Captain Jack's Airboat Tours — Local services in Everglades City

We did the Mangrove tour. My husband and I loved it. We went out with another group of 3, so it was just us in the front row. Based on the differences between our driver and the one on the boat next to us, I can see how the driver can change someone's impression of the trip. Ours was a local whose family had lived in the area for 4 or 5 generations. I felt very safe the whole time. In fact, being slightly afraid of the water, I was surprised that I loved all parts of the tour, including when he was spinning around and the boat was heavily leaning to one side. We saw a couple of alligators (it was explained there weren't many around since it was the dry season and the water was too brackis), but that wasn't why we took the tour. Our driver made a few "punny" jokes, but also imparted a lot of great knowledge and we learned a lot. The guide in the boat next to ours spent more time orienting his group to the boat and headphones (although I felt we had enough info from our guide that a reasonably intelligent person could figure out the rest on their own). The other guide spent a long time welcoming everyone back, etc at the end. You could tell he worked for tips. For us, either guide was fine, but I can see how some personalities would prefer one over the other. We checked in around 9:20 for our 10am reservation. We were assigned a boat number for a 9:45 tour. There were walk-ups that were assigned times just slightly later than ours. There were a number of boats going out every 15 minutes. Our boat number was called a little before 9:45 and we headed to the boat. a short explanation of heavy folks on the left side of the boat, and we were each then assisted onto the boat. We went through a no wake zone, during which time our driver introduced us to the area, provided instructions, and asked if there were questions. He was very patient with people who asked questions that he had just answered in his general dialog. I don't know much about the second-row view, except that the lady in the middle in the second row kept asking the others to get pictures for her since she couldn't from her seat. I'm guessing it would have been even harder if we had 3 people in the front row. Other than putting our heads together for this pic, we left the middle wide open. What could have been done better:1)The information in the confirmation email is generic to all customers and can lead to confusion as to where to go and what is location in each area. We were prepared to drive back to Wooten's after checking in, but the mangrove tour is located at Captain Jack's. 2) Our reminder email once again had a link for filling out the waiver, but we had already done ours. 3) The ride is sold as "an hour of fun". After reading reviews that said the time was short, I double checked my timestamps and my first pictures with us on the boat, before we started to move were at 9:47 and the final picture, just before we came in and docked was at 10:31. My photo when walking along the beginning of the boardwalk area was taken at 10:41. I don't think the tour needs to be longer that 45 minutes, but the description needs to be correct. 4) Both our boat and 2 other boats that came back at the same time, once the drivers collected their tips and everyone was safely off the boats, they went a private direction to get back to the office, leaving us with the most obvious way to go closed off with a rope. Eventually, when we realized it was the only way to go, we removed the rope, but at least one of the drivers should have removed the rope and made sure that everyone made it off of the docks safely. 5) Better communication of what was included in our ticket and what we could find where. There was a boardwalk, but no information telling us what we would see. I did hope to see the animal sanctuary advertised on their web page, but I didn't know where to find it, and their map was totally useless. More information is needed, especially...

As a graduation gift to myself after finishing grad school, I drove down to Florida. I’ll be honest—I really underestimated the Everglades. But after the boat tour through the mangroves, my perspective completely changed. I came away with a whole new respect for the mangrove trees and the amazing ecosystem here. The fact that the guides were locals made it even better—who better to teach you than people who truly know and love this place?

The sailboat ride was unforgettable. From the moment we stepped on board, everything felt calm and magical. The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure we all felt safe and comfortable. The views were breathtaking—peaceful waves, fresh air, and the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure.

And definitely don’t miss the gator show—it was the highlight of the day and something really special. Highly recommend this experience!

📝 Elegant (Travel Blog Style)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As a gift to myself after completing graduate school, I set out on a road trip to Florida, not fully aware of the treasure that awaited me in the Everglades. At first, I underestimated this vast and wild landscape. Yet, after embarking on a boat tour through its mangroves, my perspective was transformed. I gained a new reverence for the mangrove trees and the delicate ecosystem they sustain. What made the experience even more profound was learning from local guides—voices rooted in the land, sharing knowledge with authenticity and care.

The sailboat ride was equally unforgettable. From the moment I stepped aboard, I felt a sense of calm and wonder. The crew’s warmth and expertise set the tone, while the serene waters and open skies created a perfect blend of peace and adventure. Time seemed to slow as the gentle waves carried us forward.

To complete the experience, the gator show offered both excitement and insight into the remarkable wildlife of the Everglades. Altogether, this journey was not just a tour but a memory etched deeply, and one I would recommend to anyone seeking something unique and...

Amazing airboat and island tours, no doubt about it. But I’d strongly encourage others to think twice about visiting the sanctuary. It’s one part of the day I wish we had skipped.

The airboat tour was absolutely amazing! Super fun, exhilarating, and a total thrill from start to finish. Skimming across the water and through the mangroves was such a unique experience, and our guide made it even better with stories, facts, and a great sense of humor.

The 10,000 Islands boat tour was another highlight. The scenery was gorgeous, and we were lucky enough to spot dolphins playing in the waves and even a few turtles cruising along. The captains were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the boat had tons of space to walk around and take it all in. It felt relaxed and unhurried, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Then we went to the animal sanctuary, and honestly… it was disappointing and pretty upsetting. I’m not even sure I’d call it a sanctuary. I mean, sure, it was fun to hold a baby alligator, and I get that alligators and crocodiles aren’t the most active animals—but the conditions they were kept in were rough. The water in their concrete enclosures was filthy, and it felt more like a roadside attraction than a place focused on care or conservation.

What really disturbed me, though, were the tigers. They were kept in tiny cages that were completely inappropriate for such wild animals. It was heartbreaking to see them. Tigers just aren’t meant to be confined like that. There has to be another facility that could give them a better life. Seeing those animals trapped like that really put a damper on the...