I urge anyone who loves nature, being outside, seeing animals, kayaking, and/or out of the box adventure to go on this incredible ecotour! Our tour started out in the pouring rain and we were all still loving every second. As Garl (the guide) says "There are good days, fantastic days, and absolutely awesome days out there in the Everglades!" Our day, according to Garl was a (just) "good" day and it was still astounding.
I am a native Floridian, a marine biologist by trade and have kayaked and explored a lot of Florida, but this tour presented a lot of firsts for me. For example, we saw quite a few anhinga (a water bird) chicks in their nests and Garl shared some really interesting facts about their reproduction that I had never heard. Also we watched some barred owl youngsters in a hammock. We got up close and personal with alligators and snakes and crept through cypress domes and gator holes dripping with beautiful air plants (orchids and bromeliads). The night portion of the tour was exhilarating and gives a totally different feel to the everglades with the stars sparkling up above.
The other impressive part of this tour is Garl. He is one of the only people in the area with the years of experience out in the glades to provide such an intimate tour through the unique habitats. He is also very knowledgeable of the wildlife and ecology of the Everglades, but has a very down to Earth demeanor which puts everyone at ease and makes it very interesting. Additionally, he comes prepared with everything you may not have such as mud-rated footwear, long and light weight pants and shirts, bug spray, and even some end of the day refreshment. This tour is a must-do anyway you spin it, and the way that Garl spends all day and into the night sharing the magnificence of the Everglades with you is priceless.