Florida Everglades Tours

Now that you’ve explored Estero Bay, it’s time for another adventure. Join our sister company Everglades Adventures and venture into the most famous swampland in the world, The Florida Everglades. Join the professional, educated and fun tour guides of Everglades Adventure as they take you on a full day of discovery deep into the River of Grass.

First, Everglades Adventures departs from the Fort Myers Beach area and will shuttle you comfortably into the heart of the Everglades. Enjoy the sights as your guide provides you with all of the information you’ll need before you step into the swamp.

Your first taste of the Everglades starts with a bang! Hop aboard an airboat and glide across the top of the saw grass river. Airboats are currently the most popular means of transportation when exploring the Everglades, though there is a lengthy history of different watercraft being used to traverse the wild landscape. From the airboat, you will most likely get your first glimpses of wildlife that call the Everglades home. Alligators, birds, fish, turtles—oh my!

Next, move from being directly on the water to towering above the landscape. Enjoy a slow paced swamp buggy nature ride and learn about Everglades history, ethnobotany- medicinal uses of Everglades plant life by the Natives. This area is home to black bear, whitetail deer, raccoons, alligators, and much more. Have your camera ready as we stop for wildlife along the way and we never know what to expect.

Take a break to refuel with your tour group at the local Everglades eatery, The Oyster House. Sit at a waterfront table and consider your meal as yet another adventure to embark upon. The flavors of Southwest Florida are especially unique to the area, don’t miss your chance to take a chance on a few local delicacies, including alligator and frog legs– you are on an adventure after all.

The grand finale of the trip will be one you won’t soon forget. After a short drive, you will arrive for the animal encounter. Get up close and even hold and touch alligators, tortoises, snakes and birds hang out in the mini zoo on premises. The skilled and knowledgeable staff will be with you, explaining anything and everything about these native and exotic creatures. You’ll end up with photos and memories you won’t soon forget.

If you would like to reserve your Everglades Adventure after you’ve explored Fort Myers Beach, please feel free to reach out to our Good Time Charter staff or give Everglades Adventure a call directly at (239) 405-2060 www.evergladesadventure.com.

As you will learn during our tour, there is far more to the Everglades than alligators, swamp buggies and airboats. The delicate ecosystem of South Florida depends greatly on the network of plants that call the Florida Everglades home.

To put the vast number of plant species in perspective, The Everglades is home to 120 different types of trees. There are over 100 seed bearing plants. These are plants that produce seeds and are among the oldest plant species; the earliest plants and seeds arose over 360 million years ago.

More plants found in Everglades are Butterfly Pea, White Fragrant Water Lily and Cattail. The most unusual plants that are in the Everglades are the Black Mangrove and the White Mangrove. Identified by their stilt-like roots, black (Avicennia germinans) and white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa) thrive in tidal waters, where freshwater from the Everglades mixes with saltwater. Everglades National Park boast contains the largest contiguous stand of protected mangrove forest in the hemisphere.

According to a 10-year study conducted by the Institute for Regional Conservation, of more than 760 plants studied in Everglades National Park, nearly 60 are critically imperiled. If action is not taken to protect these plants, we will lose them forever.

Currently, poaching remains the biggest threat to most plants, particularly rare orchids, such as the Ghost Orchid and ferns that top the list of species presumed extinct. The ghost orchid, prized for its long and delicate, pure-white petals is an enduring symbol of South Florida forests but is considered one of the most rare plants in the region.

Poaching isn’t the only concern when it comes to plants in The Everglades. In the 25 years since the last study was last done, another threat has emerged for coastal plants: rising seas triggered by climate change. Before complete flooding and destruction of the region, the encroaching salt water will cause the salinization of the groundwater and the soils above, which will cause plants to die a premature death.

Perhaps one of the most majestic and beloved animals that reside in the Everglades is the elusive Florida Panther, the official state animal of Florida. With sadly less than 200 of these beautiful creatures left in the wild, the Florida Panther is one of the most rare, endangered animals on Earth.

