St Petersburg

Kayak Tour at Shell Key with Capt Yak

Badge of ExcellenceSt Petersburg, USA
Kayak Tour at Shell Key with Capt Yak
  • 3 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Overview

Far from your typical kayaking trip, this immersive tour is led by Captain Yak: an animal and ecology researcher. He’ll guide you through Shell Key Preserve which acts as a vital ecosystem for the area. After paddling through mangrove tunnels and over sandbars, you’ll have time to explore Shell Key. Captain Yak will share facts and stories with you on the return trip as you keep an eye out for local wildlife.
  • Explore Shell Key Preserve with a local guide
  • Choose between single or tandem sit-on-top kayaks
  • Learn about the local ecosystem and wildlife
  • Spend time relaxing or swimming on Shell Key

What's Included

  • Single or Tandem Kayaks, Paddles and Life Vests.

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • Cattsperr Hole
      Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA

      Pinellas Bayway Kayak and SUP Launch, 2828 Pinellas Bayway South Tierra Verde, Fl. 33715 Located 2-1/2 miles on the right once you cross over the Tierra Verde Bridge. There is no sign and you can park anywhere on the grass lot. You will see Capt Yak's Wrapped Silver Nissan Titan and Kayak Trailer.

    Start time

    Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

    Opening hours

    • 6/17/2022 - 5/27/2025

      Monday - Saturday : 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

    Cattsperr Hole

    30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    See more
    Featured review
    Jenna_M
    I had never been kayaking before, Capt Yak was a great teacher and patient with me on how to use the paddles. He was also very knowledgeable of the wildlife and history of the area. He also took pictures of my friends and I. I’m so glad I did this tour and will definitely schedule another one soon! I truly recommend this tour and Capt Yak, he made our experience great! :)

