Took my son (12) for an airboat ride and ended up on the boat all to ourselves. We couldn't have asked for a better host. HOSS was our driver and damn if he didn't embody the true spirit of Everglades City! Simple, straight to the point in his descriptions of the environment we were floating in. this was matched only by his expertise in navigating his flying through the mangroves at just the right speed to remind you he had been doing this since her was 10. I highly recommend this location and suggest you request HOSS for an authentic experience. read more

Speedy's Airboats - Not only does he drive...Hoss is a great photographers as well. - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

One big negative is the price. 4 people $135 plus tip to the guide/captain. I felt very comfortable with the skill of our captain and his knowledge of the Everglades was extensive. Our tour was mainly through the mangroves with some short runs on the Baron river. We did fast, slow, spinouts and all sorts of cool things an airboat can do. Even went over a small section of land. The duration was almost an hour which I don't believe that to be the norm. But we were the only customers they had at the time we arrived. The office closed before we got back and had to pay cash for some drinks. Not a big deal but there was no change available. The reason I would come back is they have small boats so you get full attention by the guide. read more

Speedy's Airboats - Airboats. - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

The ride itself was fun but overall we were disappointed. We did not see any alligators and our captain didn't not stop to point out any wildlife or plants along the way. As a result, this was really just an expensive boat ride. I understand that the time of year for the alligators might have been the issue, but it seemed like the captain could have tried harder to make the trip interesting or informational. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like he cared. The only 2 redeeming qualities of the trip were that 1) they lease their own land to drive on, so while the other companies fought over the same spots, our tour was more private, and 2) the office gave us a map at the end of the tour, showing us where we could drive to, to see alligators. read more

If you just want an excellent Everglades tour without paying for extra shows etc then this is the place for you. Cheapest we found around but one of the longer tours that does both the mangroves as well as the more open areas. Total tour was 1 hour. Captain Clint was excellent. Obviously knew the area well and actually learned quite a bit with listening to him. Location was easy to find just off the highway just in Everglades City. Would definitely give these guys a try read more

We called around 12:30pm and made a reservation for 1:45pm same day. We got there a half before as advised and we were greeted by the girl working the counter. We were checked in and waited until our tour time and we were pleased to find out the 2 of us were the only ones on the boat. Our guide was Freddy. He was fantastic. Funny and informative. He took us on a great ride through the mangroves and in the open water. Every few minutes he would stop, talk to us and look around for any form of wildlife. We were able to see 2 gators, a manatee, hawk and some ducks. Although we didn't see more gators, the trip was so much fun. Remember, the guides can't control the wildlife, they can only go where they may have been spotted in the past. Great job today Freddy!!! read more

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Super fun experience! The boat fits 6 people and it's entertaining for all ages! Definitely wear shorts because you might get some water splashed on you. Our guide was fun and told us jokes here and there. If you're lucky you can see some alligators on the ride! read more

Speedy's Airboats - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

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So FUN! Captain (or Pilot) Greg was fabulous. Provided lots of interesting information and local color, exceptionally knowledgeable, and obviously enjoys piloting airboats. The terrain was varied and interesting, a very enjoyable and interactive experience for our group, even got quite close to an alligator enjoying the sun. read more

