FAQ

Great question, here is a list of all the things to do in Vero Beach, and how much they cost.

Not all of these are Paddles activities, but they are Paddles partners and share a location with Paddles.

River Location on the Indian River Lagoon

• Paddle Board Rental Indian River Lagoon. $30 for the first hour, $10 an hour after. Max 3 hours.
• Single Kayak Rental Indian River Lagoon. $30 for the first hour, $10 an hour after. Max 3 hours.
• Tandem (Double) Kayak Indian River Lagoon. $40 for the first hour, $10 an hour after. Max 3 hours.
• Kayak Tour Indian River Lagoon. $60 per person (single or double kayak).
• Paddle Board tour Indian River Lagoon. $60 per person.
• Boat Rental on the Indian River Lagoon. Half Day $345, Full Day $490, Hourly $100
• Fishing Charters on the Indian River Lagoon. Half $450 for one angler, $50 for additional humans. Max 6 anglers.
• Sightseeing Boat Tours (1.5hours). $120 1-3 humans, $40 each after, up to 6 humans

Beach Locations

• Beach Chair & Umbrella at Holiday Inn & Costa d’ Este. Two Chairs and One Umbrella for a full day are $30.
• Cabana on the Beach at Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa. $100 for resort guests, and $150 for nonguests for the day.
• Small Cabana at Costa d’ Este is $50 for Costa guests and $75 for outside guests, for the day
• Paddle Board on the beach. $25 per hour.
• Kayak on the Beach $25 per hour.
• Boogie boards. $5 per hour or $20 for the day.

Kayak Rental Includes: Kayak, Paddle, Type III life jacket with whistle, paddle route based on wind and weather, and a lesson

Paddle Board Rental Includes: Paddle board, adjustable paddle, coiled ankle leash, type III life jacket with whistle, paddle route based on wind and weather, and a lesson.

Kayak Tour Includes: Tour guide, photos, kayak, paddle, Type III life jacket with whistle.

Paddle Board Tour Includes: Tour Guide, Photos, Paddle Board, Adjustable Paddle, Type III Lifejacket with Whistle.

You’re welcome to take a guided tour, or rent and go on your own, either way is great with us. With the rental we still offer a lesson and help setup a paddle plan to make sure you have a safe trip.

We do ask that you always go into the wind and/or current first. That way you have a much easier time coming back to the launch site.

We ask that you give us at least 24 hours’ notice to arrange a guide. Rentals are always available last minute if we have equipment available. But tour guides are not always on site unless there is a planned tour.

You do not have to tip, and we ask all staff not to ask for a tip. It’s awkward, for everyone. However, we hope that our guides did such a great job that you would want to.

The amount can vary depending on the trip, general rule is about 10% of the group amount.

Yes, unfortunately we will only host a guided tour with no less than two guests on a trip. We keep our tour to individual groups, more so now than ever.

It’s not, it’s actually very easy. The hard part is not having a proper lesson ahead of time, not having the correct equipment and not having wind and/or weather to make it achievable.

The first couple of times you paddleboard are especially important. You’re still getting used to the board and how it moves. As you get better and more comfortable it gets easy.

The first couple of times you go should be calm winds, no waves, and little to no current.

We use Ocean (brand, not only used on the ocean) Sit-on-Top kayaks.

• The Single Kayak (one person) is the Ocean Malibu 11.5. They are 11’5” long and 31” wide, with a weight capacity of 350lbs
• The Tandem Kayak (two person) is the Ocean Malibu Two XL. They are 13’4” long and 34” wide, with a weight capacity of 500lbs

Both types are available at the Indian River Lagoon location, only the Tandem is available at the beach locations.

No, buy if you’ve never had a lesson before, I’d suggest you get one from the Paddles crew. I bet you’ll learn something that will make paddle boarding more fun.

Absolutely! All we ask is that you clean up after them, and you bring a life jacket for them. Dogs and children are under them same rules when it comes to life jackets, they must wear them. Makes sense considering most people consider their dog their child.

There is no minimum or maximum age. For younger humans we let the parent decide who can paddle and who can’t. They know the small human best. Small humans who can’t paddle are able to ride along with a parent, if it’s within the weight limit of the craft.

They may paddle  their own paddle board or kayak, but there must always be a parent or guardian with them.

Everyone must take a life jacket with them, but only small humans and dogs must always wear them. Everyone else has the choice. However, we will ask you to wear one if you are not able to swim.

Our life jackets fit humans as small as 30lbs and as big as 300lbs. If you’re going for an adventure with a small human under 30lbs, please bring a life jacket for them

We highly recommend making a reservation. This way we know you’re joining us and can have the equipment ready. You are welcome to book directly through our website, or give us a call.

Kayak and paddle board rental do not require a reservation, but like stated above, its highly recommended. We’d don’t want you to show up and we’re sold out. If you book online or call ahead, we’ll save the equipment for you.

Guided tours do require a reservation at least 24 hours in advance.

You might. Most people don’t fall in, but it does happen. We use stable paddle board that are perfect for first timers and the area. And we always give you a lesson, makes it much less likely you will fall.

If you do fall in, we cover what to do in the lesson.

Unfortunately, we do not offer storage for paddle boards or kayaks. Sorry

Definitely! Wouldn’t bring a Yeti 65, but a Yeti 35 would fit nicely on the front of a paddle board. Soft coolers are probably the easiest.

