Kayaking in St. Thomas: Everything You Need to Know
Kayaking in St. Thomas is one of the most unique and fun way to explore the island and marine life in the surrounding waters.
I’ve been kayaking with Virgin Island Ecotours and it was one of the most memorable experiences that I’ve had on the island and I’ve been here multiple times.
The best and easiest way to get out on a kayak is through a guided tour, but there are a few places where you can get rentals if you would prefer to get out and explore on your own.
Guided tours will enhance the experience as you get to learn more about the island and the plants and animals that inhabit it.
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St. Thomas Kayaking Tours
Here are a few fantastic kayaking tours in St. Thomas that are run during the day. We’ll get into night kayaking tours in the next section.
Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike, & Snorkel with Picnic Lunch
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours | ✅ Book it!
This was one of Tyler and I’s favorite activities on our honeymoon and it’s the perfect addition to an adventurous St. Thomas itinerary.
The tour lasts 5 hours and you’ll likely be exhausted by the end but it’s totally worth it. Though we did choose to go with single kayaks instead of tandem so that made it a little bit harder.
You start by paddling through mangroves and stingray alley – we didn’t see any here – and then you stop at a small beach where you get out and go see the blowhole by the cliffside.
Next, you paddle over to Cas Cay where you’ll take a hike and learn more about the local plants. Then it’s lunch time!
We had subs while tons of hermit crabs crawled around us then you get to go snorkeling right by the mangroves.
We saw tons of fish, lobster, sea urchins, a barracuda, sea worm (I think?), and a stingray partially buried on the ocean floor. It was amazing!
Our guide was super knowledgeable about the plants and animals that inhabit the island, so it was super fun to learn more about what we saw.
Finally, we started kayaking back and at this point I was pretty tired. It felt like we were going into the wind and this is where taking the tandem kayaks would have really come in handy.
VI Ecotour’s outpost is relatively close to Red Hook. One other thing to note is the guide takes photos throughout the tour and you have a chance to purchase them at the end.
This is one of the best St. Thomas boat tours so I highly recommend it!
🤩 Check prices & availability here. 🤩
Mangrove Lagoon Kayak & Snorkel
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2.5 hours | ✅ Book it!
This tour is also led by Virgin Island Ecotours, but it’s half the time and wouldn’t be nearly as strenuous. Perfect for those looking to get in a nice paddle, snorkel in a unique ecosystem, and experience one of the best things to do in St. Thomas.
You get to kayak through the mangroves where you may see spotted rays and stingrays in the water. We didn’t see any but apparently, that’s uncommon on their tours. Keep your eyes out for beautiful birds like brown pelicans as well.
It’s a shorter paddle than the other tour to where you’ll be snorkeling. They provide all the snorkeling equipment and then you’ll get to explore the underwater world!
You’ll see all kinds of fish and marine life that call the mangrove roots home. Taking a tour with Virgin Island Ecotours was the first time I had snorkeled near mangroves and I couldn’t believe the varied species that we saw.
Once you’re done, you kayak back to VI Ecotour’s outpost which isn’t too far at all. The water in the mangrove lagoon is so clear and you never know what you’ll see!
This is a great snorkeling tour in St. Thomas in addition to kayaking.
🤩 Check prices & availability here. 🤩
Kayak & Sea Turtle Snorkel
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | ✅ Book it!
Along Lindbergh Bay, right beside the airport, you can have an adventure right from the beach. You’ll get a lesson in kayaking (if needed) as well as snorkeling.
You’ll get to kayak first to enjoy views of the surrounding bay and maybe watch some of the planes come in. The bay is tucked back into a nice cove off the harbor so waters are typically calm.
Next you get to explore the underwater world and go snorkeling from the beach. Sea turtles are known to frequent the bay so make sure to keep an eye out!
Everyone also loves the knowledgeable guides who will tell you more about what you see snorkeling as well as life on the island.
This tour also includes sandwiches, bottled water, and some cookies so you don’t have to worry about where to grab lunch!
🤩 Check prices & availability here. 🤩
Sunset Kayak Tour
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 6 hours | ✅ Book it!
This tour is another one that takes you through the mangrove lagoon but at sunset, when the sky bursts into stunning colors as the sun creeps below the horizon.
You’ll paddle through the shallow waters between the mangroves towards Bird Island and around Bovoni Cay, just as the setting sun paints the sky with shades of orange, pink, and purple.
The tour will focus a good bit on bird watching and you may see yellow warblers, hummingbirds, herons, or pelicans as you make your way across the water. Don’t forget to look down too and see if you can spot any stingrays.
Expert nature guides will be with you to share more details about the biodiversity of the marine reserve. If you love wildlife and sunset views then this tour will not disappoint.
🤩 Check prices & availability here. 🤩
Night Kayaking in St. Thomas
Want to see the twinkling lights on the island from the water? Taking a night kayaking tour is such a neat way to explore the Caribbean waters.
St. Thomas Night Kayak Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1.5 hours | ✅ Book it!
Pirates, beautiful night skies, and more marine life? Yes, please. VI Ecotours also offers a night kayaking tour through mangrove lagoon – though it isn’t for the faint of heart.
