Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour: Explore America's Largest Forest
4.9
315 Ratings
Ochopee
Embark on a Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour in the Everglades, America's largest forest. Explore the diverse ecosystem, encounter wildlife, and learn from a naturalist guide.
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Everglades Area Tours - A mere 90-minute journey southward from Fort Myers brings you to the magnificent Florida Everglades. Embark on a 3.5-hour ecological excursion and paddle through the verdant mangrove passageways to witness the region’s rich biodiversity.

Your adventure kicks off with a concise primer on navigating your solo kayak (beginners welcome). Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll glide across the water to a slender gateway, where the mangrove tunnels stretch a canopy about 10 feet (3 meters) above. This is part of the most extensive mangrove forests on the continent!

Accompany your expert nature guide through this sprawling and diverse habitat, keeping an eye out for wildlife such as herons, egrets, ducks, spoonbills, alligators, otters, and various fish species. As you journey, your guide will share fascinating insights and information about the unique environment and its inhabitants.

What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Kayaking equipment and safety briefing
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
Additional Information

This is a splendid substitute for an airboat trip… serene, tranquil, and other-worldly. You’ll take a relaxed paddling journey accompanied by a guide well-versed in nature, providing insightful explanations of the sights you encounter. It serves as an excellent educational excursion in a unique corner of the Everglades. An expansive habitat full of diversity, the Everglades houses North America’s largest mangrove forest. Scattered across the forest are ‘lakes’ with brackish water – a combination of fresh ‘sweet’ water and sea water. These lakes serve as shelters and breeding grounds for creatures such as alligators, herons, egrets, stilts, ducks, wood storks, spoonbills, otters and a range of fish species. They’re also home to plants like orchids and bromeliads. Certain lakes are a haven for nesting and mating birds. Tidal creeks that flow among these lakes link them together. The mangrove forest extends to the creek’s border and spans over their tops, creating a roof-like structure or a tunnel. The thick canopy maintains the moisture and humidity levels, fostering thriving life.

Location
32016 Tamiami Trail E
Tamiami Trail East
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.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(315 Ratings)
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F9968afeliash
Mar 20, 2024
Huge recommendation - The tour was our highlight during our trip through the Everglades. We could experience alligators, turtles and stunning birds and plants from very close. Chris, our guide was very knowledgeable and kind -he shared all his experience and passion for this special ecosystem with us. We learned a lot and every question has been answered and the time really was flying by. I only regret to have booked "just" 3 hours. Keep up the good work, Chris!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jim
Mar 19, 2024
Beautiful! - Friendly skilled guide took us up and down a spectacular river in the Everglades. This short trip introduced you to the magic of the Everglades. It covers a section of the Turner River before it meets salt water where you see bromeliads, orchids, cypress trees and of course alligators
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U1604hhkatiea
Mar 15, 2024
Fabulous morning touring the mangrove - We really enjoyed this tour and left feeling like we had experienced a unique and special tour. Chris was a wonderful guide. We learned a lot about the mangrove and its ecosystem, and we loved the kayaking through it all. It was a fabulous tour and we highly recommend it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sylvia_l
Mar 13, 2024
A Must Do for the not so feint of heart! - The whole 3 hours was so diversified, there was something new around every bend! Our guide, Carter, was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and historical background of the area. The mangrove tunnels were beautiful to say the least, and paddling on the river was a little challenging at times, but overall, very serene and relaxing. Up close and personal with the Gators! My group of three had the best time!!!
Review provided by Viator
Bryan_j
Mar 7, 2024
Very very fun. A great learning experience. - The guide was very khowledgeable and showed us a lot of cool things. The scenery was beautiful. Listening to the frogs was awesome. Got to see some alligators as well.
Review provided by Viator
N4508vbedwardc
Feb 14, 2024
Great experience - Kayaking through mangroves was an incredible experience. Chris was very experienced with the wildlife and plant life and would stop to explain about both. From crocodiles, to little egg sacks smaller then your pinky, to learning about how tropical and temperate zones overlapping and the trees that come with it, I feel like I only got a glimpse of what made Big Cypress so incredible. Only regret was not coming with a full go pro battery and not being able to do the 6 hour trip to the 1000 islands. Incredible experience and I really hope to get back out there soon. Bring rain gear!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sheilafr6877fc
Feb 13, 2024
Great experience! Knowledgeable tour guide! - This guided tour was perfect! Just the right amount of time (3 hours). Our tour guide, Chris was very knowledgeable, telling our group everything you could possibly need to know regarding all the animals and vegetation in the area! We saw many alligators (which Chris has affectionately individually named!) The mangrove tunnels were very cool! I highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katiersrkkjp
Feb 10, 2024
Kayak Eco Kayak tour - We spent a great afternoon with our guide Chris. Chris was very knowledgeable about the vegetation and wildlife. We saw at least a dozen alligators on our kayak tour (most of which we wouldn't even have noticed if not for Chris pointing them out) and numerous birds indigenous to the area. It was an excellent experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jodif467
Feb 4, 2024
Great eco tour - Chris was extremely knowledgeable and it was well worth the price. Great experience. Our favorite part was going through the mangrove tunnels.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mydogdidtime
Jan 28, 2024
So gorgeous in the mangroves - Beautiful experience in the mangroves. First time kayaker, we made Carter’s job hard waiting for us to dislodge ourselves 😂 Totally doable and not scary for anybody nervous about trying it. Carter knows tons about all this stuff and was a pleasure. Saw gators, anhinga, great and little blue herons, a little green heron, turtles and more I don’t remember the names of.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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