The Best Kayaking and Paddleboarding in the Florida Keys: Tours, Spots, and More!

The crystal clear water brimming with marine life, mangrove tunnels that transport you to another world, and easy access to the water make the Florida Keys one of the best spots for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding! Maybe you’re interested in exploring the water without getting wet and salty, which makes exploring by kayak and stand-up paddleboard a great option.

After traveling around the Florida Keys on our boat and visiting several different spots, we’ve compiled the best times to kayak the Florida Keys, some of the best locations to explore the keys by paddle, including guided tours and kayak rentals, in case you don’t have your own kayak or stand-up paddleboard, and more!

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We discussed the best spots for Florida Keys kayaking and standup paddle boarding. In some locations, we rented kayaks, and in other locations, we used our own standup paddle boards. In this post, we’ll share information about both kayaking and standup paddleboarding, as they can be interchangeable.

Weather Considerations

Many locations in the Florida Keys listed are exposed to Florida Bay or the Atlantic Ocean, making them susceptible to harsh weather conditions. It’s important to check the weather conditions before starting your adventure. Safety first.

How much does kayaking in the Florida Keys Cost

An important consideration when planning your kayaking or stand-up paddle board exploration in the Florida Keys is: how much is it going to cost?

Overall, there are a few different factors that affect the cost of kayaking in the Florida Keys. If you have your kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP for short), if you’re renting a kayak, and if you’re going on a guided tour. If you plan on bringing your own kayak or SUP, it’s relatively inexpensive. You might have to pay entrance fees to Florida State Parks or kayak launch fees. If you’re renting a kayak, prices range from about $35-100 per person, and guided kayak tours range from about $75-$115 per person.

Best time of year for Kayaking in the Florida Keys

The best part of kayaking the Florida Keys is that there is no bad time to go kayaking in the Florida Keys! There are pros and cons of each season. The winter months are the high season in the Florida Keys, meaning it’s packed with people. The winter brings with it winter storms that can last for a few days at a time. Spring is my favorite time to kayak in the Florida Keys because the water is super comfortable, it’s not packed with people, and it’s not hot and humid like it is during the summer months. The summer has the longest days, giving you the most time to enjoy being out on the water. It can also be hot and humid, with little wind, making for good visibility but not super comfortable. June through November is hurricane season, bringing with it the likelihood of high winds and choppy conditions.

What you might see Kayaking in the Florida Keys

Kayaking in the Florida Keys opens you up to a whole new world! The Keys are barrier islands to the mainland of Florida, making mangroves a primary ecosystem around them. Many spots in the Florida Keys are shallow, making kayaks the best way to explore the marine life that lives here. Exploring these areas by kayak or SUP opens you up to seeing iguanas, fish, birds, crabs, jellyfish, and much more!

Kayaking and SUP Gear

If you don’t have your own kayak or stand-up paddleboard, no worries! Multiple companies offer kayak or SUP rentals and tours with local, knowledgeable tour guides. Regardless of whether you have your own kayak or SUP, make sure to bring the appropriate sun protection and water with you!

Kayak

Bringing your own Kayak (optional if renting a kayak or going on a guided tour) can be a cheap way to explore the Florida Keys. We’ve seen both inflatable and fiberglass kayaks, so it’s dependent on you!

Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP)

A Stand-up Paddleboard (optional if renting a kayak or going on a guided tour) is an excellent alternative to a kayak. We had ROC SUPs and loved them! They are inflatable, making them easy to transport and carry.

Sun protection

Sun protection is essential when kayaking in the Florida Keys as the sun shines down from above and reflects off the water, making you extra susceptible to sun exposure when you are not adequately prepared. We like wearing a UV shirt (men’s) or a UV shirt (women’s), polarized sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and applying Reef Safe Sunscreen.

Reusable Water Bottle

It’s important to stay hydrated on the water! Depending on how long you plan to be out on the water, you can also bring a small cooler to store several bottles of water with electrolytes in.

Best Spots for Kayaking in the Florida Keys

We spent five months living on our boat and exploring the Florida Keys. During that time, we kayaked and used our stand-up paddleboard to explore anchorages and state parks. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite spots and what you can see at each spot! Before owning a boat, we also traveled to the Florida Keys and took tours to get out on the water and explore the local environments. There are multiple ways to get to these spots!

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located in Key Biscayne and is a great spot to explore by kayak or stand-up paddleboard. We enjoyed exploring No Name Harbor on SUPs and seeing iguanas and birds in the mangroves. The harbor is a no-wake zone, so although there is boat traffic, you shouldn’t be waked by boaters. Unless you’re visiting by boat, getting a kayak launched into No Name Harbor can be difficult if it’s low tide, as the launch area is right off the sea wall.

