The yak shack was so cool and convenient! The prices are extremely reasonable to rent a kayak and Capt Markus will hook you up on the ins and outs of where to go! I'm glad I found this place!
By far the best trip we have taken on the Keys. Our guide, Casey, was very knowledgeable, personable, and safety conscious as we transvered a short span of ocean to get into the mangroves.. Do not let age keep you from on going this really great trip. We saw birds, fish, tree crabs, jelly fish, key deer, not to mention one really great dog named Kylie.
From my first contact with Captain Markus a couple of weeks before my trip, I knew I was in the right hands and that I was going to have an awesome paddling experience. I was bringing my own kayak down, but felt uncomfortable exploring too much on my own in waters I didn't know very well. Captain Markus kept an eye on the weather and tides leading up to my trip and picked a perfect time for us to head out. He showed me so much marine life that I would have missed on my own (including corals, jellyfish and 3 nurse sharks) and taught me what to look for on the surface of the water (different coloration, ripples, etc.) to indicate something interesting might be lurking there. These are the things I was expecting from a great paddling guide and I wasn't disappointed. What I wasn't expecting was the bird watching! We saw so many awesome birds and, even for this FL girl, he pointed out a few species that I had never seen before. My favorite was the Tri-Colored Heron. The white heron was also a new one for me. So cool. Captain Markus is so knowledgeable about the marine life and birds and is eager to pass on this information. I went out the next day on my own and spotted two sharks that I know I would have missed if not for the skills he taught me the day before. The three hours flew by and I would have gladly stayed out for another 3. Great stories, great wildlife and beautiful backcountry. He gave me the confidence to explore on my own in the future, but having him as a guide will always be my first choice. I can't wait for my next Keys trip and another outing with Captain Markus.
My Husband and I had the best time Kayaking with Captain Markus off of Summerland Key. We learned so much about the history of the Florida keys and about the plants, animals and sea life of the Florida Keys. I would definitely recommend this as a much do!!! adventure when visiting the Florida Keys. Captain Markus was a one of a kind tour guide. My husband and I will remember this day for years to come!!!
Absolutely the best day of our vacation. Capt. Marcus was the perfect guide and choose the perfect tour for our family and conditions. Mangrove tunnels, nurse sharks, black tip shark, baby rays and baby tarpon feeding in the back country. He really knows his history and wildlife. It was a perfect day and we will definitely be returning for another trip. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area.
Very nice guy and very Knowledgeable. Would recommend the tour to anybody. Got to see a bull shark and a couple sting rays. Beautiful back country. Thank you captain Markus.
After reading all these great reviews, my fiancee and I decided to travel from Ft Lauderdale to go kayaking in Summerland. We made reservations a week earlier and we also called to confirm. We drove 3 hours and when we got there, there was nobody there! We called several times, Marcus and the other woman who worked there but to no avail. His neighbor came out and tried to help and call and text them too but they couldn't get a response. Luckily his other neighbor had just come home with his boat and he felt bad so he took us out on the water for sunset. We wasted 3 hours and all the gas and time in traffic, we were extremely disappointed; we talked to some locals and found out that Captain Marcus is usually not very dependable.
My husband and I spent a great afternoon with Captain Markus on an eco kayak tour . The water was calm, the weather was great and Captain Markus was a knowledgeable guide and patient kayaking instructor. We saw sponges, corals, parrot fish and a lemon shark in addition to numerous bird varieties. We discussed the history of the Keys and many other interesting topics. It was a great way to spend a great day in the Keys.
Cpt. Markus is awsome! My two sisters and I booked a three hour tour with Capt Markus and absolutely loved it! His knowledge of the Keys, both the nature and the hotspots, was unmatched by anyone else we came across on our trip. Our three hour tour ended up being a six hour tour because we were all having so much fun! We saw sharks, live sponges and coral, and birds galore! We went through mangrove tunnels, visited an island for a picnic lunch, it was fantastic, cannot wait to go back for more! The best part was Cpt Markus was taking pictures of us the entire trip and now we have a recors of all the great things we saw and did. I highly recommend Florida Keys Kayaks to anyone who loves to be out on the water!
Slow and easy going is the perfect way the beautiful back waters of the FL Keys. Capt, Marcus knows his stuff and makes this trip interesting and educational but definitely not boring!! We saw several species of birds, a nurse shark, ray, sponges and several different kinds of fish all from the kayak!! We will go again next time we're in the keys and we recommend this tour to everyone.