Small Group Motorboat Eco Tour of the Everglades
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Small Group Motorboat Eco Tour of the Everglades

By Native Tours & Fishing Charters
Recommended by 99% of travelers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 1-120, max of 6 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Snacks
  • Bottled water
  • insect repellent
  • Ponchos
  • Safety Equipment


Start:
  • 801 Copeland Ave, Everglades City, FL 34139, USA
    Marina located behind The Glades Haven
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 117855P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 117855P1

    From
    $149.00
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 801 Copeland Ave, Everglades City, FL 34139, USA
      Marina located behind The Glades Haven
    • Pass by
      Chokoloskee Bay
      Native Tours & Fishing Charters
    • 1
      The 10,000 Islands are located inside of Everglades National Park.
      Pass by
      Smallwood Store
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Native Tours & Fishing Charters
      375
      Everglades City, Florida
      Joined in April 2018
    • Seaside98341
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great time for all ages
      Our guide Jason was amazing!!! The knowledge that he shared was so valuable. He was wonderful with our whole family and answered all of our kids questions. He knew where to find all sorts of animals along the trip. Thank you Jason for our wonderful experience. We look forward to doing it again next time we visit.
      Written April 1, 2024
    • 561summere
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great guide and eco tour of the Everglades
      Captain Jason was an excellent and very knowledgeable guide. Our family loved learning about the ecology of the Everglades and visiting an island. The best was all the opportunities we had at watching up close encounters with dolphins .
      Written March 29, 2024
    • mjbdpm
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Varied ecology
      What we experienced was interesting Would have liked to have been exposed to some marsh ecology different flora and animals
      Written February 22, 2023
    • Ellen K
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great long morning around the Islands.
      Captain Josh was a great guide with more stories and facts than you can imagine. We saw many dolphin enjoying our wake, playing in the waves. We enjoyed all of the bird activity. We were brought to Pavillion Island for a nice shoreline walk. I think Josh went longer than our 3 1/2 hour time and did not seem in a run to end the trip. He really seems to enjoy his job and is good at it.
      Written February 18, 2023
    • F3191YYchristopherc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The best eco tour in Florida
      Our guide was a local with decades of knowledge, boating in the Everglades since he was 12. He knows all the good spots for seeing the other (wild) locals such as the raccoons, huge variety of birds, manatees, and can brag that he is friends with the local dolphins.
      Written February 10, 2023
    • Luvualaska
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best Eco-experience in the Everglades!!
      Captain Josh is amazing. He took excellent care of us with snacks and water. Shared so much information about the area, the wildlife and culture. We got history and biology lessons that were fun and entertaining. Thank you for making this an epic memory. Seeing dolphins play, visiting an island with amazing shells, the mangroves and the birds are magnificent!
      Written December 1, 2022
    • zsdeut
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A perfect day!
      We have already participated in this tour for a second time and it was amazing again. It was the highlight of our vacation. Josh is very knowledgeable about the environment and knows a lot about the different birds, the dolphins and the other wildlife that we encountered. We saw dolphins, huge pelicans and numerous birds. The boat was smooth and easy to ride. He had many extras like snacks, waters and sunscreen. If we had any questions or thought we saw something he would gladly stop and go more in depth. And the dolphins playing in the wake of the boat was an extra special treat. Strongly recommend this tour to anyone interested in wildlife and nature. Thank you very much!
      Written January 12, 2022
    • MargaretNicole
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent trip with a real naturalist
      We had an amazing day trip out to the Ten Thousand Islands- couldn't have been better. We had a private tour, due to Covid, so that was a bonus. We saw the mangroves, birds, and beautiful natural places, including the island with the shelly beach. (My first time seeing horseshoe crabs.) We also had dolphins playing around the boat in the wake, very close to us. I guess this is common here, you will likely see them if you go. We were unlucky with manatees and turtles the day we went. What made the trip really unique was that our captain was a real expert on local wildlife, who has done research projects, etc. He is also a very experienced boat captain, and the boat was very comfortable. I cannot recommend this highly enough. It was really wonderful.
      Written July 11, 2021
    • NikAnnTar
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Birthday Fishing Charter in the Everglades
      Special & awesome day on the water. Capt Josh is an all-around great guy! He has a ton of patience and is super helpful. He was focused on our comfort and took care of everything. So friendly and fun to hang out with. Highly recommend booking your charter with Native /Josh. We’ll be back for sure! 5 stars!!
      Written July 27, 2020
    • adam88819
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      An amazing tour!
      An absolute amazing tour. We had a total of 4 on the boat and captain Josh made sure we all felt safe and had a great time. We had great dolphins and birds. Pavilion key is an amazing spot to stop as well. Don't miss this opportunity if you are ever in the area!!
      Written November 18, 2019
    • TrudieM42
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      perfect day on the water
      today I took a private tour with josh. he was born here and knows the territory inside out. he knows every tree and every animal and the animals know him. schools of dolfins came out to ride alongside our boat, we also spotted loggerhead turtles and many birds. highly recommendable tour where you see a lot of nature and have all the comforts of being in a Nice boat with an excellent guide with drinks and snacks...
      Written November 11, 2019
    • moechslin
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      10000 Island Florida
      We made a boat ride with Capt. Josh Fussell to the 10000 Islands in Florida. Josh is a very good guide and can report very interesting things about nature and animals. We saw a lot of dolphins, birds and also we saw manatees. We saw a beautiful sunset. We were 4 adults and everybody enjoyed a lot. We really can recommend him.
      Written November 2, 2019
    • 1x7
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Unforgettable Day
      We had a wonderful experience with captain Josh! He is very knowledgeable and his love for the area is contagious. Our trip was informative interesting relaxing and most memorable! Our highlight was the pod of dolphins who happily played near us then followed in our wake! Highly recommended!!!
      Written July 16, 2019
    • Mowalie
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic time
      All the other reviews say it all - we had a fantastic time, seeing the islands, dolphins, turtle, bird life etc thank you
      Written March 10, 2019
    • ayala101
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Incredible afternoon with Captain Josh!
      Words cannot describe what an incredible afternoon with had with Josh. Our family of four (adults plus 10 and 7 year old) had one of our most memorable and fun experiences ever. The diversity of wildlife was awesome, and joshs knowledge added so much to our afternoon. His biological knowledge and his love for the area and the animals who call it home made it such a special trip. PLUS he knew just how to get the dolphins to play in the wake of the boat. We will remember this afternoon forever. Thank you Josh!!
      Written February 18, 2019
    See all 375 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members 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.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles348 reviews
    Excellent
    346
    Very good
    1
    Average
    1
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
    This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

