Paddles on Biscayne Bay
The best kayak tours in Miami
Raccoon Island and North Miami island paddles, LED-lit night tours, a manatee-season paddle, snorkeling by paddleboard and Virginia Key rentals: here is how to pick, with honest advice on getting to the launch, extra costs and safety on the water.
See our 8 picks
The best kayak tour in Miami for most people is the 3-hour Raccoon Island trip by kayak or paddleboard. It costs from about €88. It starts at 10800 Collins Ave in Miami Beach.
All eight picks have free cancellation up to 24 hours before. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Our 8 picks for kayak and paddleboard
Every pick lets you choose a kayak or a paddleboard, except the boat tour, which uses kayaks.
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from €88 per person Our top pick 3 hours 4.7 (1,531) reviews on GetYourGuide
Raccoon Island by kayak or paddleboard
A 3-hour guided paddle to Sandspur Island, home to wild raccoons, and the Osprey Nature Preserve. A life jacket, fruit and drinks are included.
Best for First-timers who want wildlife
Check availability: Raccoon Island by kayak or paddleboard on GetYourGuide -
from €66 per person 4.5 hours 4.5 (649) reviews on GetYourGuide
North Miami island and mangrove paddle
A 4.5-hour trip with kayaks, paddleboards and snorkeling. The listing says it visits Florida's largest urban park and the mangroves of the Osprey Triangle. Snacks and drinks are included.
Best for Visitors who want to try a bit of everything
Check availability: North Miami island and mangrove paddle on GetYourGuide -
from €66 per person 4.5 hours 4.8 (461) reviews on GetYourGuide
Biscayne Bay boat tour with kayaking
A boat takes you across the bay, then you kayak through a mangrove tunnel. It visits Bird Island and Raccoon Island, with time to swim and snorkel. Meals and transport to the marina are extra.
Best for Visitors who want less paddling
Check availability: Biscayne Bay boat tour with kayaking on GetYourGuide - from €79 per person
2.5 hours 4.7 (124) reviews on GetYourGuide
LED-lit kayak night tour
A 2.5-hour paddle down the Miami River after dark, in a kayak or on a board lit with LEDs. Drinks are included.
Best for Couples and friends on an evening out
Check availability: LED-lit kayak night tour on GetYourGuide -
from €79 per person 2 hours 4.8 (91) reviews on GetYourGuide
City lights paddleboard or kayak night tour
A 2-hour night paddle on the Miami River in downtown. Beer, hard seltzer, water and glow sticks are included. Not for people with a low level of fitness.
Best for Adults who want a drink on the water
Check availability: City lights paddleboard or kayak night tour on GetYourGuide -
from €76 per person 2 hours 4.7 (71) reviews on GetYourGuide
Manatee-season paddleboard or kayak tour
A 2-hour guided paddle from Virginia Key into Biscayne Bay or along the coast. The listing says you may spot manatees, dolphins and rays. Not for non-swimmers.
Best for Wildlife fans who can swim
Check availability: Manatee-season paddleboard or kayak tour on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 2.5 hours 4.6 (69) reviews on GetYourGuide
Beginner-friendly island snorkel by paddleboard or kayak
A 2.5-hour trip that starts with a lesson. You paddle past mangroves to an island and snorkel. Snorkel gear, drinks and fruit are included.
Best for Beginners who want to snorkel too
Check availability: Beginner-friendly island snorkel by paddleboard or kayak on GetYourGuide -
from €24 per person 1 hour 4.5 (14) reviews on GetYourGuide
Paddleboard or kayak rental on Virginia Key
Rent a paddleboard, single kayak or tandem kayak for 1 hour, with a life vest. You paddle on Lamar Lake and Biscayne Bay. There is no guide.
Best for Confident paddlers on a budget
Check availability: Paddleboard or kayak rental on Virginia Key on GetYourGuide
Miami kayak tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon Island by kayak or paddleboard | €88 per person | 3 hours | Up to 12 | First-timers who want wildlife | The most-reviewed paddle in Miami: 4.7 from 1,531 reviews. |
| North Miami island and mangrove paddle | €66 per person | 4.5 hours | Not stated | Visitors who want to try a bit of everything | A long day for the price, with 4.5 from 649 reviews. |
| Biscayne Bay boat tour with kayaking | €66 per person | 4.5 hours | Up to 36 | Visitors who want less paddling | Boat and kayak in one, with 4.8 from 461 reviews. |
| LED-lit kayak night tour | €79 per person | 2.5 hours | Up to 40 | Couples and friends on an evening out | The best-reviewed night paddle: 4.7 from 124 reviews. |
| City lights paddleboard or kayak night tour | €79 per person | 2 hours | Up to 13 | Adults who want a drink on the water | A shorter night paddle, with 4.8 from 91 reviews. |
| Manatee-season paddleboard or kayak tour | €76 per person | 2 hours | Up to 15 | Wildlife fans who can swim | Built around the manatee season, with 4.7 from 71 reviews. |
| Beginner-friendly island snorkel by paddleboard or kayak | €88 per person | 2.5 hours | Not stated | Beginners who want to snorkel too | A lesson first, with 4.6 from 69 reviews. |
| Paddleboard or kayak rental on Virginia Key | €24 per person | 1 hour | Not stated | Confident paddlers on a budget | The cheapest way onto the water, with 4.5 from 14 reviews. |
Raccoon Island by kayak or paddleboard
€88 per person3 hours 4.7 (1,531)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 12
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want wildlife
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed paddle in Miami: 4.7 from 1,531 reviews.