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When we went on vacation to Marco Island recently we were really looking to mostly relax, but wanted to throw in a couple of short outings for the kids, and one of the outings was an airboat trip in the Everglades. My wife had done one of these airboat trips before and had a blast so we did some research and also asked the concierge. Speedy's Airboats was recommended by a number of people as well as the hotel so we made a reservation. On the morning of our trip we had to get up a bit early for vacation as it was about 45 minutes away. Our plan was to stop for a nice breakfast then head out...but we were running late and this was the day we discovered Empire Bagel Factory as well (http://www.yelp.com/biz/empire-bagel-factory-marco-island#hrid:nIAKQz7b4E8SdNUjfzlMOA ). Anyway, as we're heading out to Speedy's I can practically hear the banjos playing because we are in the BOONIES. When we finally arrive, we were actually early so our 10am reservation became a 9:30 departure...which was nice. Our boat driver (captain?) was great and I swear it seemed like we were in some sort of amusement park water ride because it all seemed so surreal. It was a beautiful morning and no one cared about the spray or the waves coming over the front of the boat on sharp turns. We stopped out in the middle of nowhere and he told us about where we were, the wildlife, and when I asked him how fast we had been going he was a little bummed because the gov't has put restrictions on their speed. Not supposed to go over 30 mph and each boat has a GPS on it so they can be monitored. On the way back, I'm positive he kicked it up over 30 a couple times, which was pretty cool... Yeah, something like this is very touristy, but we had a lot of fun and we got to see some wildlife, including a very large gator. It's also kind of pricey-kids over like 8 are cosidered adults for pricing-about $40 per person. When we asked about seeing more wildlife, they told us about the Big Cypress National Preserve and the Turner River Road site where we might see more gators, great birds and possible manatees-so that was where we turned next. My only complaint is that I wish we were out longer...start to finish was less than an hour. If the trip were longer this would be a 4-star review. read more

Speedy's Airboats - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

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This place was great! From the moment i called i knew this was the place to go. I was looking for an airboat tour and Speedy's came recommended by a couple different hotel staff. The lady who answered the phone was super nice and when i told her i was I was ubering she suggested renting a car or a car service because it's hard to find an Uber back. Of course i checked myself to see if that was true and buy it was! We saw a lot of wild life and grassland on our tour. Boat went up to 30-40 mph. My two kids 5 and 11 had a blast and so did my 80 year old mother. Would definitely do this again and i highly recommend them. read more

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Airboats? Gators? 70 degree balmy weather with a slight breeze? Now this how you start your day in Florida! Speedy's Airboats delivered in all aspects in my expectations and then some in my airboat ride. Our group figured there were plenty of airboat tour spots along the Everglades and there were. However, Speedy's Airboats stood out among the others with its bright yellow building. We were greeted by two friendly ladies at the register who explained the prices per person (about $80 something per adult, less for kids) and how long the ride was for (about an hour an a half or so). Captain Miles was our airboat driver and although he is young, he is extremely professional and informative. It was a lot cooler in Florida than usual, so even though I had a light long sleeve sweater on, Captain Miles suggested we grab a windbreaker (provided) in case of water splashes and the cold wind during the ride. I decided to put on the Paddington bear raincoat on and I hopped in the airboat. Sound cancelling headsets are a must as the engine is pretty loud (also provided). Right off the bat we spotted a mama dolphin and a baby dolphin. Miles said they usually don't see them when it's this cold, so it was a treat for him too. Adorbs! We proceeded to ride into a labyrinth of mangroves and it truly was like going into another world. The silt brown water against the bleach white mangrove roots and then the bright green leaves shading the pathway was mesmerizing. Miles explained they are able to go on some private routes exclusive to them and he expertly navigated through the mangroves to the open swamp like area. We saw some big alligators, a young alligator, two raccoons grabbing little fish from the shore (because it was low tide), buzzards circling a particular area (apparently a big gator had died, you can smell it), and plenty of ibises. Miles informed us of the animals seen and although there wasn't as much alligators out because it was cold (some were out to get some sun), but that didn't bother one bit. I saw enough of a variety of critters in their natural habitat that it was plenty for me. The rest of my group agreed this was a much better experience because they got to see more of the nature side of things not just a slew of gators like it was a gator farm. The captain was also pretty funny keeping the whole trip light. He was educational and provided plenty of pic opportunities. His driving skills really showed as there were practically no splashes and was super smooth in the turns. #smoothoperator! Overall, I absolutely would recommend Speedy's Airboat Rides. For me and the group, we all truly had a unique experience and had plenty of pics to remember them by. Prices are very reasonable and the time was more than plenty for me. Bring cash to tip because the family works really hard to provide excellent service and for me they went above and beyond. Also, they have one rescue gator named Snappy saved from a gator farm ( you are allowed only one permit for rescues ). You can pet him if you ask, but be careful he is not domesticated and is not a toy. So if you are looking for an airboat ride, I highly recommend Speedy's. Happy ridings! read more

