Paddling either a kayak with one other person or a paddlebard if you have real experience of usingt them. We'll go along the reef and into the lagoon at the downwind end, then make our way back upwind sheltered by the mangrove trees. In the lagoon we will explore different quiet corners, watch passing wildlife, and enjoy the remarkable universe that is a mangrove lagoon. If the season is right, you might also be asked to plant a mangrove seed to help our recovery following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
We were looking for a kayaking experience in the BVI, and this one did not disappoint! The activity was both educational and enjoyable. Highly recommended!
I booked the mangrove kayak tour on Tortola through TripAdvisor with BVI GroundSea, and it completely exceeded my expectations. Going in, I expected a quiet paddle through some trees, but it turned into an incredible, serene nature adventure. The wildlife encounters were fantastic—we spotted stingrays, baby sharks, schools of fish, jellyfish, and diverse bird species. Gliding through the calm, narrow channels of the mangroves made me feel completely connected to the surrounding environment. A huge shout-out to our guide, Easy. He struck the perfect balance between being deeply knowledgeable, caring, and passionate about the ecosystem. He explained everything in an engaging, relatable way—especially how vital mangroves are for coastal protection and how much carbon dioxide they store. The absolute highlight was getting to actively plant mangroves ourselves. It felt amazing to give something back and contribute directly to the ecosystem rather than just being a spectator. The paddle itself was adventurous yet very manageable. Easy guided us smoothly through the tighter passages and onto a small island landing. Quick tip: Definitely bring water shoes! They made getting in and out of the kayak and walking around the shore completely effortless. If you are visiting Tortola, do not miss this tour. It’s peaceful, educational, fun, and deeply rewarding. Highly recommended!
This was an amazing tour! It was a small group and the guide (Alex) was so kind to answer all of our questions. He was clearly devoted to giving accurate information about the land and water of the BVI.
Looking for an alternative to the crowded boats heading to the Virgin Gorda? This kayak trip in the Mangroves was a great time on the water with a chill and knowledgeable guide Alex who clearly loves the island and nature. Highly recommend for all ages, bonus if you know how to paddle and love wetlands.
Alex was a fantastic guide! We had a great time, learning how to kayak, all about the eco system of the mangroves, and seeing tons of wildlife. 10/10 experience. Would recommend.
This was a great excursion! I would definitely book it again the guide was very knowledgeable. The vehicle on the other hand was not pleasant, I would prefer another vehicle it was not clean and pretty old. Thanks again!
This is a true eco-tour given by a local who is very knowledgeable about the mangroves, lagoon and aquatic life. It’s not fancy or for the finicky. If you appreciate nature up close and being outdoors and aren’t afraid to get your feet dirty you will enjoy this.
Alex was an amazing guide! My family had an awesome time learning about the mangroves and seeing all of the marine life. When signing up for this excursion, I had no idea it would be so educational and informative. Alex clearly cares a great deal about the ocean and protecting its inhabitants. I cannot recommend this adventure enough! We also rode to the starting point with Derek, who gave us an outstanding look into BVI, its history and all the area has to offer. Our ride with Derek was an added and unexpected bonus! You will not regret jumping into this excursion one bit!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An unforgettable adventure! This was one of the highlights of our trip. Our guide was outstanding—friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the mangrove ecosystem. Paddling through the crystal-clear lagoon and winding mangrove tunnels was absolutely beautiful. We saw sharks, jellyfish, hermit crabs, tropical fish, and so much more! The small group made the experience feel personal, and the guides made everyone feel comfortable and safe. If you’re visiting Tortola, don’t miss this amazing tour!
There are not enough wonderful words to describe this experience and the guide. Alex was very knowledgeable about mangrove forests, the ocean, the animals, and helping the land recover from natural disasters. He was patient with my family and very helpful with the kayaks. The mangrove forests were beautiful. I cannot recommend this experience enough. I hope to do it again someday.
This was such an incredible experience, and helped us to connect to the BVI in a much deeper way. Part magical voyage and part interesting history and local marine biology, I can’t recommend this experience enough. Alex has an in depth knowledge that comes from a true connection to his home. He was a wonderful guide and awesome person to be around!
Tgis was a fantastic experience for the entire family! We learned about the mangroves and sea life that live in the area. Alex is a wonderful guide provided our family with top notch memories. Don't hesitate- book this experience, you won't regret it!
in a hidden bay. totally private and beautiful! Alex was so helpfu and full of knowledge. kept our group aged 7 to 70 entertained and smiling all the time! We'd do it again in a heartbeat!