North Miami island and mangrove paddle
€66 per person4.5 hours 4.5 (649)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want to try a bit of everything
- Why we picked it
- A long day for the price, with 4.5 from 649 reviews.
Biscayne Bay boat tour with kayaking
€66 per person4.5 hours 4.8 (461)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 36
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want less paddling
- Why we picked it
- Boat and kayak in one, with 4.8 from 461 reviews.
€79 per person2.5 hours 4.7 (124)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 40
- Who it suits
- Couples and friends on an evening out
- Why we picked it
- The best-reviewed night paddle: 4.7 from 124 reviews.
City lights paddleboard or kayak night tour
€79 per person2 hours 4.8 (91)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 13
- Who it suits
- Adults who want a drink on the water
- Why we picked it
- A shorter night paddle, with 4.8 from 91 reviews.
Manatee-season paddleboard or kayak tour
€76 per person2 hours 4.7 (71)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 15
- Who it suits
- Wildlife fans who can swim
- Why we picked it
- Built around the manatee season, with 4.7 from 71 reviews.
Beginner-friendly island snorkel by paddleboard or kayak
€88 per person2.5 hours 4.6 (69)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Who it suits
- Beginners who want to snorkel too
- Why we picked it
- A lesson first, with 4.6 from 69 reviews.
Paddleboard or kayak rental on Virginia Key
€24 per person1 hour 4.5 (14)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Who it suits
- Confident paddlers on a budget
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest way onto the water, with 4.5 from 14 reviews.
None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site. All 8 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 23 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Which kayak tour fits you?
Most Miami kayak tours cost from about €66 to €88 per person. The 1-hour rental on Virginia Key costs from about €24.
- Pick Raccoon Island for the classic paddle with wildlife.
- Pick the North Miami trip or the boat tour for a long day with snorkeling.
- Pick a night tour for the city lights from the Miami River.
- Pick the manatee-season paddle if you want to look for wildlife.
- Pick the rental if you already know how to paddle.
Where each tour starts
You make your own way to every tour. None includes hotel pickup.
| Tour | Start address |
|---|---|
| Raccoon Island and the island snorkel | 10800 Collins Ave, Miami Beach |
| North Miami trip and the boat tour | 1635 N Bayshore Dr, Miami |
| Both night tours | 205 SW 3rd St, Miami |
| Manatee-season paddle and rental | 3801 Arthur Lamb Jr Rd, Virginia Key |
Kayaking at Oleta River State Park
You can kayak at Oleta River State Park on your own. It is at 3400 NE 163rd St in North Miami Beach. Its outdoor center rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
With one person in the car, entry is $4. On foot or by bike it is $2. The center opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays and closes one hour before sunset. The park is often full on weekends.
Entry costs $6 per car with 2 to 8 people.
Kayak rental: Virginia Key and Oleta
For a kayak rental, choose Virginia Key or Oleta. At Oleta, you rent at the outdoor center and pay the park entry fee too.
The Virginia Key rental is booked online, from about €24 for 1 hour.
Stand-up paddleboard tours in Miami
Almost every tour here lets you choose a stand-up paddleboard instead of a kayak. Tell the guide when you book or check in.
Beginners should take the island snorkel trip, which starts with a lesson. The two night tours also offer boards.
Kayak and paddleboard near Miami Beach
Two tours start in Miami Beach, at 10800 Collins Ave: the Raccoon Island paddle and the island snorkel. Both paddle out to islands with mangroves.
Would you rather sit back? A Biscayne Bay boat tour shows the same water with no paddling.
Booking tips for kayak and paddleboard tours
Wear the life jacket
Every tour includes a life jacket or life vest. Keep it on, even in shallow water.
Check the wind and the flags
Wind makes paddling much harder. At the beach, a red flag means strong surf or currents.
Count the extra costs
Oleta charges $6 per car for park entry. The boat tour does not include meals or transport to the marina.
Use free cancellation
All eight picks let you cancel for free up to 24 hours before. Move your date if storms are forecast.
Kayaking in Miami: questions and answers
Where can I go kayaking in Miami Beach?
Where can I go kayaking in Miami?
Where can I paddleboard in Miami?
Where can I launch my own kayak in Miami?
Do I need experience for a kayak or paddleboard tour?
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Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: Florida State Parks: Oleta River hours and fees · NPS: Biscayne National Park hours · Miami-Dade Parks: Haulover Park · City of Miami Beach: beach conditions and flags.
Sources (4), facts checked on 23 October 2026
Written by the Best Things to Do in Miami editorial team.