Offering outstanding kayak and stand up paddleboard eco-tours and rental equipment in Sarasota on Lido Key and Siesta Key
This is THE best paddling eco-tour in Sarasota. The highlight of the tour is paddling through the winding tunnels cut through the mangroves. The mangrove tunnels at Ted Sperling Park are a very special place. Wildlife abounds on this paddle with interesting birds, fish, invertebrates, and even marine mammals. Many people say this tour was the best and most memorable part of their Sarasota vacation and for good reason!
Feel like exploring on your own? We have limited daily kayak and paddleboard rentals at Ted Sperling Park. This launch site is the closest to the Lido Mangrove tunnels and gives you easy access to this amazing area. We provide a map and will give you some pointers about the area before you head out on your own.
Turtle Beach is a great place to paddle! We start on the intercostal and paddle down a short canal to the Bay. We paddle around the mangrove islands of Jim Neville Marine Preserve and then to a “secret” beach. This beach is only accessible by boat so we may have it to ourselves. Such a beautiful place for a quick swim or just stopping for a few moments to relax.
Paddle Siesta Key! Away from all the hustle and bustle of Siesta Key, is our favorite local beach, Turtle Beach.
Book a private paddleboard or kayak tour at Mangrove Tunnels or Turtle Beach or whatever location you desire in Florida!
Our beginner surf lessons are a great way to get started with surfing while on the west coast of Florida. Sarasota has some great beginner waves and when the waves come through they can be really fun. Get started on a lifetime of fun with our private surf lessons.
As transplants from Hawaii, we have decades of experience on the water and are happy to bring that knowledge and experience to our current home in beautiful Sarasota, Florida. We are proud to be one of the first companies to participate in the Sarasota County Certified Tour Operator program, giving us the ability to launch from Ted Sperling Park and Turtle Beach.
Paddling a kayak or a stand up paddleboard is a must-do while visiting the area. The famous Lido mangrove tunnels is one of our favorite locations to paddle and we offer three tours daily. Our Siesta Key tour is also excellent, guiding you through a bird rookery and to a private and secret beach. If you would prefer to explore on your own, we offer kayak and stand up paddleboard rentals daily at both locations. Our kids stand-up paddleboard and surf camps are very popular and fill up each summer. Our guides and coaches are trained lifeguards and certified SUP instructors by the Association for Surfing Professionals. We want your experience out on the water to be safe, comfortable and fun.
We are going into our NINTH year of operating in Sarasota and feel so grateful that our passion has become our livelihood. We love sharing this beautiful place with you!
Hope to see you out on the water!
Karla and Aaron
Best experience on our vacationWe had never done SUP and Aaron was an amazing instructor. He helped and encouraged my kids ages 7-10 throughout the entire tour. We saw dolphins, a manatee, and crabs! We also took my mother who had never been kayaking and was quite nervous. Aaron was great with her, helping her throughout as well. Aaron gave us an amazing experience we will all never forget!
– Lkaybe | TripAdvisorAwesome tour Fabulous paddle in the Mangroves and the bay. We’ve done several paddles around Florida and this was the best. Aaron was a great guide, pointing out wildlife and his knowledge led to a great dolphin encounter. Was a fantastic experience.
– Eileen B. | TripAdvisorPhenomenal Paddle Board Experience with SurfIt (Aaron) in Sarasota! Had a wonderfully time paddle boarding with Surf It and had a very knowledgeable guide Aaron whom ensured not only our safety but of course our enjoyment as well! Will definitely be back to this beautiful city with its pristine beaches and to enjoy the water with Surf It!
– Cale J. | TripAdvisorA must do in SRQ. Surfit is the best! Great boards, great prices, great people! Very helpful if you have never paddle boarded before. Of course now we want to buy paddle boards and do it all the time!! It's definitely addictive and a nice healthy way to spend time with family.
– Voyage | TripAdvisorLido mangrove paddle Four of us went out with Aaron on a guided tour. We have been with him a few times and it is always a wonderful experience. We took family with us that had never paddled before, and he was great with them. Highly recommend Surfit!
– Judy D. | TripAdvisor