Kayaking in Everglades National Park: Boat, paddle and walk

You paddle close enough to see what the kayak lets you reach.

A boating, kayaking and walking tour through Everglades National Park combines three ways of moving through the water and onto an uninhabited barrier island beach. A Florida Master Naturalist Guide leads the group, pointing out dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, wading birds and the ecosystems that support them. The kayak portion lets you approach wildlife with the stealth a motorboat cannot match. Park admission is optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Everglades boating, kayaking, and walking tour

• Boat tour with naturalist guide
• Spot dolphins, manatees, and birds
• Kayak in sheltered destination
• Walk on uninhabited barrier island beach
• Return by kayak and boat to base

The experience

The tour runs 3.5 hours and moves through three distinct sections. You start on a boat in Chokoloskee Bay, where the guide scans for dolphins, manatees, herons, egrets, spoonbills, eagles and ospreys while explaining the Everglades' ecosystems and history. The boat is the platform for spotting. The guide does the reading of what you're looking at and why it matters.

At the first stop, you deploy into very stable kayaks. The stealth of paddling, no engine noise, lets you get closer to the flora and fauna than a motorboat allows. You move through the water at your own pace, following the guide, watching for movement in the shallows and the mangroves. This is where the kayak's quiet becomes the advantage.

The second major stop is an uninhabited barrier island beach where you walk on sand, looking for shells and whatever the tide has left. The guide leads this as a hands-on exploration, not a lecture. Afterward, you paddle back to the boat and return to the starting point. June through October, the operator suggests morning departures because of afternoon weather patterns.

What’s included

• Boating and kayaking through Chokoloskee Bay.
• a guided walking tour on an uninhabited barrier island beach.
• a Florida Master Naturalist Guide in English.
• very stable kayaks for the paddling section.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Everglades Boat Tours

Is this one for you?At 3.5 hours, this tour fits a free afternoon without consuming your whole day. The mix of boat, paddle and walk means you're not sitting still for the entire time, and the guide handles the wildlife spotting while you focus on moving through the water.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals might I see on this kayaking tour in the Everglades?

Dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, herons, egrets, rosette spoonbills, eagles, ospreys and pelicans are all possible sightings from the boat and kayak. The guide watches for them throughout the tour and explains what you're seeing.

Do I need kayaking experience to paddle in Everglades National Park?

No experience is required. The kayaks are very stable, and the guide leads the paddling portion at a leisurely pace. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness to paddle and walk for the 3.5-hour tour.

Is Everglades National Park admission included in this tour?

Park admission is optional and you choose it at checkout. If you add it, the fee is included in your total.

Why is this tour called the quiet alternative to an airboat ride?

Airboats are not permitted in Everglades National Park because of the noise they create. This tour uses a regular motorboat for the first and final legs, then kayaks for the middle section: the kayaks produce no engine noise, letting you approach wildlife without disturbing them.