Sarasota Mangrove Tunnels Take You to a Whole New World

"Aaah! I almost just bit it! I was dodging that branch and almost fell right off!" Cue incessant giggling, leading to further instability. I wish I could say it was one of my kids who claimed this prime example of agility and grace, but, alas, it was I.

Fear not, I stayed upright, saving myself and my son from a plummet into a foot and a half of crystal clear 87 degree water. Phew! It's pretty much the most danger we will encounter while paddleboarding at the mangrove tunnels, which ensures I can turn off my mommy alert and enjoy the ride. The mangrove tunnels are part of the Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach Nature Park. Surrounded by condos and resorts, you'd never expect to find this aquatic labyrinth here. But once you arrive, it's a whole new world.

Paddling the Mangrove Tunnels at Ted Sperling Park

Kayak or Paddleboard?

Your choices for navigation are kayak or stand up paddleboard (SUP). The waters are shallow and narrow at times, and the tunnels' construction necessitates coordinating vessels. A map at the onset of the course directs you to follow the numbered paths, which will lead you back to your origin. If you've been there before or have more time to enjoy and explore, additional tunnels beg to be navigated. The road less traveled, mangrove style.

We have our own SUPs, so we brought those. But there are also a variety of companies that rent them directly from this location, including Kayaking SRQ Tours & Rentals, which also offers mangrove tours. Someone else bringing the equipment, holding my keys, and giving me fun facts while I explore? Yes, please.

With our six-year-old riding with me and his three-year-old sister riding with Daddy, we set off. At first, my boy is the paddler for our board. This is a great place to practice. With no boats or waves to wreak havoc, you can focus on simply moving forward and not falling. Plus there's the added bonus of solitude, so there's not the audience of mockers that you may have at the beach. He eventually gets tired, sits down, and enjoys the ride as I propel us through the course.

What You'll See in the Mangrove Tunnels

Once in the tunnels, it's an awe-inspiring sight. Mangroves always amaze me, a representation of the durability and adaptability of nature.  Forming an archway overhead, they surround you in a hidden world where fish swim inches away from you in waters so clear you can see the grasses below them, fiddler crabs scurry on exposed roots nearly brushing your body, trees grow so thick above you that you can't see the sky, quiet lingers so calmly that you hear a leaf fall and nearly tumble off your board due to the thunderous 'crash', and then…… "Crab! Crab! Crab! Crab!" My daughter has decided to yell "crab" each time she sees a fiddler. Which means incessantly. So much for serenity. But it's our own personal world and we can enjoy it in our own special way, which, for us, means cheering for crabs.

While on our adventures, we not only see fiddlers – loads and loads of fiddlers – but also a myriad of jellyfish, in what seemed like a jellyfish nursery, dozens of birds, and a large snook, which my husband desperately wanted to catch.

When to Go

When considering going to the mangrove tunnels, it's not an issue of if you go – you gotta go – but when. Review the tide information as a too low tide may lead you to walking your vessel through some shallower parts, and a too high tide will make the lower hanging branches a bit, well, lower. It makes quite an adventure when you're dodging mangrove vines. The shade from the overarching trees provides a respite from the heat and you can always dip your toes in the crystalline waters, so anytime between the park hours of 6am-10pm can be lovely. My cousin did a night paddle tour amongst the resplendent roots – the next time there’s bioluminescence on Lido, you know where to find me. 

Just Be

Fear not getting lost. Each tunnel interconnects and leads you to an easy path back. But because they are so dense and labyrinthine, you don't see many other adventurers. You just hear the sound of your motion, the leaves falling, the birds diving, and the mullet jumping. It's a time to stop your paddling, sit down on your vessel, and just be. Be in this unique ecosystem. Be an unobtrusive part of the ocean life's habitat. Be distanced from civilization. Be an observer. Be an adventurer. Be together. Be alone. Be the one who takes the untaken tunnel. You never know what you'll discover.