Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes, tickets must be purchased in advance. Tours often sell out so we suggest purchasing your tickets early to guarantee your desired tour day. You can buy your tickets either online or by phone with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
Since the US Coast Guard counts all people the same, regardless of age or size, all children are required to have a ticket for the tour. Please note that we do offer a reduced ticket price for children under the age of 12.
Most days, you can see ospreys, various breeds of herons and egrets, pelicans, numerous species of shorebirds. On most tours in the warmer months manatees are typically spotted from the boat. However, our guests also commonly see dolphins, rosette spoonbills, bald eagles, various hawks, white pelicans, owls, sea turtles, kites and black vultures. Bear in mind, it is nature and it is wild. Every trip is different. Some days, we are fortunate to see a lot of wildlife, some days less. That is up to Mother Nature. However, all our guides are experienced outdoors men and women, naturalists and educators. We will have a handle on where the wildlife is on a any given day, but we can view only what is there.
Please bring wharever you wish to eat or drink. We do suggest plenty of water, but please adhere to our "Leave No Trace" policy. Clothing should be appropriate for the season and the day's weather. The transport boat is open and we travel swiftly. A light jacket is needed on most trips. Sun protection is always a good idea ...hats, sun block, etc. Along the beaches, you may wish to get out of the kayaks and walk in the water or you may wish to take a bit of time on the beach by yourself. Protective footwear, that you do not mind getting wet, is a good recommendation. Bring a camera (in a plastic zip lock bag if it is not waterproof). Binoculars and field glasses are also a good idea.
The kayaks that we use for the ECO tours are state-of-the-art. You actually sit on a comfortable cushioned seat with very good back support. You simply sit down in the seat just as you would sit in a chair. You do not crawl into these kayak as with other types. They are sealed and will not fill with water or sink. They are dry, very easy to paddle and very stable. However, as you paddle, drops of water can run down the paddle shaft. This paddle drizzle can get on your legs. Many wear shorts or light fast drying pants (like nylon fishing clothing) when on these trips ... some bring the pants from their rain suits ... others swimming suits.
The total tour is 3 1/2 hours but we request that you allot 4 hours of your day. There is a 1/2 to3/4 hour interpretive boat tour each way; the paddling part of the trip is about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. If we do a beach walk,the paddle time is broken up with the walk and we sometimes do not paddle as long. Many tell us the boat trip alone is "worth the price of admission". These trips are not canned, so the times can vary depending on the day. If you have a time constraint, please let us know at the beginning of the tour.
The Everglades Area is famous for alligators. However, the alligators are not a problem for our guests. They keep a safe distance away and so do we. They are fond of fish and fowl. A person in a kayak simply does not resemble anything close to a wading bird!

During the rainy season (June through September) we can see them on our Boat Assisted Kayak Eco Tours. However, on the Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Eco Tours we see them on most every tour throughout the year.
The tour runs rain or shine regardless of weather conditions. In the case of severe weather, you will be notified of cancellation and will be allowed to reschedule to another time depending upon availability.




Call: 239-695-0000

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Email: MarcoIslandBoatTours@gmail.com

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