Airboat Tours Everglades FL

Fan Boat Rides in the Everglades: An Unforgettable Experience with Everglades City Airboat Tours

Fan Boat Rides in the Everglades: An Unforgettable Experience with Everglades City Airboat Tours

When it comes to exploring the breathtaking beauty of the Everglades, nothing quite compares to the thrill of fan boat rides. If you’re seeking an unforgettable adventure in the heart of nature, go with The “Original” Everglades City Airboat Tours. As avid nature enthusiasts, we are passionate about sharing the wonders of the Everglades with visitors from all walks of life.

At Everglades City Airboat Tours, we pride ourselves on offering an unrivaled fan boat experience. Our knowledgeable and experienced guides are experts in navigating the intricate waterways of this unique ecosystem, ensuring that every ride is safe, educational, and full of excitement. We go above and beyond to provide a personalized and unforgettable journey through the Everglades.

One of the key features that sets our fan boat rides apart is the state-of-the-art equipment we utilize. Our fleet of meticulously maintained fan boats is specifically designed for maneuvering through the shallow waters of the Everglades. With their powerful engines and specialized propellers, our fan boats provide a thrilling yet eco-friendly adventure, allowing you to glide effortlessly through the swamps, marshes, and mangroves. Each fan boat is also equipped with two-way headsets allowing guests to speak with their captain, ask questions and easily hear their tour’s narration. We were the first to pioneer this technology in Everglades City!

fan boat toursAs you embark on your fan boat adventure with us, you’ll have the opportunity to witness the Everglades’ diverse wildlife up close and personal. From majestic alligators basking in the sun to vibrant bird species soaring through the sky, the Everglades teems with remarkable creatures. They’re not always out and camera ready, but the local creatures often make an appearance during our fan boat tours. Our guides, who possess a deep understanding and respect for the ecosystem, will share fascinating insights and stories about the wildlife and their habitats, making your ride both educational and entertaining. They’ll also speak towards the area’s history and how fan boats became an integral part of Everglades City.

Safety is our utmost priority, and we ensure that all passengers are equipped with the necessary safety gear before setting out on their fan boat ride. Our expert guides will provide detailed safety instructions, ensuring that you feel confident and secure throughout the journey. We take pride in maintaining an impeccable safety record, allowing you to relax and fully immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Everglades.

Convenience is another aspect that sets us apart. Located in Everglades City, we are strategically situated near the entrance to Everglades National Park. This prime location allows easy access to the sprawling wilderness, saving you valuable time and ensuring that you can make the most of your visit. Our friendly and professional staff are always ready to assist you with any questions, making the entire experience hassle-free from start to finish.

Whether you’re an adventurous traveler, a nature lover or a family looking for a memorable outing, our fan boat rides are an excellent choice. With Everglades City Airboat Tours, you’ll embark on an immersive journey through one of the world’s most captivating ecosystems. Be prepared to witness breathtaking vistas, encounter incredible wildlife and create memories that will last a lifetime.

So, if you’re searching for an extraordinary adventure, don’t miss the opportunity to embark on our fan boat rides in the Everglades. Book your tour with Everglades City Airboat Tours today and get ready for an exhilarating experience like no other. Let us be your guides to the wonders of the Everglades!

Everglades Airboat Tours – Mangrove and Grassland Everglades Airboat Tours

Airboat Tours Everglades FL

Everglades Airboat Tours

Welcome to Everglades City Airboat Tours, where we offer the best Everglades Airboat Tours for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts alike. Our tours are designed to provide a unique and unforgettable experience, taking you deep into the heart of the Everglades National Park, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.

At Everglades City Airboat Tours, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service and unforgettable experiences. Our expert tour guides have extensive knowledge of the area and are passionate about sharing their love for the Everglades with our guests. With us, you will not only experience the thrill of an airboat ride, but you will also learn about the fascinating wildlife and rich history of the Everglades.

