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Sea Kayaking and Paddle Trips - Overnight
Overnight Guided Kayak/Camping Trips
*Traditional Sea Kayaking Tours
*Boat Assisted Base Camp Kayaking Tours
Two to Seven Days
Completely Outfitted and Provisioned
Regularly Scheduled Trips
Reservations Required
Regularly Scheduled Trips
October - May
Everglades National Park and the Wilderness Waterway is a "Paddler's Paradise". Consisting of over 1.3 million flooded acres of protected waters, it is the only park in the United States' National Park System to be established for it biological and ecological diversity. It is home to over 300 species of birds, 27 of which are Endangered Species, as well as the West Indian Manatee, dolphins, sea turtles and countless species of fish.
The Park is wonderful place for wildlife viewing and paddling. Explore the tunnels and canopies of the largest mangrove forest in this hemisphere, paddle along side playful dolphins, experience sunset on a unspoiled beach, or simply take in the serenity of the flocks of birds as they leave there roost in the morning.
The Park's vast of wilderness is spectacular. In fact the entire tip of the Florida peninsula is protected lands. Everglades National Park is contiguous to The 10,000 Islands Preserve, The Big Cypress National Preserve, The Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve and The Florida Keys Sanctuary. Everglades Area Tours provide unique paddling opportunities in all these wonderful places.
The Wilderness Waterway. Through the heart of Everglades National Park passes the world famous paddling trail, The Wilderness Waterway; a 99 mile wilderness paddle trail through the core of the Park. It is along this spectacular backcountry waterway that part of your multi-day guided trip will take you.
Everglades National Park maintains three types of backcountry campsites … ground sites, beach sites and the very unique "chickee" sites. The ground sites are typically on "high ground" in the remote areas. Many are on old Calusa Indian mounds and historic settlement sites. The beach sites, located on spectacular remote beaches, allow for evening campfires under the stars. Chickees are wooden platform shelters built directly in the water. Most all of the sites have portable toilet facilities. Planning a trip to all three types of sites provides a great everglades sea kayaking experience.
The western gateway to the Everglades National Park is through Everglades City and Chokoloskee Island. Located just 30 minutes from Naples, 90 minutes from Miami, Ft. Myers, Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton, Everglades Area Tours, offers two popular types of guided tours; Traditional Guided Sea Kayaking and Boat Assisted Base Camping Tours.
Traditional Guided Sea Kayaking Camping Tours, By far, our most popular tours, we launch from shore near Everglades City or Chokoloskee Island, however, we use our fleet of boats to re-supply and routinely check on our guests during the tours and to assure safety. Your safety is our first concern.
The "TWO DAY - ONE NIGHT" trips leave every Saturday. The "THREE DAY - TWO NIGHT" trips leave on Friday. Longer trips are scheduled below, and of course, we offer private trips most any other dates for groups of four or more.
The Everglades Area is a very unique, yet dynamic and diverse system. This wild environment changes daily with the changing weather, stages of the moon, as well as, the different seasons. Our guides have a pulse on these changes and have chosen to live and work in the area as a way of life and a passion. Everglades Area Tours operates sea kayaking tours all year long, not seasonally as all other do. When you call to book a tour with us, you will be talking directly with an owner or one of our guides, not a remote office in another state.
Boat Assisted Base Camp Kayaking Tours. On these tours, we use a power boat to transport the kayaks, our guests and gear to a remote location where we setup a base camp, typically on a remote island beach. From the base camp, using the kayak transport boat, we are able to take daily paddle excursions to remote areas of the Park; areas that most simply do not have time to get to. Of course, a sunrise and/or sunset paddle at the base camp should be part of the daily experience.
The additional carrying capacity of the Kayak Transport Boat allows us to supply additional amenities and creature comforts to our guests such as sun showers, large coolers, camp chairs, etc. These Boat Assisted Base Camp trips are wonderful for those that wish to explore different areas of the Park and do not have the time to paddle to each area or those who feel "being there" is less important than "paddling there". These trips are especially suited for those that enjoy the sport of kayak fishing. They also allow us to select campsites that are best suited for the forecasted weather conditions.
