Alligators are common in Florida and the best way to get up close and personal with one is to take an airboat tour. The airboats take you out into waters where alligators live and provide guests with a safe front row seat to view them in their natural habitat. Bring along a camera because these tours are something you are going to want to remember for years to come.
The Everglades Day Safari offers the only full day tour of the Florida Everglades. The tour departs on the east coast from Fort Lauderdale and on the west coast from Fort Myers. The tour begins with an airboat ride through the Everglades where alligators reside so bring along your camera for some unique photo opportunities. The second phase of the tour is a cruise through the Everglades where you may see dolphins, sea turtles or manatees in their natural habitat. Lunch is served, which includes alligator nuggets. The next step of the tour is a wildlife drive through a 780,000 acre National Preserve in the Everglades, and a nature walk is the last part of the tour.
The Everglades Safari Park includes an airboat tour that is 30 to 40 minutes long, an alligator wildlife nature show and jungle trail with observation platform and exhibits. Airboat tours depart every half hour which take you into the Everglades. The wildlife nature show educates guests about the animals that live in this particular ecosystem. Photo opportunities are available with Snappy the alligator. The jungle walk will include sightings of animals such as exotic birds, turtles and a variety of different plant life. As of January 2011, the price for a regular admission for the Eco-Adventure tour is $23 per adult and $10 per child ages 5-11.
Boggy Creek Airboat Rides offers smaller boats and four tour options. The continuous half hour scenic tour departs every half hour and no reservations are needed. As of January 2011, the cost for this tour is $25.95 per adult and $19.95 per child ages 3-10. A one hour night tour requires a reservation and as of January 2011, cost $49.95 per adult and $45.95 per child ages 3-10. The extreme swamp safari tour is a 45 minute tour that leaves daily without a reservation required. The scenic nature tour includes one hour and reservations are required.
Cypress Lake Airboat Tours last one hour and start in Cypress Lake, going through marsh, river and creek of the Florida Everglades. Alligators are frequently seen and bald eagles are most populated in this area of Florida. Tours run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a night tour by reservation only. As of January 2011, the cost is $45 per adult and $35 for children ages 3-12.
