Observe the River of Grass on an airboat tour!The Everglades is an extensive stretch of wetlands, home to many unique, rare, and endangered animals, birds, reptiles, insects, and fish.
Also known as a plane boat or swamp boat, the airboat has quickly become the most popular way for nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers to explore the Everglades ecosystems.
Airboats are open-air flat bottomed boats that are propelled by giant fans instead of motors. They have been used in the Everglades since 1920. They were initially used for fishing and hunting because of their ability to navigate shallow waters. With no motor or operating parts beneath the waterline, the boat can quickly glide across the surface of the water, making it unique from any other boat. There is no better way to see and explore this fantastic ecosystem than on an airboat tour.
During your guided airboat tour, you will be able to discover this one-of-a-kind subtropical wilderness. You can see alligators up close in their natural habitat while you glide effortlessly over the grassy, slow- moving rivers and sawgrass marshes.
Your seasoned guide will know the best places to see the white-tailed deer, bobcats, rabbits, skunks, raccoons, and opossums, as well as the more rare wildlife such as the American alligator, the West Indian manatee, and the Florida panther, which is the rarest of the larger mammals that inhabit the Everglades.
Fun fact: The Everglades is the only place on earth where crocodiles and alligators coexist. You will also find snakes, turtles, catfish, sunfish, bass, and gar. No matter the weather, you will be in for a real once-in-a-lifetime treat because different animals like different weather conditions, so your experience will differ every time you visit.
During your tour, you will encounter many of the 350 or more species of birds that call the Everglades their home. Try and spot the large and endangered Wood Stork, whose statuesque form and slow stalking method make it a photographer’s favorite. You may see other rare or endangered birds: the Snail kite, Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, and Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
Conclusion
A visit to the Everglades is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and what better way to explore the fantastic wetland than on an airboat. First introduced to the Everglades in the 1920s, airboats are different from other boats, mainly because they are open-air, flat bottomed boats propelled by a giant fan that allows you to glide effortlessly over the Rivers of Grass on your journey through this subtropical ecosystem.
