Captain Shannon's family has lived in southern Florida for almost 200 years. He comes from a long…read moreline of Everglades hunters, fishers and outdoorsmen. Shannon has wrestled alligators, piloted airboats, and given swamp tours his whole life and he has so many stories to share (not to mention a scar on his hand from a 12' gator bite). He really knows his wildlife and the natural history of Big Cypress National Preserve. My family and I were very impressed with the personal attention we received on our private tour. We started by going up and down the canal on Turner River Road, spying on alligators, ibis, herons, cranes, a live garter snake, and a tiny deceased rattlesnake. We entered the preserve and learned about the varieties of cypress, pine, and palm trees. We stopped in the middle of the swamp at a little camp for a bathroom break in a private tent. Then we had a fabulous surprise- we found fresh Florida Panther tracks, and Captain Shannon brought out plaster to make casts of the prints! These are one of a kind souvenirs of an experience we and our kids will never forget. Bottles of water are provided and we brought a bag full of snacks. The ride is a little bouncy but the buggy is smooth enough that my backpack did not fall off. This tour is a one man operation and Shannon takes very good care of his buggy. He always carries extra gas and tools in case of emergencies. The tour is definitely not cheap but you get what you pay for. You will see much more than on an airboat and since you are on land you can get off and stretch your legs. Shannon is very adventurous and offered to take my picture with a gator in the background. We were out for the full 4 hours and had plenty of time to just sit in silence and appreciate the solitude. You can also schedule an evening trip with a campfire and weenie roast.

Had a wonderful time with Captain Richard. If you want to see deer, gators, bears, hogs or cats…read morethis man right here will find it for you, he is hilarious and an amazing tour guide, the trails are no problem when on this buggy ride, you'll see everything from every angle and you won't miss a thing so make sure to bring along you cameras because this was an unforgettable experience!

My family and I had an amazing shelling tour with Captain Scott! He was very kind and helped us…read moredecide which islands we wanted to see on our trip. 100% recommend and will be booking again!

Shelling in the Ten Thousand Islands has been a bucket list item for years, so when I finally…read morecarved out a time that I could spend a weekend here, I was so excited. I ended up booking two four hour excursions with two different companies - one on a Saturday and one on Sunday. I would be curious what the difference would be. Of the two, Reel Kind was the more "low key" version and a bit more disorganized. A four hour tour is $130 per person + gratuity (paid in cash to the captain). Compared to my other experience, I kinda felt like we just got dropped off and told to come back "when you're done." It's about a 15-20 minute ride out each way to some of the various islands / mangrove islets. The boats are small, captains only carry licenses that allow them 6 passengers so that's a plus - no huge groups. Timing is based on low tide schedules so every day will be a different time. This particular day we went to Kice and Dickmans. Kice was great shelling; after about 1.5 hrs, most of us were "done" (it was brutally hot) and we just all kinda of made our own way back to the boat. Then once everybody showed up, we were taken over to the next spot a few minutes away. Dickmans ended up being a bust. Overall, a decent basic experience if you just want to be taken back and forth. Our captain was very nice, but not very informative or helpful.

Absolutely the BEST kayak tour that I have ever been on! Our guide knew the mangroves and special…read moreareas like no one else. Very informative and friendly. I would highly recommend this company!

Had a great time on this tour! Susan and George are very knowledgeable about the area and full of…read morefun facts! Took a 2.5 hour tour around Rookery Bay. We saw a few sting rays, jelly fish, and birds. Was really hoping to see a dolphin, but what are you gonna do? Haha. Small group made it easy to chat and learn more about the area. Susan had worked at the reserve for years before starting the business so she knows a LOT about all the wildlife. Definitely would recommend to anyone in the Naples area!!! They have everything you need, including bug spray (which I was very thankful for) to have a delightful time on the water. They even carefully grabbed some crabs and jellyfish to teach us about. Really can't say enough good things! Must do trip!!!

Absolutely the most knowledgeable tour guides in the Marco area! Your trip will begin with…read moreeducation on how to effortlessly navigate your kayak through the water! Safety and optimal experience are both at the top of these guides priorities! I take all of my out of town guests on te variety of tours offered and they never disappoint! You will see and explore the floor of the gulf for amazing creatures and they will find dolphins and manatee on every trip for you! Book with confidence that this is the best tour experience on Marco Island to explore the mangroves and the ten thousand islands!

Thoroughly enjoyed our pedal kayak ecotour yesterday! Juan, our guide, was so knowledgeable and…read morepassionate about the mangroves and all creatures living there. The pedal kayaks were easy and fun to use but could use the paddle too at times. Juan took pictures during the tour and made them accessible to us at no extra charge. I highly recommend this company for the uniqueness of the pedal kayaks, small groups, friendly guide and passion for the local environment.

Family friendly adventure for my 5, 12, & 17 year old grandsons. Captain Craig was very…read moreknowledgable on birds, plants, shells, personal history of islands. Shared interesting fruit off trees. Also, demonstrated practical use of plants. FunWatching dolphins jump behind boat.

Had an amazing day on the water with Austin and his First Mate Ari! He went above and beyond as a…read morecaptain and his knowledge about the area was great, if you're in area please book with him

We had an absolutely amazing experience with Austin and Banyan Carters. Not only did we see…read moredolphin, we were able to experience additional bonus sea life and nature! Austin was extremely informative, answering all of our questions and provided us with facts and information about the ocean around us. What was so special about Austin was his dedication and respect to the ocean life. He couldn't have been more compassionate to the surrounding boaters, surrounding fishermen/women, and wildlife. He went slow around the manatees and really appreciated all that was around us. Absolutely amazing man and company - I wouldn't choose anyone else on the island!

5 Stars for Captain's Steve's Swamp Buggy! My family arranged a private afternoon tour with Captain…read moreSteve's. Captain Steve's cousin, Tim was our driver and he was great. We saw gators, snakes, birds, and enough flora and fauna to last a lifetime. We enjoyed learning about the Everglades and its diverse eco system. Tim was as friendly as could be and we enjoyed hearing his tales of growing up in the area. Don't miss this adventure on your next visit to the area as it does not disappoint! Thanks Steve and Tim!

Captain Steve is the king of the swamp! As a swamp person his love for nature and spreading…read moreeducation is contagious and awesome. This dude is the real deal and my new bud!

My family and I went on our SECOND fishing trip with Bubby in early March…read more On this trip, Bubby took us to a perfect place in the backwaters. There was a cold front that came in and the wind was pretty bad, so we stuck to the backwaters. It turned out to be a great time. Within the first hour, we caught a stingray, trout, pufferfish, shark (just to name a few). The previous trip was at the end of March 2019. The water was warmer and shark fishing was in full swing. You really can't go wrong with either experience. The trip was great for people who want a ton of action and even for those who want to sit back and enjoy being on the water. Bubby makes sure that everyone is engaged, feels comfortable, and has a great time! An added bonus is that you can keep some of the fish that you catch. Bubby will clean the fish for you and you can either take them to the restaurant at the dock to be cooked or bring them back with you. We had fish for the rest of the week! Like others on here, I spent a good amount of timing looking for a quality fishing experience. We have done fishing trips throughout the US and beyond, and Bubby is by far our favorite fishing guide. My family will continue going on fishing trips with Bubby whenever we visit Florida. I highly recommend booking with Florida's Finest Fishing. You won't be disappointed going with Bubby.

Bubby is the best. He will do what it takes to make sure you have a great time and catch something!…read moreHe's a great captain!