The opportunities are unlimited!
Our airboat rides in Orlando FL are not only exciting, but educational as well, where our captains take the time to share their knowledge with you about the eco system and animals on the St. John’s River.
Just think, you can experience all of this on one of our airboat rides in central Florida, which is only minutes away from Orlando, Orlando International Airport, Daytona, Cocoa beach, and Kennedy Space Center. Come step out of the tourist crowds and enjoy a look at what central Florida really has to offer in one of our fun, exhilarating, and educational air boat rides in Orlando.
After one airboat ride with us we are sure you will appreciate Florida’s unique natural habitat, have some great photos and will be back again!!
What wildlife will you actually see on the airboat tour?
From the moment we push off, you are looking at wildlife. The gators on our stretch of the St. Johns have not been hunted in generations, so there are hundreds of them, and on a good day it feels like thousands. Cattle graze right along the river, and where there are cattle and open water there are birds: bald eagles, blue herons, roseate spoonbills, red-shouldered hawks, ibis, and more. The flowers change with the season, from black-eyed susans to wild hibiscus, milkweed, and wild guava. We slip past old-growth cypress, gator nests, monarch butterflies, and quiet spots most people never hear about, like the old Indian mounds and the stand where the heart of palm grows. My whole business is built around the changing Florida seasons and showing you the best of what is out there the day you come.
When Do the Wildflowers Bloom on the St. Johns River?
Right through the heart of summer. Come July, August, and September, the marsh really starts to bloom while most visitors assume Florida is just hot and green this time of year. The summer rains fill the flats, and the wildflowers follow close behind.
The brown eyed susans steal the show. Whole stretches of the bank light up yellow, like the ones our guests rode past in the photo here. Mixed in with them you will spot wild hibiscus, the native swamp rose mallow, throwing out soft pink and white blooms about the size of your hand.
It is a side of the river a lot of folks never plan for. For the flowers at their best, come on a morning ride before the afternoon storms roll in, or catch them lit up in the golden light on one of our sunset airboat tours.
See the wild hibiscus blooming out on the river:
Pricing for 90 Minute Airboat Eco Tour
* Call for pricing on the night and lunch/dinner tours.
Book Your TourAirboat Eco Tour Calendar
As experts in air boat rides in central Florida, we know that as the seasons change the airboat ride experiences change with them as well. During each season there are better times of day to go then others.
What events go on during each season of our airboat rides in central Florida?
January
April
These may be our colder months in Florida, but makes for the best time of year to see the alligators sunbathing in the daytime. If you want to catch a glimpse of a truly glorious monster, this is the time for you to take advantage of one of our Orlando air boat rides. All the migratory birds are coming in for the winter around November and are leaving during April, so give your eyes a treat by enjoying a plethora of different species.
March
May
This is the time of year that the alligators are mating and the wild Osceola turkeys are getting together for some mating of their own. The blue herons are nesting and deer are dropping their babies as well. Air boat rides in Florida are one of the only ways to marvel at how beautiful nature is, because when you’re this close to the magic, it’s impossible not to drop your jaw and fully appreciate what you’re experiencing. This is for sure a nature lover’s dream come true!
June
September
The alligators are nesting in and you can see the momma alligators guarding and protecting their nests. Most of the babies will be hatched by September. During these months the wildflowers on the river are blooming and the weather is nice and warm. This is one of the best times of year to experience the tranquility of one of our central Florida airboat rides sunset tour!
October
December
This is our typical wet season on the river. All of the migratory birds will start coming in and the weather has generally cooled down. This is when the gators will start sunning themselves on the banks as well, so enjoy one of the most fun air boat rides in Orlando Florida, and check out some gators in ways you wouldn’t believe possible!
There is something different to see and experience throughout the year as the seasons change, so please call to reserve and book your ride today and find out how air boat rides in Orlando Florida can change the way you look at nature forever!
What is different about each season on the river?
