Orlando Alligator Experience

A four hour kayaking trip that did not disappoint!

What a great time for the whole family. It was so cool, and the guide was very professional and made it fun for everyone. This is something we all definitely plan to do together again soon.

It was great to kayak among actual wild alligators and real natural beauty just a few miles from urban Orlando and the theme parks. Even with the post-storm higher waters, Saw and photographed multiple gators and herons and bald eagles and more. Great guide - accommodating, knowledgeable, skilled, and engaging. The Econlockhatchee River is winding and sheltered, with anticipation around every corner. Well worth it!

The Kayak trip: amazing wildlife tour with view of alligators and lots of birds. The material: high quality equipment, very safe The guides: Very professional, friendly and you can ask them a lot of questions they will know to answer. Very helpful and adaptive to the kayaking skills of the visitor Highlights: Despite the fact that it was only the two of us, they did not cancel the tour but gave us the experience with two guides. A snack was offered that included amazing chocolate cookies handmade by the owner of the business. An overall absolutely recommendable tour, we chose it as an alternative to an airboat tour and it turned out to be the absolute highlight of our Florida Trip. Thank you very much for giving us this experience!

I cannot praise Bill and Geena enough. A great day out seeing the real Florida. From the comms before the trip, the great local knowledge, the food, and the spectacular river, every aspect was excellent. Lots of wildlife photo opportunities too.

Amazing trip! Our guide Greg was extremely knowledgeable about the wild life and their area! I plan on booking a family trip next month.

Gina was an awesome tour guide, very knowledgeable, friendly and experienced. We very much so enjoyed this river run and defiantly recommend it, we are doing this tour again soon!

Simply great guys. We decided to do a spontaneous trip on the Econ, talked to Greg on the phone and he set it up for us. Bill was there on time helped to load and carry the kayaks and shared a great lunch spot!

My son & I had a great day paddling kayaks down the Econ River, enjoying the beautiful scenery of Central Florida and catching a few bass in the process. I've rented from Greg before, and he always has good quality boats and makes it easy to launch and retrieve.

We did the Econlockhatchee paddle from the Little Big Econ Canoe Launch to Snow Hill Road. We parked at Snow Hill, and the Adventures in Florida van driver picked us up there, right on time, then drove through the back roads to get to the upstream canoe launch area. Along the way, he told us about the history of the area (e.g., celery farms, hurricane Hugo). At the launch, it was a short carry of the kayaks down to the river. The kayaks were excellent -- well-maintained, comfortable seat backs, good paddles, and life vests appropriately sized and in good shape. The first part of the paddle was in narrower waterways, and required a bit of maneuvering in some areas to get through downed trees. Only once did we need to get out and pull the kayaks across a bit of sand bar. Our driver had provided guidance to watch the sand bank areas in the sun for gators, and to bear toward the outside of the turns to go around the sandy shallower areas where gators might be sunning or hanging out. We saw quite a few gators along the route -- often slinking into the water as we approached, or flopping in with a big splash. A few stayed on the bank as we went by, and we gave them our respect and a wide berth! Saw lots of bird life as well. Lovely float, very quiet except for bird and other nature sounds. And at the end, our driver arrived to pick up the kayaks just as we got to the Snow Hill pull out, and handed us some freshly-baked ginger cookies! Marvelous day.

My wife and I rented kayaks and did the Little Big Econ Canoe Launch to Snow Hill Road float. It was the best part of our week long trip to the Orlando, FL, area. The river is beautiful and wild. Once away from the launch site, you don't hear any traffic or human-generated noise, just the sound of your paddle cutting through the water, birds in the trees, and an occasional splash from an alligator plunging off the bank upon your approach. Some of the alligators were quite large, but our van driver told us ahead of time if we steer wide around the river bends and give the gators some room they won't be an issue. We also saw herons, cormorants, anhingas, a red-shouldered hawk, pileated woodpeckers, and some very large turtles. The white sand beaches and the large overhanging live oaks were particularly picturesque. Our shuttle driver was on time at both ends of the trip, was friendly and knowledgeable about the river and surrounding area, and even gave us fresh-baked cookies at the end of our trip. I highly recommend this trip and Adventures in Florida.

We wanted a kayak tour that had a bit of adventure and WOW, did we hit the jackpot! GINA, guide extraordinar was the best ever. She was so accommodating to make sure the right tour fit our request. Gina got all the kayak equipment ready and gave us instructions on land before pushing off. She even had sunscreen & bug spray if wanted, nice touch. Gina is well versed in kayaking, birds & wildlife and an all around great person. We navigated the Econ River with her great guidance. We saw a fair amount of alligators and at first we were... speechless and then we just got use to them. Mid way through our adventure we pulled on shore and had a nice break, snack a bit of yoga stretches to make we stayed limber. We all had fun, made memories and now have great stories to tell. Just do it! Thanks Gina from your TX & NJ MINI friends.

