Fort Lauderdale: Mangrove Kayak & SUP Wildlife Tour

Paddle Through Fort Lauderdale's Mangroves & Spot Dolphins

You paddle a kayak or SUP board through Fort Lauderdale's mangrove channels and Island City canals with a guide who knows where to find dolphins, manatees, and wading birds. The route stays on the water around the protected preserve, so wildlife stays undisturbed and you see more. Includes equipment, life jacket, guide, and a rinse-off shower when you're done.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak and SUP through mangrove ecosystem

• Start kayaking or paddleboarding
• Explore protected mangroves with manatees
• Glide through tropical lifestyle landscapes
• Pass by historical Fort Lauderdale waterways

The experience

You push off from the dock into Middle River, paddle in hand, and the city noise drops away almost immediately. The guide leads you past Island City canals where the water sits still and clear, and within minutes you're moving through channels lined with red, black, and white mangroves. Those strange trees with prop roots that look like they're walking on stilts. The mangrove kayak and SUP adventure here follows a route designed around what lives in these wetlands, not around what tourists want to photograph, which is why you actually see things.

The pace stays easy. Your guide reads the water, adjusts speed, and points out what's moving: herons standing in the shallows, ibis overhead, sometimes iguanas on the banks. If it's manatee season (November through March), you might see them drifting in the warmer pockets where they gather. Dolphins show up too, though the guide won't promise it. Wildlife sightings shift with the tide and the day. You stay on your equipment the whole time (no wading, no stops inside the protected mangrove preserve itself), which keeps the ecosystem undisturbed and means you cover more water. The guide handles the photo moments and shares how these trees filter water, store carbon, and hold the shoreline together during storms.

After two to three hours on the water, you paddle toward a 9.3-acre nature preserve where you can step out, stretch, and walk the trails if you want to. By then your shoulders know you've been paddling, but the guide's tips on technique make it feel less like work. Back at the dock, there's an outdoor shower to rinse off the salt and a changing area before you head out. You choose kayak or paddleboard at the start (doubles are available if you're going with someone else), and the life jacket is included.

What’s included

• Choice of kayak or paddleboard (doubles available for two paid guests).
• life jacket.
• expert guide with eco-insights and paddle instruction.
• access to the 9.3-acre nature preserve with trails.
• outdoor shower and changing area.
• wildlife viewing through mangrove channels and Island City canals.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to19h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 30

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Sunrise Paddleboards/ Live Blue Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to paddle through working mangrove habitat and actually see dolphins or manatees without arranging your own boat or guide. The route and timing are built around where wildlife congregates, not around a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 17 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's the difference between kayaking and paddleboarding on this tour?

Both follow the same route through the mangroves. Kayaks are easier for beginners and let you sit lower in the water. Paddleboards give you a higher vantage point and more of a workout. The guide adjusts pace either way.

Will I definitely see dolphins or manatees?

Wildlife sightings vary daily. Manatees are more common November through March when they seek warm water. Dolphins, herons, egrets, and ibis are regular sights, but no sightings are guaranteed.

How long is the tour?

Plan for two to three hours on the water, including time on the preserve trails if you want to stretch.

Do I need paddling experience?

No. The guide offers paddle tips and adjusts the pace for fun. Moderate fitness helps, since you're paddling for a couple of hours, but it's not a race.

What's included?

Your choice of kayak or paddleboard, life jacket, guide, outdoor shower, and changing area. Doubles are available if two people want to share one boat.

Can I bring my own kayak or board?

The tour includes equipment, so you don't need to bring your own. Rentals are part of the package.

What should I wear?

Clothes you don't mind getting wet, water shoes or sandals that stay on your feet, and sunscreen. The outdoor shower lets you rinse off salt water after.