Zip Through Everglades Mangrove Tunnels on an Airboat

When choosing an airboat tour, I wanted a smaller boat where they didn’t pack us all in. Captain Jack’s came highly recommended and was just what I wanted with only 6 of us on the boat along with Kalen, our airboat pilot (or driver). Whatever he’s called, Kalen was an excellent guide! It was on my bucket list to go on one, and I had a great time. Thanks Kalen! I’d recommend booking the Total Everglades Combo as you get two airboat tours, a swamp buggy ride and getting into the animal sanctuary where you can hold an alligator. Richard and Ralph at Wooten’s were great guides. Bring bug spray as the mosquitoes were out of control.

We thoroughly enjoyed this experience! We booked the total Everglades combo. Our favorite activity was the mangrove airboat tour, where we had a blast zipping through the Mangroves, and were able to see multiple gators! We also were quite excited to hold a young gator at the animal sanctuary. We can't say enough about how awesome this day was despite the high heat in June. Definitely don't forget to bring bug spray! Lunch recommendation after the tours would be Camellia Street Grill. All in all an amazing day!

Disappointment all around. We were very excited for this adventure & intentionally chose a company in the Everglades. Mother Nature was not helpful on the day/time of our ride. It was overcast, windy, chilly (boat captain was wearing Carhart winter bibs & jacket!) & had recently been raining. I mostly attribute seeing no wildlife other than a single bird to the weather. With that being said, our captain had plenty of ways to still make this an enjoyable experience. Instead, after seating us & having us put on our 2-way headsets, he gave a cursory safety speech along with a brief description of the area. Lasted maybe 4 minutes as were leaving the dock. Once we hit the mangrove area, he turned off the headsets and seemed to just go full speed to the turn around spot approx 20 min out. He turned the headsets back on, gave another 90 sec of info, turned the headsets back off & then seemed to use full speed to return towards the dock. He left little opportunity to ask questions, treated our 12 y/o with indifference when he was able to ask a question, and chose to engage with is as little as possible. Even if the weather had been better, it is questionable how much wildlife we would have even seen at the speeds we were traveling. It also left zero opportunity for taking photographs except as we were coming & going from the dock area. The mangrove tunnels were rather congested with other airboats If our captain is the typical for Captain Jack's, then I would highly recommend a different airboat tour company! The only reason I am even giving this review 2 stars is for the availability to attend the alligator shows & sanctuary at Wootens as a part of our ticket purchase.

First of all... I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS PLACE!! There, I said it. We bought tickets on-line which was easy - make sure you sign your waivers!! Chk in was a flash, woman at counter explained all to do - my wife was surprised even I understood!😁😆 The walk to dock was a short distance. Duane was our captain and made you feel comfy from the start, he was very aware of everyone's moves and safety on the boat - even telling me not to hang outside of chains!😄😁 He talked through the head set supplied and made everyone feel like one on this ride. Being a boater myself, I must say he was top notch in the care of all and the maneuvering of the boat, never doing anything stupid and endangering us or other boats!! The airboat ride was great, he took us up, down, and all around, and then at the last we shot a tunnel of mangroves trees... SO COOL! The two kids sitting beside us were thrilled; and to tell you the truth so were the two little kids in my wife and I.😄😁😆 This is real Florida!!! Thank you Captain Jack, and Duane for making our anniversary a great memory!!!

We did the two airboat tour and alligator show. Mangroves airboat tour was a lot of fun - saw a dolphin, manatee and alligator on our tour. Tour guide had a great sense of humor, answered lots of questions and gave us a memorable and fun ride.