While staying in Orlando we wanted to spend more time learning about the ecological system than theme parks. This trip helped accomplish that. Our guide, Bill, has an environmental studies background and was extremely helpful answering the plethora of questions we had about the varied flora and fauna. The pace of the trip was great - nice and casual, perfect for a vacation. We saw quite a few gators along the way and as Bill stated, they are more afraid of us as we are of them and tend to slide off the sand and into the water in order to hide. We were even treated at our lunch stop to a momma manatee and her calf floating around us for 30 minutes or so. I would certainly book this trip again when in the area and would encourage anyone else to do the same.

The hosts were amazing and very knowledgeable. They made us a great lunch and had lots of interesting information during the beautiful tour. I would definitely recommend using them!

Me and my mum took a tour with Bill and Gina and it was the absolute highlight of our trip! Both of them are extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife and plants around the river and very enthusiastic about the tour itself. Great conversation the entire time with laughs, smiles, and heart to hearts. Would not recommend any other tour besides this one. Stopping for lunch on the river bank and being extremely kind are just a few of the things to expect from this tour. Worth every penny and will be an experience to last a lifetime! Thank you Bill and Gina see you next time!

Had a wonderful relaxing trip. Owner picked us up on time at the designated spot, was very friendly and informative. He gave us tips about the stretch of river we were kayaking and even gave us home made cookies *(which were delicious). It was exactly what we were hoping for. No fuss and a great time relaxing on the river. Give this company a try!!!

It was good for body and spirit being in the quiet beauty of nature. The guide was friendly, informed , and out standing. The most alligators I have ever Seen in the wild and they were nontreating.

My day on the river with Astrid and Adventures in Florida, were the highlight of my trip! Astrid is a wealth of knowledge about the river and it’s wildlife. Enjoyed the tour so much, that I booked another tour for day after tomorrow!

Incredible, we had so much fun. Astrid was an awesome guide, she shared so much knowledge about the wildlife on the river and expertly guided us through the obstacles on the river. She made paddling easy even for novices. Great experience, I will definitely book another paddling journey next time we’re in Orlando.

The river tour was amazing! We got to see so much wildlife, and different plant varieties! It was incredible to get the opportunity to see the manatees, and we truly hope they are able to get back to open water soon. I was also quite surprised at how quickly the alligators we saw would move away. Astrid was a fantastic guide. She would point things out that we would have never noticed and told us all about them. She taught us a lot about managing our kayak and working as a team. When we managed to flip our boat, she made it easy to learn how to get back in out on the water. Her photos are fantastic as well! It was great to know she was taking photos for us so we could focus on getting down the river. 5 hours of kayaking is definitely a workout! I was grateful Astrid taught us how to use our whole body to paddle so that we were not depending fully on arm strength. Despite that, we were relieved to have a lunch break and let our arms recover a bit while enjoying a great lunch riverside. Overall, this day was awesome. Definitely recommend for anyone wanting a fun adventure away from the crowds. Expect to be both exhausted and thrilled after this! We would totally do this again.

I don’t use TripAdvisor. I’m not a big fan of them, but I will use them to review this! Astrid was amazing for our tour, and my wife and I had an absolute blast out there. Greg and Astrid are extremely knowledgeable on the area, and they can give you a lot of awesome information. Step away from Disney and Universal, and go see the real Florida.

Kayaking in a group with an experienced tour guide. She was extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife and the river.

BEWARE. Do Not Trust. Greg never showed up and did not even bother to call. AVOID this outfitter. Makes up lame excuses for not meeting his business obligations. DON'T GET LEFT STRANDED!

Astrid was a wonderful kayaking guide. Her and Greg took care of everything from cooking delicious food to helping make the perfect s’more! No need for bringing your phone for pictures as Astrid had a professional camera and took amazing pictures of us and the wildlife, letting us just soak in all the beautiful nature around us! I would definitely do this trip again!

There were six of us and we had a fabulous time. Our guides and chefs were top notch. Very knowledgeable on the various wildlife, kayaking etc. None of us had been kayaking before and we all fell in love with the experience. We also camped out and ate great salmon and steak s’mores, deserts. Highly recommend two nights / 3 days for 1 st timers! Look forward to more tours! Only way to go!

It was great, kayaks were in great shape and well maintained. Enjoy the nature as you trek through one of Florida’s natural obstacle courses! Bill was friendly and informative. A heads up for novice or beginner kayakers will be areas that you may have to get out of your kayak, and pull around a down tree, or duck under fallen trees, but it’s worth it to get thru and see natural wild life. In all we saw 2 small alligators, 6 turtles, 1 sucker fish, heron, 2 Osprey and lots of birds. Had a great time and will use this company again!

Astrid is an excellent, knowledgeable and personable guide. Not only does she know the rivers, but can expertly help paddlers who get into a bit of trouble, while navigating them. Paddling with her was a lot of fun. And I finally saw my first gator in the wild! I would follow Astrid again, anytime.

