Kayaking Round Island Riverside Park: mangrove tunnels & dolphins

Mangrove tunnels most kayak tours miss, and the dolphins actually show up.

Kayak or stand-up paddle board through mangrove tunnels at Round Island Riverside Park with a local guide who knows where dolphins and manatees gather. Groups stay under a dozen, and you get stable back-friendly kayaks, paddles, life jackets and free parking. The 2-hour paddle covers hidden waterways most tours skip.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak tour through mangroves and wildlife

• Meet at Round Island Riverside Park
• Paddle through hidden mangrove tunnels
• Spot dolphins in their playground
• Observe grazing manatees
• Learn lagoon lore from guides

The Experience

Two hours on the water means you get the mangrove tunnels and the lagoon without the full-day commitment. The guide steers small groups—usually under a dozen—through routes most commercial tours miss, stopping where dolphins play and manatees graze. You paddle your own kayak or stand-up board, so the pace is yours; the guide handles the wildlife spotting and the lagoon lore. Stable, back-friendly kayaks take the strain out of the paddle, and free parking at Round Island Riverside Park means you're not hunting for a spot after you drive in.

You choose between a single kayak, a two-person kayak, or a stand-up paddle board at checkout. All three come with paddles, life jackets and the same guide and route. The guide speaks English and knows the water well enough to read where the animals move—that is what keeps the dolphin sightings real instead of hoped-for. Infants and small children can come along in a stroller or pram, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Local guide in English.
• kayak or stand-up paddle board of your choice.
• paddle and life jacket.
• free parking at Round Island Riverside Park.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Paddles By The Sea

Is this one for you?Book this if you want mangrove tunnels and wildlife spotting in a two-hour window with a small group, rather than committing to a full-day paddle.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the kayak and paddle board options?

You choose at checkout: a single kayak for one person, a two-person kayak for two, or a stand-up paddle board for one. All three come with paddles, life jackets and the same guide and route through the mangroves.

Do I need kayaking experience to paddle here?

No prior experience is required. The guide leads small groups and the stable kayaks are designed to be forgiving. Moderate fitness helps, and the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Will we actually see dolphins and manatees?

The guide knows the lagoon and steers groups to where dolphins play and manatees graze, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. The route itself—the mangrove tunnels and hidden waterways—is the main draw; animal encounters are the bonus.

What's included in the price?

Kayak or paddle board, paddle, life jacket, local guide and free parking at Round Island Riverside Park are all included. Gratuities are not.

How long is the paddle, and how strenuous is it?

The paddle is 2 hours total. The guide keeps the pace manageable for small groups, but you should have at least moderate physical fitness. The stable kayaks are back-friendly and designed to reduce strain.