Castillo de San Marcos as seen from the water.

Self-guided and guided kayak trips in St. Augustine and surrounding areas.

What better way to experience St. Augustine than from the viewpoint of the first voyagers - the water?

How easy can it be?  

* New Item (June - 2008) - please see trips 6,7, & 8 below for Paddle and Dine Trips, St. Augustine, Florida

Call us (ahead of time if possible) and we'll meet you, with kayaks,  at the launch - on the west side of the Vilano Bridge on North A1A- just north of St. Augustine within sight of the Great Cross and Castillo de San Marcos (the fort). We'll give you a map, paddling instruction (if you need it) other info and you're off!!!

We also deliver kayaks to the area of your choice.

 click here for a map of the launch area 

*Skill Level - We have trips for beginners to advanced - for the trip that fits your needs please check out the trip descriptions below. 

* A note on skill level - If you are an intermediate paddler you may have done trips comparable to the ones below labeled "advanced".  Ultimately it is up to the paddler to decide what he or she should or should not do as we have no way of knowing your experience or skills.

In general beginner paddlers should stick to protected creeks and not venture out onto the Intracoastal.

For more info please see "Weather/Tides/Safety".

All trips below are guided or self guided.  Please inquire about guided trips.

Trip Number 1 - The History Tour - Hospital Creek to Castillo de San Marcos
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Miles: 1 to ? miles roundtrip (it depends upon how far you want to paddle).
Duration: Time of trip is up to you - 1 to 5 hours
Cost: please see: prices section 

Not a history buff? OK then just enjoy the water and the wildlife while you paddle in an area where it all began (at least for some people) in America - the waters on the coast at St. Augustine.  We don't launch right at the boat ramp - therefore there is no worry about avoiding boats while you are launching.  We start at a small creek to the west of the boat ramp (Hospital Creek).  This creek is protected  from the wind and the large boats.  Beginners can follow this waterway south past the Great Cross (erected at the 400th anniversary of the Spanish Mission Nombre de Dios) and wind their way to the Castillo de San Marcos, the coquina fort built by the Spanish which was started in 1672.  If you are a beginner paddler without a guide it is best to stay in the protected area of Hospital Creek, especially if the wind is strong which it often is.  As you approach Castillo de San Marcos you will be in the more open water of the Intracoastal and if a beginner it is important to turn around and start your return trip as you reach the fort.

To paddle to the fort and back is around 3 miles.

For beginners who want to extend their trip - you can also paddle North on Hospital Creek - once you have returned to the launch area proceed under the bridge -  you will pass a little urban blight and after maybe 20 minutes you come to a narrower creek which may be somewhat limited visually (water, oysters, mud bank and grass) but which has many wading birds.  I have seen great blue herons, white ibis and snowy egrets all feeding in the same small pool isolated by the falling tide in this area.  I have also seen dolphins and manatees in Hospital Creek, very close to the launch.

Warning: Trips 2 through 4 involve paddling on the Intracoastal.  Very large boats use this watercourse and there is no speed limit that I know of - for this and other dangers please see  "Weather/Tides/Safety".

Trip Number 2 - The Lighthouse - 
Skill Level: Advanced or with guide
Miles: around 7 miles roundtrip.
Duration: Time of trip is up to you - 3to 8 hours
Cost: please see prices section

This trip requires that you cross the Intracoastal at a point where the Tolomato River flows from the North, the Matanzas River flows to the south and to your east is St. Augustine Inlet.  The dangers on this trip can be, depending on the weather, tide and time, the wind, the chop, the current and large boats.  You will begin your trip heading south as in trip Number 1, then as you approach the Castillo de San Marcos or before, you will head east and approach the North end of Anastasia Island - from here you can hug the east shoreline as you enter Salt Creek and paddle toward the lighthouse.  You can land on the public beach at the St. Augustine Yacht Club and walk the short distance to the lighthouse.  Plan on stretching your legs by climbing the  many steps of the lighthouse ($7.50 for adults) - have yourself some lunch (carry-in) and then retrace your path back to the launch (or cover more ground as in trip number 4).

Trip Number 3 - The Crossover

Cross the  Intracoastal to the West Side of Vilano/Conch Island 

Skill Level: Advanced or with guide
Miles: around 4 miles roundtrip.
Duration: Time of trip is up to you - 2 to 8 hours
Cost: please see prices section

In this trip you can head east from the launch point (look both ways for boats), across the Intracoastal (Tolomato River) to the back side of Vilano Beach - paddle into the inlet as far as you feel comfortable with - park your kayak - walk over and take a swim in the Atlantic - then cross St. Augustine Inlet to Conch Island which is just north of Anastasia State Recreation Area.  (St. Augustine inlet has a very strong current and can be very choppy - for advanced only - Please see Weather/Tides/ and Safety)

Trip Number 4 - The Grand Slam 
Skill Level:  Advanced or with guide
Miles: approx 8 to 10  miles roundtrip.
Duration: Time of trip is up to you - 3 to 8 hours
Cost: please see prices section

If you are an advanced paddler you can do any combination, or a circular route of all three, of the trips outlined above - what I call the Grand Slam.  Extending the analogy you might see the Bridge of Lions as first base, the lighthouse as second and Conch Island/Vilano as third - after that you're headed into home plate where you started - or pick your own route.

Trip Number 5 - The Big Pond 

 Skill Level: Beginner?  Intermediate?  Advanced?
  Miles:  Miles roundtrip are up to you.
Duration: Time of trip is up to you - 1 to 8 hours
Cost: please see prices section

What does it take to paddle in the Atlantic Ocean at Vilano or St. Augustine Beach?  The level of skill required to paddle safely in the ocean depends on  a number of things but mainly the weather conditions and the type of kayak you choose.  Paddling a sit-inside type kayak with a spray skirt in waves takes much more skill than paddling a sit-on-top type kayak.  Sit-on-top kayaks are designed with scuttle holes - when a wave comes over the boat the water flows back out through the scuttle holes - therefore it is much easier and safer to paddle a sit-on-top in rough water.  Other factors are the weather conditions - as you probably know there can be extremely violent days on the Atlantic and there can be mild days.  Much less skill is obviously needed to paddle on a mild day.  When the waves are small a good paddler can paddle a sit-on-top kayak directly into the breakers with a good chance of making forward progress as long as the boat is aimed straight ahead - get turned sideways and there's a good chance you'll be tasting salt water.  What do you do once past the breakers?  Enjoy the view!

 So what are the dangers?  The dangers are the same as the dangers for surfing - one is getting hit by the board (or kayak) if you wipe out  and the second is drowning when the waves tumble you about.  At least you'll have the advantage of wearing a life jacket!  For more information on the boats you can paddle in the ocean please see the equipment description section here: Kayak St. Augustine Kayak Rental

Paddle and Dine Trips

Kayak St. Augustine is now offering the following paddle trips to your favorite restaurant/entertainment emporium - have yourself some fresh fish, maybe a beer or 2 and get picked up by your designated driver (us).

Possibilities:

Trip 6  - Guana River State Park (Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Reserve) to Cap's on the Water Restaurant - approx 6 miles.  Option is to keep paddling after your lunch or dinner 3 more miles to Vilano bridge.

Trip 7 - Vilano Bridge to Hurricane Patty's on Oyster Creek. Approx 7 miles.  Good food and live music - go where the locals go.

Trip 8 - Vilano Bridge to Creekside Dinery on Gonzales Creek.  Approx 5  miles. Good food and live music.

phone: 1-877-459-5050
if calling by cell or locally: 904-829-5050
cell phone 352-318-4910
email: kayakstaugustine@bellsouth.net