St. Petersburg Jungle Prada Site History Tour

Overview

The Jungle Prada Tour is a historian-led guided tour of a pre-historic Tocobaga village site, including the best-preserved American Indian mound in Tampa Bay. The Jungle Prada Site Complex is also thought to be the landing place of the 1528 Narváez expedition, the survivors of which walked from Florida all the way to the Pacific Ocean (1528 – 1536)!

We are located on the shores of beautiful Boca Ciega Bay, directly across from John’s Pass and Treasure Island. The privately-owned Anderson Mound has been lovingly preserved by the Anderson family for over 80 years.

You’ll meet peacocks (residents of the Jungle Prada Site since the 1950s), discover native plants used by the Tocobaga people, and explore a side of St. Petersburg, Florida you never knew existed!

City: St Petersburg

Fri 01 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $13.70

Make a reservation

Fri 01 Nov

Starting at $13.70

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

Parking available on-site

75-minute Historian led guided tour

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Pets are not allowed on the site
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Guides required to regularly wash hands
The tour takes place entirely outdoors, and is limited to 20 people per tour. Reservations are required.

What To Expect

St. Petersburg

The Jungle Prada Site is the best-preserved American Indian site in Tampa Bay. The highlight of our 75-minute guided Florida history tour is a huge Tocobaga Indian midden mound and adjoining village plaza. Hidden away in the historic neighborhood known as Jungle Prada, the main mound consists of tens of thousands of ancient conch and whelk shells, and is more than 900 feet long! The subtropical jungle landscape here is populated by dozens of beautiful free-roaming peacocks! The tour and the locations are loaded with Florida history that is explained in a vibrant and engaging way. In addition to learning about the lives of the Tocobaga Indians, you'll also encounter the amazing story of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, a Spanish conquistador who landed at the Jungle Prada with the 1528 Narvaez Expedition, and whose incredible journey of survival took him and three others from Florida all the way to the Pacific Ocean (1528 - 1536). If you are a Florida resident or a visitor interested in history and archaeology, the Jungle Prada Site Tour is a rewarding experience that will engage your mind and challenge your perceptions about the Sunshine State!

Jungle Prada de Navarez Park

Nearby attraction. Free parking attraction on site and close walk to site tour.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (234)

Robert H

Jun 2019

I've lived in Clearwater for years and thought I had seen and heard it all by now. The Jungle Prada Site Tour had been listed in the Weekender Guide for weeks and I finally decided to go see what it was all about. Wow, another great and new adventure. First of all, the Jungle Prada area (so named for its lush vegetation) could be described as the Beverly Hills of Pinellas county with its brick streets and mansions right on Boca Ciega Bay across from Treasure Island. The tour parking lot was clearly marked with signs and a good landmark for finding the place is the Jungle Prada Tavern on the corner of Park and Elbow. David Anderson is the tour guide, a third generation of owners of the property. David grew up on the property and knows every little detail of the grounds and its proximity to other interesting and historical sites. The tour begins in his grandmother's greenhouse now used as a museum with excavation artifacts, maps, books and other enlightening items displayed. Until the tour begins, David encourages you to check it all out, venture into the lush gardens and/or watch the loop video. Then David begins the tour by telling you the story of the Jungle Prada area from prehistoric times through today. It was fascinating and I learned so much about this area and why things are named today, i.e., John's Pass. The JP Tavern was a speak easy in the Roaring Twenties hosting famous and infamous celebrities getting their booze delivered by boat. A street car system was built to haul people from downtown St. Pete to the jungle's opulent hotels to see the sunset over the barrier islands now Treasure Island. I thought I would never sympathize with the plight of a Spanish conquistador until David explained the ill-fated expedition of Narvaez who landed here in 1528. Talk about bad luck. David continually apologized for talking too long but no one seemed to mind. In fact, we were all enthralled. Then David took us into the gardens that his grandparents had built in the 40s. There are peacocks everywhere. David explains everything including Grandpa "Happy" Anderson's refusal to pay someone to lay his Augusta brick driveway and walkways. It took him two years to complete the task. Then we came to the Tocobaga Indian mounds. The Spanish recorded that the main building on site could house 300 people. David's grandparents' ashes were spread on this mound. There are three gravestones there. One is for grandma's favorite pets named after TV characters. The tour ends back at the greenhouse. At the nearby pier there is a plaque commemorating the First Mass in Florida 1528. If you go there look at the foundation of the adjacent building shaped like a ship. I will be returning to the Jungle with my visitors. They will be amazed. You will be too.

Response from Host

Jul 2019

Robert, we really appreciate your detailed review, and are so glad that the tour made a positive impression. Thank you for coming to check us out, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future!

IslaMike

Jun 2019

We have had a place in St Pete for years and always wondered about the peacocks in the Jungle Prada neighborhood.I was very excited to see that tours were now being done at the property. My son and i took the tour last week and what a great experience. David is an excellent guide and historian. The tour of the property and mound, beautiful gardens and amazing history is very well worth the visit. Not only do you get information about the Tocobaga Indians you get to hear the fascinating story of Panfilo de Narvaez and Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. We will be visiting again for sure.

Response from Host

Jul 2019

Really glad you stopped in, Mike! Hope to see you and the family again in the future. Thank you for the review!

Joe M

Jun 2019

I had heard of the incredible cross-country Narvaez expedition from Florida to Texas to the Pacific and the account written by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, but still was surprised to accidentally come across the sign on Park Street North advertising the tour. David spoke for well over an hour and completely satisfied my curiosity and piqued it at the same time. He knows well of the varied topics of which he speaks: the Narvaez expedition, the Indian mound on the property, tropical plants, peacocks, and the fascinating modern history of that part of St. Petersburg. His enthusiasm is infectious. Kudos to you, David! You're doing a great job.

Response from Host

Jul 2019

Thank you so much, Joe! It's rare to find people in this area that know about the Narvaez expedition, but it seems like their story is better known in other parts of the country. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me, and for coming to check out our site!