Amazing experience! Very fun tour guide and got to see baby sharks, stingrays, and so much more!! Loved it and would recommend to my friends and family!
Highly recommend exploring the mangroves with Alex! He is very knowledgeable and a great guide. We learned so much and had a great time. Saw part of Beef Island most tourists probably miss.
We had such wonderful time on this experience! Alex is obviously knowledgeable and passionate about what he does. He took his time to explain to us about the mangroves and why they are important to the environment. We never felt rushed and enjoyed the nice small group that we had. We highly recommend this trip!
Unfortunately we did not get to participate in the kayaking to mangrove. Alex was very patient with our family. We had been kayaking on lakes but ocean is very different! We finally gave up! He was so thoughtful that he dropped us off at a beach which was much more our speed! He picked us up and took us back to our ship. He stopped on way back showing us beautiful scenery! I would recommend the tour because Alex is great to work with!
The best shore excursion we have ever taken. Our guide was so knowledgeable about the mangroves making our trip fun and educational.
My 2 older teens and I had a great time kayaking through the mangroves with Alex! We happened to be the only three on the tour that morning, so it truly felt like a personal experience! The tour starts with an 20-25 minute car ride that is a bit rough in spots but showcases some amazing views. We got to a beautiful secluded beach area and he got us set up with equipment. Alex was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about the local ecosystem and the plants and animals. We saw baby sharks, jellyfish, crabs, and fish. We will definitely do this excursion again if we return to port. One word of caution- this tour does require some physical fitness. You don’t necessarily have to be an experienced kayaker, but there is a bit of open water time that can be rougher, and while exploring the mangroves there were a lot of tight spaces that required pushing through or even “limboing” under branches. My husband is a larger guy and was not able to keep balanced on his kayak; he decided to sit out and relaxed and napped on the beach instead! Overall this tour was a highlight of our trip!
Highly recommend this excursion! Alex is incredibly knowledgeable and provided exceptional insights regarding the mangroves and Tortola in general. He made sure to keep our group safe and provide any assistance that was needed. This was my families first time kayaking and though there was slight learning curve, we felt comfortable navigating the waters with him leading us. The mangroves and surrounding landscapes are beautiful. Even the drive to and from the mangroves was breathtaking. It is a very physical excursion and we were exhausted after kayaking for several hours, but given the opportunity, I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Alex was knowledgeable and passionate about the environment. The paddling was a good workout but not overly strenuous. The mangrove magical. The only issue I saw was he kept talking about a man named Greg and I got confused and started calling him Greg and he was to polite to correct me and let me call him Greg for 2 hours. Great outing.
We just returned from our kayak trip with Alex in the mangroves. He taught us many things, and we got to enjoy a beautiful day being out on the water. Highly recommend this tour for the education and education.
Brilliant trip with Alex, could not have wished for a better kayaking trip. The mangroves were great, a small group meant we could ask anything and everything we wanted. Alex was knowledgeable and patient, a great guide. Please book this if you are in this area and enjoy something completely unique.
Alex was excellent, knowledgeable and personable: He alone makes the tour what it is. Wonderful tour. Beautiful scenery.
Wow! So fun and informative! Alex was such a knowledgeable guy. Being born and raised on the island, he knows everything about the trees, the crabs, and even local things to do. Learned so much about the mangroves and how essential they are. A gorgeous experience like none other. HIGHLY recommend.
What a great experience in Tortola! Alex was so kind, patient, and knowledgable. We learned so much about the resiliency and beauty of the Mangroves. As a bonus, we got a little exercise in too.
We thoroughly recommend this excursion. We spent a great couple of hours with Alex paddling through the mangroves and learning about the ecosystem there. It really was straightforward and most of the area we kayaked in was very shallow. Alex really understands the environment and we learnt a lot - we saw a couple of baby sharks and other young fish. This was one of the highlights of our cruise and we would definitely recommend.
This was a fun, educational experience for our family with three teenagers. Alex was a great guide and helped us learn more about the BVI and its beauty.
I did this experience with my two children. It was very windy so we kayaks instead of paddle boarding. It was amazing. He took us through these trails that the boat had barely fit through! It was also informational. He gave us a lot of facts about the mangroves!
