We made a reservation for a guided kayak tour out of this park and had a great time! Matt was our…read moreguide, and he did an excellent job! We stopped and landed our kayaks on the banks so he could show us some of the local wildlife, including Lightening Whelk, Horse Conch, Tulip snail, and Cassiopea Jellyfish. We continued on and saw the nesting Ospreys as we made our way to the Mangroves. It was a good 2 or 2.5 hour tour. They offered single or double kayaks at your choice. The ramp at the park was in great shape and made for easy launch and easy landing. The park also has bathroom facilities on the property. Parking is free for local residents, but visitors do pay for parking. Would definitely come back for water sports in the future.

Saw plenty of starfish, lightning whelks, had easy paddle kayak work out, but we didn't see…read moredolphins, turtles, a lot of birds. If you stand up in muddy water, avoid injuring your feet, which happened to our friends. Doubtful there are manatees.

A must do when in Marco Island/ Naples!…read more We had a group of nine visiting Marco Island for the first time for a "Girls Trip", I knew we wanted to book a boat cruise, and I am so happy I found Floating turtle cruises! The boats are basically a floating tiki bar. You can book online but called the office bc I had a few questions. Eva is the sweetest and was so helpful and explained everything. She even said if we had any special requests for drinks, they would have them for us. We booked the "Sea Turtle" boat which can hold up to 11 people. The tour is normally 3 hours, and we added an extra hour- which I'm so glad we did! Our boat day was a 10/10. The weather was perfect, our captain, Matt, listened to where we wanted to go, and gave us a customized tour. Not only was there a huge cooler full of beers, seltzers, water, iced teas and sodas, we were given coozies and fun color changing cups to keep. There is also a blue tooth speaker onboard, so we were able to turn out boat into a floating dancefloor! Also included on the boat were beach chairs, pool noodles, and sand toys. We pulled right up to these amazing sand bars where we found beautiful shells. We even saw a few dolphins and a huge school of sting rays. I cannot recommend this tour enough. It's perfect for all ages. Next time I'm in Marco, I will absolutely book again!! Thank you for a fantastic day!

Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center is an amazing destination for history and nature lovers…read moreof all ages. The center sits within the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, which covers more than 110,000 acres of mangrove forests, upland habitats, and estuarine waters. In addition to board walks and hiking trail it has a two-story, 16,500-square-foot facility that combines research, education, art, and conservation. Start your visit inside the learning center where there is a 2,300-gallon mangrove aquarium with a sculpted 14-foot red mangrove tree. Another highlight is the touch tank where visitors can hold sea stars, horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, and more. There are also exhibits on local ecology and ongoing research in the estuary with emphasis on human impact on nature. A favorite stop on the first floor was the Palmetto Patch Nature Store which featured a variety of nature themed and local made gifts. They also sell water which you will need for a hike if you forgot to bring it. Proceeds from the store go to the Friends of Rookery Bay and their mission to provide resources for Rookery Bay Research Reserve's education, research, and conservation programs. Behind the center there are three half mile walking trails including a boardwalk over Henderson Creek. Thousands of years ago this was the home of the ancient Calusa people that thrived on seafood from the estuary. Although they are extinct you can still see the shell mounds they built. Several Calusa mound complexes are protected within the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve's 110,000 acres. From the observation bridge, you can sometimes spot manatees, tarpon, or even sharks. The trails also passes through native plants and historic sites like the remains of the pioneer settlement Little Marco that lay between Marco Island and Naples. The community was sparked by the Homestead act and pre dated the City of Naples. People lived off the estuary, catching fish, harvesting shellfish, and also growing small plots of winter vegetables. A historic cemetery remains near what is now known as Shell Island Road. The Rookery Bay Environmental Reserve is doing important ecological research and conservation while providing public education about coastal ecosystems, climate impacts, and habitat preservation. If you're a nature lover, looking for an inexpensive family friendly activity, or someone curious about coastal ecosystems, the environmental learning center is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Awesome boat tour with two naturalists. We had a great time exploring a private island.read more

I booked this trip through for my family (6 year old son and 12 year old daughter) and I booked…read morethrough their website and selected the 12pm time. Was super easy and the company was very responsive with my questions. Thomas was our captain and we loved him. He went above and beyond and if we come back to Marco Island will definitely be doing this again. We did the shelling, dolphin and water rafting tour.

We went out yesterday with Captain Thomas. He was great! He was waiting for us at the dock. We left…read moreon time and set out on a fun dolphin adventure. He was very knowledgeable of the 10,000 islands, as well as the animals that encompass them. He found us a large pod of dolphins for us to observe. He was personable and easy to talk with. The boat was fully covered so we didn't end up toasting in the hot Florida sun. It was a great two hour adventure. I would highly recommend Breakwater!!

Absolutely the BEST kayak tour that I have ever been on! Our guide knew the mangroves and special…read moreareas like no one else. Very informative and friendly. I would highly recommend this company!

Had a great time on this tour! Susan and George are very knowledgeable about the area and full of…read morefun facts! Took a 2.5 hour tour around Rookery Bay. We saw a few sting rays, jelly fish, and birds. Was really hoping to see a dolphin, but what are you gonna do? Haha. Small group made it easy to chat and learn more about the area. Susan had worked at the reserve for years before starting the business so she knows a LOT about all the wildlife. Definitely would recommend to anyone in the Naples area!!! They have everything you need, including bug spray (which I was very thankful for) to have a delightful time on the water. They even carefully grabbed some crabs and jellyfish to teach us about. Really can't say enough good things! Must do trip!!!

Wow! What a tour with amazing marine biologists. At first we didn't see many dolphins but it…read moredidn't matter because we saw osprey and eagles and many birds. But then the dolphins emerged and it was so much fun and so cool to be that close to moms and babies and teenagers. Then there was a stop at Tiger Beach to collect shells. And it was an easy climb down the ladder onto the sand from the boat. Best boat tour ever. Can't wait to do it again!

Wonderful experience! The marine biologist was so knowledgeable and passionate about the dolphins,…read morethe dolphins each have names and can be identified by their dorsal fins (learned this on the boat ride)! We had a perfect day on May 2, 2026, saw 33 dolphins! I highly recommend this tour, price is reasonable, and then you get to dock at Tigertail Beach to collect seashells! Perfect day, would do it every week if I didn't live so far away (Nevada)! Thanks guys for a wonderful and memorable day!!

First! Very cute little cabana type rental shop right on the beach. Kayaks and stand up paddle…read moreboards seem to be the highlights of this stand. Very nice employee working there. Saw him help a few first time paddle boarders. Kayak rental was $25 which was pretty reasonable. Sure beats other kayak rental places I've been too on similar beaches. While at this beach I saw many snook, pinfish, and even a manatee. Taking out a kayak could definitely get you close enough to see some really cool marine life! I would definitely suggest hitting up this place if you wanna check out a beautiful beach and enjoy some time on the water!

Decided to go to Marco Island last minute and didn't make reservations prior to rent a kayak…read more Found through Yelp/google. Spoke with Rick and he was super nice and we ended up renting 3 kayaks for 2 hours. None of us have ever been on a kayak and he was so patient and made the experience, so much better. Pricing is reasonable.

SaltyDawg was so friendly, helpful and full of knowledge. We used the paddle boards . Which were so…read moreeasy to use , easy to carry but sturdy to use. Got to see a pod of dolphins while out.. thanks SaltyDawg for a wonderful time..