Absolutely, it’s best to drop off the renters at Paddles By The Sea, and the kayaks and paddleboards that are brought along can launch at the park next door. There is a wonderful kayak launch at McWilliams Park next to the dog park. Here is a link to Google Maps to help you find it https://goo.gl/maps/aLZxHtPm6wrLM3BN8

It can be difficult to carry kayaks through the Riverside Café, so it’s easiest of launching bring along kayaks and paddleboards at the park and meet the renters on the water. It’s a very short paddle from the park to the Paddles Dock.

Unfortunately, we do not. We only rent kayaks and paddle boards by the hour and from our location at the Vero Tackle Docks or at out Resort partners at the beach.

We launch all kayak/paddle board tours and rentals from our dock at Vero Tackle, the beach of Holiday Inn Oceanside and the Kimpton Hotel & Spa

Nope, we will have everything ready for you at the launch site for that activity. We help you get comfortable with the kayak or paddle board, get fitted for a life jacket, and give guidance on the best routes to take that day. We always have guests paddle into the wind first, makes coming back so much easier. We are also there when you come back. Unlike drop off services, there is no need to call someone if you come back early. We’ll be there the entire time you’re on the water ready to help.

We try to rent no more than two hours at a time. Have found that’s just the right amount of time to be comfortably worn out and see all the great things in our area.

We’re happy to offer group rates for groups of 6 or more on a case by case basis. Please give us a call to discuss the details. 772-444-7871

If you’re kayaking or paddle boarding, it’s a good idea to wear clothing you’re comfortable getting wet in. Bathing suits are good, I personally wear long sleeve SPF shirts to keep the sun off. Both are great options and usually dry quickly.

Shoes are another option. Although they do give you funny tan lines, so be careful. If you’re going paddle boarding and want to wear shoes, you’ll need to have shoe with a closed back or some kind of strap. With flip-flops your feet will slide around while you’re standing.

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to swim in the Indian River Lagoon where we are located. Boat traffic does not really affect where we paddle, but boat channels can be close by. Because of the boating areas nearby it’s considered a boating area and swimming is not allowed.

It can also be shallow with a sandy bottom that can have the occasional oyster patch. They are very sharp and don’t feel good if you step on one. Easily avoided by happily paddling and not swimming.

Unfortunately, we do not have alligators in our area. It’s is possible but extremely rare. The Indian River Lagoon is brackish (mixture of fresh water and saltwater), the American alligator we have in Florida does not like it. They prefer fresh water in an area that’s calm and quiet.

The Indian River lagoon is one of the most bio-diverse water ways in North America. Some of the crowd favorites from guided tours and self-guided tours are:

• Bottlenose Dolphin
• Manatee
• River Otter
• Osprey
• Bald Eagle
• White Pelican
• Brown Pelican
• Great Heron

There are many more, you’ll just have to take a tour and see for yourself.

The last kayak or paddleboard should be back by 5pm. We’ll let the last ones out no later than 4pm. We do offer guided sunset tours year-round at varying start times.

It’s not likely, but always possible. Just kidding. We will always give you a float plan before you head out, and our area is very easy to navigate. Most of our routes are around an island and back .

This section of the Indian River Lagoon is extremely easy to navigate. It’s fairly narrow and has several islands with good landmarks. We will always give you a float plan before you set out. We are always available by phone if you need directions our help.

We use Ocean (Brand) Kayaks. They are sit-on-top. We have Single (one person) and Tandem kayaks (two person). Both do well in our area for beginner to advanced experienced paddlers.

Probably. Believe it or not, paddle boarders stay much drier than kayakers. If they don’t fall in. While standing you’ll only get your feet wet, while seating in a kayak, the paddles has a habit of dripping water into your lap.

Tours are a great choice for first-time paddlers, vacationers, and anyone who wants to learn more about the Indian River Lagoon.

Rentals are great for experienced paddlers who would like to kayak or paddle board without transporting their gear and people who prefer self-guided adventures.

Yes, dogs are absolutely welcome to come along for any of our tours and rentals as long as they wear a life vest. Cats are welcome too, though we haven’t seen any yet!

The Indian River Lagoon is a shallow estuary that ranges in depth from a few inches to 12ft. The average depth is 4ft.

The lagoon is home to many of Florida’s most beloved animals. During your tour, you’ll have the chance to see bottlenose dolphins, manatees, otters, sea turtles, wading birds, and various tropical and game fish.

Not usually. Alligators are a rare sight in the lagoon because it is not their ideal habitat. If you see an alligator, do not be alarmed. Stay on your paddle board or in your kayak and alert your guide so they can lead your group safely away from the animal.

Each tour includes a kayak or paddle board rental, time with your tour guide, a paddle lesson, a life vest, photos from your tour, a bottle of water, and sunscreen.

We selected beginner-friendly vessels with comfort and stability in mind. Our kayaks are sit-on-top style and made by Ocean Kayak. You can choose to paddle solo or with a partner on a tandem kayak. Our paddle boards are hardboards made by Glide SUP.

Our single-person kayaks can carry up to 360 pounds, and our tandem kayaks can carry up to 500 pounds. We can always make a tandem kayak into a single-person kayak if needed.

On SUPs, a higher weight will increase the difficulty. People who weigh over 240 pounds may find it more challenging to stand on the paddle board.

Here are some factors to consider and help you decide:

 In a kayak, you’ll be in a seated position. The risk of capsizing and falling into the water is low, and the seated position can be more comfortable for some people. You’ll use your upper body to maneuver around with a double-bladed paddle, and it’s generally considered easier to paddle quickly or for longer distances in a kayak.

 On a SUP, you’ll be standing and have a wider field of view, but it’ll be a little more challenging to balance. While you move through the water with a single-bladed paddle, you’ll be working out your entire body. As a bonus, there’s more room for your favorite furry friend to come along on a SUP.