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Special Tours
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These tours are available most anytime. However, we often have tours scheduled advance for anyone to join, so be sure to check the What's New page for these dates, as well, reports on recent sightings, upcoming events, etc. Remember, if these dates do not work for you, call us, and we will find one that does!
Guided Kayak Float Trips. Using the kayak transport boat to take us to the head of the tidal rivers, passes or a remote Gulf of Mexico barrier island, we deploy the kayaks to float and drift along with the tidal currents down stream where eventually the boat picks us again. The waters are sheltered and typically very calm. Since the water flows in the direction of our travel, we are actually floating along with the tide for a large part of the trip with minimal paddling. Below are some of our favorite trips, but we do many others. As we are taking advantage of the tidal currents, these trips are not always available, they are always special.
Mangrove Tunnels to the Gulf Beaches This trip is one of the most complete everglades estuary experiences that we can offer. The Everglades has one of the largest mangrove forests in the world. Some of the most spectacular areas are within mangrove tunnels and canopies of the tidal creeks that meander their way through the estuaries. We use a transport boat at the beginning of this trip to deliver you and your experienced naturalist guide to our starting point. At the end of the trip, the boat returns to recover the kayaks, pick you up and return you to "civilization".
Timed with a flowing tide, we launch the kayaks in an estuary bay. Moving along with the tidal flow we enter a lush mangrove forest via a tidal creek. The flow of water through creeks moves you along through the "tunnels" formed by the mangroves above you. The creeks are alive with rolling tarpon, feeding snook, jumping mullet and other fish. Various crabs, snails and birds call the area home and with the sunlight twinkling through the mangrove canopy, the scene is truly surreal.
Floating along, we exit the tunnels and enter a series of small, sheltered saltwater bays that commonly are the feeding and resting places of rosette spoonbills, herons, egrets and other wading birds. If we are quiet as we slip into the bay, the birds will go about their business barely taking notice of us as we float by.
As we continue our drift, you will notice that the water begins to get deeper and the interconnecting creeks wider. We are entering manatee country. Take a few moments of quiet to take in the inspiring sound of the silence. Listen closely. The first hint of a manatee is usually the sound that they make as the exhale on the surface.
You will notice the creeks gathering into ever larger ones as we continue to float with the tide. They eventually flow together into a tidal pass that leads to the Gulf of Mexico. As we drift along the pass, you will see nesting ospreys high in the trees and hopefully a soaring bald eagle. Manatees and sea turtles also are commonly seen drifting out towards the Gulf in theses passes.
The flowing waters of the pass takes us through the 10,000 Islands and finally to a barrier island or "key" on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. On the island enjoy your lunch, explore the island's beach or soak up the sun until your captain arrives in the transport boat to pick you up for the return trip back to port. There are portable toilet facilities, maintained by the National Park Service, on many of these keys.
The cost for this very unique trip is $189 per guest. Trips are limited to six guests and advanced reservations are required. You can check the "What's New Page" for trips availability.
Rabbit Key is a designated campsite in Everglades National Park right on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. It is part of the new Collier County Blue Way and wonderful place to begin a drift. When the tide begins to flow, we launch the kayaks on Rabbit Key and allow the tides to push us along all the way back to Chokoloskee Islands. On the way, we commonly encounter manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, rosette spoonbills, egrets and herons. Be prepared for some serious relaxation! Depending on our chosen route and the tidal conditions, the trip should last about 3-4 hours. Rabbit Key has portable toilet facilities. At certain times of the month, we do the trip in the reverse direction and end up on Rabbit Key Beach. This trip is only $149.00 per person. Reservations are required.