You can also take a kayak out to explore from the ocean side. A launch location is available at Beach Access No. 1, with reserved parking spaces next to the walkway. A boat dolly is recommended since the walk to the beach is not close by.

Key Largo – John Pennekamp State Park

John Pennekamp State Park is one of our favorite spots to explore by kayak or SUP because of its great paddling trails! Although the state park is known for snorkeling, it has 2.5 miles of paddling trails. The state park office has kayaks and canoes for rental, along with park maps of the trails. Prices range from $35-$60 depending upon the length of time and type of kayak.

Elliot on a SUP going under a bridge in John Pennekamp State Park, Florida. — Elliot on his SUP in John Pennekamp State Park.

Picture of the State Park map at John Pennekamp State Park, Florida. — Elliot on his SUP in John Pennekamp State Park.

If you’re interested in taking a guided tour with local, knowledgeable guides, we recommend the Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Adventure in Key Largo or the Mangroves and Manatees Guided Kayak Eco Tour, as they’re both highly rated and affordable.

Islamorada

One of our favorite anchorages in the Florida Keys was Islamorada because of its beautiful mangroves! We often paddled Little Basin and saw nurse sharks, manatees, sting rays, and many fish. You can launch your kayak from Library Beach Park or at Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve. Library Beach Park has a parking lot, bathrooms, a pavilion, and outdoor showers to rinse off. The kayak launch is at the sandy area through the park. Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve has a dinghy dock, making launching a kayak easy. The mangrove tunnel will lead you out to Little Basin to explore further. The best part of these options is that they are all free! I Can See Clear Kayaking has clear-bottomed kayaks near Lorelei’s Restaurant and Bar if you want to rent kayaks in this area.

After working up an appetite from kayaking, explore some of the Best Local Restaurants in Islamorada.

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

This Florida State Park is only accessible by boat, making paddling a fun option to explore the island. Just south of the main dock on Lignumvitae Key, there is a kayak landing/floating dock. Be sure to have the park map downloaded ahead of time for easy access. You can launch your own kayak at Robbie’s Marina or rent kayaks from The Kayak Shack at Robbie’s Marina or Backcountry Cowboys.

Interested in getting into the water instead? Check out our blog post on Snorkeling in the Florida Keys!

Curry Hammock State Park

This small state park has two great paddling trails! The first is a 1.2-mile loop through the mangroves, and the second is a 1.3-mile loop around Deer Key. You can also paddle to the oceanside with a nearby sandbar. Kayaks can be launched from the day-use area and the campground. You can get paddle trail maps from the ranger station. There are also ranger-led kayaking tours every Friday at 10 am that educate attendees on why the mangroves are such a vital part of the Florida Keys ecosystem. Unfortunately, there are no kayaks or SUPs to rent at this location.

Marathon

Marathon has several options for kayaking! We enjoyed exploring Sisters Creek and Boot Key to see marine life in the shallow mangrove-lined channels. Other paddling trails include a Marathon Circumnavigation or Marathon Bayside Paddle. You can launch your kayak at the end of Sombrero Beach Road, near Sombrero Beach, where you’ll find parking.

Bahia Honda State Park

One of our favorite Florida state parks in the Keys, Bahia Honda State Park, has some great kayaking. You can paddle around the entire island and enjoy shallow water pockets, making it easy to spot marine life. Bahia Honda also has some great snorkeling, so bring your snorkeling equipment if you want to get off your kayak and explore the water. Kayaks can be launched from the Loggerhead parking lot on the ocean side or the boat ramp on the Gulf side. Alternatively, you can rent kayaks from the Bahia Honda Concessions.

Key West

There are many tiny spots here and there around Key West for kayaking! We rented kayaks with Lazy Dog Adventure and enjoyed our experience, but they also have guided tours for those interested in getting knowledgeable information as they kayak through mangroves. We enjoyed taking the paddle trail map and exploring the mangroves at our own pace, getting lost in the mangroves, and catching up with friends while paddling.

Jacob kayaking through mangrove tunnels; Florida Keys Kayaking — Jacob kayaking through the mangrove tunnels.

Paddling trail map; Florida Keys Kayaking — Jacob kayaking through the mangrove tunnels.

Final Thoughts

I hope you feel prepared and ready to go kayaking in the Florida Keys. Whether you choose to bring your own kayak or rent a kayak, I hope you enjoy everything the Florida Keys have to offer by kayak!

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Kayaking in the Florida Keys | Paddleboarding in the Keys | Things to do in the Keys | Places to visit in Florida | Best places to kayak | Boat Life | America's Great Loop

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