Sunset Bird Rookery Kayak Tour
Naples - Marco Island
QUICK DETAILS
Price: $75/Adult - $65/Child
Capacity: 1 - 12 Paddlers
Duration: 2 - 2.5 Hours
Launch Times: 4:30PM - 6:30PM, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays (November - April Only, Launch Times vary with Sunset Times)
Launch Site: Shell Island Road Boat Launch
Tour Partner: Rising Tide Explorers
*Children under 12 will ride in a tandem kayak with an adult
*Ages 3+ only
Enjoy an Evening in a Beautiful Estuary!
Join your biologist guides to experience evening in the estuary! Our journey begins when the sun is low over the Gulf of Mexico. As the sun sets, the estuary is full of wildlife! Paddle out into the Rookery Bay Reserve and visit two Bird Rookery Islands that are home to hundreds of nesting herons, egrets, pelican, cormorant, and anhinga. After a long day of feeding, these birds return to their nests as the sun dips below the horizon in an amazing spectacle with a backdrop of our picturesque Gulf Coast Sunset. Keep your eyes out for dolphin, manatee, and other interesting wildlife looking to get a meal in before resting for the night. Learn about the nesting habits and migrations of our local bird species before paddling back in the twilight!
Tours Launch Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from Shell Island Road located about 2 miles South of US-41 on Collier Blvd. The launch site is just South of the Rookery Bay Reserve, 30 minutes or less from anywhere in Naples, and just 5 minutes from Marco Island!
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Water
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Snacks
Hat & Other Sun Protection
Water Shoes
Binoculars
Cash for Gratuity
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Heading out into a remote part of the Rookery Bay Reserve at sunset, we will be surrounded by some of the most pristine mangrove ecosystems in the world. Soak in the silence and immerse yourself in the tranquil slow pace of the estuary as we look closer at its ecology and wildlife. Keep your eyes out for Dolphin, Mangroves, Tree Crabs, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Swallowtail Kites, Manatee in the summer months, and over 1,000 birds returning to their roost once we reach the rookery island!! Get ready for some exploration! Feel free to call, email, or text with any questions, changes, or special requests.
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Please arrive 30 minutes before scheduled launch time so we can get fitted with PFDs and kayaks before we launch. Tours depart from the kayak launch AT THE END of Shell Island Road, NOT the Environmental Learning Center. Our trip will depart rain or shine as long as conditions are safe, and our biologist guides will evaluate the conditions before departure to ensure a safe and comfortable trip. Looking forward to meeting you and having a great adventure!!
Our guides work extremely hard to give our fellow explorers the best experience possible. Not required but always appreciated, we recommend gratuity based on the quality of service you received*
Shell Island Road Launch
No Restroom at End of Road:
When launching from Shell Island Road, please be aware that there is currently no restroom available at the end of the road. We suggest stopping before turning on Shell Island Road, or pulling off at Brigg’s Boardwalk to use the Port-o-let before making your way to the launch point at the end of the road.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Heart of Rookery BAy Kayak Tour
Explore the tranquil backwaters of the Rookery Bay Reserve. Paddle through protected back bays, mangrove creeks, and winding tunnels before emerging into Rookery Bay itself!
Mangrove Tunnels & Mudflats Kayak Tour
Join a local biologist on a journey through the beautiful estuaries of Southwest Florida in search of unique wildlife as you explore winding mangrove tunnels, oyster reefs, mudflats, and hidden bays.