Our airboats are state-of-the-art and designed for safety and comfort. Our tours are perfect for families, groups, and individuals of all ages. Whether you are looking for an adventure-packed tour or a leisurely ride through the serene beauty of the Everglades, we have a tour that will suit your needs.

gator toursWe offer a variety of tour options, including private tours, group tours, and sunset tours. Our private tours are perfect for those who want a more personalized experience and the opportunity to customize their tour. Our group tours are perfect for larger parties, providing a fun and exciting adventure for everyone. Our sunset tours offer a unique and breathtaking view of the Everglades as the sun sets over the horizon.

Booking your Everglades Airboat Tour with us is easy and convenient. Simply visit our website or give us a call, and our friendly staff will help you choose the perfect tour for you. We also offer transportation from local hotels and resorts, making your experience even more hassle-free.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable Everglades Airboat Tour, look no further than Everglades City Airboat Tours. Our expert tour guides, state-of-the-art airboats, and exceptional customer service make us the top choice for anyone looking to explore the beauty and wonder of the Everglades National Park. Book your tour today and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!

airboat tour everglades

Airboat Tour Everglades

Airboat Tour Everglades

If you’re planning a trip to Florida, there’s no better way to experience the natural beauty of the state than by taking an airboat tour of the Everglades. Everglades City Airboat Tours is the “original” for airboat tours of the Everglades, offering unforgettable experiences for visitors of all ages.

Why Take an Airboat Tour of the Everglades?

The Everglades is a unique ecosystem that’s home to an incredible variety of wildlife, including alligators, panthers, and manatees. With an airboat tour, you’ll have the chance to see these creatures in their natural habitat, as well as enjoy the breathtaking views of the wetlands, sawgrass marshes, and cypress trees that make up the Everglades.

Everglades City Airboat Tours offers a variety of airboat tours to suit your needs. Whether you’re interested in a short tour to see the highlights of the Everglades or a longer tour that takes you deep into the wilderness, they have a tour that’s perfect for you.

Their airboats are state-of-the-art, designed for speed and comfort, and their expert guides are passionate about the Everglades and dedicated to providing you with the best possible experience.

Tips for Planning Your Everglades Airboat Tour

When planning your airboat tour of the Everglades, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you have the best possible experience:

  1. Choose the right time of day: The best time to take an airboat tour is in the early morning or late afternoon, when the wildlife is most active and the weather is cooler.
  2. Dress appropriately: Wear comfortable, lightweight clothing and closed-toe shoes. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen and insect repellent, as well as a hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun.
  3. Bring your camera: You’ll want to capture the amazing wildlife and scenery of the Everglades, so make sure to bring a camera or smartphone with a good camera.
  4. Book in advance: Everglades City Airboat Tours is a popular attraction, so it’s a good idea to book your tour in advance to ensure availability.

An airboat tour of the Everglades is a must-do experience for anyone visiting Florida. With Everglades City Airboat Tours, you’ll have the opportunity to see the beauty and wildlife of the Everglades in a way that few people ever get to experience. Book your tour today and get ready for an unforgettable adventure!

swamp tours florida

Florida Swamp Tours

Florida Swamp Tours

The Everglades is a unique and fascinating wilderness located in South Florida. It is home to a diverse array of wildlife and plants, and offers visitors the opportunity to experience the wetlands in a truly unforgettable way. One of the best ways to explore the Everglades is through an Everglades swamp tour.

Everglades swamp tours are conducted on airboats, which are fast-moving boats propelled by powerful fans. These boats are specially designed to navigate the shallow waters of the Everglades, providing visitors with an exciting and thrilling ride.

One of the biggest draws of Everglades swamp tours is the chance to see a wide variety of wildlife up close. The Everglades is home to alligators, crocodiles, snakes, birds, and many other species, and an airboat tour is the perfect way to see them in their natural habitat. Visitors can also spot rare and endangered species such as the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee.

In addition to the wildlife, Everglades swamp tours offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The Everglades is a vast and beautiful wilderness, and an airboat tour is the perfect way to take it all in. From the comfort of your boat, you can gaze out at the shimmering sawgrass and the distant tree-covered islands.

Another great aspect of Everglades swamp tours is the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the area. Many tours are led by knowledgeable guides who can provide insight into the history of the Everglades and the people who have lived there for generations. Visitors will learn about the Seminole tribe, who still lives in the area and their historic and current way of life. They will also learn about the importance of the Everglades to the ecosystem, and how the area is being protected and restored.