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We were very excited to do our first airboat tour today with Speedy's. It was about 40 minutes from our hotel in Marco Island. We booked the 9:30 trip to avoid the heat of the day and it was perfect. We got a private boat for the four of us and Capt. Hoss was our guide. He was great- he gave us lots of information about the area and plant and animal life. He was very knowledgeable and was great with families. The boat ride was thrilling but not scary. Ear protection was provided. I was glad we had sunglasses and sunscreen. The Everglades were absolutely beautiful! Much more luscious than I expected. We saw one big gator, but Capt. Hoss gave USS one directions to another area close by where we saw tons of alligators. We would definitely love to do another tour with Speedys and Capt. Hoff! read more

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This was so fun. I'm on Christmas vacation and was so interested in checking out the everglades. There are so many airboat companies we were having trouble nailing a specific one down. We wound up asking a hostess at our hotel, the Bayfront Inn. She recommended Speedy's for one pretty big reason. Apparently in the past ten years, there has been not one complaint, or accident at Speedy's. Apparently, at other companies, they will feed the alligators in the water in order to have them all come up and swim around the tourists. (I swear, my dad and I saw what looked to be a white mouse floating in one of the canals.) And unfortunately on one occasion, one boat operator didn't have food, the alligator came by, and bit his hand or arm off. So that's fun. No gimmicky frills at Speedy's. Just a gorgeous ride through the Everglades, an informative driver who told us all about local wildlife and the different kinds of vegetation due to the fresh water, salt water, and the area where the fresh and salt meet. The area is so gorgeous that it just looks fake. The water is like glass and so still that you don't know which way was even up or down, the reflection of the sky and the trees in the water made you feel like you were just going to fall through. At one point I made a comment that I felt like I was on a Disney monorail ride, lmao. The operator at one point stopped right by an alligator getting a tan on a piece of land. It was just so still, and silent that I thought it was a statue and I asked if it was fake. Lmao. I'm a city girl, I know nothing. Our airboat operator Lyle was very good. He knew the ins and outs of those canals, and we were definitely Tokyo Drifting on a lot of tight turns! We went super early, 9am, and we were the only people there aside from the employees, so we got our own airboat (two people). What was also great was that we were the first boat to go out in the morning and we saw three alligators! I saw some reviews where people saw none, I'm glad we were able to spot a few. Definitely check this out if you're in the area! read more

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AMAZING!! Highly recommend for anyone who is visiting SW Florida- we drove 45 mins from Marco Island and would have driven much longer to go. It was the highlight of our vacation. We met Squirt, a baby gator and he was SO adorable. The guy (I can't remember his name but he's in one of my pictures) that checked us in and introduced us to Squirt was AMAZING. Our tour guide Ryan was AMAZING, hilarious and shared a ton of great stories. He was incredibly knowledgeable and taught us a ton. I felt like we got the true Everglades experience would go back 100%!! read more

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Had a tour with Captain Greg!! What an experience!! He was full of information and stories about the area! It was my first airboat ride, and it was so fun thanks to Greg! read more

Just got off the airboat and wauw what a trip. Capt. Tony was really informative about the wildlife, and we saw a bunch of birds and had a close-up of an alligator. It was amazing. We're currently considering if we can make another boat ride before we leave Everglades City. read more

Speedy's Airboats - Alligator - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

They certainly live up to the name of "Speedy" as we often reached hurtling speeds through the tight mangroves. It's a little unnerving at times as the trees snd branches whip past (no seat belts!) but the pilot was very skilled at his craft and was able to answer every conceivable question about the Everglades ecosystem and the flora and fauna. Bravo! read more

Meh. Not impressed. I think they just throw up a price at the checkout place. They don't advertise a price online which is shady. This place is no frills at top price. I wasn't impressed. Also, no grasslands though they advertise they are the "only" place that will bring you to Grasslands. read more

