Real Florida Kayaking Adventures

Imagine yourself drifting through the coastal estuary surrounded by sand dunes, beautiful birds, dolphins, manatees, and plenty of oxygen to fuel your imagination and spark your curiosity. Welcome to Ripple Effect Ecotours. This is our daily ritual. Nature provides the beauty and we provide the vehicle. We are a dedicated kayak touring company based in St. Augustine, Florida. We offer scheduled ecotours in many of the state parks in Northeast Florida including: Faver-Dykes State Park(Pellicer Creek), Anastasia State Park, Washington Oaks State Park and Gardens, and at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve(Guana River). All of these trips are two to three hours and no prior kayaking experience is necessary. We provide the finest and newest equipment that the kayaking industry produces, professional kayak/naturalist guides, and the opportunity to see Coastal Florida waters in their natural state. For the more ambitious paddlers, we can customize a private tour for your exact needs whether it be fitness, birding, or just a gathering among friends.

Hope to see you on the water soon,

Chris Kelley, President

An On-water Nature Experience!This naturalist lead tour is perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about one of the most precious jewels in Northeast Florida, the coastal estuary. You will begin this experience at the new Environmental Educational Center of the GTM NERR before getting on the water. Then we will all climb into a stable, double kayak and paddle out into the estuary. Along the way, we will search for herons, egrets, osprey and other water dependent species that inhabit the area. But most importantly, you will learn about what makes this coastal system so special and in need of protection.

The tour fee includes entry to the GTM Reserve, so upon completion of the tour, feel free to have a closer look around at the exhibits or hike the 9
miles of upland trails.

Cost: $50 per person (includes all kayaking equipment, instruction,
reserve entry fee and tour)
Duration: 2 hours
Who: Adults 12+ years of age
Where: Meet at the dam on the Guana River What to bring: Spare change of clothing, water shoes, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, and bottled water.

Note: Because the parking lot at the Educational Center closes promptly at 4:00pm, Participants will have to pay $3 per vehicle for parking on the dam for the sunset tours!

The Timucuan Indians of the Estuary- Monday, August 4th from 9:30am to 12:30pm

Indians of the Estuary
A Paddle Back in History

Paddle back in time and discover the life ways of the Timucuan Indians and their relationship to the land that they loved. Explore with a professional naturalist and enjoy stories about the Timucuans and the important role the Matanzas Estuary played in their everyday lives. Participants will begin the tour with a visit to a Timucuan Shell Mound at Washington Oaks Garden State Park, where they will have the opportunity to view and learn about authentic Timucuan tools and artifacts from the state park's collection.
After exploring the Shell Mound participants will begin the kayaking segment with some basic paddling instructions, and then proceed to explore the estuary in search of flora and fauna that was significant to native survival. The guide will also share information on Timucuan methods of fishing and transportation.
Along our journey we will stop and enjoy a catered lunch at an island refuge and visit a Timucuan encampment to learn more about Timucuan clothing, shelter, hunting and fishing techniques, tools, weapons and the native foods that helped sustain them. During this program we will paddle stable double kayaks that allow us to be less intrusive to the environment. No kayak experience needed!