Join us at Big Hickory Island for a guided CLEAR kayak tour. We'll paddle through the mangroves to a quiet beach that can only be accessed by watercraft. With some of the best shelling in the area you'll want stroll the beach while taking in the beautiful SW Florida sunset! As natures evening colors fade we'll turn on each kayaks colorful LED lights to celebrate an awesome evening as we paddle back to the launch! .
Starfish I held, tour guide took around to everyone to hold if they wanted too. Easy to communicate during trip with everyone. Water wasn’t pretty but you can’t control that. Great time at the beach, shelling and looking for sea creatures. Found beautiful shells and live star fish, clams, and many crabs living in shells.
AMAZING EXPERIENCE! I will go back soon Admission fee is less than expected The length depends on yourself Atmosphere is so pretty Not crowded Staff are amazing Best for couples to talk and disconnect
The lighted sunset kayak tour with Paddle Naples was something to experience! Watching the sunset over the water and paddling in illuminated kayaks created a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. Our guide, Nick, was outstanding. He was very informative and shared information about the local marine life, wildlife, and ecosystem throughout the tour. He was very etheuastic which added an extra touch to the experience and made it both fun and educational. Nick was friendly and professional. If you're visiting area and looking for an adventure, I highly recommend this tour. It was a trip highlight.
Nick was an awesome guide and we loved the experience. We learned so much about all the living creatures; flying and in the water. Nick was very knowledgeable and accommodating. He took great pictures and shared them so we didn’t have to bother taking our phones. Very fun and interesting sunset cruise.
My husband and I did the Clear Kayak Sunset & Light Tour with Paddle Naples. We met up with the tour guide, Nick. The first priority was a safety review, including legal info like you cannot keep shells with a live animal. (Makes sense.) We launched in a two person CLEAR Kayak! I had never seen one before, but it allowed us the see everything in the water below us. We went quite a distance through branching waterways. Nick was on a paddle board guiding us through the right way. We pulled up on a beach and got out to explore the area. Nick was so outstanding in pointing out different shells. He told us about the birds and animals in the area. He pointed out several birds, ospreys and frigate birds, as they flew overhead. His knowledge of the environment was truly impressive! He was so friendly and answered the questions everyone in our small group had. He found shells typical of the area that he shared with us. (No living creature in the shell.) The sunset that night was spectacular! Nick also took pics along the way that he transferred to us at the end. The trip back was so special as there were LED lights in the bottom of the kayak. This was the best experience of our trip!
Nick was very knowledgeable about the area, wildlife, shells, and history. he took MANY cool pictures of us which are a wonderful souvenir.
The tour guide "Nick" was very knowledgeable and personal throughout the tour. Nick made sure everyone stayed safe by reviewing and reminding every one of the rules and regulations while out on the water and the island. The views and sunset were breathtaking!! The app needs updating for identifying the truck and trailer- as the location was a bit confusing to find. (it's just a pull off and is on the left side going north from Naples 1/4 mile past the bridge) be sure to use the restrooms before going, leave belongings in car, bring water and wear comfortable water shoes/sandals. Beware- you may get wet sitting in the kayaks! Bug repellent & sunscreen is suggested too.
The tour guide “Nick” was very knowledgeable and personal throughout the tour. Nick made sure everyone stayed safe by reviewing and reminding every one of the rules and regulations while out on the water and the island. The views and sunset were breathtaking!! The app needs updating for identifying the truck and trailer- as the location was a bit confusing to find. ( it’s just a pull off and is on the left side going north from Naples 1/4 mile past the bridge) be sure to use the restrooms before going, leave belongings in car, bring water and wear comfortable water shoes/sandals. Beware- you may get wet sitting in the kayaks! Bug repellent & sunscreen is suggested too. Definitely worth every penny!!
A beautiful night time activity! Although we did not see many sea creatures, we enjoyed Nick’s vast knowledge about the area and wildlife! He was safety conscious, helpful, and entertaining. We will be back for more activities with Paddle Naples:)
Awesome Tour! Nick was great. Knowledgeable and helpful. Highly recommend and worth every penny !
My boyfriend and I did the night kayak tour with Paddle Naples, and it was beyond our expectations. Our tour guide, Nick, was incredibly personable and knowledgeable about the wildlife. One of the best guides I’ve ever had. You head out at sunset, and once it gets dark, the kayaks light up (one of my favorite parts) it was absolutely magical! The entire experience felt so peaceful and special. We were lucky enough to have the tour to ourselves, which made it feel very intimate, but I’m sure it would have been just as enjoyable with a larger group. I would highly recommend this tour, especially if you get Nick as your guide. It was an unforgettable experience.