You’ll hear eerie stories of pirates who used to sail these Caribbean waters as you glide through the mangroves watching for tarpon and stingrays.
The glow of the moon and stars paints a surreal picture on the waters, giving a completely different vibe from the daytime tours.
There will be headlamps and lights on your kayak that you’ll use to check out the underwater world. As with all the other tours led by VI Ectotours, you’ll have a wonderful guide who can tell you all about what you’re seeing.
This is such a unique experience that people typically find it’s the most memorable part of their vacation in St. Thomas.
🤩 Check prices & availability here. 🤩
Illuminated Night Kayak
⭐️ RATING: 4/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1.25 hours | ✅ Book it!
The Illuminated Night Kayak tour is another unique experience that lets you marvel at the marine life of St. Thomas after dark.
As the sun sets, you’ll paddle out into the Caribbean waters in a kayak equipped with special LED lights. These lights illuminate the sea beneath you, where you can hopefully spot many aquatic creatures including turtles, fish, and stingrays.
Of course, you’re never guaranteed to see wildlife so just keep that in mind!
The views of Charlotte Amalie Harbour under the starlit sky are absolutely mesmerizing too. No matter where you look, you’re in for a treat.
This tour leaves out from the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove Resort which is one of the best resorts in St. Thomas.
🤩 Check prices & availability here. 🤩
Night Kayak Tour St. Thomas – Westin Frenchman’s Reef
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour | ✅ Book it!
The unique thing about this night kayaking tour is they are led in 100% clear kayaks that glow! You’ll also get glow sticks and glow-in-the-dark facepaint which adds to the fun – especially for younger kids.
Guides will be there to explain more about the nightlife in the sea and hopefully you’ll see some sea turtles, stingray, or tarpon on your adventure.
This is a relaxed and easy paddle so great no matter what your age is!
🤩 Check prices & availability here. 🤩
Kayak Rentals in St. Thomas
While a guided kayak tour is great and you get to learn so much about the island, sometimes you would prefer to just rent kayaks and explore on your own. While there aren’t a ton of options for this, I’ve listed a few below.
Resort Rentals
Double check with the resort that you’re staying at because some of them have watersport huts where they will rent out kayaks for hourly use in the beach area.
Sapphire Beach Resort, Emerald Beach Resort, and Secret Harbour Beach Resort are just a few of the places to stay in St. Thomas that have on-site rentals available at their watersports stand.
Sometimes these are included in the price of your stay but more often than not, you’ll have to pay an extra rental fee.
All the beaches in St. Thomas are open to the public so even if you aren’t staying at one of these resorts, you can visit an rent kayaks.
VI Ecotours
Not only does VI Ecotours lead amazing guided kayaking tours, but they also have a “kayak on your own” option. If you don’t want to take a day trip with them, this may be a better fit.
You can visit their outpost where you’ll also find a bar & grill and little gift shop. Rentals are available for a half day or full day adventure.
They will give you a little introduction and more info on where they recommend you kayak then you’ll be able to set off and explore the mangrove lagoon on your own!
Yak Shak at Magens Bay
If you’re visiting the famous Magens Bay and want to head out onto the water, then the Yak Shak offers rentals.
I’ll be totally honest – Magens Bay is not my favorite. While it is beautiful, it’s also crowded and you have to pay to access it. I think there are plenty of other beautiful beaches that are better like Coki Beach.
BUT this is also the most iconic beach on St. Thomas so totally understand why people want to go.
Tips for Kayaking in St. Thomas
Wear Mineral-Only Sunscreen
It’s the law in the US Virgin Islands to wear mineral-only sunscreen so you’ll want to make sure your sunscreen is either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide based.
This ensures that the sunscreen isn’t hurting the coral reefs surrounding the island or the other marine life.
Bring a Dry-Bag
While some tour operators provide a dry bag, we love to bring our own just so we know that’s covered. This way we can carry our sunscreen, keys, and phones with us.
Some places will also have lockers available for use but if that’s something you want, be sure to ask before you arrive for the tour.
It always helps to be extra prepared when going on an adventure.
Wear the Right Clothes
Speaking of being prepared, wearing the proper clothing will make you so much more comfortable while kayaking in St. Thomas.
Ideally, you’ll want quick-drying clothing and if you get sunburned easily then you’ll want a long sleeve shirt to cover your skin.
Shoes for kayaking are also important – I love wearing my Chacos because they are made to get in the water but they also have great tread and are sturdy in case you need to do any hiking or just walk around the beach.
Bring Tip Money
Tips are not included in the price of the tours! These guides put in a lot of work and most of them are fantastic so come prepared with cash so you can give them a tip.
20% is standard for good service and that’s always what we calculate for tips.
Wrap Up: Best Kayaking in St. Thomas
Kayaking in St. Thomas offers a great blend of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty. It’s a neat activity because you can either use it for exercise or just chill out and float with the current.
Whether you’re gliding through serene mangrove lagoons, gazing at vibrant marine life on a night tour, or exploring the coast at your own pace with a rental, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience.
Remember to respect the local wildlife and environment, and embrace the chance to see this tropical paradise from a unique perspective.
