New Key West Activities and Tours to Try on Your Next Florida Keys Vacation

Hi, John the Dolphin Expert here.

The fall months are getting closer, and I have always thought this is a great time to start thinking about a trip to the Florida Keys. Once we get past the hottest part of summer, Key West starts getting even more visitors who want to enjoy the water, the restaurants, Duval Street, sunsets, and everything else that makes this little island different from almost anywhere else in Florida.

Of course, October also brings Fantasy Fest to Key West. If you have ever been there during Fantasy Fest, you already know that “quiet” is probably not the best word to describe Key West that week. It gets pretty crazy.

But that is actually one reason I wanted to write this post.

When Key West gets busy, sometimes the best part of your vacation is finding a way to get away from Key West for a few hours without actually leaving Key West.

That means getting out on the water.

We recently updated our Key West activities page with several experiences that I think give visitors some really good choices. We still have our popular wild dolphin tour, but now we also offer a private wild dolphin, snorkeling and sandbar charter, plus guided kayak and paddle board eco tours.

If you are searching for fun things to do in Key West, these are four activities I would seriously consider.

A Different Side of Key West Is Waiting on the Water

I like Key West. There is nothing quite like walking around Old Town, stopping at a restaurant, watching the street performers or heading over to Mallory Square for sunset.

But Key West can also be busy.

Cars, scooters, music, bars, tourists and people walking everywhere are all part of the Key West experience.

Sometimes after being in the middle of all of that, it feels really good to get onto the water where things suddenly become much quieter.

That is what I like about these tours.

You can have the excitement of Key West and then spend a few hours seeing the natural Florida Keys.

The Wild Dolphin Tour Is Still One of My Favorites

We have offered the wild dolphin tour for a while, and I still think it is one of the most interesting ways to experience Key West.

This is not a dolphin show and it is not a swim-with-dolphins program.

You are going out into the dolphins’ natural environment and looking for wild dolphins living around Key West.

The regular group trip lasts about 3 1/2 hours and is currently priced at $119 per guest. It combines wild dolphin watching with time out on the beautiful Key West water.

One thing I always remind people is that these dolphins are wild animals. Nobody tells them where to swim that day.

For me, that is part of what makes the experience exciting.

You are exploring.

You never know exactly what the day will bring.

Book Wild Tour Group $119

Our New Private Wild Dolphin, Snorkel and Sandbar Charter

This is probably the Key West activity I am most excited about adding.

For $745, you can book the entire boat for a private 3 1/2-hour adventure.

Instead of joining a group of travelers you do not know, it is your boat with a professional captain and guide.

Bring your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend, family or a few people you really want to spend the day with.

You Help Decide What Kind of Trip You Want

What makes this excursion in Key West different is that the trip can be shaped around what your group enjoys.

Maybe you really want to look for wild dolphins.

Spend more time doing that.

Maybe everyone wants to snorkel.

Spend more time in the water.

Or maybe you want to head over to a sandbar, get into the shallow water and just relax.

You can combine all three:

• Wild dolphin viewing
• Snorkeling
• Sandbar time

That flexibility is a big advantage of going private.

You are not trying to keep up with a big tour group or following an itinerary designed for everybody else.

A Great Idea for Birthdays, Anniversaries and Engagements

I especially like the private charter for smaller celebrations.

If you are coming to Key West for a birthday or anniversary, this gives you something you will probably remember much longer than another dinner.

And guys, if you are thinking about proposing in Key West, I have to say that being on a private boat somewhere in the Florida Keys with blue water surrounding you sounds like a pretty good setting.

The same goes for couples who simply want a few hours together away from the crowds.

There is something about being on the Key West water that helps you slow down.

I am actually not the world’s biggest “sit on a boat all day” person. I like to be doing something. That is why this trip appeals to me. You can look for dolphins, get into the water, snorkel, visit the sandbar and make the experience your own.

Book Your Wild Dolphin Private Charater

The Key West Kayak Eco Tour May Be My Kind of Tour

Now we get to another activity that I really like: kayaking.

Out of our newer Key West activities, I think the kayak eco tour may fit me the best.

The guided tour lasts approximately two hours and is currently priced at $70 per guest. It explores the calmer backcountry waters and mangrove areas around Key West and Stock Island. Guests can typically use either single or double kayaks, depending on availability.

Escape Into the Key West Mangroves

The difference between kayaking here and paddling around an open beach is the mangroves.

Mangroves create protected waterways, little creeks and natural tunnels.

The water is generally much calmer than being out in open ocean conditions, which makes the tour comfortable for people who may not be expert kayakers.

