15 Dolphin and Manatee Trips Worth Flying For

1.Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,328 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $65Our pick

Paddle Daytona Beach’s calm bay beneath seven bridges, around an island, past yachts, and through shallow canals where dolphins and manatees may appear. Guides such as Brock, Dallas, Walker, and Spencer teach beginners from scratch. Kayaks are available if a paddleboard feels uncomfortable.

“Spencer our guide shared a ton of information about the natural environment. It was a great trip. It was very doable for us ladies”

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2.Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour of Fort Myers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,167 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddleboard through the Fort Myers area with guides such as Eric and Chase, learning basic board skills while looking for dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, pelicans, starfish, and shells. The two-hour trip includes a beach stop and local history, with boards and gear provided.

“My wife and I came to relax for our anniversary. Neither of us had paddle boarded before and were a little uneasy. Eric was our tour guide. Br was amazing and patient and showed us exactly what we needed to do to be successful. I had an amazing time hearing about the different animals/sea life we encountered along the way. Eric was very knowledgeable and friendly. We will absolutely be back during our next visit. Thank you Eric and 3 Brothers for making our trip even more memorable!”

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3.Dolphin, Manatee and SeaTurtle SUP Adventure Tour of St Augustine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,219 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Spend about two hours kayaking or paddleboarding from 442 Ocean Vista Ave near Anastasia State Park. A guide such as Ryan, Nolan, Spence, or Joseph leads you along calm coastal water, points out birds and marine life, and returns you to the launch point. Wildlife sightings depend on weather and season.

“Nolan was amazing wonderful tour guide. Highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting St. Augustine! I’m a repeat customer and will definitely come do this again.”

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4.Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour w/Cocoa Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 923 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $69

Spend about 2.5 hours kayaking Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands with guides such as James, Ian, or Susie. Paddle open water and narrow mangrove tunnels while watching for manatees, dolphins, tarpon, stingrays, crabs, and birds. Kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and guide-taken photos are included.

“We had a great time on this tour! We got to see several manatees right up next to our kayaks, the mangrove tunnels were a cool experience & our guide, Jeff, was great. Very knowledgeable, patient & funny. Highly recommend this tour!”

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5.Mangrove Tunnels, Dolphins, Manatee Tour #1 Rated in Cocoa Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 836 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59

Spend about two hours kayaking Cocoa Beach’s calm waterways and mangrove tunnels with guides such as Holly, Erin, Jordyn, or Ian. Choose a single or tandem kayak, learn basic paddling, and look for dolphins, manatees, birds, comb jellies, and mangrove crabs. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“Awesome experience! Erin was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and plant life in the area. I would highly recommend for a family or group. 2 hours went by quickly covering about 2 miles.”

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6.New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 457 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Meet your guide at DiVito Park for a two-hour kayak or SUP trip through New Smyrna’s waterways. Michael, Spencer, Fletcher, and other guides lead beginners toward likely wildlife areas, share local stories, and may photograph the outing. Sightings vary with tides, weather, and luck.

“Spence was a wonderful guide. Very patient with some of us who haven’t kayak before. He knew all the spots to take us to see dolphins. We highly recommend this tour.”

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7.Dolphin and Manatee Kayak Tour of Daytona Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 258 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddle the Halifax River near Daytona Beach for about two hours with a small group of up to 15 people. Guides such as Walker, Dan, Spencer, Mike, and Cam help beginners get comfortable while you look for dolphins, manatees, turtles, birds, and other Florida wildlife.

“Dan was awesome very knowledgeable nice and personable , really enjoyed the tour . We went around the island through the Marina looking for wildlife tried very hard to make our tour memorable. If he saw any trash in the water he picked it up along the way. He was also training guys and they were nice also .”

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8.Manatee and Dolphin Kayaking | Wildlife Refuge (Titusville)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 241 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Paddle the calm canals at Haulover Canal near Titusville with Florida Adventurer. Your guide provides the kayak, paddle, and PFD, then helps you look for manatees, dolphins, alligators, stingrays, and birds. Guides including Brian, Zach, and Tyler are praised for wildlife knowledge and patient instruction.

“Dane was very knowledgeable about the area and animals here in Florida. We had an amazing morning on the water with him. We got to see a dolphin chase some small fish right up to where we were launching. Even something Dane hadn’t ever seen. Very enjoyable time on the water.”