The Chatham River is about 20 miles from Everglades City deep in Everglades National Park. Launching at the Sweetwater Chickee, we paddle into the Chatham River where we begin our float/paddle with the flowing tidal currents. With a planned stop at the Watson's Place on Chatham Bend, the home site of the infamous Edgar Watson (Peter Matteson's book, "The Killing of Mr. Watson"), we enjoy some snacks, drinks and a break. We continue the float out of the mouth of the river and on to Mormon Key beach where the kayak transport boat will pick us up. The river, the wildlife and the scenery is spectacular. The Sweetwater Chickee and Watson's place have portable toilet facilities. You should allow six hours for this trip. This trip is $199 per person.
Gopher Creek Birding Tours. Gopher Creek is one on the more unique areas within the western Everglades National Park. A creek that runs from the Gulf waters through the mangrove wilderness into the backwaters of the Wilderness Waterway, it is a "super-highway" short cut for both fish and wading birds. While the place is always rich in fodder for the birds, sometimes the place is like "fish soup", alive with wading bird feed. The area is always teeming with life and is a great place to bird most any time. However, when the area is "soupy", the concentration and variety of water fowl is amazing. The birds can be distracted in the Creek intent on feeding. The stealth of the kayaks really help you observe their activity up close. It is a wonderful place to photograph, so be sure to bring your cameras in addition to your binoculars..
It is about an hour's boat ride each way, but we do make bathroom stops at several remote wilderness campsites with facilities. On the way out, we run through the mangrove backcountry waters of Everglades National Park . Departing in the 10,000 Islands, we pass Chokoloskee Island and travel up the Lopez River, though Crooked Creek, into Sunday Bay and then along the Wilderness Waterway above the headwaters of the Huston River through Chevalier and Cannon Bays. At the mouth of Gopher Creek, we deploy the kayaks for a 2 to 2 1/2 hour paddle into the Creek. On the boat ride back, we run through the Chatham River, stopping by the Watson's Place, and then on to the mouth of the Huston River. We return to Everglades City along the Gulf beaches and shorelines passes Duck Rock Cove, the Three Sisters, Pavilion Key, Rabbit Key, across the mouth of Chokoloskee Pass into Sand Fly pass and then back into Chokoloskee Bay. The boat trip alone is wonderful and a great way to experience the Park. This trip is the most extensive Park tour available and lasts about 6 hours. Enjoy some fresh stone crabs and seafood, over looking the Barron River after the tour at The Rod and Gun Club. Advanced reservations are required. The cost is only $169 person.
Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Drifts - Freshwater to Saltwater. The Everglades has the largest mangrove forest in this hemisphere. Some of the most spectacular areas are within mangrove tunnels and canopies of creeks that meander their way towards the saltwater. Timed with a flowing tide, we launch the kayaks in a freshwater environment and move along with the water through creeks that are canopied by lush vegetation. Bromeliads and orchids line the walls of the tunnels in many areas, a multitude of birds are in the lakes, tarpon can be seen rolling in the creeks; The scenery is spectacular. These mangrove "tunnels" connect several "lakes" and eventually lead out to the saltwater via a tidal river. Most of the trip, we are actually drifting along with the current with little paddling. At the end of the drift, we have a kayak transport boat waiting for us for the return trip to Everglades City. The cost for this very unique trip is $189 per guest. Trips are limited to six guests and advanced reservations are required.
Rodgers/Broad River Mouths. In the winter, the Park is home to an astonishing number of wading birds. Many are migratory and many are resident. Several times per month at the appropriate tidal conditions, hundreds of wading birds, "walk the flats" at the mouths of these rivers in search of fodder at low tide. As the water begins to rise, the bait fish flood across the flat where the birds line up waiting for dinner to try to make it pass them. It is about a one hour boat ride south of Chokoloskee Island. You will pass through the 10,000 Islands, passed Pavilion Key and the Chatham River. You will see the back "bights" bays and beautiful Highland's beach ... a "real" Florida beach 30 miles from the nearest modern man-made structure. At the mouth of the river we will deploy the kayaks for our tour. This tour will not be complete without a beach picnic. So bring your lunch. This trip is limited to six guests and reservations are required. $169 per guest..
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