Our 15 Best Kayak Dolphin Tours in Cocoa Beach

1.Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour w/Cocoa Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 923 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $69Our pick

Spend about 2.5 hours kayaking Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands with Cocoa Kayaking. A guide such as James, Ian, or Susie leads you through mangrove tunnels and open lagoons while explaining wildlife and ecology. Groups are limited to 10, photos are included, and manatees, dolphins, birds, stingrays, and tarpon may appear.

“Our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable, great personality, and answered all our questions. Saw manatees and dolphins, loved it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Manatee and Dolphin Kayaking | Wildlife Refuge (Titusville)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 241 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Kayak through Haulover Canal with a small-group guide who knows the local wildlife. You may see manatees, dolphins feeding on baitfish, alligators, stingrays, horseshoe crabs, and many birds. Brian, Zach, Tyler, Terrance, and other guides have been praised for their wildlife knowledge and patient help.

“It was a great adventure - lots of fun - we found manatee bones/stingray/horseshoe crab - the water was so clear & beautiful”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Manatee and Dolphin Kayaking Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Launch at Haulover Canal for a guided two-hour paddle through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Guides such as Chaz, Zoe, Drew, and Carey help you find manatees, dolphins, birds, jellyfish, and the occasional gator. Kayak, paddle, and PFD are included, but bring water shoes, sunscreen, water, and dry clothes.

“I love it!!! It was so amazing experience, we got to see manatees and dolphins. I highly recommend it”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Wildlife Refuge Manatee, Dolphin & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 210 reviews · from $52

Set out from Haulover Canal near Cocoa Beach by kayak or stand-up paddleboard, with a guide leading you through mangroves and wildlife habitat. Guides such as Noah, Logan, Katie, and Captain Mike are praised for clear instruction and local wildlife knowledge. The 90-minute trip may include manatees, dolphins, alligators, birds, comb jellies, and sunset views.

“Tour guides were fantastic! Saw manatees, dolphins, raccoons and many species of birds. Great experience all around!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour of Cocoa Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 194 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddle a one or two-person kayak or stand-up board through the Banana River Manatee Refuge and Thousand Islands near Cocoa Beach. Guides such as Riley, Jack, Roman, and Christian explain the wildlife and local habitat. Expect a relaxed two-hour outing, with possible dolphins, manatees, spoonbills, storks, and a rope-swing stop.

“Manatees, dolphins, sting rays, puffer fish, a black tip shark, jumping fish and beautiful birds on the conservation Island. Unforgettable!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Paddle Board or Kayak Eco Dolphin Manatee Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 95 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $79

Start at 9 a.m. in Merritt Island for a two-hour paddle through the Banana River Aquatic Preserve. Andrew and the SOBESURF team provide kayaks, paddleboards, instruction, photos, and wildlife guidance. Calm water suits first-timers, though dolphin and manatee sightings are never guaranteed.

“We had a great time and Andrew our tour guide was great! We loved seeing the manatees and the dolphins!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Manatee and Dolphin Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $50

Spend about two hours kayaking the Thousand Island Conservation area with naturalist guides such as Cameron and Erin. Expect calm lagoon water, mangrove passages, wildlife watching, beginner-friendly instruction, water, and dry bags. Manatees and dolphins are possible, not guaranteed.

“Such a wonderful experience. Couldn’t have asked for a better guide, very knowledgeable and fun. The kids absolutely loved it. We had a manatee swim with us for about thirty minutes, saw dolphins, tons of fish and birds. It was a great way to experience part of the beauty of Florida.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Cocoa Beach: Dolphin and Manatee Kayak or Paddle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 69 reviews · 2 hours · from $65

Paddle a kayak or stand-up paddleboard for two hours through Cocoa Beach’s Banana River waterways. Guides such as Jack and Spencer explain local wildlife and history as you look for dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, pelicans, spoonbills, and live conch. The route includes the Banana River Manatee Refuge and a 30-minute pass through the Thousand Islands Conservation Area.

“We had a great trip! Jack was an amazing guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Indian River Clear Bottom Kayak or Paddleboarding Manatee and Dolphin Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $75

Meet at Kiwanis Island Park near Cocoa Beach for a 90-minute guided paddle through the Indian River Lagoon. Choose a kayak or paddleboard, with equipment, life jacket, dry bags, and photos included. Guides such as Michael, Tom, and Troy focus on finding dolphins, manatees, birds, fish, and comb jellies, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“Troy was just a great guide. Very personable and knowledgeable. We can’t wait for our next adventure with him.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Guided Kayak Tour with Manatee & Dolphin Sightings

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $50

Meet guide Adrena at Manatee Cove Park for a safety lesson, then paddle a single or tandem sit-on-top kayak through the estuaries near Cocoa Beach. Keep watch for manatees, dolphins, pelicans, crabs, stingrays, and fish. You will get wet boarding, so bring a towel and dry clothes.

“Perfect kayaking trip! Adrenal was excellent!! We loved watching the manatees - so many of them. Spied a gator in the distance and a dolphin. Many fish, horse shoe crabs and so much more. Well worth it. Family ages 7-62. Great time!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Kayak Tours and Rentals. Dolphins, Manatees, and Bioluminescence!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $55

Paddle from Merritt Island into the Indian River Lagoon by kayak or paddle board. Day tours focus on dolphins, manatees, birds, fish, and lagoon ecology, while seasonal night trips from May through August reveal glowing dinoflagellates and pulsing comb jellies. Guides including Jason, Adam, and Amber provide instruction and natural history.

“Great experience. Jason was a great guide and took the time to educate us on the plant and wildlife and showed us cool bioluminescent jellyfish”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Sunset kayaking tour at Manatee Cove with Manatee & Dolphin sightings

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Join Calypso Kayaking at Manatee Cove Park for a 90-minute sunset paddle in a single or tandem kayak. Your English-speaking guide, including guides such as Jason, Kenny, or Erin, explains the cove’s wildlife and mangroves. Expect a stop at an island for shells, a strong chance of dolphins, and a lower chance of manatees during migration season.

“Had a great time!! Saw a dolphin and a lot of manatees. The guide did an excellent job!! She showed us alot and new that she was talking about”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Dolphin and Manatee Clear Kayak or Paddleboard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

At Merritt Island, Epic Paddle Adventures pairs a guided lesson with a two-hour clear kayak or paddleboard trip. Watch for dolphins, manatees, stingrays, horseshoe crabs, fish, and birds. Sunset departures use bright underwater LEDs. Guide TJ is praised for local wildlife knowledge and a friendly manner.

“TJ was awesome very informative and personable . I would highly recommend him. He knew a lot of information about the local wildlife”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Wildlife Refuge Sunset Dolphin, Manatee & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $61

Set out from Haulover Canal near Kennedy Space Center for a two-hour sunset kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour. Guides such as Logan, Noah, Mark, and Ethan lead small groups of up to 10 through mangroves and wildlife habitat. Dolphins and manatees are possible, not guaranteed. Kayaks, SUPs, life jackets, photos, and dry bags are included.

Check availability →Read our full review

15.One Tandem Kayak Rental for 2 hours with Manatee & Dolphin sightings!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Rent a tandem kayak from Calypso Kayaking Inc. at Manatee Cove Park and paddle the Indian River Lagoon at your own pace. Phil can point you toward likely manatee and dolphin areas, but this is a self-guided rental, not a guided tour. The two-hour outing includes the kayak, paddles, and life jackets.

“Phil was great at giving advice where to see the manatees & dolphins. Kayaking out to the island. We had a blast and plan on doing it again before we go home.”

Check availability →Read our full review