Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers here for the most asked questions. Still have a question that we didn’t answer? Email us and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

What’s the best way to book my St. Augustine Eco Tour Experience?

The very best way to book with us is to book online. CLICK HERE or any Book Now Button on our website. You can call us, but remember that our office is quite busy and if this is a last minute booking you’ll want to book online to make sure you get confirmed. Or you can email us with any questions prior to booking.

Are there age restictions for the tours?

Our boat and sailing tours are appropriate for all ages. How appropriate? Newborns, in the cutest life jacket ever, ride in mom’s or dad’s arms and the most experienced guests are treated to the VIP seat in the back of the boat with great back support. Our kayak tours are for ages six and up. This has everything to do with attention span and being still for 90 minutes in the front of a kayak. If you have a five year old that shows great interest, exceptions can be made..

What do we need to bring with us?

Boat & Sailing Tours
Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, phone/camera, water, windbreaker or jacket.

Kayak Tours
Sunscreen, hat, camera in case or zip-loc, shoes that protect top of toes. Water to drink. Long sleeves in cooler weather.

I have a disability. Will I still be able to get in and out of the boats?

We have had great success accommodating passengers with disabilities on all the trips, kayak, boat, and sailing. Please call to discuss the loading and unloading procedures for each trip type. We can then determine what will work best and make sure you are comfortable. It was students from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind that inspired our use of underwater microphones on the research boats. We can hear snapping shrimp, drum fish, and dolphin echolocation and communication.

Are there alligator and sharks on tours?

It’s very unlikely that you would see a shark or alligator on any of our excursions departing from the marina in the historic district. We will occasionally see an alligator on our backcountry kayak trips–but this is rare and usually an added bonus to the trip. Seeing an alligator on a backcountry trip is not dangerous to paddlers, as your 15 foot kayak makes you the bigger presence in the water. On occasion passengers aboard our Research RHIB and Catamaran vessels are lucky enough to see sharks feeding on bait fish. This is a rare occurrence and seeing sharks from the safety of one of our vessels poses absolutely no threat to passengers. Sharks and alligators present in aquatic habitats are indicators of a healthy ecosystem.

Do you guarantee seeing dolphins?

We have never guaranteed any type of wildlife on our tours, it is not ethical or practical . That being said we do extremely well observing fascinating birdlife, marine organisms, sea turtles, dolphins and rare manatees. Each experience is different than the last. This satisfies the curiosities of the guides and offers a different perspective for returning guests. We see the most wildlife on the dolphin and nature boat excursions. We observe wild dolphins from the appropriate distance on approximately 97% of these adventures. The sailing adventures do not cover as much ground as the research boat and follow the course of the prevailing wind. Dolphins are seen on over 80% of these trips. Chances of seeing dolphins on a kayak tour are better than 50%. Bring a great attitude and good thoughts on your adventures with St. Augustine Eco Tours

What will we see most of on the tours?

This also varies on what tour you go on, because on the boat excursions you go much further then the kayak tours. Typically, the most wildlife we see on the kayak excursions are estuary birds, with a 50/50 shot of seeing a dolphin. On the boat tours you will see mostly any and everything on any given day, except for maybe a manatee seeing as they are very rare to see.

Can I wear flip-flops or go bare foot in the kayak? Why?

Well, you have to wear shoes, cannot go barefoot and we recommend sandals with a back strap or tennis shoes because they protect your feet. We will keep your feet dry while getting in and out of the kayak so don’t worry about that. Once in the kayak, it’s better to have something that will stay on your foot because you use your feet to move the rudder.

If you have never kayaked before, what is the best kayak trip to go on first?

If this is your first time kayaking with us or in general, we recommend doing our trip that leaves out of the Marina in downtown St. Augustine. It is a smooth, easy paddle that will be a good first trip for you. If you want to come back and find you have a newfound love for kayaking, we have many different off-site trips available for our more seasoned paddlers.

How often do the Kayaks roll over?

We use top of the line Necky Kayaks that are some of the most stable kayaks in the Industry. Rolling the Kayak happens very rarely and the chances of it actually happening are slim.

Will I get seasick on the boat tours?

No, the boats we use are state of the art research boats which keep you comfortable and dry. There are a few different places to sit in the boat as well so you can pick what spot is best for you.

Where are you located?

We are located at the marina in historic downtown Saint Augustine
Click her for map and directions

Our backcountry trips leave from various county and state park locations. Upon booking detailed directions are given via emailed or phone.

Where do I park?

The city of St. Augustine provides a mix of street parking and lot parking with pay stations. All official city parking areas are designated with the city crest on the individual parking zone signage or on the pay station. The city Parking Garage is about a 20 minute walk from us. PLEASE, give yourself ample time to find a parking spot, walk to marina, hit restrooms and general store and be ready to go 10 minutes before your reserved trip.

A new parking app, ParkStAug, is available for free download for iOS or Android and is also accessible online through a web browser. It allows visitors to establish their own account (including license plate number and credit or debit card) and then simply key in the zone (which is clearly indicated by signage) where the vehicle is parked. The advantages of using the app include the ability to set up your account before joining in the hunt for a parking space and also being able to extend the amount of parking time right from your phone (no rushing back to the parking meter). The new units require your license plate number, so if you don’t use the app, make sure you know the number before starting the process at the pay station. The rate for parking on the street, or in city-owned lots, is $2.50 per hour.

Check the city website for more parking information. Click here for Parking Tips

There are also private lots throughout the city and the prices of these vary.

I booked a tour. Now what?

Pay no attention to weather forecasts, we will check conditions 30 minute before each trip and make decisions that are in your interest. Make sure batteries are charged in cameras, bring your favorite refillable water container, and think of as many questions as possible for your wildlife guide. Make sure you know where we are located and allow ample time for parking, rest rooms, etc. If you have booked weeks in advance call us when you arrive for a refresher.

What if the weather is bad? Will my trip be cancelled?

“Leave the weather to us.” Our adventures are all about you and we will not send boat or kayak trips out in weather that jeopardizes safety or the experience of the guests. Trust us to make a well educated decision and if weather presents itself immediately before a trip we will cancel or reschedule the tour. Cancelations due to weather are at the discretion of the boat captain or kayak guide. If you haven’t heard from us an hour before the trip head on down to the marina.

Can you just pencil us in?

Actually, since we take such small groups we need names and a credit card number to hold the spots, so if you’d like to talk with your party and give us a call right back we can get you on the books.

How long are the trips?

The length of the trips depends on what trip you are taking. The Kayak trips have a 2-hour time period, which includes a 15-minute paddling clinic and 15 minutes to get everyone in the water. The actual amount of time paddling is 90 minutes. The Boat excursions are 90 minutes long.

What is the cancellation policy?

Here at St. Augustine Eco-Tours we enforce a 48 hour cancellation policy. If you decide you need to change times, or the number of guests in your group or anything that will affect the tour, you must give us at least 48 hours notice before your scheduled trip time. If you cancel within the 48 hour period, the card will still be charged for the full price.

Note:
The cancellation policy for the offsite trips is 48 hours prior to the scheduled time of your trip.