Overview
7 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore the Wildlife Sanctuary and Marine Reserve Mangrove Lagoon in St. Thomas on your own and at your own pace with our Self-Guided Kayak Tour. The Mangrove Lagoon is a lush forest that grows in salt water with shallow winding waterways and tunnels. There are many beautiful areas to explore between the Inner Mangrove Lagoon and Bird Island. Guests who want an independent experience can discover on their own the beauty and serenity of the lagoon and narrow waterways between mangrove trees. Encounter wildlife, paddle to secluded cays and islands, and even to a rare geological blow-hole. Whether you are an experience kayaker, a guest who has already enjoyed one of our tours and are familiar with the lagoon, or you just want the flexibility and freedom to explore on your own, now you can.
Single and double kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and snorkel gear are provided for those who want to tour around the lagoon on their own.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum age is 5 years
Additional sanitation measures taken on site for COVID-19
What To Expect
Discover and explore the Mangrove Lagoon and surrounding cays on your own with a self-guided kayak tour through the lush waterways of the mangrove trees.
Options
On Your Own: Kayak in the Mangrove Lagoon
What‘s Included
Use of kayak equipment
Life jackets included
bring your own beverages and snacks.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
52 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Paddling through the Mangroves
Connector186195,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing tour with Keithlyn. He was knowledgeable on the mangroves, the ecosystem, and area plus he was very friendly. We were lucky to be the only couple on the tour so he really catered to our interests. We also did the photo package which felt like our own paparazzi!
Awesome Excursion!
kimz796,May 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time in this excursion. We kayak, walked along an island, our guide was very informative, told us much about the mangroves. Touched sea creatures, snorkeled and saw a small shark and lots of fish. Highly recommend and we would do this again.
Great time!!!
evamG7888RD,May 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00BRETT IS THE BEST TOUR GUIDE!!! So nice and showed us so many cool things!!!
Kayak, hike, and snorkel
800lukad,May 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brett was a great instructor he knew a lot of history and showed us great spots
Great day filled with fun!
Jeromemom,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Best day on St Thomas. We took a double kayak and were able to talk as we paddled and saw fish. The hike on the island was easy walking and filled with crabs. We sat on the shaded picnic bench and they all seemed to come out even more around us. The breaking shore had tons of urchins so be careful where you walk. Water was warm and breeze was refreshing. When checking in attendant was pleasant and gave us a map of where things were located. I’m glad we brought a cooler I just wish we would have rented snorkeling gear. Great 3 hour adventure.
10/10 must try!
545alysar,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great service, great scenery! This was a phenomenal experience, a must try. We did it without a tour guide it was very easy to navigate!
Kayak Day!
Lisa G,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We rented a two man kayak and leisurely paddled through the mangrove to Cas Cay. We saw starfish, sea urchin, jelly fish, stingray, barracudas and beware the manchineel tree. It is deadly. We took our cooler, aquapod for music and sling floats and enjoyed the sand beaches, then joined the group that walked the path to the blow hole. The hermit crabs races were a blast. Seeing Little St. James was creepy. The rock hills are beautiful to photograph. We loved this tour. We also purchased one of their cool hooded rash guard shirts! You can’t go wrong no matter which excursion you choose! The guides were informative, cheerful and helpful. Thank you!! We will be back on our next trip!
Great experience kayaking, seeing a ton of hermit crabs, and snorkeling!
gwenr718,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience, totally worth the cost. We were there about 4.5 hours. There were other people around, but it wasn't at all crowded. Shan was the one who gave us instructions and sent us off. She was great. We went on our own because we have been kayaking quite a bit. It was mellow water, so fine for beginners who already have at least the basics, as there was no kayaking instruction with the on-your-own option. Shan gave us a laminated map and clearly explained where we could go, where we could snorkel, and where to go to see the blow hole. The blow hole honestly wasn't all that impressive to us, but all the hermit crabs were! We went to snorkel at Patricia Cay but there were lots of jelly fish, so we went back to Cas Cay and snorkeled there, which was awesome.
We like to kayak so it...
Tara R,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00We like to kayak so it was good for us to be out on our own, but also would have been good with a guide to learn history and such. The guys working the office desk were very nice and helpful.
Highly recommend - amazing experience - book with a guide for a better experience if you want to learn about the lagoon!
annemariemK7223TD,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had such an amazing time on this tour! It was one of our favorite parts of our entire cruise, and we were happy to end with this one. We are fairly experienced kayakers and it was challenging at parts (unsure if it happened to be a stronger current when we were there) but would actually highly recommend booking with a tour guide! The guides are extremely knowledgeable and kind!! We had Alonzo - if you get him, you are lucky! He gave us such cool information about the mangroves, the history of this part of the island, and we did some cool stuff - held an upside down jellyfish, saw a stingray, lots of barracuda and a bunch of other great stuff. He was fun and interesting, and took great photos!
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Operated by Virgin Islands Ecotours