We had an amazing time doing the 2 hour Silver Springs river tour with Captain Debbie and Captain…read moreAdam. They were both very informative and made it a super relaxing and fun tour. They were also really prompt with getting back to us on scheduling and very accommodating to our schedule. We saw several different birds, alligators, manatees and monkeys on the tour. Thanks so much for making our last day in Florida a wonderful one!

No one answers the phone and the voice mail is full. It has been that way for months so don't waste…read moreyour time.

I had an amazing adventure at The Castaways on the River. They are dog friendly and don't have an…read morecharge extra. They make things so much easier by renting boats and pontoons, and convenient accommodations. They went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable. We originally booked room 100 (see photo of map). However they had a bad storm and they had to move us to cottage #3. It's perfect for a small group of 2-4. You can still see the lake from the balcony while you rock in your chairs. The cottage has everything from a coffee maker to toiletries. Check out their website. It's resourceful and it explains the layout of the cottages very well. We got there late but just in time to meet Cindy at the front office who already had a lock box ready with our key and all instructions just in case we got there past 5pm. The next morning we woke up and walked up to front desk to pick up all the instructions from Cindy to our pontoon. They give precise directions in navigating the lake and getting to the springs. It's about 30-40 minutes to get to the springs. We took our time since it's such a beautiful trip. The only thing that was I inconvenient is that you have to stop and fill up the gas tank at a specific place before you return the pontoon. Astor is a small town. We stopped at Buc-ees in Daytona Beach and purchased everything for our trip. It's great for all those snacks and drinks you will need. After a day at the springs we drove to a restaurant called Castaway. It was packed but a great atmosphere with locals watching college football with their families. I plan on making this a yearly vacation!!!!

RIP OFF BUSINESS! GREEDY and IGNORANT! The office staff was…read morenot very friendly to start out. The room we rented was old and needed alot of work,cleaning,painting, furniture, appliances. A good pressure washing would be nice. Above all that the price was very high and then they overcharged me for an extra night ! I called to advise them but they were not interested in listening only about the money for them! I would NOT reccomend this place to anyone! Alot of better businesses in Astor then Castaways.

We checked in on the 24th of April 2026. The cabin looked like it was falling apart on the outside…read more The inside was clean and okay. But the office is also a bar and it says it closed at 9:00pm . We were up probably until 3:00am because the bar was still open and a lot of noise. And also the boat slips are really small. It broke the light off the top of the booat. The people were friendly but las night and early this morning everyone there was intoxicated. We were afraid to say anything. Didn't get much sleep at all. And we have a 4 hour drive home.

From the owner: Bait/Tackle - Cabin/Boat rentals - Beer/Wine Bar Directly on…read morethe St. John's River in Astor Florida Cabins are fully furnished and sleep 2-6 people. Each unit has a kitchen and bath, flat screen TV with cable and internet. 100 yards to public boat ramp. Quiet, friendly atmosphere.

Went today with my family from Texas on the Airboat ride. Josh our Boat Captain was great and very…read moreknowledgeable. Brittany help us with our reservation and was very professional. We were very happy we book our trip and glad we went in the early morning with the cooler temperature. Everyone had a fun time.

Absolutely incredible tour. So much fun and Josh is very informative and quite personable. I…read morehighly recommend the 90 minute tour. We saw a lot of gators as well as other wildlife. Fun airboat ride to boot.

Awesome kayaking, but they wouldn't pick us up unless all 4 groups would check in. I don't like to…read morewaste my time while on vacation.

I reserve two single kayaks a week before I wanted to try this place. Emails and directions are…read morevery clear. When I arrived staff was helpful and guiding me along the way so that I could see otters. It was a very quick process to get in the water, but it did get crowded toward midday and on the way back in. I would highly recommend clothes that can get wet, bringing snacks and water and a hat or sunglasses. A dry bag if you have it but if you want one, they do sell them where you check in.

We had a great time on the boat tour of Lake Dora and the Dora Canal. Captain John and 1st mate…read moreErin did a wonder job of narrating the tour and the things we saw. Would definitely recommend and look forward to doing this tour again in the future! Thank you!

Great way to spend 2 hours on the water, through the canal filled with trees laden with Spanish…read moremoss amd wild birds. Tour guides were fun as well as informative.

From the minute you step onboard until the minute you leave, the staff is super attentive..we had…read moreour meals from Carrabba's and they were served promptly along with beverages . A nice ride through the waters of Hernando Beach. They get you ready for the sunset and take pictures of your group as well . You can go on back of boat for pictures arls well...Bartender/server was a lot of fun too and made our trip ...this is my 4th trip on here and it was a great time...highly recommend the Sunset Cruise, I have also sailed during the day as well and it was very nice,.

The crew are amazing always a great time to see dolphins and beautiful sunsets. If you have a…read morespecial date you are celebrating or just a great date night this is a great way to celebrate. Great food and very comfortable cruise.

Went on this airboat ride yesterday and I must say it did not disappoint. Captain Jed airboat ride…read morewas the best. Our captain was Joe. Love the tour!! He was very friendly and knowledgeable He even extended the trip. Saw manatees, turtles, birds and a small gator sunbathing. Highly recommend our Captain Joe! He also suggested many places to eat and we choose one, Brian's BBQ!! So good! Thanks again for a well spent day. Ruth and Katrina

Had some family in town and they requested a boat ride so hey why not an airboat right. Capt Jed…read morewas fun & made the trip enjoyable. There wasn't too many creatures out this time of year but the scenery was great. Would love to come back first of the year

My wife and I took the 2 hour afternoon cruise yesterday and were the only passengers. I'm a…read moreboater, my wife is a birder and we have explored the area on our own a few times. So, we expected a scenic but boring tour with Capt. Bob at the helm. Boy, were we surprised. What a great tour and what a wealth of knowledge from Capt. Bob. He identified so many beautiful plants, many different kinds of birds, showed us big gators and babes, all the while telling us about the waterways and history of the St. John's River. This is a tour not to be missed if you have any interest in nature.

I decided to have a mini adventure in the town of Astor, FL. I have never been on a boat tour and…read moredecided to try this one out. I must say I was impressed. We were greeted by the captain, a very funny and knowledgeable man. Once we are seated he goes over the safety rules. The boat sails off and we go out an hour away. Throughout this ride the captain shares the history of the area, facts about wildlife and his funny jokes! As you can see by the pictures I uploaded it is definitely a sight to behold. We saw native birds, beautiful eagles, turtles and yes lots of alligators! After we arrived back we had dinner at Blackwater Inn again a magnificent ending to the day. I highly recommend this tour, makes for a great date or nice way to spend the day. Fee is worth it $25 per person.