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Royal Palm Park Caloosahatchee River and Creeks Tour

Near downtown Fort Myers

Quick Details

Duration: We are together 3 hours, 2 hours are on the water

Meeting Point: 5 miles east of downtown Fort Myers

Kayak Through the Only Mangrove Forest in the United States

We have seen hundreds, if not thousands of nesting wood storks on this tour. Other birds seen on this tour include roseate spoonbills, pelicans, great blue herons, tri-colored herons, snowy egrets, great egrets and more. Some of the highlights that you will learn about from your Certified Florida Master Naturalist Guide on this tour are the many different species of birds that are nesting on the rookery.  You’ll also learn about the estuary that this area is part of, known as “the cradle of the ocean”. Your guide will also teach you some history of the native Calusa that used this river as a highway.  And of course, you’ll learn about the mangrove forest that you are paddling in – the only mangrove forest in the United States.

GAEA Guides uses tandem kayaks that handle like a single if you are alone in one. We do this to limit the number of kayaks in the environment that may annoy the wildlife. We also do it because there is better communication between the guide and the clients if there are fewer kayaks. We only take a small group on each tour. The kayaks are sit-inside kayaks with comfortable seats and plenty of leg room.

Upon meeting at the appointed time we will sign in, go over some safety information and then get the equipment in the water. This takes approximately ½ hour. At the completion of the tour, we allow another ½ hour to get all the equipment put away. You will receive the directions to the launch site after making your reservations.