PRIVATE MANGROVE TUNNEL TOUR
Exclusive Tour For Your GroupVIP Lido Eco Tour
Quick Details
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Ages: All Ages (Ideal for families, couples, and private groups)
- Skill Level: Perfect for all skill levels (Customized to your group’s pace and preferences)
- Meeting Location: Ted Sperling Nature Park (190 Taft Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236)
- Group Size: Minimum 2 guests (Large groups up to 80 paddlers welcome)
Your Exclusive Journey in Lido Key, FL
Paddle through the winding mangrove tunnels beneath a shaded canopy before exploring the waters around Otter Key. The deeper channels surrounding the island connect with shallow grass flats, creating an incredible habitat where manatees, bottlenose dolphins, rays, coastal birds, fish, sea stars, and other marine life can often be spotted.
The biggest advantage of going private? The experience revolves around you. Your guide can adjust the pace and focus of the tour to fit your group—whether that means spending more time looking for wildlife, learning about Sarasota Bay’s ecosystem, taking photos, or simply enjoying a relaxed paddle through the mangroves.
Private tours are especially great for families with young children, couples, special occasions, multi-generational groups, or anyone who wants a more personalized experience than a standard group tour.
No previous kayaking experience is necessary. Your guide will be with your group throughout the adventure to help with paddling, navigation, wildlife spotting, and anything else you need along the way.
Make your Sarasota mangrove experience your own with a private guided kayak tour.
Private Tour Highlights
- Your Own Dedicated Guide: Enjoy one-on-one attention, personalized instruction, and local knowledge from a guide dedicated exclusively to your group.
- Your Tour, Your Pace: Spend more time spotting wildlife, taking photos, exploring the mangrove tunnels, or simply enjoying a relaxed paddle—the experience is tailored around your group.
- Explore the Mangrove Tunnels: Paddle beneath the shaded mangrove canopy and through the winding tunnels before exploring the deeper channels and shallow grass flats surrounding Otter Key.
- More Personal Wildlife Experience: With your own guide helping spot wildlife along the way, keep watch for manatees, dolphins, rays, coastal birds, fish, sea stars, and more while observing them respectfully in their natural habitat.
What’s Included & What to Bring
Included with Every Booking:
- Private expert eco-tour guide exclusive to your group
- Your choice of single kayaks or tandem (2-person) kayaks.
- Lightweight fiberglass paddles
- US Coast Guard approved life jackets
- Waterproof dry bags for personal belongings
- Pre-launch safety and paddling lesson tailored to your experience level
What to Bring:
- Drinking water (reusable water bottle recommended)
- Sun protection (polarized sunglasses, wide-brim hat, sunscreen)
- Clothes that can get wet (swimsuits, athletic shirts/shorts)
- Water shoes or sandals with back straps
- Camera or smartphone to capture your private adventure
To protect Lido Key’s delicate ecosystem and marine life, our tours follow strict passive observation guidelines:
Manatee Protection Rule
Guides will not allow guests to approach, touch, feed, or encroach on wild manatees.
Leave No Trace
We practice quiet, respectful paddling through bird nesting areas and shallow grass flats.
Address
The launch address for your private tour is 190 Taft Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236.
How to Find Us
Enter through the gate into Ted Sperling Nature Park. Look for our aluminum open kayak trailer featuring a white Paradise Adventures sign and bright orange kayaks, parked next to our white GMC Sierra support truck.
Meeting Our Crew
Staff members Chris, Josh, Skye, or Orlando will greet you at the trailer to check you in, organize your equipment, and introduce your private guide.
Arrival Time
Please arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time to secure parking, check in, and fit your safety gear.
Parking Tip
Parking at Ted Sperling Nature Park is free. On weekends and peak season hours (10:30 AM to 2:00 PM), parking fills up quickly, so arriving early ensures a smooth start to your trip.
Full Refunds (48+ Hours Notice)
Customers receive a full refund if they cancel at least 48 hours before their scheduled launch time.
Cancellations under 48 Hours
Reservations canceled less than 48 hours prior to launch will be rescheduled at no additional cost or issued a gift card rain check for future use (no cash refunds).
Weather & Operator Cancellations
Customers receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to unsafe weather or unforeseen water conditions.
No-Shows
Guests who fail to show up for their scheduled departure will not be refunded.
Need to Change Booking?
Contact us by phone or text at (941) 275-2971 to adjust your reservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The safety of our guests comes first. We constantly assess weather conditions. If it is light rain, we still go out for our adventure. But, if there is thunder and lightning we will wait for the storm to pass before we head out. If we need to cancel we will try to reschedule you to later in the day or another day. If we need to cancel due to storms and you cannot attend another tour you will be refunded.
Private tours require a minimum of 2 guests. We can easily accommodate large family reunions, corporate retreats, and special events up to 80 paddlers. For groups larger than 12 guests, please call us directly for special group arrangements.
Sarasota Bay is a thriving natural ecosystem, and wildlife swims freely on its own schedule. While our private guides know the best spots around Otter Key and surrounding bay channels, sightings can never be 100% guaranteed. However, private tours offer maximum flexibility to linger in active wildlife areas!
We love pets, but for safety reasons and to avoid startling wild manatees, dolphins, and nesting birds, pets and dogs are not permitted on our tours or rentals.
The park is located on South Lido Key, just 5 minutes from St. Armands Circle, 2 minutes from Lido Beach, 10 minutes from downtown Sarasota, and approximately 20 minutes from Siesta Key.