Florida Outdoor Adventures - Guided Everglades Kayak Tours
Florida Outdoor Adventures - Guided Everglades Kayak Tours
Florida Outdoor Adventures - Guided Everglades Kayak Tours
5
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Full view
About
Florida Outdoor Adventures, Everglades Kayak Tours - 3/5/8-day fully outfitted and guided overnight sea kayak camping tours in the backcountry of Everglades National Park. These trips are low impact nature and wildlife ecotours which allow you to fully experience and appreciate this world famous wilderness. All tours provide a complete adventure vacation for active adults and families. We uniquely offer personal small groups trips with your own private guide. Come kayak, explore and truly experience the REAL Everglades!
Everglades National Park, United States
Features animals
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Florida Outdoor Adventures - Guided Everglades Kayak Tours
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravellers talk about
(24 reviews)
(2 reviews)
(4 reviews)
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
99 reviews
Excellent
84
Very good
13
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Odyssey14828857699
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Solo
I had an incredible time with the FOA. Very knowledgeable and passionate about showing others the Everglades! I learned so much about the flora and fauna.
Written 21 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tamera G
Dawson Creek, British Columbia9 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
We fully enjoyed our kayak trip with Dave K. His love and respect for the history of the area and the Everglades environment shows in how he runs his tour. We had quite a windy and rainy trip and Dave was careful to choose routes and camp spots to accommodate the weather when it blew in. The trip requires some physical and mental stamina, but it was well worth it to experience this remote area. I am very glad we were able to find Dave and paddle with him.
Written 16 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel R
2 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
This is a fantastic trip! I chose the 5 day trip and loved every minute.
The guides are incredibly knowledgeable and easy going. I never once worried about my safety with them around. They know how to navigate the tides and the twisting maze of mangroves. They welcome any questions you have about everything from the plants and animals to kayaking to camping. They take care of you completely and make the trip truly worth it!
The food is great! I never expected to eat so well while camping! They cooked up dinner and had all meals planned out perfectly. There was so much food and so much variety!
This is an incredible opportunity to see the backcountry, primitive Everglades. You sleep under stars you can't see in the city. You watch animals existing in their natural state. You learn and practice leaving no trace, so you leave knowing your fun also did no harm to this beautiful place!
The guides are incredibly knowledgeable and easy going. I never once worried about my safety with them around. They know how to navigate the tides and the twisting maze of mangroves. They welcome any questions you have about everything from the plants and animals to kayaking to camping. They take care of you completely and make the trip truly worth it!
The food is great! I never expected to eat so well while camping! They cooked up dinner and had all meals planned out perfectly. There was so much food and so much variety!
This is an incredible opportunity to see the backcountry, primitive Everglades. You sleep under stars you can't see in the city. You watch animals existing in their natural state. You learn and practice leaving no trace, so you leave knowing your fun also did no harm to this beautiful place!
Written 26 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John M
3 contributions
Mar 2023
We are fairly experienced outdoor “adventurers,” having hiked, kayaked, and white-water rafted uncountable times. But the five-day kayak/camping trip we took, guided by Dave K. and “Bonesy,” was remarkable. A rigorous physical experience for a couple in their 60s and 70s, challenging but rewarding. Nights on the ground, in a tent, surrounded by the sounds of buzzing bugs but also the splashes of leaping mullet, the puffs of manatee breathing, the hooting of owls. During the day, the sights of mangrove root tangles, broad beach expanses, the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. And the beauty and excitement of a plethora of animals—some very exotic for we New Englanders (alligator, crocodile, ibis), others like owls, heron, and osprey we know from our home woods and waters.
And all spotted, identified, and explained by our pleasant, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful guides! To say it would have all been impossible without them is an obvious understatement. From learning how to handle our 21’, heavy, tandem kayak (we paddle VERY light ten footers!) to how to ascend and descend the ladders of our “chickee” sleeping platform, Dave and Bonesy made it both possible and fun.
We would also like to emphasize the importance of the local environmental/ecological knowledge that our guides possessed and provided. A trip like this is meaningless without being a source of knowledge about the biological context of the local flora and fauna, and the issues around curating these environments for our use now and in the future. A couple of rafting trips in the Grand Canyon made us aware of that relevant to climate change and the Colorado River. We were therefore sensitive to the same issues in the Everglades, and these guys were great resources. A 5 day symposium on the care and feeding of Florida's, and our nation's, prime semi-tropical environment!