Native to the southern Florida landscape, the Florida Panther is actually one of 32 Puma concolor subspecies known by many names such as puma, cougar, mountain lion, painter, catamount and panther. At one point, these beautiful cats flourished in this region and only began disappearing as the area was settled and developed by humans, starting with the Spanish Conquistadors in the 1600s.

The only breeding population of Florida Panthers is right here in Southwest Florida, south of the Caloosahatchee River. These creatures are solitary animals and generally travel hundreds of miles within their home range in search of prey, shelter or a mate. A male’s home range territory is approximately 200 miles and a female’s approximate home range territory is 75 miles. These big cats tend to avoid the sweltering Florida heat and are most active at dusk and dawn.

Mating season is during the winter and spring months and kittens are generally born in a litter size of 1 to 4. If you think the adult panthers were cute, just take a peek at a Florida Panther kitten! Darker in color than their parents, these kittens’ spots will fade as they mature.

Because of their small population, it is uncommon to see a Florida Panther during your time in the Everglades. There are even some native south Floridians who have never spotted one! With that being said, we have seen Florida Panthers on our eco tour before…. so keep your eyes open!

As we mentioned before, the Florida Panther is one of the most endangered species on our planet. There are a number of conservation groups that fight every single day to ensure that these creatures can continue to survive as wild creatures in their native habitat. If you would like to assist in the fight to keep Florida Panthers’ alive for future generations, there are a number of great organizations you can donate time, money or both to. Learning about these creatures and sharing your knowledge with others is a great way to raise awareness about this irreplaceable wild cat.

The best place to learn more? Right here on our Everglades tour!

Get the kids away from the screens and into the swamp!

Spring break is quickly approaching and there is no better time to get out of the house and get into the Glades for an adventure. Too often, it’s easier to stay at home playing with electronic devices than to get out and explore our very own backyard. Plan to spend a day with the kids and enjoy a full day in at one of our planet’s greatest natural wonders, The Florida Everglades. It can do wonders for your children!

It is a hard reality to face, but the nature of childhood has changed, there isn’t much nature included!

“Studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression, and boosts classroom performance. In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment.“ – The National Wildlife Foundation

Fast Facts About Outdoor Time and Children

• Children are spending half as much time outdoors as they did 20 years ago. (Juster et al 2004); (Burdette & Whitaker 2005); (Kuo & Sullivan 2001)
• Today, kids 8-18 years old devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes using entertainment media in a typical day (more than 53 hours a week). (Kaiser Family Foundation)
• The most direct route to caring for the environment as an adult is participating in “wild nature activities” before the age of 11. (Wells and Lekies, 2006)

With facts like that, it’s about time to get the kids outside on an adventure!

Allow us to pick your entire family up for a day of chartered and guided fun into the Swamp—after all it is the best time of the year to visit our National Park. Cooler temperatures mean better chances to spot all kinds of wildlife. Need help convincing the kids? A hands on animal encounter, heart racing airboat and swamp buggy ride and a meal at legendary local hangout The Oyster House are not only fun, but really great photo opportunities that are sure to set their social media accounts ablaze.

We’re sure the kids will have a blast and you’ll all create memories that will last a lifetime. It’s not uncommon that after one tour, your kids will be begging to join us again, or even go on another adventure outdoors!

They’re creepy, they’re crawly… they’re the bugs of the Florida Everglades!

The Everglades is not only home to thousands of plant and animal species, it is also home to thousands of different kinds of bugs. From those that climb to those that fly, the variety of insects in the Everglades is just as rich as all your favorite Everglades flora and fauna.

Though insects may seem like pests to most of us, these little guys actually play an extremely vital role in the functioning of the River of Grass’ complex ecosystem. They provide nutrients for many other animals that eat them for dinner and they also assist in pollination and further pest control of extra annoying pests.

Yes, there are mosquitos, dragonflies, and beetles! There are also a few unique, even rare insects that we may be able to spot during our adventure tour. Whirligig beetles, the golden orb spider and lubber grasshoppers are just a few! Let’s take a closer look at these fascinating bugs.

