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             KAYAK TOUR DESCRIPTIONS
      EVERGLADES CITY, 10,000 ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK,
                  GOODLAND, MARCO ISLAND, ROOKERY BAY NATIONAL ESTUARY
We offer three basic types of Hobie kayak  eco-tours.
 
1 -  A single day trip out through the passes to a relatively nearby key island for lunch on the beach and back to generally tour and get a feel for the craft and sea.

2  -  An overnight Eco-tour : 2-day 1-night or 3-day 2-night event farther out to camp on a Key island beach and fish, sail and explore and spend time watching wildlife.

3.  A multi-sport tour: bike and kayak a 100 mile Eco-tour loop.

Our Kayak tours are intended to be leisurely  focused on the ecology of the 10,000 island region . We use Hobie Kayaks for that purpose as they are sit on top, fast, stable, have excellent payload capacity and very versatile.  They are constructed with a unique "mirage drive" system that allows the kayaker to peddle the craft similar to using a "stair master" type exercise machine which provides for great speed and power. Use of one's legs adds to stamina and when the tide isn't favorable,  the battle can still be won. These kayaks also paddle extremely well and switching off to the arms is a nice change of pace and vice-versa.  The Hobies also come equipped with an optional sun bimini top or can be sailed as well. A kick-up rudder and a nice steering system makes it even easier.
In terms of performance and user friendly design, the Hobie Kayak far exceeds canoes and traditional kayaks in almost every way except for difficulty. Hobies don't quite paddle as niftily as most traditional kayaks but Hobies still are terrific under paddle and much better than canoes and not near as tippy.
Another extremely important aspect of Hobie kayaks is their ability to move along hands-free. This means taking a drink, using a fishing pole or even just dropping anchor is no trouble at all because the paddle is unnecessary. Nothing beats the fishing as you can move silently along working the rod and casting your bait- as you are hands free. Unlike traditional kayaks. In fact, kayak purists and competitors say that using the Hobie Kayak is cheating and unfair. And who cares, we're not in a race anyway. We're here to tour.

The Hobie kayak is by far the best paddling craft for exploring  Florida's mangrove coastline and the reason we use these vessels for our eco-tours. 

We  provide all high quality gear.  The pfd's,  flashlights, nav. lights,  dry bags, tarp, paddles are clean and top notch. The seats are adjustable and comfortable. We have accessible deck bags and drink holders, extra water, compass, charts,  anchor, tow line,  sunscreen, mosquito netting & repellent and a beach towel with every Kayak.  Each person has a stand-alone craft and has all the necessary equipment to survive in the swamp on their own.

We provide all provisions such as cold drinks, ice water,  fresh fruit, snack bars and an excellent boxed lunch on our day trips. Each Kayak has a small stocked cooler on board as well. 
 
For the overnight events, Everglades Edge outfitters will provide all food and refreshments.
Be sure to let us know any particular preferences or allergies in advance when signing up and we'll be sure to accommodate your preferences. Our dinners are expertly put together at the beach by our experienced outdoor cook. Screened tent, lanterns, table, chairs and cooking supplies and dinner and breakfast will be brought in by the guides on their craft. We make our camps a home away from home.

We have secure spots for parking and a comfortable place to plan and prepare before tours and/or can pick you up at your local residence and shuttle you down to the disembarking point.
                                                                                     What to bring!

 A.  CLOTHES

  1. Although you don't need footwear to comfortably peddle  Hobie kayaks, inexpensive surf shoes are ideal to have handy for getting in and out along the shoreline. Oyster bars are numerous and shells are very tough on your feet - foot protection  from those hazards is mandatory and surf shoes offer excellent protection and easy on and off. Also when camping,  bring some additional lightweight sneakers, thongs or sandals to wear around the campsite  in comfort.

  2. For kayakers and sailors, a well ventilated & light colored large brimmed hat, will best protect your head and you from the hot glaring sun and worth the effort to get a good one with a strap to keep it on in the wind.

  3. Bring a lightweight rain jacket and other layers for changing weather conditions such as a lightweight T or heavy T and sweat shirt or thermal undershirt. Long leg covering pants,  thin and baggy and light for daylight sun protection and also for night as well w/ some heavy socks to keep your feet warm and covered in the tent.
For more sun control, a lightweight and loose fitting long sleeve light colored cotton shirt is ideal.

When it doubt, bring it along and the guide will help you determine what you'll need for the day. Sometimes things can get hotter than you'd ever expect as well as colder at times but we'll know the prevailing conditions of the day very well.
  
 4. For kayakers and sailors, bring some extra swim shorts and shorts to wear in the tent. The salt spray will make those you are wearing grimy and stiff and should be rinsed and dried at days end.

      B.  FOOD AND DRINKS. 

 1. We have handy places for 2 drink bottles on each kayak and can carry much more below. We provide ice water, bottles, granola bars and  fresh fruit for our snacks on  the boats. For overnight tours we provide all food and drink for the duration of the tour.  We don't serve any alcoholic beverages.

    C.   PERSONALS

 1. Use of sunscreen is  extremely important. We have some available but bringing your own is a good idea. 2 types are suggested- spf 45 in a small tube for the face, nose and  ears for convenience and a larger back-up tube for moisturizing (non-greasy) and protecting general skin areas.

 2. For medications, I-pods, phones, keys, etc...  each kayak has small storage behind the seat,  there are also small dry bags, niches and deck bags available for each person to use.