Great day kayaking in Bonita Springs. Tour guide Nick was fantastic. Shared a lot of fun stories and interesting facts about the area. Don’t hesitate to book this tour :)
My sister and I did this tour based on reviews we had read. We are so glad we did! The meet-up area was easy to find and has plenty of parking. Nick did a great job guiding us to the island. He was very knowledgeable about the area, plants, and wildlife. You can tell he loves the area and his job.
What a fun time! I read all the previous 5 Star reviews and got to see for myself that they’re well deserved. All the positive comments about what a great and informative guide Nick is are also all well deserved. If you’re thinking about booking this trip, don’t think any longer. Just book it!!
This was a great experience. Fun, beautiful and even educational. We loved the kayaking and the island was gorgeous with the most amazing sand ever. We learned about shells, birds, ocean life and the impacts of recent hurricanes.
Nick is the man! Great time honestly, very adventurous experience and Nick is full of knowledge and so much experience navigating the tour!
Nick was the best! 5/5 maybe even 6/5. Use the bad they give you and collect shells! This was absolutely the best bang for your buck! Do it!
Nick was a friendly knowledgeable guide who knows the flora and fauna very well. It was a very enjoyable experience.
Zach was great ! And gave me the return customer discount card ! I come here every time I'm down here. He was the best yet !!!!
Absolutely fantastic experience – 5 stars all the way. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We did the sunset mangrove kayaking tour out to Big Hickory Island near Bonita Springs, and it was the perfect mix of relaxing, beautiful, and genuinely interesting. Paddling through the mangroves at golden hour was stunning, and watching the sun drop over the Gulf from the beach felt like a private show. From the shore we even watched a flock of pelicans doing stunt-worthy dives into the water – it felt like front-row seats to a nature documentary. Huge shoutout to our guide, Nick. He was the ideal combination of witty and knowledgeable – cracking jokes, keeping everyone comfortable on the water, and sharing tons of insight about the local wildlife, mangroves, and the history of the area. On top of that, Nick was taking photos of the group from a stand-up paddleboard, so we could just enjoy the moment and still come away with great pictures. You could tell he really loves what he does, and it made the whole tour feel memorable instead of just a standard tourist trip. The pace was easy, even for less experienced kayakers, and everything felt very safe and well-organized. I’d absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Bonita Springs area – and if you can, ask for Nick!
Nick was great. Had an awesome time and even made some friends. Kayaking is the best!!! We saw all kind of birds and fish. Definitely coming back
This was an amazing experience and Nick is a great tour guide. Paddling to the beach through the mangroves was easy and relaxing. Nick was very knowledgeable and pointed out the wildlife and nature throughout the entire tour. Sunset was beautiful and the island had more nature and wild life to observe. Paddling back with the LED lights on was a unique experience. Nick also took pictures throughout the journey and just airdropped them to our iPhones. No charge for amazing photos. This should be a must do on everyone’s to do list.
Nick was an incredible guide. Our trip yesterday was excellent, and we walked away with so much knowledge about the local wildlife.
It was a great experience! Nick was very knowledgeable about so many things about the environment. It was a perfect night with a beautiful sunset. We are definitely coming back with friends.
Relaxing and informative experience 100% recommend Nick was a great tour guide and answered any questions we had He even took pictures for us, which was very nice of him
Nick was an awesome tour guide! He shared so much history and knowledge about the animals/environment that we didn’t know, it was an awesome experience. I highly recommend him to share this experience with. The sunset was so beautiful and pictures were amazing.
Our kayak guide was Nick. It ended up being just myself and my six year old son. Which I thought might be weird at first as I’m a bit socially awkward 🤣 but it wasn’t. It actually turned in to us basically having our own personal photographer which for a single mom is a dream as I’m never in any of the pictures. Nick was also great with my son so he loved that! The sunset was amazing. I live on the east coast so I’m familiar with this environment but we learned so many interesting things along the way. Many different shells, interesting dolphin facts 😏, mangrove stories, bird stuff, etc. The beach itself also had some very interesting things about it. Just really fun and my son could have stayed there all night. Definitely recommend!! My son helped me write this review so put this down as two review submissions! 😊
Had a wonderful sunset paddle! Nick did a great job on the tour! He is very knowledgeable! Will be doing it again for sure!
First time doing a kayaking Tour & Nick set the bar HIGH !! Not only was it beautiful and amazing but Nick took the time to explain all the wildlife & scenery . Took us for an amazing beach walk to collect shells & see a picture perfect sunset ! I highly recommend Nick & his team for an unforgettable experience!! And please don’t forget to bring some cash for tipping !!
