Wekiva Island is Central Florida’s favorite watering hole, located just north of Orlando in Longwood, Florida, offering visitors the chance to experience incredible natural springs. Guests can explore the pristine Wekiva River and its fascinating wildlife by canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, or spend time on land across more than 2,000 square feet of Island fun. Sustainability, environmental education, and art sit at the heart of the mission.
Water Rentals include canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for exploring the river at a self-guided pace — this is the same location as sister business “Paddleboard Orlando,” researched earlier this session, whose founder “Uncle Ned” is affectionately beloved by guests. Cabana Rentals offer a place to relax on land, with a real-time capacity meter available online to help plan the best time to visit (arriving early is recommended, and carpooling is encouraged).
Beyond paddling, the Island offers Without A Paddle Cafe for fueling up before river adventures, The Tooting Otter bar for an ice-cold beverage, and Gallery CERO, an art gallery overlooking the Wekiva River. A rotating lineup of Summer Offers includes Summer Splash Tuesdays (50% off vessels), Hump Day Wednesdays (50% off venue rentals), and Double the Fun Thursdays (BOGO vessels). The Island also regularly hosts community events, including an annual Fall Egg Fest, seafood boils benefiting the Central Florida Zoo, and an Earth Day celebration featuring a riverside market, guided eco paddle, animal encounters, and workshops.
Hours run Sunday-Thursday 8am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 8am-11pm.
For families and nature lovers near Orlando/Longwood, Florida looking for a genuinely magical, sustainability-minded river destination with paddling, dining, and community events, Wekiva Island offers an exceptional, deeply beloved operation on the Wekiva River.
