I have been wanting to kayak with manatees for years, and I was finally able to drag someone along on my adventure. We scheduled our rental online - very easy - and Bryan showed up right on time with kayaks. Handed us a map (and kept us from kayaking out with the tide!) and set us loose. We were too early for manatees, but the paddle through the mangroves was fun and very relaxing. The park we met at had an excellent kayak launch that made getting in/out SO EASY! I wish we had them in the great north! At the end of our 4 hours Bryan was right there ready to handle packing things up. It was so slick and well worth the rental price even if I didn't see any manatees. I'll be bringing my husband with next time! read more

Our guide was fantastic. Personable and knowledgeable. Just a great over all experience read more

See all

Super nice people: Friendly, helpful and available. Convenient location, equipment in good condition and reasonable prices. The owner answered right away when we called for info. We rented two kayaks ($35 each for 4 hours) and paddled around the mangroves, loosely following the provided map. The map isn't great. Lots to see in that area. Though we barely stayed out for 3 hours, you could easily spend 4+ hours in this area. We missed the 2.5-hour guided tour ($55) by a few minutes but still enjoyed exploring on our own. Highly recommended! read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Outside - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

The sunset tour was the highlight of our trip. Jim, our guide was knowledgeable, helpful and friendly and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. He even sent us photos after the tour. read more

See all

This is my third time returning to Gulf Coast Kayaking and I enjoy my trip every time. I come all the way from Marco Island to Matlacha to kayak with them because the rates and scenery are so incredible. The staff is always super nice and make sure your comfortable before sending you off 10/10 recommend!! read more

See all

Had an absolute blast with Gulf Coast Kayaks guided tour though the mangroves and watching the sunset. Jimmy our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, water and wild life and really took his time to learn everyone's name and to talk with everyone though the tour. It was amazing and my family had a great time. read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Sunset kayak tour with the family - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

See all

We had such an amazing day on the water with Gulf Coast Kayak. Wendy was incredibly helpful and engaging. Bryan was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating throughout our entire trip. We saw a pod of dolphins, Great Blue Herons and other wildlife. It was an absolutely magical experience. They even helped us find some great food and helped us navigate our way around Matlacha. If you're looking for a great kayak tour this is definitely a spot to check out. read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

Excellent paddle with Jim. Knowledgeable of the area, eco system as well as the impact and recovery from the storm. Saw lots of wildlife including dolphins a stingray and an eagle. Tarpin Point is a great location to start and end the tour. read more

Such an amazing experience renting kayaks here! We utilized this business multiple times and have had nothing but wonderful experiences every time. It is a top notch super friendly, professional operation. The first time we kayaked right near Gulf Coast. We had a wonderful time and saw a lots of wildlife including manatees. We Later had equipment delivered (which was in time, as promised) and enjoyed our own paddling experience near home. A few months later we rented equipment again . Everything was dropped off and picked up on time. Gulf Coast is a wonderful place to do business. read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

See all

I had a fantastic experience with Gulf Coast Kayak! My friend and I decided to do the mangrove-guided adventure, which was an unforgettable experience. Our tour guide Jim was very informative, patient, and a good guy to talk to. To make the experience even better, pictures were included with our trip so we could remember everything and not risk our phones. Even for a beginner, I had a great time and will be back when I come back down to Florida. read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

See all

My 12 year old son, my wife and I did a sunset tour. The wind was really blowing and everyone else on the tour cancelled. Their loss was our gain. Jim - our guide - was able to spend extra time explaining the history of the area and the features of environment. We spent 20 minutes hanging out with dolphins who played around our kayaks. We paddled through the mangroves, saw a crazy amount of wildlife up close and got in an amazing paddle. Gulf Coast Kayak is amazing!! We also rented kayaks and paddle boards from them over the week. Great place, great people! read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Sunset kayak tour - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

I had a wonderful experience with Gulf Coast Kayak! Highly recommended for any local or visitor without a kayak who wants to explore the beautiful intercostal Gulf Coast. I saw dolphins, manatees, birds, and had a great time on the water. Very professional and friendly staff as well. Will be visiting again! read more

See all

We had such an amazing experience this afternoon! Our tour guide, Jim, was extremely knowledgeable about all of the local wildlife. We got to hang out with dolphins for a while and one even swam alongside us and side eyed us! Will do again! We are all beginners read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

We went on the 2 1/2 hour Mangrove tour today and it was fabulous! Jim was passionate and knowledgeable about the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve and it made all the difference! I also appreciate the Gulf Coast Kayak calling me this past week to reschedule. We would have been miserable in those high winds Thursday. They are all about safety. COVID rules were followed and the guide was masked the whole time. Today's low tide provided such a great experience. And Jim Navigated us through the winds just fine. Loved the birds, horseshoe crabs, history and ecosystem of the mangroves and all the photos . We will definitely be back with friends. read more