Speedy' was a great, fun and worth while airboat tour. The guide, Fred was a great driver and also had high knowledge of the wildlife. He kept the tour engaging with his humor. The scenery takes care of itself and even though we didn't see a gator, the ride and vegetation made for a fun experience. read more

Speedy's Airboats - Fred is the man! Great time in the Everglades. - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

It was awesome! I already did another cool Airboat in the Everglades but this one is even better. It's amazing how fast they go and to be able to see wildlife in the same trip. I recommend it :) read more

Our tour was 30 some min late because boat did not turn on and they had to fix it before we got on (scary). We saw that other airboat companies had headsets with speakers so the tour guide and your party can talk to each other. We did not. Only noise canceling headphones. When we complained, the front desk lady was rude and said "you should go somewhere else next time".Exactly, I would go somewhere else if I were you. Positive- Our guide, Freddy, was very nice and did a good job. Everything else sucked. read more

Airboats!!!! What an amazing trip!!!! Our resort recommended this place, and it was so much fun!! It's about a (40) minute drive from Marco Island or Naples. You have to make reservations before you go. Once you get there, checking-in was easy. It's about $40 per person for an hour tour. The tour was great. We went through some fun, tight twists and turns. When we hit the open area, we went really fast (~35-40 mph). The airboats have a Chevy small block V8 5.7 L ZZ4 engine, which are super fast! Our captain was great. His name was Shannon, who is an 8th generation boating captain. Very cool guy. He told us that normally you can see manatees in the spring and crocodiles in the fall. Unfortunately, it was summer, and we only saw one sea critter, but it was super cool! It was a huge manatee! Since, we didn't see many see critters, our captain made up for the ride by going fast and doing some fun, quick turns. Some tips for anyone going on this trip: 1) hold on with both hands 2) use the ear protection 3) tip the captain What a fun time!!! Thank you!! read more

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Super cool excursion, I was born and lived in south florida for 15 years and never actually went out into the everglades until I did so as tourist. :) My in-laws recommended this company as they had used them twice before. It was a very beautiful tour through the everglades and some brief history of events. The majority of the tour is scenic vs a tour guide talking and telling you things. They stop a few times to talk and explain some things but out of the 1 hour tour 45 mins of it is riding around and 10-15 is them actually stopping and talking. I would recommend this as it is very informative and beautiful to see the everglades from actually going into it. read more

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Whoa great tour of the Everglades mangroves! We had Hoss who knew just where to spot the most alligators and birds. Funny guy too. Had us all laughing . The sound wasn't bad at all and the boat is a riot. Must do tour read more

First off, Ryan ROCKS!! Second, this tour was so much fun. Speeding through the mangroves & finding gators was such a rush! We've never done anything like this so it was really unique & special! Really can't wait to bring our kids back someday! read more

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We had such a great time and it was all due to Captain Haas. He was funny, great with the kids and above all very knowledgeable of the Everglades. Book your reservation in advance. They accept credit cards and tips are welcome...in cash. read more

With so many airboat operators between Ft Lauderdale and the west coast of FL, we feel fortunate to have found this place. No gator shows or frills, just a 1 hr ride through mangroves and grasslands, with an entertaining guide (Hoss). 6 people per boat, the seats are raised so 2nd row can see over first row. Got a little wet on some of the more exciting turns, no complaints, it was a blast! read more

Fabulous experience! Captain Lyle gave our threesome a terrific tour of mangroves, waters, and wildlife in a private section of the Everglades on a noisy airboat. Though we didn't see alligators (except the baby one on hand in a tank at the dock), we saw many kinds of birds, spectacular foliage, and up-close-and-personal views of what it's like exploring this precious ecosystem. Well worth it! Some tips: 1) Do not wear loose clothing--it'll flap around; 2) Remove dangly earrings or other jewelry--it can get bumpy! 3) Hold on with both hands; 4) Take advantage of noise-abating headphones--the motor is LOUD! 5) Ask questions; 6) Tip the captain. read more

We had a great time. We only saw one alligator, but at least we saw one! Our captain was fun and knowledgable about the waterways and the boat. This was my first airboat ride so I can't compare it to anything. Still so cool to be out in the open Everglades. It's about a 40 minute drive from Marco Island. read more

