A Habitat Like No Other
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Private Tour Only
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5 people max
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Experienced paddlers only
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Duration: up to you. Stay out a few hours or most of the day
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Tidal walks and swimming/snorkeling optional
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Pricing dependent on number of paddlers and tour duration
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Start times may be determined by tides
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Available 7 days a week
Why paddle with strangers? Blue Planet specializes in private excursions into the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. Our guides have been exploring these haunts for more than 15 years. This tour is for more adventurous and experienced paddlers looking for unmatched scenery.
The pristine, crystal-clear waters of the backcountry offer you an escape to a quiet world of uninhabited mangrove islands and aquamarine passages. With its truly stunning landscape and feeling of remoteness, this tour will take you to the best spots for photography, snorkeling or tidal walks. (If you wish to snorkel, please provide your own gear.)
Barracuda, stingrays and small bonnethead, lemon and nurse sharks are seen frequently. Heron and egret species, ibis, osprey, plovers, and snipes soar above or pry the flats for a meal. It is not unusual to see dolphins and sea turtles. You may glide over gardens of large, vibrantly-colored sponges harboring lobster and sea anemones.
Sunsets in the refuge are spectacular and offer the best bird photography. Stargazing on moonless nights is superb because there is little or no ambient light. Bioluminescence is often seen on darker nights and full moon paddles are unforgettable. Headlamps are provided free.
Many of the locales are only accessible by kayak, and hours can pass without the sound of a motorboat or airplane. In fact, jet skis are not allowed in the refuge! Some areas require light winds and cannot be paddled at low tide. Please make reservations at least one week prior to your desired tour date.
Stay out a couple hours or most of the day … it’s all up to you! Pricing is dependent on the duration of the tour and the number of paddlers. You can bring your own kayak on this tour or we can provide one for you. Tours depart from Cudjoe Key and Lower Sugarloaf Key, approximately 20 miles from Key West.
Call Chad at 305-394-0280 for more information
or to book your private tour.
Email: tochad2000@hotmail.com