    Reviews

    5.0
    48 reviews
    Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Reviews by Viator travelers.
    Showing 1-10 of 48 reviews
    A must do!
    Chris_F, Jan 2023
    The entire experience was awesome. Capt Yak is very personable and provided alot of information about the local birds, sea life etc. one of the groups overturned their kayak and he was right there to help them get back in!
    Response from Host, Jul 2023
    Thank you for booking and the review! I love sharing my knowledge and glad you enjoyed the information! Greg Capt Yak
    Fabulous trip
    Marcie_M, Dec 2022
    We had a great time and Greg was an expert host! We saw dolphins and enjoyed shell searching on Shell Key.
    Response from Host, Jan 2023
    I am always excited when we get to see dolphins in the preserve! Hope you found some good shell! Thank you for booking and the review! Greg Capt Yak
    Don’t miss this
    Wayne_B, Sep 2022
    Very informative and enjoyable. Captain Yak knows the history of the land and peoples and knows the waters around the keys and islands. A very worthwhile excursion for a single, couple or group.
    Response from Host, Jan 2023
    Thank you for booking and the review! Glad you enjoyed the tour and my banter! Greg Capt Yak
    So much fun!! Manatee...
    Christy_L, Aug 2022
    So much fun!! Manatee right under our kayaks, comical birds, and Capt Yak took great care of us. Shell Island was beautiful. Highly recommend for a fun adventure!!
    Response from Host, Jan 2023
    I am glad you had fun on the tour! Always great to see manatees and especially when the are so close! Thank you for booking and the review! Greg Capt Yak
    Water adventure with Captain Yak
    loreto_S, Aug 2022
    Great experience with alot of information. Saw a manatee and dolphin, enjoyed the swimming on the island
    Response from Host, Jan 2023
    Double bonus when we see Dolphins and Manatees! Thank you for booking and the review! Greg Capt Yak
    My first time kayaking and Capt Yak made it such a memorable experience!
    Jenna_M, Jun 2022
    I had never been kayaking before, Capt Yak was a great teacher and patient with me on how to use the paddles. He was also very knowledgeable of the wildlife and history of the area. He also took pictures of my friends and I. I’m so glad I did this tour and will definitely schedule another one soon! I truly recommend this tour and Capt Yak, he made our experience great! :)
    Response from Host, Jul 2022
    Thank you for booking and the review! I am glad you had fun and love it when people new to kayaking want to do it again! Hope to see you on a future tour! Greg/Capt Yak
    Such a great experience!!...
    Jacob_P, May 2022
    Such a great experience!! Highly recommended!!! Capt Yak had a lot of knowledge to share with everyone. We seen birds that swam in the water beside us! The man-coves were so cool to go through as well. Shell Key is beautiful experience as well! Swam and looked for shells.
    Response from Host, May 2022
    Thank you for booing and the review! The tunnels are great to paddle through and glad you enjoyed them! Greg/Capt Yak
    Beautiful and Peaceful
    Mandy_J, May 2022
    Capt Yak was funny, informative, and fun to be around. We learned so many things about the area and it's wildlife. Going through the Mangrove tunnels and exploring at Shell Key was my favorite! It was a very peaceful and beautiful trip. We were able to spend more time exploring and really getting close to nature than we would have on a charter boat.
    Response from Host, May 2022
    Thank you for booking and the great review! The preserve is more suited for kayaks than charter boats and glad you were able to come on my tour and enjoy the Preserve! Greg/Capt Yak
    Amazing Kayaking Trip!!!
    Stephanie_F, May 2022
    Such an awesome experience! We had so much fun and would definitely do this again. Capt. Yak was great! Would give the excursion more than 5 stars if we could.
    Response from Host, May 2022
    Thank you for booking and the review! Hope to see you back! Greg/Capt Yak
    We had a blast! We...
    Dakota_T, May 2022
    We had a blast! We kayaked with a group of 5 (2 adults, 2 teens and an 8&9 year old) it was perfect for our whole family! Greg lead a great, informational and hands on tour which we appreciated! Will definitely be back on our next trip to the sunshine state!
    Response from Host, May 2022
    I enjoyed sharing the Preserve with your group and can't wait for you to return again! Greg/ Capt Yak
    Fun kayak adventure
    Jenny_H, Apr 2022
    This was an amazing experience and our guide was amazing! We git to go through mangroves tunnels. He told us some of the history of the area. Very friendly!
    Response from Host, May 2022
    Thank you for the great review! It was fun having you out! Greg/Capt Yak
    Best experience in St. Petersburg this far!
    Taylor_G, Apr 2022
    It was such a good day! So glad we decided to do this! We saw so much marine life. Capt. Jason was so knowledgeable of the ocean and marine life. We saw some dolphins and much more. This experience will never be forgotten. Will come back someday and do again! Highly recommend for all ages!
    Response from Host, Apr 2022
    Thank you for booking and the review. I will let Jason know you had a great time on the water! Happy for the memories for you and do hope to see you back! Greg/Capt Yak
    Great value, great for relatively athletic wildlife lovers
    Christine_C, Mar 2022
    Pros: Comfortable kayak, great scenery, good amount of wildlife: saw cormorants diving under our kayaks because our rowing stirs up fish, saw some ibises, Capt Yak was knowledgeable and showed us several sea creatures that he found in the water: jellyfish, conches, etc. Kayaking through mangrove forests was awesome! Cons: started and finished 20min late due to people arriving late, including one staff member. We had arrived early as instructed so we had to wait quite a bit. Only had about 20min on the island, would’ve appreciated around 30-40min. No bathrooms just lots of trees. Our athletic friends did fine, non-athletic friends were struggling a bit to keep up with the rowing.
    Response from Host, Mar 2022
    Thank you for booking, the review and your feedback. I am glad you enjoyed the tour, the wildlife and comfortable kayaks. We do only spend about 20 minutes on the Island on the tour. If you ever come back contact me and you can rent kayaks and make you way out to Shell Key and spend more time there. Private Tours can also be booked and customized. It is rare that we leave late and I do apologize for that. Hope to see you again. Greg Capt Yak
    Fantastic voyage with Captain Yak!
    Jacqueline_L, Mar 2022
    Our tour with Captain Yak was so memorable! He was very patient and knowledgeable about sea life and Florida history. The mangroves were so unique. We’re definitely coming back again and next time we’ll take the sunset tour!
    Response from Host, Mar 2022
    Thank you and can not wait to see you back! You will love the Sunset Tour! Greg Capt Yak
    Kayaking through the mangroves
    Melissa_G, Mar 2022
    Wonderful day on the water with fantastic guides!! We had such a good time leaning about the mangroves, and the mix of sun and shade was perfect!
    Response from Host, Mar 2022
    Thank you for the review and booking with Capt Yak! Always great when the weather cooperates! Greg Capt Yak
    Great staff and funny trip.
    Dusan_F, Feb 2022
    Good Staff, nice kayaks. Cpt. Explained many interesting things. Can recommend for everyone who love nature ans paddling.
    Response from Host, Feb 2022
    Thank for booking and the review! I have a great time sharing the preserve. Greg Capt Yak
    What an adventure!!
    Whitney_M, Feb 2022
    This was so much fun and very much so of a workout. This is not the weak! The Mangroves were okay but a little tight to get through. The depth of water was not bad either (about waist level at the highest) only thing is that I wish we were provided with a light snack. Make sure you bring water shoes and some snacks for energy source! YOU WILL NEED IT. Would do with a older child but I’m not sure if a little kid would be up for the challenge. (Maybe in double kayak but not a single). My husband and I were happy we did it but very much sore the next day. Thanks again captain yak!!
    Response from Host, Feb 2022
    Thank you for booking and the review! I am sorry you felt it to be a workout. Some days can be harder because of the wind and yes this time of the year with the lower tide levels some of the tunnels can be narrow. Hope you come and try it again. Greg Capt Yak
    Great little trip!
    Jamie_P, Feb 2022
    This was such a fun experience. Captain Yak was very knowledgeable about the wildlife. We saw dolphins, welks, conchs, and crabs. Captain Yak was very patient with two 10 year old rambunctious boys who had lots of questions and wanted to see EVERYTHING!
    Response from Host, Feb 2022
    Thank you for booking! I everyone was great and love seeing the younger ones interested in the environment! Dolphins always an added bonus. Hope to see you all again. Greg Capt Yak
    Perfect trip
    Steven_H, Dec 2021
    Capt. Yak was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. The kids were so excited about all of the discoveries they made. We had an amazing experience!!
    Response from Host, Jan 2022
    Thank you for the review and it was great to share the discoveries with the family. I especially enjoy it when kids enjoy the preserve! Greg Capt Yak
    Kayaking with Capt Yak
    Arkadiy_G, Nov 2021
    Great kayaking experience around Shell Keys. Well equipped kayaks, great guide, amazing scenery and plenty of wild life to see.
    Response from Host, Nov 2021
    Thank you! Glad to share the Preserve with you and your wife! Greg/Capt Yak

    From $48.00

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Compare Similar Experiences

    1 / 3
    Current
    No Photo
    Kayak Tour at Shell Key with Capt Yak
    48
    3 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $48.00
    Likely to Sell Out
    No Photo
    Shell Key Clear Kayak Glow in the Dark Tour
    248
    1 hour 30 minutes
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $79.00
    No Photo
    Guided Kayak EcoTour of Beautiful Shell Key Preserve
    67
    3 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $48.00

    Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

    Explore Similar Things to Do

    Help CenterCustomer CarePrivacy and Cookies StatementAbout ViatorNewsViator blog
    © 1997-2024 Viator, Inc.
    Terms & Conditions