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☎ 239-695-3633 Info.EvergladesBoatTours@gmail.com
Everglades National Park · Everglades City · Chokoloskee

Everglades Boat Tours from Everglades City

The Real Everglades. Small Groups. Quiet Boats.

Quiet, intimate boat tours into the heart of Everglades National Park.

Family-owned since the late 1990s. Florida Master Naturalist guides. Maximum six guests per tour — so you actually see wildlife instead of scaring it off.

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Family-Owned Since the Late 1990s
Florida Master Naturalist Guides
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Welcome to the Everglades

Everglades tours by boat, deep into Everglades National Park.

"We take you into quiet mangrove tunnels, hidden bays, and shallow flats where wildlife actually shows up. This isn't a thrill ride. It's the Everglades."

For more than 25 years, our family has guided visitors through the 10,000 Islands and Everglades National Park from our home base on Chokoloskee Island, three miles south of Everglades City. Every tour is led by a U.S. Coast Guard captain and a Florida Master Naturalist. Every boat is limited to six guests.

Our Everglades tours are about slowing down: the chance to get close to dolphins, manatees, ospreys, and bald eagles, and see a part of America that 99% of visitors never reach.

Why No Airboats →
Authentic Everglades boat tour through the islands
25+
Years guiding the Everglades
Our Boat Tours

Choose your Everglades experience.

Every tour departs from Chokoloskee Island and is limited to six guests. Bring binoculars, sunscreen, and an open mind.

Dolphin and birding tour
Most Popular

Everglades 10,000 Island Birding, Dolphin & Wildlife Boat Tour

Two hours through the 10,000 Islands of Everglades National Park. Wild dolphins, pelican rookeries, ospreys, wading birds, and abundant coastal wildlife — all from a quiet, comfortable skiff.

From $109.95 · 2 hr
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Sunset boat tour
Evening

Sunset Boat Tour

The Everglades at golden hour. Calm water, soft light, and the chance to spot wildlife coming out for the cool of the evening. Two hours of quiet magic.

2 hr · evening
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Photography tour
Specialty

Photography Tour

Led by an award-winning nature photographer guide. Customized routes, patient pacing, and intimate access to wildlife — built for serious photographers.

From $499.95 · up to 2 guests
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Multi-day expedition
Featured

Everglades Expedition

A longer, deeper tour that combines the best of the bays, mangrove tunnels, and remote backcountry. Our most comprehensive Everglades National Park experience.

From $199.95 · 3.5 hr
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Camping shuttles
Service

Camping Shuttles

Drop-off and pickup service for backcountry campers heading into the 10,000 Islands and Everglades wilderness. Skilled boat transport to and from remote camping sites.

By arrangement
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What Makes Us Different

We don't run airboats. Here's why.

"Airboats are loud. They scare the wildlife away. They damage seagrass beds. And they can't fit through the mangrove tunnels where the real Everglades lives."

Quiet skiffs that don't scare wildlife. You'll see dolphins, manatees, and birds because they don't hear us coming.
Access to mangrove tunnels and shallow flats. Places airboats physically cannot reach.
Eco-friendly, low-impact touring. No prop scarring. No noise pollution. No habitat damage.
Guided by Florida Master Naturalists. You're learning the ecosystem, not just riding through it.
Read the Full Story →
Mangrove tunnel where airboats cannot reach
Capt. Don McCumber with guests
Meet Your Guides

More than captains — naturalists, photographers, and storytellers.

We're a small, family-owned operation. The guides who lead your tour are the same people who own the boats and have spent their lives learning the Everglades. No commission-driven employees. No script. Just real expertise from people who genuinely love this place.

U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains
Florida Master Naturalist certified
25+ years guiding Everglades National Park
Florida Society for Ethical Eco-tourism (SEE) members
Capt. Don "Woodkayaker" McCumber — Overall Guide & Boat Captain
A certified Florida Master Naturalist with 30+ years of kayaking experience in SW Florida, Don guides every tour we offer and was Captain of Diana Nyad's Cuba-to-Key West swim team — as seen in the film "Nyad." Read his story →
Why Choose Us

Six reasons families and photographers choose us over the alternatives.

Maximum 6 guests

Small enough that wildlife stays put. Personal enough that your guide knows your name and what you came to see.

No airboats. Ever.

We're philosophically opposed to scaring the wildlife away. You'll see more in two hours with us than two days on the loud tours.

Florida Master Naturalists

Your guide isn't reading from a script. They're sharing decades of expertise about the ecosystem you're traveling through.

Punctual & professional

Tours start on time, end on time, and we don't oversell the boat. You won't be sitting in traffic or waiting at a dock.

Real customer service

You'll talk to actual humans when you call. We answer email within 24 hours. We rebook free if weather cancels.

Family-owned, 25+ years

We've been doing this since the late 1990s. Same family. Same boats. Same commitment to the Everglades.

Everglades Tour FAQ

Questions about Everglades boat tours.

For most visitors, our 2-hour 10,000 Islands Birding, Dolphin & Wildlife Boat Tour is the best all-around Everglades tour: wild dolphins, pelican rookeries, ospreys and wading birds in Everglades National Park. First-timers and families with young kids often start with the 90-minute Manatee & Wildlife Tour. Couples like the Everglades Sunset Tour, and serious photographers book the Photography Tour.
Yes, if you want to actually see wildlife. Every tour is limited to six guests and led by a U.S. Coast Guard captain who is a Florida Master Naturalist, and the boat takes you into the bays, islands and mangrove channels of Everglades National Park that you can't reach by car.
Our Everglades boat tours start at $69.95 per adult ($49.95 for kids under 12) for the 90-minute Manatee & Wildlife Tour. The 2-hour Birding, Dolphin & Wildlife Tour is $109.95 per adult ($89.95 kids), the 3.5-hour Everglades Expedition is $199.95 ($129.95 kids), and the Photography Tour is $499.95 for up to two guests. Private charters start at $495. An Everglades National Park entry pass is required separately.
December through April is peak season in the Everglades: cooler, drier weather, fewer mosquitoes and the most birds. Those months book out 1–2 weeks ahead, so reserve early. Summer is quieter; afternoon thunderstorms are common, so morning departures are the safer bet.
Every tour departs from the docks by the Parkway Motel & Marina, 1180 Chokoloskee Drive, Chokoloskee Island, FL 34138, about three miles south of Everglades City. See directions.

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Ready to See the Real Everglades?

Book your boat tour today.

Pick a date that works. Pick a tour that fits. We'll handle the rest. Most tours sell out 1–2 weeks in advance during peak season — book early to lock in your time.

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Contact

Have questions? Talk to us.

We'd rather have a real conversation than send you a generic confirmation email. Call, text, or reach out — we'll help you pick the right tour for your group.

Phone
239-695-3633
Address
1180 Chokoloskee Drive
Chokoloskee Island, FL 34138
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Chokoloskee Island map
1180 Chokoloskee Drive
Chokoloskee Island, FL
Florida Master Naturalist
USCG Licensed
Florida SEE Certified
25+ Years Experience