See all

Easy to book online and to get checked in. Fast, friendly, and informative service from Bear. Glad we booked the 4 hour option as it allowed for us to take our time and make it to Thirsting Lake. Saw lots of birds, crabs, fish, and raccoons. Would definitely book again. read more

See all

A highlight of our month in Florida! Our guide Bryan was very knowledgeable about the animals and environment. He was thoughtful and extremely friendly, even taking and sending us photos the next day. The area we went into was beautiful! We saw birds, fish of all kinds, manatees and lots of stingrays. The equipment was in great condition and comfortable. All the staff was wonderful and we will make sure to visit them again. read more

We went on the sunset kayak tour. Jim is an EXCELLENT tour guide. He provided a thorough orientation for our group of novice kayakers, some of whom were in their 70s. He regaled the group with descriptions of the birds, fish, mangroves and general ecology. The group was cohesive and enjoyable. The equipment was clean and in excellent shape; COVID guidelines were observed. Jim has a special "motor" (tow rope) for those who desire some assistance. Today's sunset and the 2 1/2 hour event were everything one could hope. We would definitely do it again!!! read more

For first-time kayakers (like us) or for the Florida mangrove experience, the guided tour is highly recommended. This has to do with the experience, of course, but made all the better at Gulf Coast Kayak. Extremely friendly, exceptional customer service from office to water's edge. And, oh, our tour guide, Lynette... wonderful person as well as very informative. Sincerely...we had a great time! Thanks!! read more

Great place to stop in and sign up for a kayak tour, or do that online. Sunrise, sunset, or afternoon. I took a great 2 hour sunset your through Florida Mangrove Coves. Easy paddle, beautiful evening. Jim is a great guide, fun was had! read more

We were blessed with an amazing sunset kayak tour last night guided by Jim. We were entertained by a dolphin show within a short distance from our kayaks. Some of the birds we saw were osprey, anhinga, and herons. We paddled through dense mangroves and got up close to the crabs scurrying along the roots. Our guide, Jim, educated us, and helped us appreciate the biodiversity and beauty around us. As he said, "the magic is always here. You just have to show up!" This tour exceeded our expectations, and yes, it was magical! Ken and Kat read more

Went on full moon tour with friends. Jim the guide was great. One of our party had never kayaker before. Everyone had a great time

So lucky we found them. They were the most economical for multi day rental and they delivered to our house. The owners are lovely and super knowledgeable. Will definitely rent next time we are in town. read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Tandum kayaks - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

Mom and pop shop located right on the water. Went here for the first time a couple of days ago and had my first experience paddle boarding. Brian gave us a brief lesson on how to survive the basics. I think it was $25 a person for an hour and $35 for two. An hour was enough for me. Even though paddle boarding looks a bit pedestrian it's really hard. Just a hint: Do not fall into the water. Parts of it are pretty shallow and you run the risk of possibly cutting yourself on the oysters. These folks are Yelp savvy and offer a $5 coupon upon checkin. Have fun! read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Daily specials. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

See all

Great time at a good value. My ridiculously good looking wife and I went for a sunrise kayak guided tour and we were not disappointed. We were given good instruction on the usage of the kayak and safety practices. Bryan took us on a nice leisurely adventure through mangroves trails and open water. He was very knowledgable on both boating and the wildlife in the area. Then he even recommended a great spot right down the street for us to go have breakfast. Looking forward to trying another adventure next time we are in town! read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Sunrise kayak tour - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

I knew this was going to be a great experience when Diana didn't ask for a credit card when we made our reservation. She sent an email with details like appropriate dress for our trip. When we arrived they offered loaner water shoes, sunglass straps and even suntan lotion. Bill, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the area and kayaking. The trip itself was beautiful. We were deep into nature with only us and the mangroves. It was well worth it to have a guided tour to point out the birds and bugs and trees and stuff in the water. We started at 1000 and finished at 1400. We paid 55 bucks apiece and thought it was worth every penny. read more

What a fantastic time we had! My husband and I booked the sunrise kayak tour the morning of July 4th and had a fantastic time! Bryan gave us some kayaking instruction and explained the 4-mile route we'd take in and around mangroves and across the open channel in hopes of spotting some dolphins. We weren't lucky on this particular day in spotting any dolphins, but Bryan was a fantastic guide in explaining all of the wildlife we did see, the fish (mullet) jumping, and even explaining some of the history of the area as we leisurely meandered through the sound. It was a truly relaxing, engaging, and fun experience! Afterward, Bryan recommended a lunch spot for later (we were craving tacos), and answered my questions about stand-up paddleboarding which we plan to book next time we're in Matlacha. We'll definitely be booking that through Gulf Coast Kayak too. Thanks for a wonderful morning, Bryan! read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Hubby and I toward the end of our kayaking morning. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

We love Gulf Coast Kayak!!! Great guided tours for groups. Awesome summer camps for kids. And the staff is always helpful in any way!!! read more

Great experience all around. I would highly recommend. James was a great guide and shared pictures with us via email when we got hime.