Our Commitment. Everglades Area Tours is passionate about this very special part of our planet. We feel that we are very fortunate to be able to live and work in a place that we love so much. We commit to you to do what we practically can so the will have the best possible Everglades Experience. As such, we only utilize experienced, local guides and environmental professionals for our tours services. We use only state-of-the-arts equipment that is personally maintained by our owners and guides. Safety is of the up most importance to us, so we carry all needed safety equipment, but most importantly we plan well and pay attention to the details so the trips run smoothly. We want you to enjoy your first tour with us and your tenth.
Safety Equipment Your safety and comfort is paramount. The Park's expansiveness can make navigating the area daunting. However, rest assured that each guide carries the state-of-the-art in safety, navigation and communications equipment including GPS units, VHF marine radios and satellite phones. You will be in good, experienced hands.
Kayaks and Equipment. They say experience is the best teacher and we believe it truly is. Our experience in this area has led us away from the traditional sit-inside sea kayaks. For the comfort and convenience of our clients, and most importantly safety, Everglades Area Tours utilizes only very stable, state-of-the-arts, sit-on-top sea kayaks. They are fast, stable and very easy to paddle. Most importantly, they are much easy to enter and exit, provide a safer paddling platform and eliminate the closed in, claustrophobic feeling of the tight sit insides. Getting on and off the backcountry chickees is very difficult from sit-insides but a piece of cake from the sit-on-tops.
Individual two person Eureka dome tents, Therm-A-Rest sleeping pads/beach chairs, Columbia camp pillows, Ozark Trail sleeping bags and dry bags are provided are provided(most guests prefer to bring your own sleeping bag, however). All you really need is your personal gear.
Meals. Everglades Area Tours completely outfits your trip. An important part of any good camping trip is good hearty meals. Prepared by your guide fresh each time, the meals make your trip complete. A meal option plan will be emailed to you as part of the planning confirmation process so that we can tailor the meals to your desires.
Sample Itineraries. Our paddle routes and itineraries are adaptable. They vary depending on the time of year, length of trip, preferred destinations, and our make up and desires of the guests. If you are a returning guest, please be sure to communicate to about your past trips. You may wish to paddle a different area or be sure to return to your favorite campsite.
Prices and Schedule
The completely outfitted camping trips include your skilled guides, as well as, all meals, gear, kayaks safety gear, satellite phones and transport boat shuttles. All you will need is your personal items. These trips are on a reservation basis and must be scheduled in advance.
Traditional Sea Kayaking Camping Tours
Two Days Guided Kayaking /One Night Camping $349 per person
Leaves Every Saturday
Three Days Guided Kayaking /Two Nights Camping $499 per person
Leaves Every Friday
Four Days Guided Kayaking /Three Nights Camping $649 per person
Scheduled Below
Five Days Guided Kayaking /Four Nights Camping $799 per person
Scheduled Below
Six Days Guided Kayaking /Five Nights Camping $849 per person
Scheduled Below
Seven Days Guided Kayaking /Six Nights Camping $1199 per person
Scheduled Below
Boat Assisted Base Camp Kayaking Tours
Two Days Guided Kayaking /One Night Camping $699 per person
Three Days Guided Kayaking /Two Nights Camping $749 per person
Four Days Guided Kayaking /Three Nights Camping $879 per person
Five Days Guided Kayaking /Four Nights Camping $999 per person
November 19 - 23 Five Day Kayak Excursion $979 per person
December 6 - 9 Four Day Kayak Excursion $649 per person
December 13 - 16 Four Day Kayak Excursion $649 per person
December 28 - Jan. 1 Five day Kayak Excursion $849 per person
January 10 - 13 Four Day Kayak Excursion $649 per person
January 24 - 27 Four Day Kayak Excursion $649 per person
February 18 - 22 Six Day Kayak Excursion $849 per person
(This trip ends at the Paddle-In Event!! … more info)
March 17 - 21 Five Day Kayak Excursion $799 per person
Other dates are available for groups of four or more. Please contact us with your dates.
Note: Prices and schedules subject to change. All camping trips require a 50% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm the reservation with the balance due two weeks before your trip. Trips over four days include a re-supply shuttle. Pricing above assumes a minimum of four guests on the tour. Guests may be combined to make the trip minimum of four, but each tour. Private tours of less than four guests are available upon request. Longer trips are available, as well. All prices are in US currency and subject to change without notice.
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