Things to do nearTen Thousand Islands
Ten Thousand Islands is a vast coastal wilderness in Southwest Florida, celebrated for its labyrinthine mangrove channels, abundant wildlife, and pristine backcountry paddling.
Ten Thousand Islands forms the northwestern edge of Everglades National Park, encompassing roughly 35 miles of coastline where freshwater from the Everglades meets the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting estuary is one of the most biologically productive ecosystems in North America, supporting an extraordinary range of fish, birds, and marine mammals within its tangle of red and black mangroves.
The islands themselves are not dramatic in elevation but are endlessly varied in character. Some are low shell mounds built over centuries by the Calusa people, whose sophisticated culture thrived here long before European contact. Others are pure mangrove thickets, their arching prop roots creating underwater nurseries for snook, redfish, and tarpon. Anglers have long regarded these waters among the finest backcountry fishing grounds in Florida.
Kayaking and canoeing are the primary ways to explore the area, and a network of marked water trails allows paddlers of varying experience levels to navigate the channels safely. Guided tours departing from Everglades City introduce visitors to the ecology of the estuary and the history of the Calusa and later fishing communities that called this coast home.
What makes Ten Thousand Islands genuinely compelling is its scale and its silence. There are no roads here, no beachside amenities, and very few signs of the modern world once you move beyond the launch points. That absence is precisely the point, and it makes the islands one of the most rewarding wild places left along the entire Gulf Coast.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Ten Thousand Islands
Launch from Everglades City for the most direct access to the backcountry water trails and to pick up navigational charts at the local outfitter before heading out.
Visit between November and April to avoid summer heat, afternoon thunderstorms, and the heaviest mosquito activity.
Bring a tide chart and plan your paddling routes around tidal flow, as shallow flats can strand a kayak during low tide.
Watch for bottlenose dolphins, manatees, roseate spoonbills, and osprey, which are all commonly spotted among the islands throughout the year.
Camp overnight on one of the designated chickee platforms or shell mound sites to experience the area after day-trippers have gone and the night sky opens up completely.
Top tours & experiences near Ten Thousand Islands
2-Hour Private Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour
Customize a private cruise with island stops, music, and room for your crew
Private Boat Tour of the Ten Thousand Islands
Customize a private cruise with music, island stops, and waterfront views
Marco Island Wildlife & Shelling Cruise
Island ecology, beachcombing, and kid-friendly boating
Manatee & Dolphin 10,000 Islands Sunset Cruise
Experience a sunset cruise with chances to spot manatees, dolphins, and wildlife in the Everglades.
Cruise Naples’ 10,000 Islands at Sunset
Reserve a private 3-hour sunset cruise for up to 6 passengers
Naples Dolphin & Manatee Eco Tour with Beach Time
Spot dolphins and manatees, then relax on a secluded 10,000 Islands beach in a smooth-water eco cruise
Manatee & Dolphin 10,000 Islands Private Eco Tour
Experience wildlife, beach time, and shelling on a private boat tour for your group.
2.5-Hour Fishing Charter in Ten Thousand Islands
Cast a line through mangrove islands while watching for marine wildlife
5-Hour Offshore Fishing Charter in Naples
Fish the Ten Thousand Islands and Gulf of Mexico with a captain who will filet your keepers
Ten Thousand Islands Sunset Boat Tour
Shell hunt and watch the Gulf sunset from the water or shore
8-Hour Kayak or SUP Rental with Shop Pickup
Grab quality kayaks or paddleboards from the shop and explore Southwest Florida waters for up to eight hours.
Guided 2-Hour Jet Ski Tour of 10,000 Islands
Ride Marco Island backwaters with a guide and watch for wildlife
Private 2-Hour Boat Tour in Marco Island
Customize your own 2-hour private boat tour for up to 6 people
Marco Island Private Shelling Cruise
Cruise Marco Island waters and shell remote barrier islands on a private boat
4-Hour Private Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour
Customize a private island cruise with music, swimming, and waterfront stops
4-Hour Family Fishing Charter in Marco Island
Private 4-hour family charter with fishing, shelling, and wildlife viewing
8-Hour Boat Charter in Marco Island
Shape a captain-led day around Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
3-Hour Private Boat Tour in Marco Island
Private, captain-led boat time for your custom Marco Island route
Private 4-Hour Boat Charter in Marco Island
Customize a private 4-hour boat tour around Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
6-Hour Private Boat Charter in Marco Island
Private 6-hour boat tour around Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Sunset Shelling & Dolphin Cruise From Marco Island
Private sunset boat tour with shelling and dolphin spotting in the Ten Thousand Islands
Cruise Goodland on a 2-Hour Sunset Shelling Tour
Cruise the Ten Thousand Islands and search for shells at sunset
Everglades Airboat Tour & National Park Boat Tour
Airboat the private grasslands, then cruise Everglades National Park
4-Hour Private Shelling Cruise in Ten Thousand Islands
Private 4-hour shelling and barrier-island tour for up to 12
10,000 Islands Dolphin Eco Cruise From Goodland
Cruise the Ten Thousand Islands with a Florida Master Naturalist captain
