Night Tour
Night tour
If you are looking for unusual and exciting adventure, choose the night tour in the Everglades. No matter what your plans are when you come down to the Southwest Florida Everglades, our guided night tour is a ‘must do’ for real adventurers. It will be the highlight of your visit here. Night Tours depart at Sunset / 7pm as the birds are beginning to roost. At night the Everglades come alive with sounds of frogs, owls,and hundreds of species of insects. This tour is guided by poleboat, kayak or canoe and offers an authentic safari adventure.
Night time in the Everglades unfolds as an entirely different landscape, set with a host of nocturnal animals and birds that aren’t see at all or vary rarely during the day. It’s as if the environment draws back a curtain and a completely different scene unfolds, featuring exotic sounds and images rarely seen by humans. So many animals feed at night, including pig frogs, barred or horned owls, bobcats, the elusive Everglades mink, bats panthers and others. Animals can be sensitive in the heat and are apt to be more active after dark. The beauty of the Everglades lies in multiple layers at night. Many of the plants and flowers present emit oils and certain areas can be extremely fragrant after dark as the heat of the day encourages plants to release their oils at night with the heavy dew that forms. The fragrant soil and perfume of the plants remains low to the ground because of the heavy moisture in the area. Layer upon layer of sound can be from subtle to deafening, depending on the time of year. It can be a challenge to hear the person sitting right next to you in the vessel if you happen to be traveling at a time of year where thousands of frogs sing all night long. The lubber grasshopper is also loud in numbers.
This experience is an unforgettable one and a great choice if you would like to see how the environment unfolds and gently gives way from daylight to dusk to pitch black, unspoiled by light pollution from the city. You will see the night sky and stars like you may never have before.
UPDATE: This tour is seasonal, typically from December through March. At this time, (4/15), the bugs have increased significantly with the unusually warm March weather and currently prevent us from running the night tour. Please check back early fall for updated information on availability.