Snorkeling in St Thomas Mangrove Lagoon: kayak and wildlife

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Duration2h 30m

GroupUp to 40

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Stingrays and parrot fish live in the channels you paddle through.

Kayak and snorkel through St. Thomas' Mangrove Lagoon, an unspoiled region of mangrove forests and winding channels in the US Virgin Islands, paddling past islands and spotting stingrays, parrot fish and endangered brown pelicans. The 2.5-hour adventure includes all snorkel and kayak gear, a professional guide, changing rooms and parking; you choose between a 10:00am or 2:00pm departure from Mangrove Lagoon Marina. Transportation to the marina is not included, though a taxi stand is nearby for visitors arriving by ship.

The Experience

Two and a half hours means you spend most of the time in the water or moving through it. You'll paddle a kayak through the mangrove forests and narrow channels that make up the lagoon, then stop to snorkel in the clear water where the wildlife actually is — stingrays glide past, parrot fish dart between rocks, and if you're watching the sky, you might see the brown pelican, an endangered species that hunts here. The guide handles the route and points out what to look for; you handle the paddle and the snorkel gear, which is all provided and fitted to your size before you start.

The lagoon itself is the draw. It's unspoiled, which means no resort development crowding the edges and no tour boats queuing up at a single spot. The mangrove forests create a maze of channels that open into clearer water, and the whole system is shallow enough that you see the bottom and the animals moving across it. Stingrays are common; they're not aggressive, but they're close enough that you're not reading about them in a book afterward.

Departures run at 10:00am or 2:00pm from Mangrove Lagoon Marina on St. Thomas. If you're arriving by ship, a taxi stand is a short ride away — about 12 minutes from Havensite or 20 minutes from Crown Bay. Changing rooms and restrooms are at the marina, and parking is free. Bring a valid ID; children are welcome from age 2. The guide speaks English and leads the whole group through the same route, so you're not navigating on your own.

What’s included

Professional guide leading the group through the mangrove channels and snorkel sites.
all snorkel gear and kayaking equipment fitted to your size.
changing rooms and restroom facilities.
free parking at the marina.
water and a candy snack during the activity.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Virgin Islands Ecotours

Is this one for you?Pick the 10:00am departure if you want to snorkel before the afternoon heat, or the 2:00pm slot if you're coordinating with a ship arrival or a later start to your day. Either way, you're paddling and snorkeling the whole time rather than watching from a boat, so this works best if you're comfortable in the water and want to move under your own power.