 3. Bring a can of bug spray with you if you'd like. We will have spray and other repellents available and handy for everyone. But if you have to bring your own, take some that is in  a small tube or bottle that can be easily carried, doesn't leak or damage plastics.


NOTE:
Please sure to see also the specific tour manuals that are provided for each person that is going on the Multi-Sport Tour or the Overseas Hwy Tour.
There will be other valuable information included that will be need to be reviewed





        10,000 ISLANDS ESTUARY DAY TRIP 
8 - 10  hours     
We require at least 4 participants signed up two (2) days in advance to schedule this tour.
We load up for the day with everything we need for a full day on the water and review the route and talk about where we're going and what we might expect for the day.
In the winter,  Jewell Key will be our destination and will begin from Everglades City. We begin crossing Chokoloskee Bay and start out  through Sandfly pass and stop at an ancient Calusa Indian mound and hike the one mile loop trail and observe the mixture of plants and observe the old canoe trail into the mound. We'll talk about the ancient world of the Calusas on the remains of a world older than the pyramids of Egypt.
From there it's off to Jewell Key on the Gulf. It's has a sandy beach on by a reef with a cut great for fishing, shelling, sunning and a relaxing place for lunch. After a good rest it's on the water to head back home while exploring across the flats and through mangrove channels. We'll certainly have some excellent sightings of perhaps sea turtles,  manatees, leopard rays, dolphins and other marine life too numerous to list. 
In summer  Cape Romano will be our destination. We'll leave Marco Island and cross Caxambas pass along the shifting sands of  the pass. Marine life is plentiful and the numerous white sand beaches in the area beautiful. Depending on conditions we may cruise out around in the Gulf or through the back way ot the barrier Island via the deep green and pristine Morgan River, across an incredible bay flat to the uninhabited island.
Once on the beach it's swimming, lunch, fishing and exploration of the Cape. A wonderful classic natural south Florida beach experience. We'll set up some shelters if the sun proves too much or the afternoon rains make their appearance.
After a full day of sun and water it's back for a relatively short trip back across the pass and home to Marco.


       10,000 ISLANDS ESTUARY MINI-EXPEDITION

2 days 1 night  or  3 days 2 nights
This tour begins day 1 with a review of the route and what sort of conditions we should expect. We will begin from Everglades City. From there we may loop to the west or the east as determined by our route. If east, we would head out through Chokoloskee pass, an old- time access for the early settlers.  We'll meander through the mangrove swamp until we stop and rest for lunch at turtle key. From there it's out to Pavilion Key across the flats to gain some good experiences sighting the inevitable pods of dolphins, manatees, pelicans, turtles, ospreys, and other sea creature too numerous to list.
Pavilion key has a fantastic flat and beach. when the tide drops it's great exploration on the flat and our camp will be superb.
If we're only there for a night, after breakfast we'll head back west and loop back in via Rabbit key pass. To get there,  we'll cruise the mangroves along the gulf maybe fishing or just sightseeing and stop at Rabbit key for lunch and relaxation. From there it's more time in our kayaks exploring our  way back to Chokoloskee bay and home to our dock.
If we're two nights out, instead of heading in after Rabbit Key, we'll continue our track past Kingston Key and then stop at Indian Key for a snack break. From there we'll continue to Picnic Key or Tiger Key for our second camp site and our home away from home. Both of these camps have excellent beaches and fishing and birding opportunities. After a great dinner we'll lounge around the campfire or fish or stargaze and listen to the nighttime sounds of life on the ocean.
The next day after breakfast, we pack it in and head back through beautiful west pass  and take an inside eco-tour passage back through lane cove past the mouth of the Ferguson river and then along several bird rookeries and oyster bars. After some hours of great birding we'll glide by bear island and into and across the length of  the manatee habitat flats to Chokoloskee Bay and home.

If we begin our tour going west, it is essentially the same loop tour as described above but in a counterclockwise direction instead of clockwise.

              THE MULTI-SPORT TOUR

       10,000 ISLANDS  BIKE & KAYAK  100 MILE ECO-TOUR LOOP

5 days 4 nights
This eco-tour takes us on a comprehensive tour around the Everglades and the 10,000 islands estuary in a large 100 mile land and sea loop.
We begin by bicycle riding through Picayune Strand S. F. on the trails touring the plants, wildlife and  restoration areas eventually arriving to Jane's Scenic Hwy. and then cruise through  Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. We'll stop for a swamp walk and look for orchids and have lunch.
We'll continue on through Copeland to Everglades City.  About 45 miles total ride to our motel and check out the town.
Day 2 begins at the dock after breakfast and we kayak out into the bay and out through the passes about 15 - 20 miles to our beach Island campsite. We'll eat a lunch on the way and the beach landfall will be a welcome sight. We then set up and sail our Kayaks around the island or fish, shell and enjoy life on the beach with the birds. A nice dinner then a campfire.
Day 3 starts again with breakfast and camp breakdown and then out to explore and travel.
We'll meander through the mangroves, snack and lunch on the way until we get to our other island campsite about 15 - 20 miles farther west . We repeat the night before.
Day 4 - breakfast, camp break, and then more exploring back to the northwest
to the end of the Blackwater river to our land camp and enjoy historical Collier Seminole S.P.
Day 5 - another great breakfast and a short morning hike then on the bikes for the final leg North through Collier Seminole and  Picayune Strands Belle Meade backcountry trails back home to the "Edge".  About 20 miles.