If you’re looking to experience the Everglades in a unique and exciting way, an Everglades swamp tour is a must-do. Whether you’re a nature lover, an adrenaline junkie, or just looking for a memorable adventure, an Everglades swamp tour is sure to be a highlight of your trip. So don’t wait, book your tour today and get ready for an unforgettable experience!

When searching for an Everglades swamp tour, it’s important to choose a reputable tour company that has experience and knowledgeable guides. Look for reviews and testimonials from previous customers to ensure that you’re getting a quality experience. You may also want to consider the duration of the tour and the specific locations that will be visited, to make sure it aligns with your interests.

Overall, an Everglades swamp tour is an incredible opportunity to experience the natural beauty and rich wildlife of the Florida Everglades. It’s an exciting and unforgettable adventure that should not be missed by anyone visiting South Florida.

florida airboat tours

Things to do in the Everglades: Airboat Tours

Things to do in the Everglades: Airboat Tours

Airboat tours in the Everglades are a unique and exciting way to experience the wetlands of South Florida. These fast-moving boats, propelled by powerful fans, offer a thrilling ride as they glide over the shallow waters of the Everglades.

One of the best things about Everglades airboat tours is the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife. The Everglades is home to alligators, crocodiles, snakes, birds, and many other species, and an airboat tour is a great way to see them up close. Many tours offer the chance to spot rare and endangered species, such as the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee. You might also see some of the other inhabitants of the Everglades such as the Florida black bear, white-tailed deer, otters and spoonbills.

swamp tours In addition to the wildlife, Everglades airboat tours offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The Everglades is a vast and beautiful wilderness, and an airboat tour is the perfect way to take it all in. From the comfort of your boat, you can gaze out at the shimmering sawgrass and the distant tree-covered islands. The area is also home to a number of unique plants and flowers that you might be able to spot during your tour.

Another great aspect of Everglades airboat tours is the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the area. Many tours are led by knowledgeable guides who can provide insight into the history of the Everglades and the people who have lived there for generations. You will also learn about the importance of the Everglades to the ecosystem, and how the area is being protected and restored.

If you’re planning a visit to the Everglades, an airboat tour is an experience you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re a nature lover, or just looking for a unique and memorable adventure, an Everglades airboat tour is sure to be a highlight of your trip. So don’t wait, book your tour today and get ready for an unforgettable experience! With the beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife and rich history, an airboat tour in the Everglades is a must-do for any traveler to South Florida. Don’t forget to bring your camera, you’ll want to capture all the stunning views and interesting creatures you will see on your tour.

Everglades Airboat Tours

Everglades Airboat Tours

Everglades Airboat Tours

An airboat (also known as a planeboat, swamp boat, bayou boat, or fanboat) is a flat-bottomed watercraft propelled by an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft or automotive engine. They are commonly used for fishing, recreation, and ecotourism.

Airboats are a common means of transportation in marshy and/or shallow areas where a standard inboard or outboard engine with a submerged propeller would be impractical, most notably in the Florida Everglades but also in the Kissimmee and St. Johns rivers, and the Mekong River and Delta, as well as the Louisiana bayous.

The characteristic flat-bottomed design of the airboat, in conjunction with the fact that there are no operating parts below the waterline, allows for easy navigation through shallow swamps and marshes; in canals, rivers, and lakes; and on ice and frozen lakes. This design also makes it ideal for flood and ice rescue operations.

The airboat is pushed forward by the propeller, which produces a rearward column of air behind it. The resulting prop wash averages 150 miles per hour (241 km/h). Steering is accomplished by diverting that column of air left or right as it passes across the rudders, which the pilot controls via a “stick” located on the operator’s left side. Overall steering and control is a function of water current, wind, water depth, and propeller thrust. Airboats are very fast compared to comparably-sized motorboats: commercial airboats generally sail at speeds of around 35 miles per hour (30 kn) and modified airboats can go as fast as 135 miles per hour (117 kn)

Stopping and reversing direction are dependent upon high operator skill, since airboats, like most boats, do not have brakes. They are incapable of traveling in reverse, unless equipped with a reversible propeller. Some designs use a clam shell reversing device intended for braking or backing up very short distances but these systems are not commonly used.