For those concerned about the rigors of the trip: yes, you better be in decent shape. We're not jocks, gym rats, or distance runners; just active “older” folks. We exercise at home, walk daily. We shovel our own snow, for those who understand that. But we hadn’t paddled for four months before this trip. Yes, it made for burning muscles while paddling several hours a day—slowly through mangrove tunnels and vigorously in open water. Got to be able to sleep on a back-packing air mattress, scramble up and down a ladder, in and out of a small tent. Dave and Bonesy do the cooking, provide tasty breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack calories to fuel the fun.
When we got home, our paddling-sore arms complained as we shoveled new-fallen wet, heavy snow. But we marveled at snowfall a few days from watching the sun go down in the Everglades, listening to the exhale of dolphins next to our kayaks. If you can do it, DO IT! The three day for a taste, the five or eight day for a more than full meal!
And all spotted, identified, and explained by our pleasant, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful guides! To say it would have all been impossible without them is an obvious understatement. From learning how to handle our 21’, heavy, tandem kayak (we paddle VERY light ten footers!) to how to ascend and descend the ladders of our “chickee” sleeping platform, Dave and Bonesy made it both possible and fun.
We would also like to emphasize the importance of the local environmental/ecological knowledge that our guides possessed and provided. A trip like this is meaningless without being a source of knowledge about the biological context of the local flora and fauna, and the issues around curating these environments for our use now and in the future. A couple of rafting trips in the Grand Canyon made us aware of that relevant to climate change and the Colorado River. We were therefore sensitive to the same issues in the Everglades, and these guys were great resources. A 5 day symposium on the care and feeding of Florida's, and our nation's, prime semi-tropical environment!
For those concerned about the rigors of the trip: yes, you better be in decent shape. We're not jocks, gym rats, or distance runners; just active “older” folks. We exercise at home, walk daily. We shovel our own snow, for those who understand that. But we hadn’t paddled for four months before this trip. Yes, it made for burning muscles while paddling several hours a day—slowly through mangrove tunnels and vigorously in open water. Got to be able to sleep on a back-packing air mattress, scramble up and down a ladder, in and out of a small tent. Dave and Bonesy do the cooking, provide tasty breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack calories to fuel the fun.
When we got home, our paddling-sore arms complained as we shoveled new-fallen wet, heavy snow. But we marveled at snowfall a few days from watching the sun go down in the Everglades, listening to the exhale of dolphins next to our kayaks. If you can do it, DO IT! The three day for a taste, the five or eight day for a more than full meal!
Written 14 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gsavage131
Los Angeles, CA1 contribution
Dec 2022
I concur with the many fine reviews regarding FOA.. Dave K has assembled an outstanding primitive 5-day kayak camping experience in the remote Ten Thousand Islands area of the Everglades, one that would be near impossible for out-of-area kayakers to organize on their own, His earnest concern and attention to detail for the enjoyment and safety of his charges was notable. He and guide Bonesy provided both professional competence and knowledgeable commentary on the history, ecology, and wildlife of the area. I would offer additional recommendations on a couple of items. First, head netting and repellent spray/rollon specific to repulsing biting midges (no-see-ums) will greatly add to one's enjoyment of the camping experience. Second, while Dave provides for many eventualities, he cannot guarantee the presence of wildlife on any one trip. It is perhaps counter intuitive, but we found birds/reptiles to be much more prolific on the mainland habitats than in the remote mangrove-dominated islands. For out-of-area participants where wildlife viewing is equally important as kayaking, I recommend scheduling at least two additional days on the mainland hiking the trams/trails/boardwalks of Ten Thousand Islands NWR, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Big Cypress Swamp, and Everglades National Park.
Written 26 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan J
1 contribution
Dec 2022 • Couples
Dave and Bonesy were great experienced guides. We saw so much wildlife and really enjoyed our three day trip!
Written 24 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jill Y
3 contributions
Feb 2022
I've always wanted to paddles in the Everglades and Dave K. made it possible. The opportunity to see untouched Florida by kayak is an unparalleled experience. We paddled through big water, mangrove caves and even the Gulf of Mexico. Dave made the trip a breeze (excellent cooked meals and lots of hot coffee!!). While primitive camping may not be for everyone, it's the only way to do this trip right. Don't overpack: really, you CAN fit everything in a 5 liter drybag. I would recommend doing some core work before hand and investing in good paddling gloves, camp pants and both spray on and insect repellent wipes. The bugs were pretty aggressive, the gators, not so much. I enjoyed both the solitude and the easy camaraderie with the other guests.