Nick was a great guide. Very knowledgeable. We kayaked to a beautiful island with so many different shells that Nick identified and told us interesting information on the animals that inhabited them.
Nick was incredibly helpful even though I wasn't renting from him. Took time to explain where and how I should go out as a first timer
Wonderful experience. The Sunset and the beach were amazing. Nick is a professional, friendly, and safety-focused kayak guide. He provides clear instructions, excellent local knowledge, and adapts the pace to the group, making the trip enjoyable for all skill levels. Top-notch gear, great scenery, and helpful tips for paddling and photos—highly recommended.
My teen daughter loved this. Nick was such a knowledgeable guide and took us to the best shelling and sunset viewing location.
Our guide Nick was incredible. Very knowlegeable of the area and the wildlife. My wife and I are locals, and have never been kayaking at night. The illuminated kayaks were definitely something out of the ordinary! I recommend others to use paddle naples for any of their kayaking or paddleboarding tours.
We had no idea what to expect, but the whole journey was lovely. Nick was great with knowledge of the wildlife and shell identification. You aren’t spending a ton of time on the water. It’s more about the destination. We got to the beach and shelled and watched the sunset and then got back in our kayaks turned on the lights and enjoyed our ride back. Which in the dark felt very different than in the light. It was overall really peaceful and fun.
Pretty fun evening outing… Something a little different. Who doesn't love glow-in-the-dark stuff… And glow-in-the-dark kayaks are super fun! Nick did a phenomenal job explaining the wildlife, hurricanes and all of the different shells on the beach. It was nice to do something fun and educational. 100% recommend bug spray and long sleeves… I wish I would've worn leggings because after we watched the sunset and played in the ocean… All of our bugs spray wore off and our legs were a bug buffet! lol but it was worth it… Nice memories, awesome sunset!
Nick was AMAZING! We took the night excursion and absolutely loved the glowing water & stunning views! Would do again if we were in the area.
Wonderful experience. More than just a kayak trip. Our guide Nick was knowledgeable and engaging. His great photos shared with us are an excellent way to remember the fun evening. They were a great included part of the trip. The lights and location were excellent!
We went on a night guided kayak tour with Nick as our guide. It was a rewarding experience we kayaked for about 15 mins, then hiked up a private beach (Big Hickory Island), where Nick showed us so many types of sea life (conch, whelp, crabs etc.), as well as different type of birds. He was extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend this tour. Bring mosquitoe spray!
This was well worth the booking. Nick, our guide was awesome and super knowledgable and down to earth. Kayaking was fun and he showed up down pretty incredible wildlife and shells. Heading back in the dark with the lights was incredibly unique and made for a cool experience. 5/5 - would do again and ask for Nick.
This tour was a great mix of nature, shelling, and sunset views. Our guide Nick was terrific—punctual, organized, and knowledgeable. He captured photos throughout and prepped us for each part of the tour, making this a great experience for beginners or anyone feeling a bit unsure about stepping off the beaten path. A perfect opportunity to connect with the local surroundings. Pro tip: bring insect repellent and reapply before heading back!
We started shortly before dusk, paddling through mangroves to the beach, then exploring a hidden island with its own little tidal lake, with a little time to hunt for seashells as the sun set. Once it did, the kayaks were lit up for the return trip. Our guide Nick was very knowledgeable, pointing out everything we would have missed if we were wandering around on our own - wildlife, all the different seashells, native lore and modern developments in the area. We highly recommend this tour!
Nick was very knowledgeable and fun! My kids loved it. We learned a little about shells and the land and the wildlife. Sunset view was amazing and paddling back at night was really cool
Had a wonderful experience with our guide, Nick. We learned a lot about different sea shells, the storms that changed the area, and the wildlife. It was fun to paddle in a glow boat and to witness a beautiful sunset.
I really enjoyed it. He was very knowledgeable of the environment and all the birds. I would highly recommend for your family. it’s a perfect way to spend the afternoon.
Our original tour was canceled due to rough winds. They immediately communicated this with us and offered a different date. When we arrived, my husband and I were the only two that could go that night. Nick was our guide. He was wonderful. He took his time guiding and sharing his knowledge of our surroundings. We never felt like we were putting him out, since it was just us! And the sunset was amazing!
Nick was amazing! So much fun!! It was so much fun getting to see all the different shells that they had on the island! would do it again!
This was an amazing experience! Nick was an excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable about the eco-system and history. We will be back!
views were amazing!! it was such a great experience and a great way to spend our final day in this part of Florida. Nick was amazing and very funny!
Nick our guide was AMAZING!! We made so many great memories with family. I wish you could leave more than 5 stars because this company deserves it.
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