    Miriam R
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020 • Family
    We - 2 adults and a 7 year old - enjoyed the tour with Josh very much and can recommend him as captain and the tour in general with a clear conscience. He was not only able to tell us a lot of new things about nature, the Eco System and the animals - but also to show the dolphins in the most beautiful way. He knows their behaviour so well that he always knows what “games” they are up for... They followed us for a very long time in the boat waves, showed their best jumping skills and even let us watch their lovemaking. All in all a perfect excursion that we would like to repeat one day! All the best for you - Josh!
    Automatically translated
    Written July 1, 2024
    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.
    Miriam, Thank you so much! Can't wait to do it again
    Written July 10, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    #ALP
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Family
    We did the motorboat tour with Josh and it was the best excursion of our Florida vacation. Josh grew up there, is a biologist and knows the Ten Thousand Islands like no other. He knew exactly where to find the animals and told us everything about the Ten Thousand Islands. The highlight of the boat tour was that the dolphins followed our boat and jumped and surfed in the wake. We also visited a small island and had plenty of time to explore it. I can recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in the animals and nature of Florida and wants to experience a real adventure away from the big tourist attractions. Thank you for the great time.
    Google
    Written April 15, 2024
    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.
    Thank you!
    Written May 23, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    zsba
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We have been traveling to Florida for several years and always book the motorboat eco tour with Captain Josh.
    Very professional, friendly and extremely knowledgeable guide who shares his experiences in a humorous and interesting way. His training as a marine biologist and the fact that he grew up in the Everglades (his "backyard") makes this tour so special and unique!
    During the tour he showed and explained everything to us very well. We saw various groups of dolphins, a sea turtle and a variety of birds (sea eagles, ospreys, pelicans, gray herons).
    Captain Josh offers the dolphins the opportunity to "play" and they surf on the wake of the boat.
    The 3 hours just flew by. We were traveling with our daughter (teenager) and she was absolutely thrilled. We now book directly on Captain Josh's website (Native Tours & Fishing Charters) because communication is easier and more straightforward.
    The tour is and remains one of our highlights of Florida and is highly recommended, especially if you want to see animals and enjoy the breathtaking nature.
    Google
    Written April 12, 2024
    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.
    Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it
    Written May 23, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Julia S
    Nuremberg, Germany1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Josh took us on an amazing trip on h''is boat. We saw lots of wildlife and collected amazing shells. Josh is a very nice guy and it was fun to talk to him and learn so many things about the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands and it's Wildlife. His boat was very comfortable with nice chairs and shade. Not only did we see dolphins, they even swam up to the boat an had fun jumping in the wake.
    Thank you so much again, Josh, for this perfect day 🐬
    Written August 16, 2024
    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.
    Your very welcome, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide!
    Written February 7, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Emily B
    Lake Worth, FL8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022
    We spent 4 nights exploring the Everglades around Tamiami Trail and this tour was by far the best experience. Captain Josh is a true native and his knowledge of the area really made this trip special. We saw manatees, see turtles, and countless shore birds. The highlight has to be when Josh got the dolphins to swim in the boat wake with us - worth the price of admission alone! My family created memories that will last a lifetime. If you want to see a very special part of Real Florida with a guide who really knows his stuff, then don't hesitate to book!
    Written May 12, 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.
    Thank you so much Emily! I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
    Written May 18, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Gayle F
    Williamsburg,218 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Three generations of women went on this tour. Captain Josh was a wonderful tour guide. He is a local and can fill you in on a little bit of the history of the area. And then the birds!!!! He knows them all from immature to their mature look. He spies one and swings the boat in so we can get a closer look without disturbing the critter. He tells you facts and stories and the time just flies by. He played with the dolphins which made the teen very happy. It was her favorite thing of our entire 10 day trip. I found weaving in and out of the mangroves gave me a joyful and reverent feeling.