The operator and passengers, are typically seated in elevated seats that allow visibility over swamp vegetation. High visibility lets the operator and passengers see floating objects, stumps and other submerged obstacles, and animals in the boat’s path.

Glenn Curtiss is credited with building an early type of airboat in 1920 to help facilitate his hobby of bow and arrow hunting in the Florida backwoods. The millionaire, who later went on to develop the cities of Hialeah and Miami, combined his talents in the fields of aviation and design to facilitate his hobby, and the end result was Scooter, a 6-passenger, closed-cabin, propeller-driven boat powered by an aircraft engine that allowed it to slip through wetlands at 50 miles per hour (43 kn).

Airboats began to become popular in the United States in the 1930s, when they were independently invented and used by a number of Floridians, most living in or around the Everglades. Some Floridians who invented their own airboats include frog hunter Johnny Lamb, who built a 75-horsepower airboat in 1933 he called the “whooshmobile” and Chokoloskee Gladesmen Ernest and Willard Yates, who built an airboat in 1935 they steered via reins attached to a crude wooden rudder. Yates holds the ignominious honor of being the first person to die in an airboating accident, when the engine dislodged and sent the spinning propeller into him.

An improved airboat was invented in Utah in 1943 by Cecil Williams, Leo Young, and G. Hortin Jensen. Their airboat, developed and used near Brigham City, Utah, is sometimes erroneously called the first airboat. At the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah, Cecil S. Williams and G. Hortin Jensen sought a solution to the problem of conducting avian botulism studies in the shallow, marshy hinterlands. By installing a 40-horsepower Continental aircraft engine, purchased for $99.50, on a flat-bottomed 12-foot long aluminum boat, they built one of the first modern airboats. Their airboat had no seat, so the skipper was forced to kneel in the boat. They dubbed it the Alligator I as a response to a joking comment from US Fish and Wildlife Service headquarters that they should “get an alligator from Louisiana, saddle up and ride the critter during their botulism studies.” Their airboat was the first to use an air rudder (a rudder directing the propeller exhaust rather than the water), a major improvement in modern airboat design.

The purpose of Williams, Young, and Jensen’s airboat was to help preserve and protect bird populations and animal life at the world’s largest migratory game bird refuge. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge near Brigham City, Utah is a wetlands oasis amid the Great Basin Desert and an essential stopping point for birds migrating across North America. The need for a practical way to navigate a challenging environment of wetlands, shallow water, and thick mud helped inspire Williams, Young, and Jensen to create the flat-bottom airboat, which they initially called an “air thrust boat.” Designs and subsequent improvements and practical use of the air thrust boats appears to have been a collaborative effort. LeeRue Allen, who worked at the Refuge since 1936 appears to have also been involved and helped to document a history of the events.

Many of the early airboats built at the refuge in Utah were shipped to Florida. Early records show it cost roughly $1,600 to build a boat, including the engine.

Over the years, the standard design evolved through trial-and-error: an open, flat bottom boat with an engine mounted on the back, the driver sitting in an elevated position, and a cage to protect the propeller from objects flying into them.

from Wikipedia

Everglades City Airboat Tours offer the quietest, nicest, safest, and the most knowledgeable tours of the Florida Everglades. Click here to see what makes us the best airboat tours.

airboat tours everglades

Top 10 Things to Do in Everglades National Park

 

With hundreds of things to do in Everglades National Park, it can be difficult to choose only a few on your trip. I grew up in Florida but regrettably spent very little time in the park. I’ve now been three times, and these are my absolute favorite things to do in the Everglades.

It’s worth noting that these are all things you can do within Everglades National Park boundaries. Therefore, the list does not include some popular activities, such as nearby museums or zoos, that are located in other parts of the general Everglades area.

Top Ten Things to Do in Everglades National Park

1. Take a Tram or Bike the Shark Valley Road

From the park’s Shark Valley Visitor Center, there are a plethora of things to do in Everglades National Park. One of the main attractions is the 2-hour Shark Valley Tram ride.

