Take Off Sitting Down, See Anna Maria Island From Above
A ninety-minute boat trip off Holmes Beach, with 10 to 12 minutes aloft for each flyer and a dip only for those who want one.
Take-off is simpler than it looks from the beach. You sit down on a carpeted launch pad at the back of the boat, and the canopy raises you gently off the deck. Landing is the same move in reverse, onto the spot you left from.
The boat is an Ocean Pro 31, which the operator, Anna Maria Island Parasail, says was designed only for parasailing and is Coast Guard-certified to seat up to 12 passengers. The company says it was founded in 2013 to fill a gap in parasailing on the island.
This listing sells four departures a day, at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM, and every flyer pays USD 119, adults and ages 6 to 17 alike. The fare covers the boat trip with a professional crew. Food, drinks and transport to the ramp are not included.
Parasailing Adventure in Anna Maria IslandNinety minutes on the water off Holmes Beach, 10 to 12 minutes in the air per flyer, four bookable departures a day. From USD 119.www.viator.comBriefing, Lift-Off and the Optional Dip
After the waivers are signed, the captain and crew run a safety briefing and take the boat out. They inflate the canopy and secure you in. The listing puts the ride at 10 to 12 minutes, 350 to 400 feet above the water. Most flights are done in pairs, and the operator also offers solo flights.
Near the end of your flight the crew can lower you for a dip in the water. The dip is optional, and you do not need to be able to swim. One 2022 flyer summed up the time aloft in four words: "So quiet up there."
The boat heads back to the dock once everyone on board has flown.
Bean Point, Coquina Beach and What Swims Below
The operator's list of views from the canopy runs from Bean Point at the island's northern tip to Coquina Beach and Manatee Public Beach, plus mangroves and coastal homes. A 2021 group that rode out around Bean Point wrote, "We could see all the way out to St. Pete!"
Dolphins come up in guest reviews again and again. One April 2026 flyer saw them "from the boat and while up in the parachute." Sightings are never guaranteed, and the operator also lists sea turtles and schools of fish among the things riders spot below.
Who Can Fly
Flyers have to be at least 6 years old, and anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian to sign the liability waiver. The combined weight on the bar has to be over 100 pounds, which means a lighter child flies tandem with someone else. The operator generally caps the combined weight at 450 pounds and says weather conditions can change both figures.
The listing rates the trip suitable for all physical fitness levels. It is not recommended for pregnant travelers or for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
Before You Book
- Group size: up to 12 people share the boat.
- Observers: non-flyers can ride along, and the listing says observer spots are limited on each trip.
- Photos: the crew offers photo packages for every flight.
- Bring: a towel and sunscreen. The operator notes that you are riding on a boat and may get wet.
- Not included: food, drinks and transport to the ramp.
- Tickets: confirmation is instant, and mobile or paper tickets are accepted.
- Weather: the trip depends on the weather and can be canceled when conditions are poor.
- Cancellation: full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure.
📍 Trips start and finish at the 63rd Street boat ramp in Holmes Beach, on Anna Maria Island. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to find parking, then check in behind the tennis courts in front of the dock. The boat leaves at its scheduled time.
Ninety minutes after it leaves, the boat is back at the same dock where you started.