This place has it all. You can kayak through a unique mangrove setting, spot lots of wildlife, and even hand feed huge fish! I went here on my solo trip to Key Largo and it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my trip. Now I’m sharing all the details with you in this guide on where to go kayaking in Islamorada and how to spend a day at Robbie’s. I hope it can help you plan your adventure and if you have any questions, just let me know.
How To Go Mangrove Kayaking In Islamorada + Spend A Day At Robbie’s
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
What should you bring with you
- Small backpack and/or you may also want a dry bag for your valuables
- Lightweight towel
- Waterproof camera – I swear by this one and used it with this floaty selfie stick
- Sun protection
- Water – I also like to have a couple of energy gels for active outdoor adventures
Where to rent a kayak
You can easily rent a kayak from the Kayak Shack at Robbie’s.
First you just need to stop by the kayak shack to sort out your payment and waiver. Once that is sorted, they will get you set up with the kayak, life jacket, and a map for the mangroves.
You don’t need to transport the kayak anywhere because you launch it close to the kayak shack.
I called ahead to see if I needed to reserve one and they said it wasn’t needed. However, if you’re visiting at a peak time of year, it may be worth calling ahead to double check that.
If you prefer to take a tour, then Robbie’s also offers a range of kayaking tours. You can also rent paddle boards.
How long do you need?
I spent about 4 hours kayaking with plenty to see the whole time.
For a full day out, you can easily spend a half day kayaking, then explore Robbie’s, and have a meal there afterward.
Kayaking in the mangroves
The biggest thing is to go slow. It’s not a race.
You can see so much more when you go slow and just let the kayak cruise compared to when you’re going full steam. When you go fast the splashing of the oar scares the animals more and you stir up the water which makes it harder to see.
Before I started kayaking, the staff member showed me the map and pointed out a route to suit the conditions that day. It was really helpful, as was the laminated map you get with the kayak.
I was a little nervous to kayak in a mangrove system at first because my sense of direction is… let’s just say I usually lose the car in a parking lot. But, once I was out there any hesitation was squashed. Even though the mangrove areas all look the same, I found it easy to navigate the area with my map and the tips from the staff member.
On the route I took there was a mix of kayaking in narrow and wide mangroves as well as open areas.
What animals can you see?
Animal spotting is the best part of the kayaking experience.
Here are just a few animals that you might be able to see:
- Manatee
- Shark
- Heron
- Jellyfish
- Starfish
- Crocodile
And, of course, lots of fish.
It was really fun to be cruising the water looking for animals. I love the adventure of the search. And when a shark swam right by my kayak it was just the best.
I went to the spot where the manatees usually are but the visibility was very low there when I went. Luckily, I was able to see 3 manatees up at the tarpon feeding area.
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Hand feeding Tarpon
After you have finished kayaking, I definitely recommend hand feeding the tarpon.
All you need to do is pay your entrance to get a bucket of fish, then walk out onto the jetty.
If you hang the fish just above the water, the tarpon will jump out and take it from you. It’s pretty fun!
Beware of the pelicans though because they will try and steal your fish. Just shoo them away if they get close and keep an eye on your kids so they don’t get bitten by the pelicans.
This is also where I saw the manatees and it was amazing to see them up close.
Where to eat
Naturally, you are going to work up an appetite with all that kayaking. Luckily, you don’t have to search far to find a good meal because the Hungry Tarpon is on site by the water.
I love the casual, open setting and uniqueness of the walls being decorated by signed money notes.
Food always tastes better after a good adventure, and the fish sandwich I had was just perfect. There’s also a full bar and a famous ‘trailer trash Bloody Mary’ which, just by seeing it get served to others, looked like a Bloody Mary on steroids.
I definitely recommend stopping by there while you’re visiting.
Other things to do at Robbie’s
If you fancy a bit of shopping, you can also stroll the open air market.
Whether you’d like some clothes, souvenirs, locally made art, or even a hermit crab, there’s a little bit of everything.
There’s also a van in the market that serves up shave ice or a key lime pie on a stick if you’re looking for a cold treat.
Where to stay
I stayed at the Reefhouse Resort and Marina (formerly Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort) and it was absolutely fantastic. The room was comfortable, but you’d expect that with a big hotel like that.
What really set it apart for me was the sandy beach on site, beach bar, and huge range of activities you can do from the resort. Whether you want to go snorkeling, diving, paddle boarding, parasailing, or more, it’s just a few steps from your room. Here’s my full review of the resort if you’d like more details.
It’s about 40 minutes away from Robbie’s and if you won’t have a car, the Uber is about $70. It’s a pretty expensive ride, but if you make a full day of it, I think it’s absolutely worth it.
If you’re looking for somewhere else to stay, I recommend searching on Booking.com. It’s what I use to find accommodation when I travel because I can always find a good deal there!
Sunset at the Marriott Key Largo Bay
Other guides you might enjoy
- A Guide On Where To Find The Best Key Lime Pie In Key Largo
- Solo Female Travel In Key Largo + How To Plan An Awesome Trip
- A Complete Guide On How To See The Christ Of The Abyss Statue
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