Absolutely amazing staff. Very knowledgeable and very helpful. Recently upgraded from a 10ft lifetime fishing Kayak to a VanHunk black bass 13 foot kayak. Didn't feel pressured by the staff to buy it and they let me test it before purchasing. They helped me load it onto my car and unload it earlier this morning when I launched from their shop. I highly recommend buying/renting their kayaks. Great price for what you get read more

We took the 2 12 hour kayak tour through the mangrove channels. It was a great tour. Our tour guide, Jim, was very knowledgeable about the history of the area and all the aquatic wildlife. Our 11 year old daughter had a great time on the sandbar catching (an releasing) crabs and other fish. We saw dolphin, heron diving for fish, rays and even a small shark. The kayaks were comfortable and Jim provided excellent instruction for first time kayakers. Would highly recommend! Ken, Diane & Bella Smith (Fort Lauderdale, FL) read more

Great experience on the Eco Kayak Tour. Our Tour guide Jim was awesome. His passion and knowledge was inspiring. Will definately return when we visit the area again. Highly recommend! read more

Yelp helped me find GCK and didn't steer me wrong! I did a Stand Up Paddleboarding Eco-Tour with Diana and even though the conditions were less than ideal (high winds that day). I really enjoyed my time on the water and Diana was a great instructor (my first time SUP-ing) and a great tour guide, had lots of info about the local ecosystem and we saw a ton of wildlife that I wouldn't have seen or been able to identify without her. It's great value, easy to find and also conveniently located to check out Matlacha after your day on the water. read more

Great fun. Definitely worth the tour. I have done the midday. A few of us are doing the morning tour.

My wife and I along with a family of four took a guided kayak trip with Brian, the owner. I can't say enough about the trip and how much fun we had with Brian and the other family. Brian is a wealth of knowledge and very low-key which made this a tremendous trip for everyone. This is a must do trip. While we didn't get a chance to see a manatee we saw just about everything else one could see out on the water. Thank you for a wonderful experience! read more

We were lucky to have perfect weather. Gentle breeze, smooth water, not too hot, not too cold. The mangrove islands make for a really interesting ecosystem. We went in October, before manatee season, so we saw no manatees, but many birds, fish, and dolphins. And a few spider crabs: crabs that climb trees and look like spiders. Who knew? We saw an eagle's nest and took some great photos of the bald eagle from about 40 meters away. Really good experience. Thanks, Brian! read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Heading into the mangrove tunnels on a peaceful morning in October. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

We love Gulf Coast Kayak! We use nobody but Gulf Coast. Perfect spot on Pine Island Rd. Great friendly people read more

Gulf Coast Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Cape Coral, Florida

See all

My husband and I took a Kayak Tour through the Mangroves with Jim. We learned so much and observed much wildlife: Manatees, Dolphins, Ospreys, Vultures, Pelicans, Bald Eagles, Snake birds, etc. The water is shallow so you can see to the bottom. I was especially surprised by the marks left from sting rays who nestle into the sand during high tide. You can see their outline exactly! I also loved the Mangrove tunnel we ventured through and learning about the oysters attached to all their roots. Jim was an exceptional guide with much knowledge and an obvious passion for the area. Thank you. read more

A little pricey , but totally worth it. We did the Sunset Tour with Jim. He gave us a ton of history and information on our surroundings, taught us techniques that improved our experience and even put us in charge of the map! He took pictures for us so we could fully enjoy our experience and sent them the very next day. He even provided snacks and waters. All around an amazing day. Highlight of my trip. Just look at the pictures and tell me this isn't magical.... read more

See all

Vacationing in Cape Coral, Florida a few miles away from Pine Island was such a great time! We had been searching the depths of the internet to find a good paddle board rental site and came across this one. It's kind of tucked back and away which makes it slightly tricky to see from the road, but we eventually found it. We had never paddle boarded before and were very pleased to have someone who really knew what they were talking about. The gentleman who helped us get into the water was very helpful and explained how to go about balancing and getting up from your knees to your feet without falling over. Being pretty new at this, we probably shouldn't have gone out quite as far as we did. It was very easy to paddle out, but paddling back in was a bit more difficult battling both the wind and the waves and trying not to get pushed into the mangroves. I think it's safe to say that by the end of the trip we were both satisfyingly exhausted and felt pretty confident in our paddle boarding abilities. read more

Definitely recommend a guided tour! The price was reasonable and our guide Jim was fantastic. We were scheduled for a 2.5 hour tour but it was more like 3+ hours and he took complimentary photos with his waterproof camera. No water shoes, no problem loaners available. Jim also came prepared with a net, and container to check out the small water creatures, kids had a blast. We kayaked in the open, under the mangroves, and took a swim break. Perfect day, highly recommend! read more