What is the minimum group size for group rates?

Group rates require a minimum of 15 people; private tours for smaller groups are available through the operator’s alternate booking link.

How far in advance must we book?

Private group tours must be booked at least two days in advance to secure guides and gear.

Are life jackets provided?

Yes, guides fit personal flotation devices during the safety briefing before launch.

Can you guarantee wildlife sightings?

No: guides optimize timing and route for wildlife encounters, but manatees, dolphins and birds cannot be guaranteed.

Is this activity accessible for people using wheelchairs?

The operator can assist transferring from a wheelchair into a kayak; call 941-952-8245 to arrange assistance and discuss needs.

What happens in bad weather?

Guides will adjust the route or reschedule based on wind and sea conditions; safety is the priority and some launches may be moved to sheltered sites.

Custom Group Kayak and Paddleboard Tour in Sarasota Bay | Kayak | Private

On any calm morning in Sarasota, Florida, the water reads like a map of small lives: a manatee surfacing, a tern skimming the bay, a paddleboard slicing through mangrove-shadowed water. SurfitUSA's Group Kayak or Paddleboard Tour - Custom Location offers a private, guide-led paddle for groups who want to chart their own route across Sarasota Bay and the barrier islands. You choose the launch point - options include Ted Sperling Park on Lido Key and Turtle Beach on Siesta Key - and the guide builds a plan tuned to your group's skill, tide and wildlife priorities. The real draw is the place itself: low, limestone flats, networks of red mangrove tunnels, and broad seagrass beds that feed manatees and finger mullet. These shallow estuaries make Sarasota a reliable wildlife corridor; dolphins often patrol the deeper channels while ospreys and herons hunt the margins. Siesta Key’s famous quartz sand shores and Lido Key’s sheltered inlets offer contrasting staging areas for a morning or late-afternoon paddle. SurfitUSA outfits groups with quality kayaks and paddleboards and can mix craft to suit mixed-ability groups. Each private tour includes a dedicated guide who reads wind, tide, and animal behavior to maximize sightings and safety. Tours require at least two days’ notice for private bookings; group rates start at a 15-person minimum, though smaller private tours are available through the operator’s alternate booking link. This experience is a standout here because it stitches access to diverse coastal environments into one outing: mangrove labyrinths for quietly observing wading birds; open bays where dolphin pods weave; and nearshore flats where manatees graze. Guides emphasize low-impact practices - stay back from wildlife, avoid trampling seagrass, and carry out trash - so these habitats remain healthy for future paddlers. Practical details: tours typically run about two hours, and guides can assist transferring paddlers from wheelchairs into kayaks - call 941-952-8245 for arrangements. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag, and a sense of curiosity. Whether you’re organizing a corporate retreat, family reunion, or classroom outing, this adaptable, private paddle turns Sarasota’s famous shorelines into a learning-rich, photo-ready playground. Book early, choose your launch, and let a local guide chart a route that puts wildlife and safety first. Before launch, guides lead a concise safety briefing and fit personal flotation devices; novices get a quick paddling lesson so mixed groups move together confidently. Because wildlife follows tides and light, guides often plan around morning slack tides or late-afternoon windows when manatees and dolphin activity peaks. Bring a waterproof phone in a dry bag; guides will pause for photos and natural-history notes about local birds and the seagrass ecosystem. The operator’s flexibility means you can tailor pace, stops, and emphasis to suit school groups or family outings.

Custom Group Kayak and Paddleboard Tour in Sarasota Bay

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