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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.…
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Date of experience: February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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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!…
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Date of experience: January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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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…
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Date of experience: January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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+1
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.…
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Date of experience: December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
Dave is a magician. If nothing else about this wonderful tour doesn’t impress you, Dave’s ability to day after day pull meals, snacks, and an evening happy hour out of these kayaks, will surely leave you wondering where it all comes from. Dave is a great guide with a palpable love for this environment, and it shows. He was always there if you needed advice, answers, or the occasional ego check. Giving each guest as much interaction, or freedom as they wanted. Dave was great with communication, even through the pandemic, and a postponed departure date, he was quick to respond to any questions we had. We all had a great time…
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Date of experience: November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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