Top St Petersburg Nature and Wildlife Tours

Look for dolphins around Boca Ciega Bay in St. Pete Beach on a cruise in the Tampa Bay Area. Continue into the Gulf of Mexico to visit Shell Key island, a wildlife preserve where you can snorkel, swim, or collect shells on the beach. Depending on the season, you might spot dolphins, manatees, rays, and a variety of seabirds. This family-friendly tour offers both a late morning and afternoon departure, making it easy to suit your schedule.

Get out on the water and see Tampa Bay from a new perspective with this kayaking tour. Ride in a clear kayak—which has the advantage of greater visibility of the underwater world. Along the way look out for coastal birds, marine life, and the beautiful mangroves. No need to worry about missing out on photo opportunities—the trip includes photo stops and a break at Shell Key to enjoy its beach and sandbars.

Our 3hr Shell Key Shelling Trip is offered from Hubbard’s Marina inside Johns Pass and offers around one hour on the island exploring and shelling with around an hour ride down the back protected bay waters on a relaxing, safe, and fun trip onboard the HUB Cat 49. On the ride back to Johns Pass, we will cruise up our beautiful gulf beaches when weather allows, if it’s a little bumpy the ride back will also be in the back protected bay waters. We will often spot dolphins, seabirds, manatees and other wildlife on the ride out and back!

The state of Florida has a history of human habitation stretching back at least 14000 years. Take a guided tour of the Jungle Prada Site in St. Petersburg to uncover Native American history as you walk through an archaeological site of the Tocobaga tribe. Learn about the ancient peoples and the Spanish conquistadors that landed in the area in 1528 and enjoy time roaming around the lush property.

If you want to explore the waters near St. Pete Beach at night, but are too intimidated to journey out on your own because the area is home to a lot of marine life, this tour is a great choice. This St. Pete Beach Glass Bottom Kayak LED Night Tour lets you go out with a guide who knows the area and its ecosystem well and who can easily lead the way even in the dark.

Experience the thrill of driving a speedboat across the crystal blue waters of Tampa Bay on this sightseeing tour. Hop on board an F-13 mini speedboat and get ready for adventure. Follow a trained guide in a separate boat with a two-way communication system installed to talk back and forth. Check out the beautiful Florida coast and look for pods of dolphins and other wildlife swimming below or gliding down and around from above.

Take a relaxed sunset cruise launching from St. Pete Beach and view a different side of the city on this shared small group boat ride. Although it’s shared, the passenger count is kept low to create a semi-intimate experience as you cruise through residential canals to view local mansions. As you pass by Tierra Verde, you might see dolphins swimming near your boat. Bottled water is provided, as well as blankets in the cooler months.

If you're looking for a place to watch the sun set over Florida's stunning water, but don't want to just sit dockside, this Gulf of Mexico Sunset Cruise from Madeira Beach takes you out on the water to do just that. Bring your own alcohol (or non-alcoholic drinks) and enjoy the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.

Step aboard an evening cruise for dinner and drinks while you take in views of St. Pete Beach. Watch over the landmarks of St. Pete and munch on food from the tropical-themed buffet. Open bar means you won't go thirsty while jamming to island music from the onboard DJ and other entertainment.

Spice up any Florida vacation with a cruise on the Gulf of Mexico. Beginning in St. Petersburg, enjoy a beautiful sunset (depending upon the time of year) and listen to live music on board the elegant 'StarLite Sapphire' yacht. Choose from the open-air observation deck or the climate-controlled cabin inside. Either way, the view is spectacular. Then dance the night away or take a romantic stroll along the deck.

Cruise into the sunset aboard this small-group boat trip. You'll hop aboard the WildSide, an 18-passenger catamaran, and head out to sea, passing by beautiful coastal houses along the way. Your captain will narrate part of the experience. Best of all, you're welcome to bring your own drinks, and there will be a cooler and ice on board to keep things fresh.

St. Petersburg is packed with a rich art culture, but if you’re not familiar with the city, you may not know where to go to see the city’s art. Take this St. Petersburg Art Biking Tour and follow a guide who shows you more than 30 murals and talks art and a bit of food. You’ll ride at a casual pace with stops to admire murals and to taste some treats like truffles.

Get a new perspective on St. Petersburg by booking this private helicopter tour. Get a bird's eye view of the gorgeous Florida coastline as you soar over the white sands of Treasure Island. Experience John's Pass from a new angle before flying over the famed beachfront pink palace that is the Don CeSar Resort. Your pilot will point out important sites and provide information on each.

