Lido Mangrove Tunnels Tour

• Water! The Florida sun is hot, and we want you to stay hydrated. Help us reduce plastic waste by drinking from reusable containers rather than single use plastic bottles if possible!
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Cameras
• We can provide small drybags to protect phones, cameras, car keys, etc.

Most people wear t-shirts, shorts, and/or bathing suits. During the winter months, we suggest a light wind breaker or a sweatshirt depending on the temperature and the wind conditions. The most important thing is to be comfortable. As for shoes, wear something that you don’t mind getting wet — flip flops, water shoes, or old sneakers are ideal.

Your safety is paramount, so cancelling a tour depends on the weather conditions. If the forecast is a light drizzle, then the tour launches at the regularly scheduled time. If there are thunderstorms or any hint of lightning, then the tour is postponed or cancelled. If we cancel the tour due to weather and you are unable to reschedule, we issue a full refund.

The Lido Mangrove Tunnels Tour is ideal for all ages. For children, we have smaller life vests and lighter paddles. We also suggest tandem (double) kayaks, so that an adult can sit in the back of the same kayak with his/her child and help with paddling.

Yes, this tour is great for beginners as well as advanced kayakers. We start each Sarasota kayak tour with on-water paddling instructions for those who need it. Then your guide provides feedback and help along the way.

We have kayaks for all shapes and sizes. We assist you with finding the right kayak at the time of your tour. Our goal is to make sure that you are comfortable and enjoy your adventure.

This tour is in the swallow, protected waters of Sarasota Bay, so there is limited influence from wind and currents. The water is usually very clear, which makes it great for viewing sea life.

They are wild animals, so it’s always a matter of luck, but manatees are frequently seen from March through December, when the waters are warm enough for them. The remaining months of the year, manatees can be seen, but it is less frequent. Dolphins may be seen year-round as they feed and travel through the surrounding mangrove islands and channels.

No… We get this question all the time! There are no alligators on the Lido Mangrove Tunnels Tour. However, our Myakka River Kayak Tour has lots of alligators.

Depending on the time of year, a wide variety of tropical birds can be seen on the Lido Mangrove Tunnels Tour: ospreys, great blue herons, little blue herons, white egrets, yellow-crowned night herons, snowy egrets, little green herons, tri-colored herons, black-crowned night herons, cormorants, pelicans, and occasionally wood storks, roseate spoonbills, reddish egrets, bald eagles, white pelicans, and that’s only to name a few.

There is an abundance of live shells on this tour that can easily be seen in these shallow protected waterways: the Florida horse conch (the state shell), lightning whelks, true tulips, banded tulips, clams, scallops, and crown conchs are quite common. In addition to these beautiful live shells, you can also view sea stars (starfish), sea urchins, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, and many more invertebrates. We stress the word “live“ because the shells are living creatures. They’re protected and must stay in the water and can’t go home with you. But you can certainly enjoy them on your tour.