Whirligig beetles can be found on the surface of the Everglades’ many miles of water. Grouping together, these beetles move in fast circles on top of the water. They have even developed divided eyes to be able to see above and below the water’s surface. The beetles can then dive underwater with the assistance of an air bubble they have trapped underneath themselves. These bugs can fly, swim and dive!

The golden orb spider, also known as the banana spider, spins an intricate web that gleams like gold thread when it is in the sunshine. Keep an eye out for these spiders high in the trees.

It isn’t hard to spot a lubber grasshopper, the females can be up to 3 ½ inches long and they are commonly very brightly colored. Lubber’s can’t fly but they can sure jump and walk. Grab your camera if we come across one of these, you’re sure to get a great photo as they do not move very quickly. This grasshopper isn’t desired prey for many creatures as they are highly toxic to eat!

We encourage you to enjoy our tour with an open mind, even if you are not the biggest fan of creepy, crawly critters. These animals can be just as beautiful and interesting as your favorite Southwest Florida animals!

Here at Everglades Adventure, we are fascinated by the vast history and multiple habitats that co-exist in the Everglades. Whereas the most of the world has four seasons, we’re special here – we have TWO! There’s the wet season, then there’s the dry season, in which we find ourselves now. The dry season starts in late November and goes through April. It’s the time of year when cooler, drier air comes and the threat of tropical hurricanes leaves. We see the wet dry up fairly fast and the water levels around the Everglades will change from month to month.

The diverse flora and fauna of the Everglades all adapt well to these two distinct seasons, and thrive because of the balance they offer. The dry season brings in more of our feathered friends, some from thousands of miles away, who come to over-winter, nest, and expand their families. Nesting during our dry season eases the adventure of bringing new life into the world. With less water to swim in, the fish, insects and crustaceans tend to pool in smaller areas, and bird parents can find food easily to feed their newborns.

Less water also means less biting insects! This means a more enjoyable time as we cruise on a thrilling airboat ride through the sawgrass prairies, spotting the birds, alligators and snakes, and then hop aboard the swamp buggies to navigate through Cypress swamps while diving into the history of the Everglades and talk about the many animals and plants within the ecosystem. We’ll even visit with some of the natives: whitetail deer, raccoons, alligators and more!

Remember your camera and sense of adventure! See ya soon!

We love teaching friends, new and old alike, new things about our diversely wonderful ecosystems and all the critters that live within when we go off on one of our amazing tours through the Everglades.

We make a number of amazing stops, learn more about them here! A favorite among guests of all ages is the interactive animal experience. After enjoying lunch we make a leisurely stop to make few new friends. Get up close and personal with snakes, gators and birds at the Skunk Ape Research Center located at the Trail lakes Campground in Ochopee, Florida. You may have a lot of curiosity about the skunk ape, for which you can explore and ask questions while we are there. The bigfoot of the Everglades has kept natives and visitors captivated for decades.

Around the back of the main building is where we find ourselves with our tour goers, and where the magical moments between humans and nature are captured. Alligators, tortoises, snakes and birds hang out in the mini zoo on premises. The skilled and knowledgeable staff will be with you, explaining anything and everything about these native and exotic creatures. Anyone willing to can hold an alligator or albino python, and enjoy some time getting to know the parrots and macaws that grace the premises with their feathered beauty.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to gets hands on with the animals, they truly are all magnificent creatures. It’s a blast enjoyed by all, and we’ll capture your handsy moments on camera for a framable memory you’ll cherish forever.

The Everglades and its inhabitants have used lore and myth to explain a number of natural occurrences, as well as unexplained phenomena. From “Owl-Witches” to “Long Ears”, we will let you decide which is which…

Stigini, also known as Owl Witches, are one of the more sinister monsters from Seminole folklore. Originally, these beings were evil witches that were able to transform themselves into owl-like beings. During the day, the Stigini would resemble the Seminole people, but at night, they would release their soul and prey upon the tribe as 9-foot tall “undead” owls. In some Seminole communities, speaking their name is thought to put you at risk for turning into one, so certain medicine people only tell Stigini stories. In other communities, they are been spoken of more casually as bogeymen to frighten children.

