Bonita Springs: Clear Kayak & SUP EcoTour with Photos

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/13

Duration2h 30m

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Kayak the mangroves spot dolphins and unwind on Big Hickory Island

You’ll paddle clear kayaks or SUPs through Bonita Springs’ mangroves with a local guide, spotting dolphins and birds along hidden trails. Stop at quiet island beaches for shelling and photos before gliding back as the light changes over Estero Bay. It’s relaxed and friendly—just bring your curiosity (and maybe a hat that won’t blow away).

2h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided kayak eco tour at Big Hickory Island

Arrive at Big Hickory Island
Choose standard or CLEAR kayak or paddleboard
Paddle at relaxed pace through mangroves
Look for dolphins, birds, and manatees
Learn about local ecosystem from guide
Explore Gulf of Mexico and island beach

The Experience

We were already ankle-deep in that warm, squishy sand when our guide, Jamie, waved us over to the pile of clear kayaks. I’d never sat in a kayak where you could see straight down — fish darting under us, sunlight flickering on the bottom. My friend tried to take a selfie and almost lost her hat to the breeze (she caught it, but barely). The air smelled salty and a little sweet from the mangroves. Jamie grinned and said dolphins like this stretch of Estero Bay — honestly, I half-expected him to be joking until we actually saw fins slicing through the water maybe twenty minutes later. I still think about that moment sometimes.

The paddling was easy — honestly easier than I expected — and there was this hush inside the mangrove tunnels except for the soft slap of water against plastic. Sometimes you’d hear a bird call out or see tiny crabs scuttling up roots. Jamie pointed out an osprey nest; I probably wouldn’t have noticed it otherwise. He told us stories about how these islands change after storms, how manatees come around more in summer (we didn’t see any this time). There’s something about moving slow through those green tunnels that makes you forget your phone even exists.

After a while we pulled up on a little beach no one else seemed to know about. The sand felt gritty between my toes — I found a shell shaped like a heart, which sounds cheesy but whatever, it made me smile. We just sat there for a bit eating snacks we’d brought along, watching pelicans dive-bomb for fish out past the kayaks. On the way back Jamie snapped some photos for us (they send them later), which is good because my hands were too salty to touch my phone anyway.

What’s included

Your day includes all kayaking or SUP equipment (including clear kayaks if you want), life jackets for adults and kids, dry boxes for your stuff, wildlife maps and guides to help spot local creatures, free parking at Big Hickory Island launch site, plus complimentary photos taken by your guide so you don’t have to worry about your phone getting wet.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Paddle Naples