This tour takes you along a 15-mile paved trail to an overlook. From the top, you can see across the Everglades for miles. Your naturalist guide will also point out significant features along the way.

You’ll find the Shark Valley Visitor Center at the north entrance to the park along the Tamiami Trail (US-41). The address is 36000 SW 8th Street, Miami. Tickets are required and cost $27 for adults.

This is in addition to the $30 park entrance fee (which covers everyone in your vehicle for 7 days). Advance reservations are recommended as spots do fill up.

If the tram ride isn’t for you, maybe a bike ride sounds more pleasant? You can bike along the same paved path the trams take. You can rent bikes on-site or bring your own.

On our trip, we chose to take the tram due to limited time. While we enjoyed the trip, we agreed that next time we would prefer to bike.

The major benefit of the tram is the naturalist provides information as you ride, plus it’s faster than biking. However, you won’t stop for everything or be able to stop as long as you may wish to snap photos.

If you do take the tram, sit on the left side (driver’s side) for the best wildlife viewing. This is the same side as the main canal the road will follow.

Another option is biking the trail with a Park Ranger. You’ll depart for your 3-hour tour early to beat the heat and the crowds. Another great option in Shark Valley is Meteor Shower bike rides along the Shark Valley Trail. Call (305) 221-8776 to speak with a Park Ranger for more information.

Enjoy biking but want to get away from the popular Shark Valley Trail? Another guided option is the L-67 canal with a Park Ranger. On this 3-hour trip, you’ll ride on a gravel road along a canal with views of the Shark Valley Slough. You’ll need your own bicycle for this tour. Call (305) 221-8776 to make a reservation.

airboat tours near naples

2. Take a Ranger-Guided Canoe Tour

On my second visit to Everglades National Park in 2014, this was the highlight of my trip hands-down. I’d canoed through Florida mangroves and swamps too many times to count while growing up, but this was special.

First, the Park Ranger who guided us was spectacular. She had also worked at national parks in Alaska, and we had great conversations about living in the Great White North. She confidently navigated us through the wild Glades while we were in awe of our surroundings.

Most notably we saw an American crocodile. Did you know that Everglades National Park is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles can co-exist? This is all due to the brackish water, a mixture of fresh and saltwater, providing the perfect habitat.

During our trip, we saw a crocodile that was at least 14-feet long. It was the largest wild animal I had ever seen in Florida.

We did our canoe trip in the Flamingo District, but tours are also offered in the Gulf Coast area of the park. Both require advance reservations.

To book your trip with the park rangers in Flamingo, call (239) 695-2945 up to 7 days in advance. For the Gulf Coast, you can make reservations (no earlier than 14 days in advance) by calling (239) 695-3311. Canoes are provided free of charge in Flamingo. In the Gulf Coast District, you’ll need to bring your own or rent one.

3. Hike the Anhinga Trail for Alligator Sightings

Many people visit Florida with the hope of seeing alligators.

When traveling to other places, seeing the distinctive wildlife of that region/area can be tricky. Wildlife is, after all, wild. Animals do what they want and have zero interest in (or knowledge that we’d like them to be) appearing where we would like them to at any given moment.

This isn’t the case in Florida. Here, it seems like everywhere you look you’ll find its famous wildlife. This could be birds, dolphins, manatees, or its famous alligators. Especially in Everglades National Park and its neighbors, Biscayne National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.

The Anhinga Trail begins at the Royal Palm Visitor Center, which is four miles from the main Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034) at the Homestead entrance to the park. It is less than one mile round trip on paved walkways and boardwalks. Due to the abundance of wildlife, it is extremely popular – expect crowds.

If you’re interested in more hiking, read about our favorite Everglades trails.

4. Attend a Ranger Program

While you’re looking at things to do in Everglades National Park, you may be interested in learning more about the only sub-tropical wilderness in America. Park Rangers are great resources! There are a wide variety of ranger programs offered throughout the park on a variety of topics.

