Sunset Watersports Sandbar Kayak Trip in Key West: 5 Hours with Lunch and Open Bar

Sunset Watersports Key West

Sandbar Excursion & Kayak Tour with Lunch & Drinks

★ 4.8 (203) · from $150

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Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. This page contains an affiliate link, explained in the booking section.

The Sunset Watersports sandbar kayak trip is the longest and most all-inclusive boat day I track in Key West: a 54-foot catamaran ride out to the Mud Keys, a guided mangrove paddle, then a stop on the Jewfish Basin sandbar with lunch, paddleboards and drinks.

Despite the company name, it is a daytime trip and not a sunset cruise.

Two details change the decision. The operator's own site, checked today, shows an online special of $129.95 against the $149.95 GetYourGuide price, and it says it guarantees its lowest price when you book direct.

The same site gives a fixed start of 11:00 AM with check-in at 10:15 AM, which the listing does not state. If you are comparing with other kayak tours in Key West, price and start time are the two numbers to check first. The home page lists the rest.

What is the Sunset Watersports sandbar kayak trip and what do you see?

It is a day-boat package that combines a ride through the marine sanctuary, a guided kayak paddle through mangrove islands and a long stop on a sandbar.

• The ride out: the catamaran crosses the sanctuary toward the Lower Keys backcountry; reviewers report dolphins and sea turtles on the way.
• Mud Keys mangroves: a guided paddle through channels between mangrove islands, where one reviewer saw sharks.
• Jewfish Basin sandbar: shallow water for wading, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, a floating lily pad and conch-shell hunting.
• Lunch and bar: served on board, with the unlimited drinks opening after the water activities.

The format is social. A boat that holds up to 80 people is not a quiet nature outing, although reviewers who sailed in the off season describe small groups and more time on the sandbar.

6,000+ animal species live in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which you cross on the way to the sandbar.

Where does the Sunset Watersports sandbar kayak trip leave from?

You check in at the Sunset Watersports office at 201 William St, on the Historic Seaport waterfront, and walk to the boat from there.

The listing describes the meeting point as an office opposite the waterfront on William St; the operator site gives the street number. The office sits by the Key West Historic Seaport on Google Maps, and Mallory Square on Google Maps is the usual landmark to walk from.

City buses cost $2 one way and $4 for a day pass on city routes (City of Key West fare page, fares effective 7 July 2025). Hotel pickup is not part of the ticket.

What is the route, stop by stop?

The route has three destinations: open sanctuary water, the Mud Keys mangroves, and the Jewfish Basin sandbar.

1. Check in and board. Arrive by 10:15 AM for the 11:00 AM departure, per the operator.
2. Sanctuary crossing. A scenic cruise, with a dolphin and turtle watch on the way.
3. Mud Keys kayak tour. A guided paddle through mangrove channels. Mud Keys on Google Maps.
4. Jewfish Basin sandbar. Lunch, paddleboards, snorkeling and a float. Jewfish Basin on Google Maps.
5. Return to Key West. The listing calls it a relaxed ride back.

Neither the listing nor the operator gives minutes per leg, so I do not invent them. One reviewer from March wished the kayak leg had gone a little farther, so expect a paddle of moderate length and not a full-day expedition.

How long is the trip and when does it sail?

The trip lasts 5 hours and, per the operator, departs at 11:00 AM, which puts you back around 4:00 PM.

That return time is my arithmetic from the operator's departure and the listing's 5 hours, not a published figure. The operator says it sails 365 days a year and that captains postpone or cancel if conditions are unsafe, offering a new date or a full refund.

Because the return is mid-afternoon, a cruise ship passenger with a 5:00 PM all-aboard has a margin, but I would still ask the operator before booking.

What is on board and what is included?

Lunch, drinks, a guided kayak tour, paddleboards and snorkel gear are included; hotel transfers and tips are not.

• Included: the kayak tour with a guide, paddleboards, snorkel equipment, lunch, and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks per the listing. The operator adds mimosas and champagne.
• Not included: hotel pickup and drop-off, tips, and wetsuits. Wetsuits rent for $20 per suit on the operator's page.
• Menu: Cuban sandwiches, chicken tenders, veggie wraps, fruit and vegetable trays, cheese and crackers, and pita with hummus.
• On the boat: two above-deck restrooms, a top sundeck, a sound system, a swim ladder, a rear platform, a water slide and jump-in spots.

Reviewers call the lunch simple but filling, and one says the cups never ran dry. Drinks open after the water activities, so nobody paddles with a beer in hand.

How does the Sunset Watersports sandbar kayak trip compare with other Key West boats?

It has the longest included menu of the Key West tours I track, and its price per hour sits right at the city median.

If you only want the mangroves, the cheaper route is the Kayak Kings paddle. Everything else on the Key West boat tours hub is either shorter or lacks the kayak.

Is the Sunset Watersports sandbar kayak trip worth it versus a snorkel or sunset cruise?

For a group that wants one full, easy day on the water with food and drinks covered, I'd book it; for a quiet or budget trip, I'd choose a smaller boat.

At $149.95 the trip costs $30.0 per hour, level with the $29.8 median, and it already covers lunch and drinks that other boats charge for. The saving is real if you book direct at $129.95, which drops it to $26 per hour.

What you accept is a boat that can carry 80 people and a fixed 11:00 AM start. Reef snorkeling on a 3-hour boat such as the Fury reef snorkeling trip is cheaper but offers no kayak.

• Book this trip if: you want kayak, sandbar, lunch and drinks in one ticket, you travel with children over 6, or you cannot swim and still want to stand in shallow water.
• Pick another boat if: you want a sunset, a reef, or fewer than 20 fellow passengers.

When is the best time to go?

The trip runs all year, but November to April has the fewest rain days and the least afternoon thunder risk.

Key West logs 4 to 8 rain days a month from November to April and 15 to 19 from June to October, on 2015-2024 averages. The sandbar is shallow, so a flat, sunny day makes the biggest difference.

Bring sunscreen, as one reviewer warned, and consider the wetsuit rental from December to February when the highs drop to 70-75 °F.

What do passengers say about the Sunset Watersports sandbar kayak trip?

Reviewers praise the crew, the food and the beginner-friendly kayaking, and the recurring wish is for a longer paddle.

The 20 reviews I can read are all five-star and sorted by "Recommended", so they lean positive.

Themes by count: crew by name or praised as friendly in about 15; kayaking or paddleboarding in about 8; food and drinks in about 7; dolphins or sharks in about 6; and a request for more kayak time in one.

The GetYourGuide breakdown is 4.8 for guide, 4.9 for transportation and 4.8 for value. I count patterns and do not quote reviewers.

Who should skip the Sunset Watersports sandbar kayak trip?

Skip it if you want a quiet boat, a sunset, or a strictly low-budget outing.

• Quiet-day seekers: a catamaran with an 80-person limit and a sound system is social; try the Kayak Kings mangrove paddle.
• Sunset chasers: the trip returns around 4:00 PM; see the sunset cruises in Key West.
• Budget travellers: a $149.95 ticket is high next to $50 to $73 alternatives.
• Anyone sensitive to alcohol around water: the bar opens after the activities, but the boat is a party boat.

I found no stated minimum age or weight limit on the listing or operator page, so ask before booking small children.

How do you book the Sunset Watersports sandbar kayak trip?

Frequently asked questions

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 414983 and its reviews (2026-10-17); Sunset Watersports sandbar and kayak page; NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; City of Key West bus fares; Open-Meteo, OSRM, sunrise-sunset.org and Nager.Date APIs (fetched 2026-10-17).