Get Up and Go Kayaking - Tampa Bay
Named #1 nature and outdoors activity in the U.S. and #2 in the world for 2026 by Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards!
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NEW in 2026! We’re officially launching our new Kayak + Beach Yoga Experience at Shell Key Preserve. Discover a unique blend of mindfulness, movement, and marine life on a guided clear-kayak paddle that leads into a peaceful, instructor-led yoga flow on a secluded beach. It’s a wellness-forward experience we’re incredibly excited to share.
Take an unforgettable clear kayak tour of Shell Key Preserve in the Tampa Bay area! Paddle near mangrove islands, explore white sand beaches and sandbars, and discover Florida’s incredible marine life.
Wildlife encounters at Shell Key Preserve vary by season. In the summer, look for manatees and pink Roseate Spoonbills. During the winter, White Pelicans gather along the sandbars. Year-round, you might spot dolphins swimming in the crystal-clear waters or see cormorants diving beneath your kayak. While we can’t guarantee sightings, our experienced guides will help you make the most of your adventure.
For a one-of-a-kind evening experience, try our Shell Key Preserve Glow tours:
- Sunset Tour: Paddle to Shell Key and watch a stunning sunset over the Gulf of Mexico from a secluded beach. Then, enjoy a peaceful twilight paddle as the sky transforms, and light up the water below with LED lights in each kayak.
- Glow Tour: Light up the water beneath you with color-changing LED lights as you paddle through the preserve and into a hidden mangrove tunnel at night!
Shell Key Preserve kayak tours launch from Tierra Verde, FL, near St. Pete Beach—a must-visit destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts! Book your Shell Key Preserve kayak tour today and experience Florida’s natural beauty from a completely see-through kayak!
Hours
Monday 8 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–6 PM
Thursday 8 AM–6 PM
Friday 8 AM–6 PM
Saturday 8 AM–6 PM
Sunday 8 AM–6 PM
What Visitors Love
Amazing kayak tour! It ended up being just three of us early in the morning, so it felt like a private experience. Our guide, Raven, was knowledgeable and personable, sharing great info about the area, wildlife, and plants. We even saw a manatee before leaving the dock! Highlights included dolphins, stingrays, birds, and kayaking through the beautiful mangrove tunnels. Such a fun and memorable morning—highly recommend!
Wonderful experience!! First tour with Nick was awesome but we had to return to the dock early due to weather. We really learned a lot from him. He was able to spot a large snail and gave us a great break down of all the interesting facts about it. They helped us reschedule a tour for Friday morning and we had Jenna. She was wonderful as well. She gave us lots of detailed information and helped us spot a dolphin. We were fortunate enough to have two wonderful guides and we highly recommend booking with them.
We had a wonderful mid-morning kayaking tour with Alessia at Get Up and Go Kayaking. She was engaging, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience feel relaxed and special. She guided us through the mangrove cave, pointed out interesting things along the way—like the welk snail—and even captured videos of a dolphin with her baby so we could stay present and enjoy the moment. The beach was beautiful, and the whole trip was a great experience. I especially appreciated how patient Alessia was with our group of middle-aged ladies, some of whom had never kayaked before. She made everyone feel comfortable and took her time with us. Not only would we absolutely book with Alessia again, we are already interested in trying her kayaking and yoga experience. Based on this tour, I would also use Get Up and Go Kayaking for other kayaking trips around the state. Highly recommend!
Had a sunset kayak trip with friends and it was amazing! I’ve been kayaking before but truly this was wonderful. Our guide Nick was a gem, really informative and helpful. And we caught one of the best sunsets but the beach. Planning to come back with a bigger group and even family! 10/10 experience! I cannot recommend enough!
Awesome 7:30 AM tour with Jenna who is incredibly knowledgeable about the local environment and habitat. We saw manatee as well as a variety of birds. Jenna also had excellent history of how much the area has been developed and it’s impact to the environment. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
General Information
- Family-friendly
Accessible Features
- Wheelchair Accessible Parking
- Wheelchair Accessible Restroom