    Written December 31, 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.
    I'm so glad you all enjoyed it!
    Written January 1, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jodi B
    Gilbert, AZ66 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best. Tour. Ever. We have been on so many tours in our lives. Captain Josh was hands down the most knowledgeable tour guide we have ever had. He clearly is passionate about what he does and loves showing people a good time. We have 3 girls ages 3, 5, and 7 and he definitely catered to them. They were obsessed with the dolphins and so we spent extra time with them. This excursion was 1000x better than the tram at Shark Valley, although totally different. We loved seeing different parts of the Everglades and were glad we did both. We were glad we did this second because it was by far superior. We would definitely recommend this tour. It was worth every penny and more. We definitely will be back. Thanks Captain Josh for a magical time.
    Written December 24, 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.
    Thank you so much! It was a pleasure and I'm glad you enjoyed it
    Written January 1, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    KBlip
    Northbrook, IL8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2024 • Family
    We could not have envisioned a better private boat tour. Captain Josh is a thirteenth generation native of this beautiful section of the Everglades and full of information and genuine passion. On December 30, he led our family of five (2 adults, 3 boys (ages 10,7,7) on a serene and highly educational ride across Chokoloskee Bay, all the way out to Pavillion Key, where we docked and spent time exploring the shells and sand. The weather was gorgeous (80 degrees) and the wildlife abundant. Josh was extraordinarily generous with his time and kind to the boys, who sometimes were a bit wild. He allowed ample time to enjoy the many amazing dolphins playing/jumping near the boat, observe a variety birds (including hundreds of pelicans together on one of the keys) and search for sea turtles. We struck gold with Captain Josh and will always remember this day fondly. Bonus – Camelia Street Grill was a great find for lunch after our tour.
    Written January 2, 2025
    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.
    So glad you appreciated the tour and recommendations! Thank you for your kind words! It was a pleasure meeting your family!
    Written February 7, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Shanshan Q
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2024 • Family
    The tour was amazing! Me and my family really enjoyed it. Captain Josh is great! He was patiently introduced everything during the tour. We saw a lot of birds include spoonbill, blue heron and others. The best parts were dolphins and shells picking. The dolphins seems like the neighborhood in this area. One of them smiled to us! Captain Josh is good at making waves which the cute dolphins all enjoy to chasing around the boat. Shell picking really like a escape from the noise world. We felt the gentle breeze, the warm sea water, fabulous shells(which Josh introduced each species to us), the white sand. We have had several trips in Florida before, but this one is the best tour we have ever. We deeply explore and learn about this beautiful place this time. Thank you so much Captain Josh!
    Written November 20, 2024
    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.
    Thank you so much for your review, I’m so glad you enjoyed the tour!
    Written February 7, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    SSG1979
    20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Family
    We had a brilliant trip with Captain Josh. Communication via WhatsApp pre tour was super easy, we met at Everglades City at 09:30 and by 10 am we were on the water and had a pod of dolphins doing acrobatics behind our boat!

    We proceeded through the 10k islands, spotting all sorts of wildlife - more dolphins, loads of bird species, a sting ray. Unfortunately we missed the elusive loggerhead turtle!

    We also stopped off on an island for a small wander around and my wife and kids picked up loads of amazing shells, including some the size of my arm (god knows how well transport them home!)

    Captain Josh was incredibly informative throughout. He’s been raised on the water there and knows tons of interesting facts and also has a good tail or two!

    Thanks very much Josh 👌👏🙌
    Written October 27, 2024
    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.
    Your very welcome! And thank you for sharing your review, and choosing me to show you around!
    Written February 7, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Small Group Motorboat Eco Tour of the Everglades provided by Native Tours & Fishing Charters

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