco Island is an amazing place to explore. With no running water, electricity, or amenities of any kind, you have to bring everything you need with you.
Cape Romano is the location of the famous Dome house at the very southern tip of the island (unfortunately, these were destroyed in 2022). The area is eroded but beautiful and well worth visiting.
The views are phenomenal, with a clear horizon on 3 sides of the cape and no city lights.
✔️ Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park (Naples)
The Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park is located on Capri Blvd in Naples and is the only public access facility in Collier County designed to launch paddle crafts.
With a ramp, picnic pavilions, and public restrooms, this park is a great place to start and end your day.
It’s open year-round from 8:00 am to sunset and provides access to McIlvane Bay. This bay is surrounded by mangroves, making it a great spot to watch wildlife.
Relatively unexplored, this spot does have a small fee, but the additional amenities in the area make that a small price to pay.
✔️ Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (Naples)
The Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples is open from 8:00 am to sundown all year long. It’s a tropical paradise, considered one of the most pristine beach stretches in the world.
It is a great place to kayak or paddle board and a fantastic spot to sunbathe, hike, fish, or beach comb for shells.
The most accessible kayak and canoe launch area is Turkey Bay, right next to the boat launch. Plus, there are restrooms available in each parking area.
Kayak Rental in Marco Island, Florida
Need to rent a kayak to get out on the water? Check out the best kayak rentals on Marco Island below!
☑️ Rising Tide Explorers
Rising Tide Explorers is a conveniently located company where you can rent kayaks and have them delivered to the boat launch you plan on using!
Plus, the shop has locations at the Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Beach and Shell Island Road.
With high-quality gear and expert local knowledge, they’re an excellent and accommodating option.
☑️ Marco Island Kayak Rentals
Marco Island Kayak offers hourly rentals from Caxamba’s Park and Paddlecraft Park. Want to head out somewhere else? Take advantage of their free delivery and pickup option for any home on Marco Island.
Boasting the lowest rental prices on Marco Island, this company has single and tandem kayaks and paddle boards available for rent.
☑️ Paddle Marco
Open the earliest of all the kayak rental companies, Paddle Marco Island offers Kayak rentals at hourly and daily rates.
They also offer free delivery to your home, condo, or any park on Marco Island. You need to make a reservation in advance, and they are closed on Sundays and major holidays, so keep that in mind if you plan on using this company.
FAQs About Marco Island Kayaking
While there are various places you can launch kayaks from, Caxamba’s Park & Marina is one of the best launch spots for your Marco Island kayak adventures.
Yes! You can kayak and see wildlife in the man-made canals on Marco Island.
The canals on Marco Island are only around 6.5 to 7 feet deep, making them perfect for exploring with paddle crafts like kayaks or paddle boards.
🤩 My #1 kayak tour pick: Mangrove Tunnels & Mudflats tour is 4 hours and a great way to explore Rookery Bay Reserve!
Final Thoughts: Guided Kayak Tours Marco Island
With beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and plenty of wildlife, Marco Island is a top spot to explore in its own right. It’s also a great launching point to explore more remote areas nearby.
Marco Island Kayak tours are a fun (and unique!) way to experience the island’s beauty firsthand. Plus, you get to explore one of only two Everglade ecosystems worldwide.
Whether you explore on a guided tour or head out on your end, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time.
