Marco Island is filled with small waterways, epic mangrove forests, and some of the best watersport adventuring on Florida’s west coast. Below are three kayak tours you can take to capture the wildlife, landscapes, and vistas while staying at vacation rentals on Marco Island.
1. Florida Backcountry Adventures
With a focus on a small group experience, Florida Backcountry Adventures, helmed by an enthusiastic guide and 20-year master of the Everglades, offers some fantastic Marco Island kayak tours.
Florida Backcountry Adventures offers two basic tours: The first explores the north end of the island in the mangrove estuary, and the other one navigates through the thick foliage and intricate sandbars of the Ten Thousand Islands.
Guests receive the proper equipment for a safe adventure through the Everglades, including a safety bag, instructions, and dry bags for storage. Get away from the crowds and visit untapped and hidden areas of the island’s unique ecosystems on a kayak tour, one of the most popular activities on the island.
Florida Backcountry Adventures is open every day from 7 am to 8 pm Contact the tour provider at (239) 642-3377 for any further details. Reservations are required.
2. Paddle Marco
Let the experienced guides at Paddle Marco take you on a fun kayak adventure – a unique Marco Island experience.
This tour and rental provider has two locations with different services. The location at Capri Paddlecraft Park, towards the north end of Marco Island by the bridge at Collier Boulevard, offers kayak tours through the mangrove forests.
Depending on the size of the group, tours may be led by two guides instead of one. This allows the guides to offer more individualized experiences for larger groups.
The location on the southern end of the island at Caxambas Park and Marina offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, but no tours.
Paddle Marco is open from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Sunday. Reservations are required for all tours. To book, contact the company at (239) 777-5423.
3. Florida Adventures and Rentals
Florida Adventures and Rentals taps into your sense of adventure, offering off-the-beaten-path Marco Island kayak tours. The team delivers a number of vacation activities at affordable prices.
Most tours will launch off from Isles of Capri Paddle Park (1295 Capri Blvd., Naples), just north of Marco Island, and will typically end up in the thick of the mangroves of Rookery Bay.
The provider offers other tours, as well, which can take visitors to the Dome Homes, Ten Thousand Islands, and other fascinating parts of Marco Island.
Guides encourage visitors to keep their eyes along the water, scanning for manatees and dolphins, which are known to poke their noses above the surface to check out passing boats.
Florida Adventures and Rentals is open every day from 7 am to 8 pm Tours are typically two hours long, often beginning in the morning. Discounts and private tours are available for groups larger than four, and private parking is available directly outside the office.
For more details on available activities, such as Jet Skis and boat tours, among others, contact the team at (239) 348-5551.
Plenty to see and do on Marco Island
Marco Island offers a lot for visitors to see and enjoy on the water, including marine life viewing on the open ocean, and visits to the remote Ten Thousand Islands – experiences in pristine and untouched nature that you won’t find elsewhere.
Whether you decide to take a kayak tour or a boat, be sure to get out on the water to explore the mangrove-lined estuaries around Marco Island and see the ocean scenery up close.
Kayakers and other outdoor enthusiasts will also love staying in our fully equipped and comfortable vacation rentals on Marco Island. For more information on the island’s many activities or to book a stay, contact us at (239) 394-0514.