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9.Manatee and Dolphin Kayaking Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You’ll paddle Haulover Canal with guides such as Chaz, Zoe, Drew, or Carey, looking for manatees, dolphins, birds, jellyfish, and gators. The two-hour trip includes your kayak, paddle, and PFD, with wildlife viewed on its own terms.

“EXCELLENT GUIDE! He was calm, cool, & collected.. Even when we saw an alligator! Do Not Hesitate to Book with Him! He has a LOT of experience! Also, He is very knowledgeable about the foliage and wildlife there. Definitely Worth It! Don't hesitate to book!😊”

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10.Wildlife Refuge Manatee, Dolphin & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 210 reviews · from $52Best value

Join Cocoa Kayaking for a 90-minute guided paddle from Haulover Canal near Mims. Choose a kayak or paddleboard by calling after booking. Guides such as Noah, Logan, Katie, and Captain Mike point out manatees, dolphins, birds, mangroves, and other wildlife, with photos sent afterward.

“We had an amazing time and learned so much about the wildlife and the preservation of the seashore! Would recommend for all!”

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11.Sunset Tour Mangrove, Dolphins, Manatee #1 Rated in Cocoa Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 201 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $60

Spend about two hours kayaking Cocoa Beach’s mangrove tunnels at sunset with a guide such as Caleb, Jordyn, or Jessica. Beginners are welcome, tandem kayaks are standard, and complimentary photos are included. Wildlife sightings vary, but dolphins, manatees, birds, crabs, and jumping fish may appear along the way.

“Jordan was fantastic. She was very helpful and full of knowledge about the area and lagoon. We would definitely recommend and do again.”

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12.Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour of Cocoa Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 194 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Choose a kayak or paddleboard for a two-hour trip through Cocoa Beach’s Banana River Manatee Refuge and Thousand Islands. Guides such as Riley, Jack, Roman, and Christian share local wildlife facts while you look for dolphins, manatees, storks, spoonbills, and more.

“Riley was awesome! We hand so much fun and he shared a lot of great information. We went on the 10:30 tour and it was so great. He also brought us to the rope swing, which I took full advantage of! We saw both dolphins and manatees!”

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13.Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour of Naples with Florida History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 187 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddle a kayak or stand-up board through Naples mangrove waterways with a guide such as Jacob or Doug. You’ll get a short lesson, hear about Florida history and wildlife, and watch for dolphins, manatees, birds, fish, and turtles. The tour suits beginners and returns to its launch point.

“The tour was terrific!! The paddle boards we were using were absolutely beautiful. The tour guide was phenomenal, he was very patient with my children and he gave us tons of interesting facts about the area. We saw dolphins and manatees swim right past us and I even had a sea turtle that kept coming up to my board. My family has been vacationing in Naples for many years and this tour is definitely the best thing to do in Naples. We had such a great experience with this company we are thinking about trying to sign up for their Ft. Myers tour on Tuesday! Also, bring your phone there…”

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14.Catamaran Sailing Dolphin/Manatee Watch in Daytona Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 179 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $64

Captain Randy takes you aboard the clean, spacious Howling Owl for a gentle 75-minute sail on Daytona Beach’s Halifax River. With room for only six, you get a quiet ride, shaded and sunny seating, drinks, music, and a good chance to spot dolphins, manatees, and pelicans.

“Captain Randy was very accommodating. The boat is beautiful and very clean. The ride was relaxing. We saw both dolphins and manatees. It was a wonderful way to start the day!”

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15.Puerto Aventuras: Dolphin Swim, Sea Lions, Manatees, & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 33 reviews · 2 hours · from $135

Spend about two hours at Dolphin Discovery Puerto Aventuras with a 15-minute briefing, a 60-minute dolphin swim, and separate sea lion and manatee sessions. A buffet meal, two non-alcoholic drinks, lockers, showers, and restrooms are included. Groups are limited to 10.

“The activities were amazing, of course we would have liked to spend more time interacting with the animals but understand why its limited. we were a party of 5, joined by 2 more - so 7 ppl for both Dolphins and manatee - then a larger group for the sea lion. All the staff were happy and friendly and made it a lovely day. The food was good with a nice selection. would recommend 👌”

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