Epic Paddle Adventures Silver Springs — Attraction in Ocala

The park itself is absolutely amazing, but unfortunately, our kayaking experience was very disappointing. We paid for clear kayaks, expecting to enjoy the stunningly clear water and abundant wildlife, but the kayaks were filthy and heavily scratched, making it impossible to see anything. This was frustrating because the company advertises clear kayaks as part of the experience.

The tour was also very disorganized. People didn’t know where to go or what to do until the very last minute, and they were still setting up the kayaks while we were waiting. It felt chaotic and unprepared. Additionally, nobody ensured that the seats were properly adjusted, making the ride quite uncomfortable.

Another major issue was the lack of transparency regarding wildlife sightings. We booked the 2:00 p.m. tour, only to later learn that there is a very low chance of seeing manatees at that time. If we had known, we would have chosen an early morning tour instead. It would have been helpful if the company had informed us of this in advance rather than just selling the tour without mentioning it.

We also learned that spotting monkeys is quite rare, so the beautiful pictures of them on the website can be misleading. When we expressed our disappointment to the staff, they admitted that we weren’t the first to complain and that the boats were old—yet they continue to advertise them as a key feature of the tour. If they acknowledged the issue upfront, it wouldn’t be such a problem, but paying extra for something that doesn’t deliver is disappointing.

If you’re looking to have a great time, you don’t actually need the clear kayaks. We noticed that other companies in the area offer much newer, truly transparent kayaks, while ours were completely opaque and looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in ages.

On a positive note, our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, which added to the experience, though we would have appreciated even more...

I would call our trip an epic fail. My tip would be not to get sucked in by the clear kayaks or the name of the trip. The kayaks were dirty and we definitely couldn't see the bottom because they were so scratched up. We did not see any monkeys or manatees which I realize cannot be guaranteed but call it what it is at this time of the year, a gator/turtle trek. Personally, I didn't prefer the amount of f-bombs that the guide was using, especially because our group had several littles. It would have been nice to know in advance that this trip isn't recommended for under 14 because of the language used by the guide. Also, you have to carry the kayaks down to the water, if you are a family with several kids this really isn't a great tour for you. You can learn the same facts on the glass bottom boat tour, so I'd skip this tour to go kayaking on your own. You can rent kayaks at the park and it's cheaper and probably more enjoyable than being constantly bossed around and made to stop. We generally love tours but this wasn't good. There are other companies giving tours at Silver Springs. Their boats were way nicer and cleaner, so if you want a tour, I'd recommend checking one of those companies out a steering clear of EPIC. The park itself is amazing, so I recommend the kayaks just...

Considering everything we've experienced on our vacation, this was one experience we will always remember! There was so much to see that we never thought we would have! Our tour guide(Roger) was very outgoing and informative. He made sure we didnt miss an opportunity and was very detailed when explaining and teaching. I would recomend setting some time aside for this amazing experience! Very, very worth it! Thanks Roger,...