Born from a band of lifelong paddlers who turned weekend outings into a way of life, Adventures in Florida has been guiding guests through the state’s hidden springs, black-water swamps and wild rivers since 1995. Small groups, pr...
Wildlife encounters are the real deal here, with guides like Jeff, Patrick, and Dana consistently leading guests to memorable sightings of manatees, alligators, turtles, and diverse birds across Florida's waterways. The manatee kayak tours stand out, with multiple travelers describing up-close encounters where the gentle giants actually bumped kayaks or waved flippers. Jeff gets particular praise for his deep knowledge of the area and ability to find wildlife even during off-seasons when expectations run low. The bioluminescence tours also deliver, with guests mesmerized by the glowing water and magical atmosphere. The guides create a relaxed, beginner-friendly vibe that puts nervous first-time kayakers at ease, providing quality equipment and extras like water and photos. Multi-day river trips through places like the Suwannee showcase both the paddling expertise and camping comfort this outfitter can provide. One cancellation disappointed a couple who'd planned their entire vacation around the experience, which is worth noting if you're building your trip around a specific tour. Overall though, the combination of knowledgeable guides, reliable wildlife sightings, and genuine passion for Florida's natural spaces makes these tours memorable highlights for most visitors.
My husband and I had the most amazing time with Adventures in Florida, and it was all thanks to our fantastic guide, Jeff. We’ve done a few guided tours before, but this one was hands down the best. Jeff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made everything feel so relaxed and fun. We came in with low expectations since it was August, and the weather in Orlando had been pretty rainy. We didn’t think we’d see much wildlife, especially manatees. But to our surprise, we were so blessed. We saw an entire group of manatees swimming around us. A few even gently bumped their noses against our kayaks, and one greeted us with a little flipper wave. Jeff told us how rare that is, which made it feel even more special. We also saw a couple of alligators peeking above the water, some beautiful blue herons, and schools of fish gliding by beneath us. It was peaceful, exciting, and just so beautiful. This experience was the highlight of our entire vacation. Thank you, Jeff, for such a wonderful day, and thank you to Adventures in Florida for making it happen. We’ll be talking about this for a long time!
Nathania Christie
August 7, 2025
My husband and I had the most amazing time with Adventures in Florida, and it was all thanks to our fantastic guide, Jeff. We’ve done a few guided tours before, but this one was hands down the best. Jeff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made everything feel so relaxed and fun. We came in with low expectations since it was August, and the weather in Orlando had been pretty rainy. We didn’t think we’d see much wildlife, especially manatees. But to our surprise, we were so blessed. We saw an entire group of manatees swimming around us. A few even gently bumped their noses against our kayaks, and one greeted us with a little flipper wave. Jeff told us how rare that is, which made it feel even more special. We also saw a couple of alligators peeking above the water, some beautiful blue herons, and schools of fish gliding by beneath us. It was peaceful, exciting, and just so beautiful. This experience was the highlight of our entire vacation. Thank you, Jeff, for such a wonderful day, and thank you to Adventures in Florida for making it happen. We’ll be talking about this for a long time!
Nathania Christie
August 7, 2025