Every season shows you a different Florida. In the spring the wild hibiscus and other native flowers bloom, and it is mating season for the alligators, so you see a lot more movement out of them. Summer is egg-laying season, which means you can see gators on their nests in their natural habitat, along with plenty of them swimming and sunbathing to beat the heat. In the fall the weather cools off and you tend to see fewer gators, but it is duck season, so more varieties of duck move through the river. Winter mornings are cool and quiet, and the gators pile onto the banks to soak up the sun. If you are booking months ahead, tell me when you are coming and I will tell you exactly what to expect to see that time of year.
Tours
We can customize any ride to suit your needs, but these are the types of tours we generally offer to the fine folks who visit us. Whether a small, intimate group, or a large family outing, we can accommodate any size party and ensure you the best possible time during your visit. Air boat rides in central Florida are just a stunning way to get to know how beautiful this state’s wildlife can be and how absolutely happy you and your friends and family will be to get this up close to it!
Don’t forget, you can easily call for prices or any questions you might have for us!
Lunch/Dinner
airboat tours
Let us take you on an exhilarating ride out to one of the local fish camps on the river, where you can enjoy a hearty lunch or dinner. These places are where the locals hang out and you can indulge in some real fresh Floridian food like gator, frog legs, and catfish. Then relax and enjoy a beautiful ride back, checking out the sites, and just enjoying life in general in one of the finest air boat rides central Florida has to offer you.
Birding
airboat tours
Are you an avid bird watcher? Do you find yourself glued to the television set whenever a fascinating bird documentary comes on? Do you wish you were just that much closer to the majestic birds that make Florida such a joy to visit? Well, please allow us to take you out and show you as many different bird species as possible in one of our Orlando Florida air boat rides. Our captains are not just your drivers, but are very knowledgeable about the different species of wildlife out here, so we encourage you to please bring your cameras to get some awesome shots!
Unlike some of the other companies that run 20 plus passenger boats we only run six passenger real airboats, which makes for a more personalized and comfortable ride, as well as being able to travel further to places that the big boats just can't reach. We don't know about the other guys, but our air boat rides in central Florida are about intimate encounters with wildlife as well as a pleasant and unique experience that you need to see for yourself. Our 700 horse power boats can run on dry ground as well, making it all the more easy to really check out everything, leaving no stone unturned, and giving you an experience unlike any other air boat rides in Orlando. After one ride on our smaller boats you will never want to ride on the larger ones again. We know what you're thinking, and yes; of course we have multiple boats to accommodate larger parties as well.
Find the Perfect Tour for You
Whether you're visiting from Disney, arriving on a cruise ship, or looking for a unique night adventure, we have the perfect airboat experience waiting for you.
What should you wear and bring on an airboat tour?
For a daytime ride, keep it simple: shorts, a T-shirt, and whatever comfortable shoes you already own. Nothing gets wet unless it rains. Bring sunglasses, but skip the hat, because the wind will take it right off your head. I tell everyone to bring a drink with a twist top so it does not spill when we pick up speed, and a phone or camera to capture the trip. For a sunset or night ride, add a long-sleeve shirt or a light jacket, since it cools off on the water, and some bug spray, though we keep that on the boat for you too. That is really it. Leave the loose hats and open cups in the car, bring your camera, and let us handle the rest.
Is an airboat tour safe for kids?
Yes, and families tell us it is the most fun they have had. The biggest myth about airboats is that they are too dangerous or too scary for children, and with the right captain that simply is not true. Ours has been driving airboats for over 30 years and takes his safety precautions seriously. Every ride starts with a full safety talk before we ever leave the dock, and we watch the weather and the other boats on the river the whole time we are out. My own kids have ridden with me since they were just a few months old. We are glad to have young children and older guests aboard, and the captain adjusts the pace for a nervous rider or a little one so everyone feels comfortable. Bring the whole family. That is who these trips are built for.