Shell Key Preserve is only accessible by water, and if you don’t own a boat, it can be hard to get to the area to explore it. This Shell Key Preserve Snorkeling Cruise from Tampa takes you to the 1,800-acre (728-hectare) wildlife preserve to snorkel and look for shells and wildlife. Some of the wildlife you may see along your journey, includes dolphins, birds, manatees, hermits crabs, fish, and horseshoe crabs.

Florida’s Gulf Coast is coveted for its clear emerald waters and stunning beaches, which you’ll see plenty of on this exciting sightseeing cruise. Instead of boarding a traditional boat, you’ll hop aboard a uniquely designed Shark Boat. Though comfortable, this boat travels at speeds that create wakes which encourage dolphins to play. Watch these animals leap into the air as you sail through the waterways around Madeira Beach.

Peruse Florida's diverse ecosystems on two wheels. Set out on a 2-hour bicycle tour of St. Petersburg's Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, home to an array of mammals and birds such as alligators, cormorants and ospreys. Follow your knowledgeable guide across boardwalks, along trails and through large meadows, taking in the preserve's exquisite natural scenery and the many butterflies fluttering about. This 3-mile mountain bike tour is limited to 8 people for a more personalized experience.

The Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge is a serene, secluded island in Tampa Bay that’s popular for hiking and fishing. Go beyond the beauty of St. Pete’s Beaches and visit this island on a relaxing half-day tour. Sail from the St. Pete Pier over to Egmont Key and spend a few hours wandering miles of white sand beaches. Bottled water is available but you can bring your own food and drink to enjoy a quiet island lunch.

Whether you’re a local looking for a new way to exercise or a visitor who wants to discover Florida’s waterways, this private kayaking adventure in Tierra Verde is customizable to your desires. This experience includes all of the gear you need, including ocean kayaks, paddles, a safety vest, dry bags, and more. They’ll help you put together a unique tour through the local mangrove tunnels where you can spot plenty of aquatic and aviary wildlife.

Experience St. Petersburg, Florida like never before on this educational and entertaining guided, small-group Segway nature tour. Learn about the Sunshine City’s nature and wildlife on a loop around the Tampa Bay seawall. See manatees and dolphins in their natural habitat. Visit the Sunken Gardens, a botanical paradise and St. Petersburg's oldest living museum and more. Guided Segway training, helmet and safety equipment, and bottled water are included. Dress in weather-appropriate clothes with flat, closed-toed shoes.

Discover St. Petersburg's undeveloped Shell Key Preserve on this exciting kayak excursion. Join a small group and gear up for your adventure through mangrove tunnels and shallow seagrass meadows. While you paddle, observe local wildlife like sea turtles and seabirds and stop at Shell Island to collect seashells or go for a swim.

Go snorkeling around Egmont Key and look for dolphins and other wildlife on this half-day boat tour from Madeira Beach with a small group. Learn about the history of Egmont Key and look for wildlife such as dolphins, manatees, and turtles on the boat ride, then go snorkeling with the provided gear. Options include the ruins for more advanced snorkelers and the grass flats for beginner.

Hi, I'm Scott. Karissa and I are the owners and only guides at Island Kayak Tours. We will guide you through the mangrove tunnels (tide permitting) and time your adventure just right to give you the best chance at seeing dolphins & manatees. There is also free time for you to explore Shell Key Island, whether that means shelling, swimming, snorkeling, or simply enjoying the view. Our tours take place in a shallow saltwater preserve. There are no alligators, and most of the water is knee to waist-deep; perfect for both beginners and experts. All the experience I have from growing up here in St. Petersburg has given me the opportunity to put together a kayak tour like no other. Kayaking has always been one of my favorite things to do around the area. This has allowed me the opportunity to find all the best kayaking spots and to accumulate the local knowledge to give you a true Florida experience. I started this kayaking company to share the natural beauty of my home with you.

As one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands in the area, Shell Key Preserve is a must see for all nature lovers. Join this guided tour of the preserve and discover this ecosystem up close. You’ll slide into a double kayak and paddle around shallow waters offering clear views of what’s beneath. Swim in Shell Key Shoal’s beaches then kayak to the preserve. Wade through seagrass flats and through mangrove tunnels during the adventure.