Long Ears, originally known as Hatcko-tcapko is a hairy, wolf-like monster of that is usually described as a four-footed, deer-like wolf that is the size of a donkey. With a wolf’s head, a horse’s tail and long pointed ears, Long Ears is a terrifying creature. Hatcko-tcapko is said to live in the swamps of Florida. You will know Long Ears is nearby if you suddenly smell a striking, strong, bad odor. Do not allow Long Ears to get too close… it carries diseases and will infect anyone or anything that it touches.

Now, none of our guides can vouch for the existence of either of these creatures, as we have never come into contact with either on our tour, it is always a good idea to stay alert. You never know what will be lurking around the next curve…

Image: (Stigini Totem Unearthed In Florida)

From the outside, the everglades may look like many other areas of Florida. Flat, covered in saw grass and trees. Take a closer look and you will see that much of the Everglades is actually water. In fact, the water in the Everglades functions much like a river, hence earning it’s nickname “The River of Grass”.

From Lake Okeechobee, the water slowly creeps south while also slowly sinking into the ground through porous limestone rock. Underneath this rock is our Floridian Aquifer, an underground system of water that provides South Florida with fresh water for drinking and more. On average, the water in the Everglades is only approximately 5 feet deep in most areas.

Because of this water flow, before roads and highways were built, the Everglades’ natives as well as explorers and adventurers could only travel through the Glades’ with the assistance of a boat.

The first boats to be used by natives who first called the area of the Everglades their home used dug out canoes to skim across the shallow waters of the Glades. Carved from a trunk of a tree, usually cypress, a woodworker would carve the trunk of the tree until its core was hollowed out. At this point, the trunk would be smoothed and shaped into a vessel that resembles our modern canoes.

In later years, because of the shallow grassy waters of the Everglades, it was difficult to use a standard motorboat without it getting stuck. All of this changed when the airboat was introduced to South Florida by aviation innovator Glenn Curtis in the 1920s. An airboat is designed with a flat bottom and has absolutely no mechanical parts underneath the water line. This allows for the vessel to be able to operate in extremely shallow water. Because the Tamiami Trail was completed just about the time that airboats were rising in popularity, they were never used as a major mode of transportation across the glades for the masses.

Airboats have become one of the most defining characteristics of the Everglades. Used mainly for recreational purposes, Airboats have truly opened the mystique of the Everglades to millions of visitors who want to get up close and personal with all of her beauty. We can to provide you with this one of a kind experience!

There is no better way to see birds, alligators and more than by gliding across the glassy surface of the Florida Everglades!

Image Credit: NPS.com (Aerial View of Nike Missile Base)

As your experienced guide leads you from place to place during your Everglades Adventure, you never truly know what will be waiting behind the next Cyprus tree, palm frond or bushel of saw grass. That is the true beauty of our tour; each expedition is a unique experience that is full of surprises, even for our staff.

Much like the surprises that are waiting for you and your family, there are a number of surprising facts about the Florida Everglades you may not know. Take a peek at our list of most extraordinary facts about the Everglades and you’ll be more than prepared for whatever may be waiting for you in the swamp….

• The Florida Everglades are the only place on the planet where crocodiles and alligators live together.
• The time it takes for the native wood stork to grab a fish and take it in its beak once is it detected is one of the quickest in the animal kingdom.
• The Everglades is considered the slowest moving river in the world.
• During the Cuban Missile Crisis of the 1960s, the southern portion of Florida, including the Everglades became home to missile shelters scattered from Miami and into the Everglades.
• The extremely rare Ghost Orchid blooms is in the Fakahatchee Strand, on the northern boundary of Everglades National Park.
• The busiest time of year to visit the park is from December to March. This is the driest time of the year and it is also the coolest time of the year. This makes touring more comfortable. Plus, there are fewer mosquitos.
• The Everglades town of Ochopee is home to the world’s smallest Post Office—a building that is just 7 x 8-feet.
• Oil was found in the park in 1946 but because of limited technologies could not be extracted. Those who discovered the oil gave the land to the Government, which then became part of the park.