Had an amazing time. Alex did a great job at showing us the ropes and was a great tour guide. Would return again! <3
This exceeded expectations. I loved the all of the explanations, both historic and scientific. The pace was nice and the mangroves were awesome. I really enjoyed myself.
Great for all ages and abilities. Nice combination of water adventure, eco tour and family time. Very much different from your “usual” tours.
This was a great experience .Intimate ,away from the crowds. If you love nature youll love this , Alex was so informative, and has a genuine care for the environmemt . Mangroves teeming with life a really great experience thank you !
Alex really loves and cares about the natural beauty of the island and mangroves. He will walk you through every step including picking you up from the cruise terminal. Out of all the shore excursions we did, my partner and I agree, this one was the most interesting, fun, and memorable. When we come back to BVI, we will most definitely do this again.
Had a great time with Alex. Lucky for us other cancelled so it became a private tour. Alex is incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much info about the mangroves and their importance. Great option when on Tortola!
Alex is amazing and extremely knowledgeable, showing true appreciation for the beautiful nature of the island.
Alex does a tremendous job in a beautiful mangrove! He goes above and beyond and is one of the best excursions guides we have experienced. The kayaking was fairly straightforward and easy, even though a bit windy today. Bonus was the spotted Eagle Ray and the Lemon Shark!!! This is a must do if in Tortola!!!!
Great excursion, very private and unique experience. This excursion offered a private and exclusive experience that was not crowded. Alex was very friendly and knowledgeable and eager to share his knowledge regarding the habitat and environment. Highly recommend if you enjoy small groups and out of the ordinary experiences.
Alex was very informative and fun. Kayaking was relaxed and enjoyable, not strenuous
Fantastic morning on the water! Alex is so knowledgeable about the mangroves. Fascinating. Easy paddling in double kayaks. Paddle for a bit then a talking break so my arms never got tired or anything. We thought this was a nice way alternative to the beaches we spent most of our time at just for something a little different.
Took my 14 year old along this great educational and unique experience. He kept on telling me how much he enjoyed the experience. He just wished he had more pictures- especially going through the mangroves obstacle courses. Learned so much. Got a little workout in with the wind. Highly recommend. Thanks Will- a great way to end our trip.
We thoroughly enjoyed this trip, kayaking around the bay was in itself a brilliant experience but listening to Alex sharing his extensive knowledge about the mangrove, the wildlife it supports and how it has changed over his lifetime is enthralling.
Absolutely love love loved this trip. The guide was amazing and very knowledgeable about mangroves and the environment. Excellent morning
Alex was an outstanding guide with a deep knowledge of the local area, mangrove biology, wildlife, and the ecosystem as a whole. His enthusiasm for conservation truly shines through and added meaningful context to the experience. Kayaking across the lagoon and weaving through narrow channels around and even under the mangroves was not only informative but incredibly fun. It was fantastic way to explore the island. Recommend using insect repellent to avoid itchy bug bites.
We enjoyed the personal service from Alex, a native of Tortola. Nice easy paddle and Alex does a great job sharing information about the Island and the mangroves. Highly recommend if you like to kayak or paddle board.
If you want a trip that’s away from the crowds and you love nature then this is the one for you! Alex was brilliant, very knowledgeable about the mangroves and very clear he cares deeply about this area of his home island. He took us right through the middle of the forest, on a private estate so didn’t see another soul the entire time. Dropped us iat Long Beach for the afternoon but can also take you back to the port if that’s what you need. Highly recommend this excursion 👍
Great experience. Alex got enormous knowledge and answers all question. Everything very well organised, good communication.
We absolutely loved our mangrove paddle with Alex. He was an incredible guide and so knowledgeable, patient, and happy to answer all of our questions. The experience was peaceful, calm, and a perfect way to start our adventures in the BVI. We loved being immersed in nature and learning so much along the way. The paddle itself was very manageable and did not require being super athletic, making it accessible and enjoyable for all ability levels and ages. We highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a relaxed, educational, and beautiful introduction to the islands.
Alex was an awesome tour guide, very knowledgeable and insightful! The whole experience was a lovely and peaceful break from the crowds and the whole family had a great time! Highly recommend
The tour guide was very informative, no prior kayak experience required and the experience is also kid friendly, there was another family in our group with 2 younger kids (5-10) they got through the tour and enjoyed as well.
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