Be sure to plan an Everglades airboat tour during your next visit. There’s no doubt that no matter which operator you choose, you’ll have a fun and interesting outing. TIP your Captain! - Most airboat captains love what they do - wouldn’t you love to be an airboat captain! - but tipping is always appropriate and welcome! And they’re experts at operating the airboat. Many have lived in the local area for most if not all of their lives making them very knowledgeable about the plants and animals that you’ll see along the way while interjecting some of the spicy local folklore along with natural history. There are several museums where you check out more of the local culture and interesting history of the Glades.Īsk Questions - For most of the airboat captains, the Everglades is their backyard and they love talking about it. Slow Travel the Glades - We always advocate for slow travel and conservation, so when you’re done with your tour and think there’s not much else to do in the Everglades, head to Everglades City, Chokoloskee, or Ochopee for lunch and to explore further. They don’t have mufflers and they’re loud! The engines can be anything from 4-8 cylinder automobile or aircraft engines that power the huge propeller. Before leaving the dock you’ll be given a mandatory safety briefing, and then issued ear protection or a 2-way headset. Safety - Airboats are safe and fairly comfortable. These smaller boats allow for a more personalized experience, and are less impactful on the environment. We recommend smaller airboats, seating up to 6 people, whenever possible. So when it comes to choosing the best Everglades airboat tours for our article, we took this to heart. Today these operators are far more conservation-minded and limit their impact on these fragile ecosystems. There was a time when airboats in the Everglades operated indiscriminately, damaging precious parts of the ecosystem by altering the landscape and disrupting the natural patterns of wildlife. Who Has The Best Everglades Airboat Tours You can’t miss them given the size of their billboard signs. It will take you under an hour to drive the 36 miles from Naples to Everglades City and along the way you will see several tour operators. You’ll see all this and more on an airboat ride in the Everglades, so don’t miss the chance to hop aboard on your next visit to Naples. There are a variety of snakes - small and large, poisonous and not - dolphins, manatees, bobcats, an incredible number of wading birds, black bear, deer, and the elusive Florida panther. Here are some interesting facts about the Everglades: this part of the Glades is primarily comprised of mangroves, hammocks, marshlands, beautiful native plant species, and exotic flowers like orchids and bromeliads, not to mention some of the most incredible and endangered wildlife on the planet.Īn airboat ride is also a great way to see alligators in the Everglades.ĭid you know that the American alligator and American crocodile coexist here, though the crocodiles live mainly at the southern tip of mainland Florida? No one who visits southwest Florida should miss out on visiting this fragile subtropical wilderness for an incredible outdoor adventure. What to See on An Everglades Airboat Tour No problem, I get it.īut generally speaking, the Everglades are misunderstood and surely underrated as a fascinating ecosystem to explore. Then you’re probably not interested in going camping in the Everglades either. Maybe you’re not the outdoorsy type, or the thought of coming face-to-face with a toothy alligator or eye-to-eye with a big snake has kept you from setting foot in the Everglades. It’s one of those favorite things to do that every visitor wants to do.Īnd guess what? We still love taking them. These are the best Everglades airboat tours we’ve taken, and we take a lot of airboat tours. The Everglades make a perfect Naples day trip as it’s just 30 minutes to an hour away. Heading to Naples and want to glide through the Everglades on an airboat tour? There are several Everglades airboat tours near Naples and Marco Island to take when you visit Naples Florida.Īn Everglades airboat tour is on everyone’s southwest Florida bucket list, and you can book an airboat tour from both Miami on the east coast and also Naples and Marco Island in southwest Florida.

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