Some of the easiest programs in terms of accessibility are campground talks. Every night, a different park ranger will visit the amphitheaters in the Lone Pine Key and Flamingo Campgrounds to deliver a program. The topics vary and are chosen by the park ranger. Programs last 45-minutes.

There are also various walks and creature talks offered throughout the day. As mentioned earlier in the post, you can also participate in ranger-guided bike rides and canoe trips. Rangers also lead walks through the slough (pronounced slew), mentioned in #7.

airboat rides - family fun

5. Take a Wild Ride in an Airboat

While there are airboat tours throughout Florida, only three companies operate within Everglades National Park.

Airboating is one of the most popular things to do in Everglades National Park, and one of the things you simply have to do in the Everglades. It’s unique, it’s a blast, and you won’t forget it.

This is more like a roller coaster than a slow boat tour. For those, you’ll be more interested in item #9 on this list.

6. Bring Your Binoculars for Outstanding Birdwatching

Everglades National Park has some of the best birdwatching opportunities in the world. In fact, over 300 species of birds live here or pass through every year during their migrations.

Some of the best spots for birding are near the Homestead entrance (Royal Palm area) and Flamingo districts of the park. Here, you’ll find that the Anhinga Trail, Eco Pond, Mahogony Hammock, Mrazek Pond, Nine Mile Pond, Paurotis Pond, and the Snake Bight Trail all have spectacular opportunities for sightings.

Paurotis Pond is one of my favorites, as Wood Storks like to hang out here along with Roseate Spoonbills. You can also find a variety of wading birds in the Gulf Coast and Shark Valley areas.

7. Take a Slogging Tour Through the Swamp

Similar to airboat tours, you can slog through the Everglades in a variety of places. However, one of the best things to do in Everglades National Park is a slog with a park ranger.

Wait, what is slogging? This unique activity is one of the most popular attractions in Everglades National Park. You’ll wear long pants and walk through the swamp, literally slogging your way through the muck, water, and dirt surrounding you.

Slogging is best in the summer when water levels are higher, but watch out! You can expect mosquitoes everywhere and should bring as much bug spray as you can carry.

Slogging tours take place in the Shark Valley and Royal Palm districts. Remember, these are strenuous hikes and you’ll need long pants and closed-toe shoes. Reservations are required. You can call to reserve spots with Shark Valley (305-221-8776) or Royal Palm (305-242-7700) park rangers.

8. Kayak Around the Ten Thousand Islands

The Ten Thousand Islands area of Everglades National Park is one of the most famous. This maze of mangroves is some of the most beautiful coastal scenery Florida has to offer. It’s also one of the least-explored places in Everglades National Park due to its remote location.

While boat tours operate through a portion, the rest of the area is perfect seclusion and isolation. The area is perfect for kayaking. While you’re out there, look for bottlenose dolphins and manatees along with the ever-present alligators and crocodiles.

You can rent kayaks at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center if you don’t have your own. The main visitor center was destroyed by a hurricane in 2017, but there is a temporary visitor contact station in its place.

airboat tours everglades florida

9. Take a Boat Tour on the Gulf Coast

If kayaking isn’t your favorite, consider a guided boat tour through the 10,000 Islands. The only boat tour company authorized to operate in Everglades National Park is Everglades City Boat Adventures. Currently, they only offer a trip through the 10,000 Islands but another tour through the mangroves is coming soon.

The Gulf of Mexico offers a different selection of wildlife than you will find in the swampier parts of the Everglades. On your 90-minute tour, you could see everything from manatees to dolphins and sea turtles to shorebirds.

10. Drive the Park Road to Flamingo

If you only have one day in Everglades National Park, this is how I would spend it. There’s only one road that travels through the park, and along the way, you could potentially see half of the things on this list.

Start at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to obtain a map and information for your visit. Then, travel on to Royal Palm and hike the Anhinga Trail. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of birds, alligators, and turtles here.

Next, continue to the Pa-hay-okee Overlook and walk on the boardwalk to overlook the Everglades. Then, stop at various ponds along the route to search for birds. Sometimes, you can see the rare flamingo in some of these ponds. More common are egrets and herons. There are also a few interpretive walking trails you can stop at on your way to Flamingo.