Speedy's Airboats - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

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I can't stress enough how great this place is. Our driver was very knowledgeable and fun. Really seems to be way better than the other agencies around. Some of the others only really go through the tunnels, while these guys give you the full experience. Really a great place, I'd recommend it to anyone. read more

This was SO MUCH FUN!!! It is exhilarating! Feels like you are flying almost. Our captain was Freddie and he was fantastic. He knows A LOT about the area, alligators and is also really funny. His daughter works there as well and even took "Squirt" out so we could meet him close up. I will definitely be back! read more

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Awesome boat tour company. Shannon was our tour guide and he was extremely knowledgeable and fun! The tour lasted for an hour and we went through the mangroves and the grasslands. We saw multiple types of birds, and Shannon taught us about each of them. Given the climate change this summer we weren't able to see any gators because the water was too salty. However, Shannon recommended a spot up the road where we were able to see multiple gators up close. The trip was well worth the price! We will be back again! read more

Speedy's Airboats - A picture of the boat on the river - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

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Jumped on an airboat with Captain Fred. Couldn't be further than what I expected. The experience was a combination of Disney and NASCAR. As you weave through the mangroves you expect doors to open to reveal where you are headed next. Instead capt Fred knows exactly where you are going without slowing down a bit. Might as well have been a rocket engine instead of air fan as you are going full out for a good deal of the trip. As for nature you will see some interesting birds but don't expect to see many, if any gators. We saw one for a brief moment. These boats are anything but stealth so most are probably hiding when then feel you coming. Fred gave us a couple of nature chats which were helpful. Good time. read more

Pretty much what we wanted! When the name of an airboat business is "Speedy's" then you should expect it to be fast, fast, fast! And sure enough, local boy Captain Aaron is the Dale Earnhardt of airboats. Wow! Zipping through mangrove tunnels, racing through grasslands, heart pumping fun. We didn't need our binoculars because well... when you're going 30 mph on a very loud giant fan the birds and other wildlife hightail it as far away as possible. read more

Speedy's Airboats - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

Very friendly and accommodating staff! The boat only seats 6 so it's not crowded. This tour company apparently has their own land that other tour companies can't travel through, so the land hasn't been over run with boats. Bill was our guide and his narration was great, he even had some fun speeding up the boat and spinning us around in it. Unfortunately we didn't see a whole lot but we tried. Apparently water this time of the year is too salty for gaters, so my only recommendation is try to go in May or after so you can catch some better wildlife. read more

Captain Hoss was incredible! Local knowledge, explained the local birds, plants and animals during pauses in the tour, and even held back a bit to wait for a family of dolphins headed our way so we could see them come right up to the boat! Best storyteller ever! And not afraid to kick it into gear to give us a bit of a thrill as well! The Mangrove Jungle is just awesome, and he succeeded in making us feel like co-conspirators doing something a little bit naughty, adding to the adrenaline kick! read more

Super glad we made the little drive from Marco Island to check this area out. Speedy's was a great time. Staff was friendly, Captain Greg was awesome, and we were lucky enough to see two gators. The boat ride itself through the mangroves was a thrill. I highly recommend this business for an airboat tour. read more

It's a blast. It's authentic. It's affordable. We go every year and bring friends with us. The guides are really great at what they do.

What a ride!! This place has friendly and jocular guides. We had a wonderful up-close experience. The Everglades at their best.

Great airboat experience. Saw 4 alligators. Captain Craig was our guide, very knowledgeable about alligators and their environment. Would definitely do again. read more

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From the first phone call to stepping off the airboat this was an amazing experience. The staff at Speedy's was friendly and inviting. Captain Bill was informative and made our tour fantastic. Speedy's airboat tour takes you through a private track of land that they own so you can truly enjoy the experience without lots of other airboats around. Thanks Captain Bill and Speedy'a staff for showing me and my parents such a great time. read more

Speedy's Airboats - Boating Near Me - Everglades, Florida

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