Private Shelling Charter in Ten Thousand Islands
Private Ten Thousand Islands shelling tour with a Master Naturalist guide
Guided Shelling Tour in Ten Thousand Islands
Share a guided shelling charter in Ten Thousand Islands with a Master Naturalist Guide
Explore Ten Thousand Islands Shelling Eco Tour
Private 3-hour shelling and beach stop in the Ten Thousand Islands
Cruise Ten Thousand Islands Sunset & Beach Charter
Private sunset cruise with a beach stop in the Ten Thousand Islands
Inshore & Backwater Fishing Charter From Marco Island
Fish the Ten Thousand Islands on a 2–8 hour inshore and backwater charter
Pontoon Boat Rental From Isles of Capri Marina
Rent a 22' pontoon with half- or full-day options from Isles of Capri Marina
Pontoon Boat Rental From Isles Of Capri Marina
Rent a 22-foot pontoon with half- or full-day options for up to 12 passengers
Private Ten Thousand Islands Shelling Charter
Private shelling charter to Ten Thousand Islands beaches, up to 6 passengers
2-Hour 10,000 Islands Shelling Tour Near Everglades
Cruise to a remote barrier island for shelling in the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge
Explore Ten Thousand Islands Shelling Cruise From Marco Island
Cruise the Ten Thousand Islands Wildlife Refuge and shell remote beaches
10,000 Islands Private Fishing Charter
Fish the mangrove backwaters of the 10,000 Islands with a local captain
Marco Island Gulf Parasailing Adventure
Soar above the Gulf for views of Marco Island and the 10,000 Islands
3-Hour Shelling Tour in Ten Thousand Islands
Search secluded barrier islands for shells with a Master Naturalist captain
10,000 Islands 8-Hour Private Fishing Charter
Cast light tackle for a variety of inshore fish with a local captain
Naples 7-Hour Secluded Beach Charter
Cruise mangroves to a boat-access-only beach for shelling, exploring, or relaxing
Marco Island 4-Hour Boat Charter
Cruise Marco Island waterways and unwind on barrier islands
Marco Island Dolphin & Eco Cruise
Cruise the Ten Thousand Islands and search for coastal wildlife
Ten Thousand Islands Backwater Fishing Charter
Fish Southwest Florida waters with an experienced local guide
Naples 2-Hour Sailing Charter
Private catamaran sailing around the Ten Thousands Islands
4-Hour Backwater Fishing Charter in Marco Island
Fish mangrove backwaters with a local captain
1.5-Hour Ten Thousand Islands Guided Cruise
Cruise Ten Thousand Islands mangroves while learning about wildlife and local history
Guided Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour
Cruise Everglades waterways with a naturalist and explore the city boardwalk
4-Hour Everglades National Park Fishing Charter
Cast for seasonal inshore fish in the Ten Thousand Islands
Ten Thousand Islands History Boat Tour & Walk
Explore Ten Thousand Islands and visit two Indian Shell Mound Islands
Private Dolphin & Shelling Cruise in Goodland
Private island cruising for dolphin spotting and shell collecting
Private Shelling Tour of the 10,000 Islands
Explore tide-shaped island shores in search of distinctive seashells
2.5-Hour Inshore Fishing Charter in Marco Island
Explore the 10,000 Islands on a family-friendly fishing trip
Ten Thousand Islands Pirate History Cruise
Trace pirate lore and Everglades history from secluded island beaches
Sunset Dolphin & Manatee Cruise in Ten Thousand Islands
Spot seasonal wildlife and explore a remote barrier island at sunset
Ten Thousand Islands Shelling & Fishing Charter
Cruise, shell, swim, and fish on a private family outing
Manatee & Wildlife Tour in the 10,000 Islands
Quiet power-boat wildlife viewing through the 10,000 Islands
6-Hour Shelling Tour in Ten Thousand Islands
Search secluded islands for rare shells and coastal wildlife
Guided 4-Hour Shelling Tour of Ten Thousand Islands
Search secluded island beaches for rare shells with expert guidance
2-Hour Ten Thousand Islands Eco Tour
Explore protected mangroves and local ecology in the Ten Thousand Islands
Guided Shelling & Fishing Charter in Ten Thousand Islands
Combine guided shell collecting with fishing in the Ten Thousand Islands
Eco Cruise From Marco Island
Cruise the Gulf and 10,000 Islands on a shaded catamaran
4-Hour Shelling & Sightseeing Charter in Marco Island
Cruise Marco Island waters for shelling, beach stops and scenic wildlife viewing
6-Hour Ten Thousand Islands Guided Shelling Tour
Find and identify shells on remote Ten Thousand Islands shores
Mangrove Maze Airboat & Everglades National Park Tours
Combine an airboat ride, alligator encounters, and a Ten Thousand Islands boat tour
Mangrove Tunnel Airboat & Boat Tour in Everglades City
Pair a mangrove airboat ride with a Ten Thousand Islands pontoon cruise
Drive a CraigCat Tour of Marco Island
Take the wheel through Marco Island's 10,000 Islands waterways
Fishing Charter in 10,000 Islands for 4 Hours
Cast for varied species, with nearshore wreck fishing when weather allows
Self-Drive 10,000 Islands Boat Tour
Drive a CraigCat through island backwaters with a shelling and swimming stop
4-Hour Ten Thousand Islands Shelling Tour
Search secluded islands for distinctive shells with crew guidance
Dolphin & Manatee Cruise in Ten Thousand Islands
Search for dolphins and manatees, then shell on an uninhabited island
2-Hour Marco Island Private Boat Charter
Shape an island outing with your captain and naturalist guide
2.5-Hour Boat Tour of Marco Island
Set your own course through Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
6-Hour Backwater Fishing Charter Marco Island
Fish calm mangrove backwaters for snook, redfish, tarpon, and more
4-Hour Backwater Fishing & Shelling Charter Marco Island
Fish shallow backwaters and search barrier islands for shells