Everglades Tours

Please read this first: Tours originate at the Summerlin Square Plaza in Fort Myers, but custom pick up at any Fort Myers Beach accommodation is also available at no extra charge. Alternate departure locations, for the Full day Adventure tour only, may be available from your Bonita Springs, or Naples accommodation. Please see the locator map for Fort Myers departure location. Transportation is in a climate controlled comfy passenger van with a knowledgeable and fun Naturalist guide. These are small group tours of up to 13 so please book early! Please read answers to FAQs here. Leave the driving and the work of planning a fun itinerary in the Everglades to us! See recent tour photos here: Gator Gil’s Blog Please also check out our Fishing Charters, Kayaking Eco-tours, and Dolphin Wildlife cruises here: www.Goodtimecharter.com

Currently Tours offered Monday thru Saturday. Tours not available on major holidays, this includes Superbowl Sunday, Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Parade (2nd Sat of March).

• Everglades Adventure Tour

(approximately 8AM-5PM, from Ft Myers/Ft Myers Beach) $125 per person, $89 for children under 12. Includes narrated transportation to the Everglades with a certified naturalist guide, a thrilling hour long Airboat ride through the Everglades sawgrass prairie and marsh, plus a sit down lunch in Everglades City complete with fried alligator tail and biscuits, a visit to Everglades City and museum, a 45-minute Swamp Buggy Ride through the marsh prairie and the Cypress hardwood swamp, an interactive reptile and exotic bird exhibit where you have the opportunity to handle snakes, alligators, tortoises, and exotic birds, and a wildlife drive in search of and to view large alligators and birds in the wild. We see a lot of wildlife on this tour, and you will see all the different ecosystems of the Everglades. This tour is perfect for birders, nature enthusiasts, photographers, and is not recommended for children under 6.

Additional details on the Everglades Adventure Tour features (they are not sold separately):

Airboat Ride

Both the Full day Adventure tour and the Express tour include taking a thrilling hour long ride on the Everglades’ most famous transportation – the airboat! Glide through the sawgrass prairies and around the palm hammocks surrounding the Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park. Look for alligators, birds and other wildlife.

These airboats are operated and narrated by U.S. Coast Guard licensed native captains who have been driving airboats all their lives.

Swamp Buggy

Another popular mode of transportation around the Everglades is by Swamp Buggy! These vehicles are equipped with big tires to get you an elevated perspective of the Everglades sawgrass prairie, and through the Cypress swamp.  Enjoy a 45 minute swamp buggy ride and learn about Everglades history, ethnobotany- medicinal uses of Everglades plant life by the Natives. This area is home to black bear, white tail deer, racoons, alligators, and much more. Have your camera ready as we stop for wildlife along the way and we never know what to expect.

Lunch – Seafood Depot Restaurant

Well known as the best restaurant in Everglades City. Featured in the Hollywood film “Winds Across The Everglades”, you’ll be sitting where the railroad tracks used to be. Lunch includes your choice of eight entrees, one of which is all-you-can-eat salad bar with peel and eat shrimp. Included are non-alcoholic beverages, alligator tail appetizer, tax and tip. A full bar is also available.

Everglades City Tour and Museum

Explore this small village that time passed by. Find out why Hollywood views this town as an ideal location for films about the Everglades. See the famous Rod & Gun Club where American Presidents stay, the Everglades Bank where the money in the vault got flooded, the crabbing industry and more.

Step way back in time and learn about life in the Everglades around the turn of the century for Seminole Indians, local pioneers, and Outlaws. Loaded with artifacts – see how the pioneer Everglades inhabitants used to live and their fascinating history. You’ll be amazed at what you find.

Interactive Animal Experience

This part of the tour is way too cool for words. See both native and exotic animals up close and personal with Naturalist Rick as he teaches you about these fascinating animals. Hold a live but friendly alligator, 50 pound snakes, tropical parrots & macaws, tortoises and others for a picture if you care to dare. Remember – handling these beautiful creatures is completely optional, but how often to you get a chance to hug an 18 ft albino python? This animal sanctuary is also widely known as ground zero for the legendary Everglades skunk ape. It’s far more than a petting zoo and it sure isn’t Disney World!

Nature Drive

Take a drive on the wild side. See alligators, turtles and tropical birds in this freshwater cypress swamp area of the Everglades. Learn to identify native flora such as bromeliad epiphytes, Spanish moss, cypress trees and the many varieties of palms. Gain an appreciation of the fragile Everglades eco system.

We also offer dolphin wildlife tours at Ft Myers Beach – www.goodtimecharter.com

We also offer Everglades Express Tour

(approximately 9AM to 1PM, from Ft Myers/Ft Myers Beach) $70 per person, $55 for children under 12. Includes narrated transportation to the Everglades with a certified naturalist guide, an hour long airboat ride through the Everglades sawgrass prairie and marsh, and an alligator exhibit with an opportunity to handle a small alligator. This tour is appropriate for all ages.