Naples, FL
FAKAHATCHEE STATE PARK
The Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve is the largest State park in Florida, the main goal of the park is to maintain a wilderness experience and preserve it?s natural character. For visitors, this means limited and primitive facilities, with that said this provides for an excellent opportunity for a conservation minded eco-tour company such as Adventure Paddle Tours. We have found that there is no other wilderness area this close to Downtown Naples and Marco Island better suited for what we try to accomplish on our eco tours.
The East River canoe launch, is one of four major components to the park. The other three are The Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, the Jones Grade Lakes, and Janes Memorial Scenic highway. Adventure Paddle Tours offers kayak tours within the East River canoe trail and other tours such as swamp walks and interpretive boardwalk tours can be booked through the Friends of Fakahatchee, a not for profit organization that we have a close working relationship with.
The East River canoe launch is located down an unmarked dirt road off of highway 41, 5.1 miles past the Port of the Islands Everglades Adventure Resort. When entering an address into google maps please type ?East River Park and Launch?. This dirt road will sneak up on you so please be observant!.
ROOKERY BAY RESEARCH RESERVE
Rookery Bay is a smaller, shallow-water bay within the 110,000-acre Rookery Bay Research Reserve?one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove ecosystems in North America.
This reserve is an integral part of the larger Everglades ecosystem. The unique area was put into protection due to its high biodiversity and high chance of development.
To access Rookery Bay, our kayak tours depart from the 10 Shell Island Road kayak launch situated at the very end of the road. This idyllic launch site is conveniently located between Marco Island and downtown Naples off of Collier Boulevard.
Often used by multiple kayak operators, we are the only company that ventures out towards a little-known, but massive, bald eagles nest. Our expert guides look forward to sharing this special corner of the world and its abundant marine wildlife with our guests.
PORT OF THE ISLANDS MARINA
The Port of the Islands Marina is truly one of Florida?s top hidden gems. Located an hour and a half from downtown Miami, 15 miles from Marco Island and 20 miles from downtown Naples, we are just a skip away from most of the region?s desired lodging.
The Port of the Islands Marina is surrounded on all sides by Florida?s celebrated mangrove forests and offers direct access to the Gulf of Mexico ? although most of our tours stop short of the gulf and tuck into the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge, providing our guests with ample opportunity to spot rare wildlife.
As the port?s exclusive kayak tour agency, we launch from a private slip, granting our guests the quickest access to alligators, river otters, numerous bird species and, of course?the most sought-after of all?the West Indies Manatee.
Hugged by state and federal protected parks, The Port, as locals refer to it, is one of the premier marinas in Florida. It?s also one of the lesser known. Kayakers enjoy a superior and convenient jumping-off point packed with amenities such as The Ship Store, The Angler?s Cove Restaurant and Bar and the Port of the Islands Everglades Adventure Resort and Hotel.
Within minutes of launching your kayak, you?ll experience once-in-a-lifetime wildlife sightings. Manatees, alligators, river otters and various bird species call these pristine waters home. After all, The Port is sandwiched between Everglades National Park, the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve and both the Picayune Strand and Fakahatchee Strand state parks. This extraordinary area houses the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It?s an unbelievable setting best experienced from a kayak.