In fact, the tour is designed for different experience levels, including beginners, and guests receive basic paddling instruction before heading out.

If you are searching online for kayak tours Key West, this is exactly the kind of experience I would look for.

You are not just paddling around for exercise.

You have a guide showing you the ecosystem and helping you notice things you probably would paddle right past on your own.

Keep Your Eyes Above and Below the Water

One reason I enjoy this kind of eco tour is that you never know what you might see.

Around the mangroves you can encounter coastal birds such as herons and ibis, along with tropical fish and other small marine life.

Depending on conditions and a little luck, wildlife sightings can also include sea stars, rays, sharks, dolphins or even manatees. Wildlife changes every day, so there are never guarantees.

And if a manatee happens to show up, that will probably become the story everybody tells when they get home.

The kayak tour is also short enough that you still have plenty of your Key West day left afterward.

Book Your Key West Kayak Tour

Want More of a Workout? Try the Paddle Board Eco Tour

We have also added a guided paddle board eco tour.

I have to admit something here.

I have done the kayak tour, but I have not personally done the paddle board tour.

It looks really cool, though.

The paddle board tour takes you into the same kind of peaceful Key West backcountry environment, giving you the chance to explore the mangroves and look for marine life from a completely different position.

The tour runs about two hours and is currently priced at $70 per guest.

Kayak Guy or Paddle Board Person?

I think there are two kinds of travelers reading this section.

Some of you are thinking, “Give me the kayak. I want to sit down and paddle.”

That would be me.

Then there are others thinking, “Give me the paddle board. I want a little challenge.”

Standing and paddling obviously requires more balance and effort than sitting inside a kayak, and for a lot of people that is exactly what makes it fun.

If you have been searching paddle board tours near me while staying in Key West, this is an opportunity to do more than simply rent a board. You can go out with a guide and explore the mangrove ecosystem instead.

Book Your Key West Paddle Board Tour

Are Guided Tours Worth It in Key West?

People sometimes search are guided tours worth it, especially when you can rent kayaks, paddle boards and boats on your own.

For these particular experiences, I think they are.

There are two big reasons.

First, a knowledgeable local guide knows where to go.

Second, the guide knows what you are looking at.

You might paddle past a mangrove and just see a bunch of roots. A guide can help you understand why those mangroves are so important and point out wildlife you might never notice.

On the dolphin trip, having an experienced captain who knows the local waters is even more important.

To me, that is what you are paying for — not just equipment or a boat, but local knowledge and a better experience.

Four Great Ways to See Key West Differently

One reason I am so happy with our updated Key West activities is that there is now something for several different types of travelers.

Choose the Group Wild Dolphin Tour – $119 Per Guest

Good for families, couples and visitors who want to get on the water, search for wild dolphins and enjoy a Florida Keys adventure without booking an entire private boat.

Choose the Private Wild Dolphin Charter – $745 Per Boat

This would be my choice for couples, families, birthdays, anniversaries, proposals and anyone who wants to control more of their itinerary.

Choose the Guided Kayak Eco Tour – $70 Per Guest

A great choice if you want a peaceful nature experience, calm water and an easy paddle through the mangroves.

Choose the Guided Paddle Board Eco Tour – $70 Per Guest

Perfect for the more active traveler who wants the same natural Key West environment with a little more exercise and adventure.

Prices can change, so always check the individual activity page for current pricing and availability before booking.

Get Out and See the Key West I Really Love

If you are coming to Key West this fall, absolutely enjoy the town.

Walk Duval Street. Have a good meal. Watch a sunset. And if you are coming during Fantasy Fest, prepare yourself because you are going to see a side of Key West you probably will not forget.

But my recommendation is to also give yourself a few hours away from the crowds.

Get out onto the water.

Look for dolphins.

Jump into the water and snorkel.

Relax on a sandbar.

Paddle quietly underneath the mangroves.

You might discover that your favorite memory from Key West happened several miles away from all the noise.

We now have the wild dolphin tour, private wild dolphin and sandbar charter, guided kayak eco tour and guided paddle board eco tour available through our Key West activities selection.

I am really happy we were able to add these choices.

If you are planning your trip and you are not sure which one is best for you, please contact me.

John the Dolphin Expert
Email: dolphinworldresponse@gmail.com
Phone: 800-667-5524

Tell me who is traveling with you, their ages, what everyone likes to do and when you are coming to Key West. I will be happy to help you figure out which activity makes the most sense for your vacation.

I hope to see you in the Florida Keys!