Ochopee Mangrove Kayaking Eco-Tour Experience

This is a wonderful alternative to an airboat ride … quiet, peaceful and surreal. It is a leisurely paddle experience with a naturalist guide who throughout the tour will be interpreting and explaining what you are seeing. It is a great learning experience in a very unique part of the Everglades. The Everglades is a vast and varied ecosystem containing the largest mangrove forest in North America. Throughout the forest are brackish "lakes" whose waters are a mix of "sweet" fresh water and salt water. They are refuges and nursery grounds for alligators, herons, egrets, stilts, ducks, wood storks, spoonbills,  otters, orchids and bromeliads and a gamut of fishes. Interconnecting these lakes are narrow, flowing tidal creeks. The mangrove forest grows to the very edge and over the tops of these creeks forming a canopy or a tunnel. The dense canopy regulates moisture and humidity allowing  to thrive.
Note: June through October, we suggest the morning experiences due to the weather.

Meeting Point

32016 Tamiami Trail E

32016 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA

Please meet at the EVERGLADES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE building at the intersection of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) and SR 29 (Collier Blvd.); This area is also known as Carnestown. Look for your guide's vehicle on the SE corner of the intersection pulling a kayak trailer loaded with kayaks.

What's included:

• Professional guide
• Kayaking equipment and safety briefing

Not included:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Food and drinks

What to expect:

Duration: 3 hours

Everglades Area Tours

238 Mamie St, Everglades City, 34138, Florida

Located just a 1.5-hour drive south of Fort Myers lie the incredible Florida Everglades. On this 3.5-hour eco-tour, enjoy a kayak adventure through the lush mangrove tunnels and discover the area’s diverse ecosystem.
Your tour will begin with a brief introduction on how to maneuver your single-person kayak (no experience required). Once you feel comfortable with the kayak, paddle down the lake and arrive at a narrow entryway, where the mangrove tunnels form a canopy approximately 10 feet (3 meters) overhead. This is one of the largest mangrove forests in North America!

Follow your naturalist guide as you explore the vast and varied ecosystem and keep your eyes out for herons, egrets, ducks, spoonbills, alligators, otters and a variety of fish species. Along the way, your guide will provide an interesting, informative overview of the area and its incredible ecosystem.