Cypress Springs kayaking & snorkeling near Panama City Beach

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/6

Duration5h–6h

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Paddle, snorkel and explore a 70-degree spring fed by caves

Cypress Springs Eco Adventure is a guided kayaking, snorkeling and paddleboarding tour near Panama City Beach that takes you down Holmes Creek to a natural spring with 100-foot visibility. You choose your watercraft—kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard—and the guide handles all setup and gear; lunch and snorkeling equipment are included. The tour runs 5 to 6 hours depending on departure time, with a 45-minute drive each way from the beach.

5h–6h

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cypress Springs and Holmes Creek

Guided canoe, kayak, or SUP trip
Snorkel with underwater scooter
Use GoPro to document experience
Relax while guides handle setup
Explore Emerald Coast cold springs
Kayak or SUP best local trails

The Experience

What makes this different from a beach day is the spring itself. Cypress Springs stays a constant 70 degrees year-round because it's fed by underground caves, and the water clarity tops 100 feet—you're not guessing at what's below you. The guide meets you at the beach, handles all the equipment setup and demonstrates how everything works before you paddle out. You pick your vessel at booking: kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard, depending on what appeals to you. The paddle down Holmes Creek takes you through the ecosystem before you reach the spring, where the real exploration happens.

Once at the spring, snorkeling is the main event. The guide shows you how to use an underwater scooter—it propels you so you're not fighting the current, which means you can actually look around instead of just swimming. If you want to document it, there's a GoPro with mounts available. The water is clear enough that you'll see the spring's structure and whatever life is moving through it. Lunch is included and packed in; you'll need to tell the operator your sandwich preference (meat, cheese or vegetarian) and flag any allergies when you book.

The 45-minute drive each way from Panama City Beach is part of the day, so plan for that. Morning departures at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. run the full 6 hours; the noon tour is also 6 hours, but the 2 p.m. departure wraps in 5 hours. Bottled water comes with you. The tour needs a minimum of six people to run, so book early if you have a specific date in mind. Children under 12 should pair with an adult because there's some upriver paddling involved.

What’s included

Kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard of your choice with all setup and demonstration.
snorkeling equipment and underwater scooter.
lunch with your choice of sandwich.
bottled water.
guide for the entire trip.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Coldwater Excursions

Is this one for you?The tour involves paddling upriver and spending time in the water, so it's built for travelers comfortable with moderate physical activity on the water. The guide handles all the heavy lifting—gear setup, demonstrations and navigation—so you're free to focus on exploring the spring itself.