In short, this is a trip very much worth doing. But listen to Dave's instructions and do some Googling so you know exactly where you are going and boned up a bit on the flora,fauna and local history. It will enhance your experience.
In short, this is a trip very much worth doing. But listen to Dave's instructions and do some Googling so you know exactly where you are going and boned up a bit on the flora,fauna and local history. It will enhance your experience.
Written 26 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcia W
1 contribution
Jan 2022
I am SO grateful for the 5-day kayak tour that Dave led, exactly the way that he led it. All seven of us appreciated Dave's extensive experience, excellent fresh food, and first-rate equipment. Above an beyond them, Dave gave us an element of discovery such as when we approached coves with dolphins, or walked past the cemetery on Fakahatchee Island. He led us to them without introduction, and quietly let us appreciate them for the first time. Many thanks for sharing the remote islands of southwest Florida with us!
Written 4 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LynnNesmith
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida5 contributions
Jan 2022
Trip was amazingly on every level. Dave is professional and knowledgeable about nature. Food was beyond my wildest expectations. Dave worked around the weather and adjusted our destinations to ensure the best possible camping locations and kayak routes. We saw an array of wildlife, but not a single python
Written 4 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simeon H
10 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
This trip is not easy and that's okay.
Day 1: We meet Dave and he gave us a quick safety brief and got us and our 7 new friends situated and in our kayaks. He let us paddle out for about an hour to observe our techniques and see who needed pointers. I was just about burnt out at that point before he explained how to use the paddle in an efficient technique which made a world of difference. We had lunch on a small island and Dave pointed out every bird, bug, animal, and plant in awesome detail. We got to our camp and setup where he prepared a delicious hot meal and we received a very personal tour of our very own Island.
Day 2: We kayaked up a river where we got another amazing lunch, saw alligators, sharks, dolphins, and so many amazing birds. He again cooked a very hardy meal that kept us fueled up and ready for bed.
Day 3: We packed up our camp and headed to a beach on Picnic Key, but not before exploring the nooks and crannies of all the mangroves on our way. We had an awesome Christmas feast and even defended ourselves against a marauding band of raccoons! More dolphins, sharks, and fish!
Day 4: Packed up camp and paddled our way home across the beautiful mangroves of the Everglades.
Seeing the National Park at 2 miles per an hour with a well informed and experienced guide is one of the best ways to see this national treasure. What's even more special is how much Dave loves his career and his passion for his craft. He's all smiles and makes even the most trying days a pleasure to experience.
Best tour and camping trip I've ever been on. He also told me to say there are no bugs in my review.
PS: It's the Everglades, bring Benadryl and bite cream if you react to bug bites.
Day 1: We meet Dave and he gave us a quick safety brief and got us and our 7 new friends situated and in our kayaks. He let us paddle out for about an hour to observe our techniques and see who needed pointers. I was just about burnt out at that point before he explained how to use the paddle in an efficient technique which made a world of difference. We had lunch on a small island and Dave pointed out every bird, bug, animal, and plant in awesome detail. We got to our camp and setup where he prepared a delicious hot meal and we received a very personal tour of our very own Island.
Day 2: We kayaked up a river where we got another amazing lunch, saw alligators, sharks, dolphins, and so many amazing birds. He again cooked a very hardy meal that kept us fueled up and ready for bed.
Day 3: We packed up our camp and headed to a beach on Picnic Key, but not before exploring the nooks and crannies of all the mangroves on our way. We had an awesome Christmas feast and even defended ourselves against a marauding band of raccoons! More dolphins, sharks, and fish!
Day 4: Packed up camp and paddled our way home across the beautiful mangroves of the Everglades.
Seeing the National Park at 2 miles per an hour with a well informed and experienced guide is one of the best ways to see this national treasure. What's even more special is how much Dave loves his career and his passion for his craft. He's all smiles and makes even the most trying days a pleasure to experience.
Best tour and camping trip I've ever been on. He also told me to say there are no bugs in my review.
PS: It's the Everglades, bring Benadryl and bite cream if you react to bug bites.
Written 31 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth L
Chico, California, United States
Do you have 3 hour or all day kayak trips available on January 3rd? It will just be for my husband and myself.
Thanks
Ruth Lee
530-521-0566
Dave K
Naples, FL4 contributions
Hello Ruth Lee,
We have a 5-day tour on Dec31-Jan04. There are details at on our website. You can try the Ivey House for a day trip at 239-695-3299. Good luck.