Small Group Boat, Kayak and Walking Guided Eco Tour Everglades

About this activity

This very popular eco-adventure and combines the best of a boat tour, a kayak tour and a walking tour in a single great learning experience. Depending on the season, you can encounter manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, herons, egrets, pelicans, roseate spoonbills and/or numerous species of fish and shore birds. A very comfortable transport boat will bring you deep into Everglades National Park with your Florida Master Naturalist guide. Once at the first destination, the tour slows down using very stable, comfortable kayaks to get you close to the flora and fauna. Imagine paddling next to a manatee or a dolphin! (No previous kayaking experience is required and there are single and two-person kayaks on every tour). Continue your interpretive experience with a walking tour on remote, pristine barrier island beach … a beach that is seldom visited by others.

Note: June through October, we suggest the morning experiences due to the weather.

Itinerary

1. Everglades Area Tours · 30 min

   Meet your ground and guide and begin your Everglade Experience. Each trip is led by an experienced Florida Master Naturalist who is certified by the National Park and licensed by the US Coast Guard.

2. Everglades National Park · 180 min

   Get the ultimate experience of the Florida Everglades on this fun, exciting eco-adventure by boat, kayak and foot! Your tour is led by an experienced naturalist who is certified by the national park and licensed by the US Coast Guard. Throughout your tour, your guide will teach you all about the history of the area, as well as the wildlife and diverse vegetation. Begin your tour with a boat ride through some of the most beautiful and remote areas of the Everglades National Park. Once you arrive at your destination, receive a brief safety instruction before getting into your kayak (no experience required) and exploring the area up close. Paddle your way to Barrier Island Beach, a remote beach seldom visited by others. Here, take a guided walking tour of the area and see the wrack lines, shallow tidal zones, dunes, uniquely adapted plants, mangrove swamps and many different invertebrate species. Your guide will tailor the tour according to the group’s interests and the day’s environmental conditions. You may encounter a wide array of the park’s wildlife including manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills and more! After your hike on the beach, get back into your kayak and paddle back to the boat for your return journey.

3. Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge · 30 min

   The 10,000 Islands extend from Marco Island into Everglades National Park.

4. Smallwood Store · pass by

   Chokoloskee was the "Wild Southeast". Learn about the history and culture of the area.

5. Stop 5 · 20 min

   Chokoloskee is a 150 acre island that has been inhabited for 1000's of years. First by the Calusa indians and then by modern settlers since 1870.

Meeting point

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

End point: Our meet location is Parkway Marina at 1180 Chokoloskee Dr, Chokoloskee, FL 34138 Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Please know that refunds are NOT provided if you miss the tour. When you arrive at Parkway Marina, please park on the right hand side in the parking spots. Meet at the dock.

Good to know

• Service animals allowed
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• You will need to access the boat by decending a couple steps of a ladder.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

• 5 star149
• 4 star9
• 3 star4
• 2 star1
• 1 star2

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