Manatee Kayak At Wildlife Refuge

Manatee and Dolphin Kayak Tour - Wildlife Refuge (Titusville). Rated 4.9 across 231 reviews. Runs 2 hours. From $55.

Overview

This two-hour paddle with A Day Away Kayak Tours starts at the Haulover Canal Kayak Launch in Mims, inside the wildlife refuge near Titusville. A professional guide leads the group across the refuge waters, where reviewers describe manatees surfacing right beside the kayaks, with one even nudging a boat. Dolphins, alligators and ospreys also appear in reviewer accounts of the trip.

The pace is gentle. Several travellers called the tour relaxing rather than strenuous, and one family with children aged eight and five reported enjoying it as much as the adults did. Infants must sit on laps, and the tour accepts a maximum of 42 travellers.

Kayak, paddle and PFD are provided, along with a safety light. No hotel pickup is included, so travellers make their own way to the launch. Confirmation arrives at the time of booking, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the start time.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Haulover CanalArrive at the Haulover Canal Kayak Launch in Mims, FL. The tour starts and ends at this same point.
2. Get set upKayak, paddle and PFD are included with the tour, so travellers have their equipment ready before the group sets off.
3. Paddle the refuge watersThe guide leads the group through a couple of areas of the refuge over the two-hour tour, watching for manatees, dolphins, alligators and birds along the way.
4. Return to the launchThe trip ends back at the Haulover Canal Kayak Launch, where the outing wraps up.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from repeated reviewer comments will help travellers arrive prepared.

• Getting wet. The listing advises wearing clothes that can get a little wet and bringing a towel to leave in the car. One reviewer noted that sit-on kayaks leave legs exposed, so long pants or plenty of sunscreen is a good idea.
• Footwear. Water shoes are recommended, such as sandals or Crocs that can be worn in the water. An extra change of clothes in the car is also suggested just in case.
• Pace and fitness. The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness and is not recommended for travellers with back problems. Several reviewers described it as relaxing and not strenuous.
• Food and drink. Bottled water and snacks are worth bringing, and one reviewer specifically reminded others to bring water. The listing does not mention any food or drink being provided.
• Group feel. Guides are described repeatedly as knowledgeable, personable and entertaining.
• Camera choice. A camera and dry bag are optional, and the listing says they are fairly useless for bioluminescence but great for capturing people. Close-up manatee encounters are common enough in reviews that a camera within easy reach pays off.

Common issues. There is no hotel pickup, so travellers must drive to the Haulover Canal launch, and the site is not wheelchair accessible. Gratuities are not included in the price. Weather and wildlife are unpredictable, and while manatee sightings are frequent across many reviews, dolphins are sometimes seen only in the distance, as one reviewer noted. The tour also requires moderate fitness and is not recommended for travellers with back problems.

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