There’s so much to see and do on Anna Maria Island, but seeing the sights by water gives you a whole new perspective. Anna Maria Island kayak tours are one of this vacation spot’s best activities, giving visitors a chance to have close encounters with nature and see the island’s diverse wildlife up close.
There are several options for kayak tours that you can choose from, many of which are suitable for all ages and skill levels. Or, rent your own kayaks and take yourself on an adventure through the waters.
Beach Bums AMI
Location: 427 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, FL
Beach Bums offers a scenic tour of Anna Maria Island’s waters, where you’ll learn paddle techniques and get oriented with the kayak before heading out.
Paddle along the red mangroves and into Anna Maria Sound before going under the Key Royale Bridge and into Bimini Bay. You’ll then see three native habitats of the area: a bird rookery, a mangrove island, and an oyster shoal.
Tours cost $55 per person. You can also rent kayaks from Beach Bums for your own self-guided adventure if you’re an experienced kayaker.
Kayak Jack’s Paddle Sports
Location: 5501 Marina Dr., Holmes Beach, FL
Kayak Jack’s Paddle Sports is another excellent choice for kayak tours.
The motto here is “You choose the location, we bring the fun.” There are several different launch points to pick from, and you can choose a guided two-hour eco-tour, or a self-guided four-hour tour.
Depending on the tour type, prices range from $30 to $50. Kayak Jack’s also offers weekly kayak rentals and other equipment for water activities for those staying at Anna Maria Island vacation homes a week or more. This provider delivers to you and doesn’t have a location, offering what can often be great deals on rentals, and they can be reached at (941)-538-1448.
Happy Paddler
Location: 310 North Bay Boulevard, Anna Maria, FL
The Happy Paddler will ensure your day is exactly that. They have several different tours to choose from, ensuring you’ll never see the same thing twice.
Take a coastal island tour or a river safari tour to see wildlife in the area, or pick something more daring and opt for a sunset or moonlight tour.
Prices range from $45 to $75 depending on the tour, and the length of the tours is anywhere from two to three hours long. Call (941) 773-1920 for booking.
Places to Go Kayak
One of the most popular spots to kayak near Anna Maria Island is the Robinson Preserve, where you can explore more than 600 acres of mangrove tunnels and salt marsh.
Another nearby rural preserve to check out by kayak is the Neal Preserve, which features winding mangrove tunnels and pockets of oak trees.
But the most isolated place to get a look at the amazing Florida mangroves is in the South Lido area, which provides great terrain for beginning and advanced kayakers.
For a different kind of paddle, try exploring Bimini Bay. Located in Holmes Beach, it is the perfect place to go if you are interested in exploring the island’s waters.
Calm waters make this area very safe to kayak around – perfect for the younger adventurers in the family.
Wildlife
You can find all sorts of fish in the water while you are kayaking your way through Anna Maria Island, including jumping mullet, hogfish, and more.
Dolphin and manatee sightings are also common. Often you can find them swimming along peacefully or playing in the serene open waters of many of the above spots.
Mangrove tunnels provide prime feeding grounds for the manatees and dolphins, so if you’re hoping to see some action, you can head there. Guided tours are highly recommended, as your tour guide will know exactly where to go to spot the wildlife.
You’ll also be able to spot some tropical birds in some areas and live shells, like the Florida Horse Conch.
Come Paddle With Us
Contact us at (941)-216-3793 for more information on kayak tour providers and the most exciting, remote places to explore on and near Anna Maria Island.
Spend the morning paddling the waterways and the afternoon on the beaches near our Anna Maria Island vacation homes. Lucky for you, our island has it all.
