Key West Paddle

A family-run night kayak and sandbar company in Key West

Key West Paddle, which brands its tours as Night Kayak, runs its own guided kayak tours and private boat trips in Key West, Florida. Everything leaves from the Beachside Resort and Residences, 3841 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West FL 33040. The about page describes "a family-owned and operated tour company" that has been "bringing the best tours experiences to tourists in Key West for over a decade." It says that in 2012 the family "had an idea to put lights on the glass bottom kayak and go out on the water at night," and claims: "We were the first in Florida and one of the first in the entire world." It adds that "if you did a clear bottom kayak at night in Key West between 2012 and 2019 you did it with us!" Prices are in US dollars.

The current launch site, according to the about page, "is sheltered from the wind, has mangrove tunnels that are magical at night," and passes mangrove island rookeries "home to ibis, herons, pelicans, and their fledglings."

The Night Kayak Guided Tour

The main product is the Night Kayak Guided Tour, marked "our most popular tour." You paddle a single or double glass-bottom kayak lit from below, following a guide through shallow water and "narrow mangrove tunnels at night" while the guide looks for "interesting critters for everyone to see." The site describes it as "slow paced, immersive, and very relaxing," and says the lights make you "feel like you're kayaking in the very large aquarium."

The tour info lists 1 hour 20 minutes, up to 18 people, English, and a meeting point at Beachside Resort & Residences. The price starts at $69.95; the pricing box shows a single kayak at $79.95 and a double at $139.95 ($70/person). The page shows 4.9 from 1989 reviews, and the homepage widget shows "Excellent" from 2865 verified reviews across the company.

Timing follows the sun. The FAQ says "our first tour starts 15 minutes after sunset so the exact times of the tour vary throughout the year." Once the first tour is full, a late tour "leaves 2 hours after sunset," and it needs "a minimum of 6 participants." A full tour, the FAQ says, has "6 single kayaks and 6 double kayaks." If the booking system shows only doubles, the singles are gone; a solo paddler can take a double only at "190lbs or less," because all the weight sits at one end.

The FAQ is practical. Children "4 years old and up" can join, riding a double kayak with a parent. Wear shorts and a t-shirt, with a hoodie on colder winter nights; you "might get a little wet but you shouldn't get soaked." Shoes and flip flops stay on the dock because they scratch the plexiglass. The company asks guests not to use bug spray, since it damages the kayak bottoms, and says "it's not buggy at all." There is a locked dock-box for valuables. Alcohol is not allowed on the kayak tour: "You have to be 100% sober," and anyone showing signs of intoxication is refused without a refund. On wildlife, the company is careful: "we don't have residential critters that would always be waiting there for us." Reviews on the homepage, chosen by the company, mention sting rays, crabs and lobsters.

Sandbar boat trips

The boat side of the business is private sandbar trips from the same marina.

The Key West Sandbar Trip lists 3 hours, 1 to 6 people, and a price from $550, with an option to "add an additional hour to this tour for $100." The itinerary starts with "a quick and enjoyable 30 minute ride" to the Jewish Basin sandbars ("ankle to waist-deep waters"), then the Mud Keys, then Snipe Point, "the local's favorite sandbar." Included are a captain, an ice cooler with bottled water and sodas, water toys, an inflatable hangout dock, and masks and snorkels. Food, towels and sun protection are not included, and alcohol is allowed.

The FAQ adds caveats. Not every stop is guaranteed: "All trips are weather permitting." Snipe Point "is not accessible during days of N, NW and NE winds" because the boat has to run in deeper gulf water. The FAQ also says the 3-hour trip covers the Jewfish Sandbar and Mud Keys, while the 4-hour trip goes on to Snipes, which does not fully match the itinerary text. And the sandbars are usually shared: "There's only a handful of these gorgeous destinations so they are often visited by local boat owners," with more traffic on weekends and holidays.

A cheaper option, the Private Budget Friendly Key West Small Boat Sandbar Hop, runs 3 to 4 hours for up to 4 guests on a Robalo Cayman 206, which the site says "can glide into super-shallow areas" larger boats cannot reach. Guests are told to bring their own drinks, snacks and sunscreen. The page does not show its price.

Booking and cancellation

You book online, and the site says its system shows "real-time availability." After booking, a confirmation email gives "the approximate check in time, detailed directions, payment details." There is no shuttle service, but the company offers "complimentary garage parking for the duration of the tour," and guests can use a restroom beside the resort pool. Phone support is 305-896-0342.

The cancellation terms are clear. The kayak page says "full refund or credit with 24 hours notice of cancellation," and "full refund, rebook, or credit due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances." The FAQ adds that if the company cancels, "everybody receives full refund," and refunds "usually take around 10 business days."

What the site leaves open, and who it suits

The site does not say how far the kayak route goes or how much paddling experience is expected, beyond a review from "beginner to intermediate kayakers" who found it "just right." It gives no price for the budget sandbar hop, and the 3-hour versus 4-hour sandbar itineraries read two ways.

The strengths are a distinctive night tour with clear rules, printed prices, a 24-hour cancellation window, and private sandbar trips with honest caveats about wind and crowds. Key West Paddle suits families with children 4 and up, couples looking for an evening activity, and small groups who want a private day on the sandbars.