Pedal through seagrass beds and mangrove tunnels on a 2-mile Neal Preserve tour
2 hours
Guide, dry bags, pedal kayak
Explore the waterways surrounding Neal Preserve on a guided pedal kayak tour. Cruise over seagrass beds and through narrow mangrove tunnel trails on an out-and-back route of about 2 miles.
You must have full use of your legs to use the pedal kayaks. Children under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tours may be canceled or rescheduled due to weather.
Full refund with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. No-shows will be charged the full price.
Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled start time for a safety briefing and equipment tutorial.
Meet at the public boat launch at the east end of the bridge adjacent to Neal Preserve (an unpaved sand parking lot). Do not meet inside Neal Preserve. Look for a bright blue kayak trailer with a blue camouflage pattern.
No. There are no restroom facilities at the launch site. You can use the Porta Potty at the entrance of Neal Preserve before you arrive at the launch.
12378 Manatee Ave. West, Bradenton, FL 34209
Skye and Joe are the standout guides here, and reviewers can't stop raving about how they transform a simple kayak tour into something memorable. What really shines through is their compassion and flexibility—one family shared how Skye handled a teenager's panic attack with incredible understanding, never making them feel rushed or guilty about the situation. He even gifted shark teeth to the kids. Multiple families mention how patient and accommodating both guides are with different ages and abilities, making everyone feel comfortable on the water. The pedal kayaks get enthusiastic mentions from first-timers who love how easy and comfortable they are compared to traditional paddling. Wildlife sightings are consistently impressive—manatees, dolphins, egrets, and even sharks make regular appearances. Guides share fascinating information about local history, mangroves, and marine life along the way. The tours run from convenient, beautiful launch spots and typically last around three hours. Return customers keep coming back, with one reviewer noting they've booked four or five times. The equipment is well-maintained, customer service is excellent, and the overall vibe is friendly and fun without feeling overly commercialized.
My family had a great afternoon with Sky. He communicated with us leading up to our tour date with when was best in the day for the weather, etc. We all felt very safe and had great instructions along the way. We saw a manatee and dolphins and got to travel through some cool trails. Highly recommend the feet-peddle kayaks for a unique experience. They were fun. We had to use the normal paddles in shallow areas so it was a nice lil workout but nothing too hard to handle for 4 adults in our 60s and 30s. Thanks so much!
Sarah
March 20, 2026
My family had a great afternoon with Sky. He communicated with us leading up to our tour date with when was best in the day for the weather, etc. We all felt very safe and had great instructions along the way. We saw a manatee and dolphins and got to travel through some cool trails. Highly recommend the feet-peddle kayaks for a unique experience. They were fun. We had to use the normal paddles in shallow areas so it was a nice lil workout but nothing too hard to handle for 4 adults in our 60s and 30s. Thanks so much!
Sarah
March 20, 2026