Sunny clear skies and warm waters provide a perfect paddling environment, not to mention thousands of small mangrove islands, white sand beaches, exotic wildlife & flora unique to this region, fantastic food, first class camping and great company. This kayaking trip is an ideal way to escape the chills of winter while enjoying one of America’s world heritage sites.
Paddle through countless keys known as the Ten Thousand Islands, enjoy gourmet lunches on shell mounds built up by the Calusa natives of the past, spot manatees in their natural environment, watch dolphins play, observe alligators hunting for fish, see flocks of ibis passing by and witness an osprey pluck a meal from the sea.
Our Everglades vacations range from 2 to 7 days. Virtually everything is inclusive. We provide all kayaking gear (single kayaks are available upon request), meals and drinks, safety equipment, Marmot two person dome tents, Therm-A-Rest sleeping pads (which convert to beach chairs), Cascade Design pillows and our incredible attention to detail. So pretty much all you need to bring is yourself, a sleeping bag (we can provide this), your personal clothing, some personal items, a willingness to learn and a sense of adventure.
Sample Itinerary for a Kayaking trip in the Everglades (2 to 7 day trips are available):
Day One:
Your tour begins with an early rendezvous at the Everglades National Park Headquarters in Everglades City where your guides will meet you along with other members of your backcountry expedition. We will introduce you to our expedition gear and the basics of sea kayaking; i.e. paddling demo, safety information, how to land the kayak when you’re getting out for lunch or to stretch your legs, what to do when a sea turtle or alligator surfaces next to you etc. Afterwards, we’ll head out upon the calm, brackish waters of Everglades National Park. As we paddle through a great maze of native red and white mangroves, we’ll weave our way closer to the Gulf of Mexico where we will encounter many migratory birds as well as year round resident birds or possibly marine mammals. Once we decide where to land for lunch, we will make a short but sweet stop enjoying delicious food and the spectacular backcountry. This afternoon we will kayak to our designated campsite along the gulf coast where white sand beaches await. A gourmet dinner of fresh, local fish prepared to perfection and key lime pie will surely recharge your energy levels. Tonight we will retire under a sky filled with a million stars in the comfort of our Marmot dome tents.
Day Two:
As the sun makes its way above the mangroves to the east, you’ll wake up to a warm South Florida breeze. Your guides will prepare a hearty breakfast for you with juice or java, and then we’ll get ready to explore more splendid backcountry. Today we will paddle in our stable, one or two person expedition kayaks towards a small key in the Gulf of Mexico to host our next beautiful camp. Along the way we may encounter dolphins, great white herons, alligators, or even a massive tarpin fish at the surface. Later we will stop for lunch on a sandy beach loaded with crushed sea shells. Here you can stretch your legs and listen to your guide tell fascinating stories of Everglades folk-lore and tales of pirates or smugglers. Tonight we will surprise you with another great campsite meal and then you can let the waves lapping on the beach sing you to sleep.
Day Three:
Today we will get an early start to take advantage of the currents and tides leading us deep into the interior of the park. As we paddle away from the shoreline, you will get your last glimpse of the Gulf of Mexico and then we’ll continue through our maze of mangrove tunnels into the brackish water of the interior rivers. Keep your eyes open for manatees as we follow calm tidal currents up the mouth of the Lopez River. The jungle will slowly start to close in on us as we paddle further up river with numerous channels attempting to confuse us. Our guides are highly skilled in the field of navigation and at lunch break you can ask “How did you find the right way with just a compass, watch and chart?” Today’s lunch break will be on a “shell midden”; a term used to describe large piles of sea shells mounded up by the Calusa natives as their waste piles. Some of the world’s largest middens are found here, deep in the Everglades.
Day Four:
In the morning the mangrove jungle comes alive with the sounds of birds. This is a great opportunity to test your skills photographing wildlife! After we enjoy our last breakfast together we will begin our return to the Everglades National Park Headquarters. We usually arrive in the mid afternoon. Here we will say our goodbyes until your next vacation.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
2-Day/1-Night - $339 per person;
3-Day/2-Night - $479 per person;
4-Day/3-Night - $599 per person;
5-Day/4-Night - $749 per person;
6-Day/5-Night - $899 per person;
7-Day/6-Night - $1049 per person.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Florida
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