Last but not least, visit the marina in Flamingo to look for manatees and crocodiles.

From: Parks Expert

airboat tours everglades florida

What is an Everglades Airboat Tour and How Does it Work?

Everglades airboat rides have swiftly become the most well-liked method for families and nature lovers to tour the Everglades. Airboats are shallow-water vessels propelled by huge fans instead of engines. When the propeller is turning, air is forced behind the boat, moving it forward across the water. The airboat differs from other boats in that there are no moving parts below the surface of the water. This allows it to glide across the water’s surface fast, which is something that regular boats can’t do. Shallow-water areas and swamps are ideal for Everglades airboats. They are the quickest and most effective means of navigating the 1.5 million acres of swamps, rivers, and bays of the Florida Everglades.

airboat rides - family fun
Everglades airboat tours are fun for the entire family.

While flying over the water’s surface on an Everglades airboat tour, you’ll swiftly see the various habitats that make up the subtropical ecosystem. An hour-long, narrated Everglades airboat ride takes you deep into the Florida Everglades: cruising gently down the Barron river, you’ll move through beautiful mangrove tunnels and narrow creeks, emerging into picturesque shallow-water bays. For people of all ages, especially young children, these experiences are thrilling and fun. Your captain will make stops to show you endangered species and unique wildlife as you pass through the stunning mangrove jungles and animal sanctuaries. Alligators, eagles, ducks, manatees, and large fish are commonly spotted. Book Everglades airboat tours with the experts at Everglades City Airboat Tours to get your adventure started!

Gator heads, lanyards and lots more cool stuff


everglades city - apparel
We make every experience in the mangrove jungle a memorable one. So we invite you to browse the gift shop before and after your tour. You can also buy logo shirts and caps, gator heads and more on our website and have it all shipped directly to you. Follow us on social media to find out when we add more items and styles.

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captain leah - airboat rides

Onboard with “Captain” Leah

The secret behind our operations running smoothly is having Leah Lenz in charge. The granddaughter of Captain Doug, Leah began selling tours when she was a young girl. Today, she’s called the “captain of captains” and runs a tight ship. She manages the business office and the gift shop, working behind the scenes to keep us on schedule and our guests happy.

Get to Know Us

airboat fun facts

Today, you’ll find airboats around the world, not just the Everglades. So we thought you’d like to know fun facts about these unique vessels.

airboats everglades florida

The man who invented the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, also invented the airboat! He built the first one and called it “The Ugly Duckling” in 1905.

Airboats were introduced to Florida in the 1920s by Glenn Curtiss, an aviation pioneer and land developer, as a way to explore the swamplands.

Because of their flat-bottom design, airboats can also move easily over ice. Not something we see in our neck of the woods much!

Our family wishes you and your family a happy, blessed Easter holiday. Come see us soon!

airboat tour

Reserve your tour up to 90 days in advance

airboat tours everglades florida

Advance Reservations are the Best

Did y’all know you can book tours up to 90 days in advance? Our tours typically run 55 to 60 minutes. You can even book a private tour if you just want the boat to yourselves. We want you to have an experience you’ll always remember and leave with a smile on your face.

Book an Airboat Tour

airboat captain

Onboard with Captain Allen

If you cruise around the mangrove jungle for 22 years, you’re gonna know our corner of the Everglades like the back of your hand. Captain Allen Chamberlain is a seasoned veteran, going back to 2000 with our founder, Captain Doug. He has a lifetime of stories to tell, can answer any question you think of, and navigates the tight passages and wide shallow-water bays like nobody else.

Get to Know Us

airboat tours

This month, we reveal some fun facts about a widely loved marine mammal. Dolphins! Our captains and guests spot them all the time on the Barron River—so have your camera ready when you take an Everglades airboat tour.

swamp tours everglades

Dolphins love their mamas! These super-smart, playful creatures stick with their mothers a long time—from three to eight years—before they leave their group or “pod.”
They care for others who need help! Dolphins actually tend to the sick, the old and the injured in their pod.

Dolphins know their names! Scientists tell us dolphins create their own individual whistles and recognize their own names and other dolphins’ names.

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