Dolphin and Manatee Paddleboard Tour: Bonita Springs Wildlife

Two hours paddling past dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, bald eagles and pink spoonbills

This paddleboard and kayak tour in Bonita Springs puts you on the water for two hours to encounter dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, bald eagles and other wildlife in their natural habitat. You choose between paddleboard or kayak. Paddles, boards or kayaks and life vests are all provided. The guide is live and in English, and children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Paddle and wildlife viewing

• Paddle along Fort Myer's beach
• Stop briefly at beach area

The experience

You'll paddle through the pristine waterways of Bonita Springs, a stretch of Florida coast without hotels or homes lining the shore. The route follows one of Fort Myers' most beautiful sections of beach, and depending on conditions and wildlife activity, you may paddle alongside it or make a brief stop. The two-hour tour gives you time to move through the water at a pace that lets you watch for movement in the shallows and spot what surfaces.

What you're looking for includes dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, the animals most people come for, but also bald eagles, large pink spoonbills, live conchs and starfish. The operator has run over 50,000 tours across Florida in the last 15 years, which means the guides know where to position you and when to hold still. You'll have paddles and a life vest. The choice between a paddleboard and a kayak is yours to make at checkout, and both are provided.

Children from age 4 can join, and the tour suits all fitness levels. The waterways are calm enough that paddling experience isn't required, though you'll be moving under your own power for the full two hours. Tours fill up regularly, so booking ahead is worth doing.

What’s included

• Paddles and life vest.
• choice of paddleboard or kayak.
• live guide in English.
• two hours on the water.

Options for this experience

2 options

Kayak tour for dolphins and manateesGuide in English · 08:00, 10:30 and 13:00Kayak option

Paddle BoardGuide in English · 08:00, 10:30 and 13:00Paddle Board

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 10:30 and 13:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (9 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Three Brothers Boards Dolphin and Manatee Paddle Board Tours

Is this one for you?Pick the paddleboard if you want to stand and scan the water from a higher angle. Choose the kayak if you prefer a lower, more stable position for the two-hour paddle. Either way, you're moving under your own power, so pick based on what feels right for your comfort in the water.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I actually see on this Bonita Springs paddleboard tour?

Dolphins, manatees and sea turtles are the main wildlife you're paddling to encounter, along with bald eagles, large pink spoonbills, live conchs and starfish. The guide knows the waterways and positions the group to spot them, though sightings depend on what's active that day.

Should I choose the paddleboard or the kayak for this tour?

Both options cover the same route and wildlife viewing. The choice is about how you prefer to move through the water. Paddleboards let you stand and get a higher vantage point, while kayaks are lower to the water and offer a different perspective. Either way, paddles and life vests are included.

How long is the paddleboard tour and what's the pace like?

The tour runs two hours total, moving through the waterways at a pace that lets you watch for wildlife and stop briefly if something surfaces. You'll be paddling under your own power, but the calm waterways don't require prior experience.

What's included in the tour price?

Paddles, paddleboards or kayaks, and life vests are all included. You choose your vessel at checkout, and the guide is live and in English for the full two hours.