Best canoeing ever...right here in the Orlando area. Such a great company with many options located so close to home. The staff were very friendly from the beginning. The website provided many details about the options. Greg helped me set up the reservation and willfully answered all my questions leading up to the trip. He met us exactly where and when we planned. We ran into some issues on the river and Greg was quick to respond and sent us an excellent guide named Bill to get us back on the river again. The river was amazing. So much wildlife to see including gators, turtles and birds. Was not overcrowded with people and everyone out there seemed friendly. Gave us a little big of a challenging ride with the high river due to the recent storms, which helped to keep it exciting.

I would highly recommend taking a canoe ride on the econlockhatchee river ! So much fun ! I can’t wait to go again! Our tour guy, Bill was so friendly , knowledgeable and put us all at ease since we had a party of 10 and many were first timers. We had kids Ages from 5 years-16 . Thank you Again for an amazing experience! Bill, we will see you again soon !

Kayaked the local Rivers. Being one with nature is better than any theme park. Spiritual and majestic experience far from commercialism.

We had an incredible day. Astrid made our day all the better because it was clear she truly loves this river. And since we decided to try to canoe instead of kayak on a day of fast currents, obstacles and rain, I really appreciated her calm and expertise especially when one of our travelers fell from the canoe.

The kayak tour on the Econlockhatchee was first rate in all regards. The guide Astrid was very knowledgeable as to information on Florida ecological systems, paddling, and kayaking. Everything was first class and done with a smile and positive attitude. I highly recommend Adventures in Florida. Astrid in particular was exceptional.

I’d been wanting to kayak the Econ river for a while. Finally took a staycation and stumbled upon a group kayaking it. I was unfortunately a few minutes late and a bit of a last addition but the team was great. I called them and they were able to wait for me! It was well worth it! The beginning offered some cool currents to navigate and we saw plenty of gators and a few turtles throughout the trip. As we navigated away from the launch site it became so peaceful, no vehicles wizzing by. We also saw a Blue Heron in a few places and an Anhinga. I think we may have seen a 12footer, I kayaked past one that was really really big! And we only saw the snout!! Astrid our tour guide took good care of us, making sure we kayaked at a comfortable pace but ensuring we were all together as well. She called out things to avoid which is always helpful. The snacks provided were yummy and hit the spot! All in all a wonderful day on the river with a great tour guide and a fun group. Look forward to doing it again!

Had a wonderful time. Guide Astrid was knowledgeable and quite helpful. Has plenty of cold drinks and snacks. Had so much fun

OMG, I will go anywhere Astrid is leading a tour. I felt safe, left the river dry and with more knowledge than I began. I look forward to my next Adventures in Florida trip😁

We had such a fun time on the Econ river kayak tour with Astrid! She had an eye for wildlife and was very fun and knowledgeable. It was so nice of her to take pictures and send them to us after so that we could just enjoy the experience without having our phones out. Would definitely recommend this as a way to experience Florida without too many other people. We’ll be back for another!

We had a wonderful kayaking trip with Astrid! She was awesome at pointing out all the local plants and wildlife. Don’t forget your sunscreen! This is a great and safe way to enjoy the summer in Florida. We will definitely be booking through this company for future kayaking tours

I used to run kayak camps for kids in Virginia and moving to Florida I’ve been taking guided tours around to learn the rivers- this is by far the best kayaking experience I’ve ever had. The river is gorgeous, the animals were plenty, and the company was great! Jimi is such a knowledgeable and pleasant guide, he responds quick and gives you all the info you need and makes arriving and leaving a piece of cake, am booking more tours with him immediately!

The tour started with some instructions and then off along the river. We encountered many gators along the way with the biggest about 14 feet. It’s a great way to relax and enjoy the natural environment at a relaxed pace. The guide was very knowledgeable and was able to sort out the “learner drivers” errors on the waters. I would say if you want a relaxing few hours away from the hustle of city life ( or the theme parks) this is a great way to spend the time, highly recommend this. Dave: Yorkshire

After two days visiting theme parks this was the perfect end to our week. We had 4 hours of kayaking in a quiet river with just our family of 5. River was high with all the recent rain giving us a few obstacles to maneuver around. Perfect setting for animal sightings. We saw a Bald Eagle, turtles and other birds. Our guide, Bill was very knowledgeable and patient. We want to come back and for the Manatee and Bioluminescence next!!

It was a winderful experience gently floating down the river, seeing wildlife ranging from gators to eagles to fish. The sun shining through the tannin stained water, and the dense foliage, gave a feeling of stepping back to a time where man has not touched the landscape and all sorts of creatures may be encountered. Ryan, our guide, provided an excellent commentry and assistance to all the paddlers in our group, considering the lower water level in the river. A great tour that should be experienced by everyone.

It was a great day to be on the Econ. The river was beautiful with lots of trees hanging over the banks. The day started off cool with mist coming off of the river due to it being warmer than the outside air. The paddle was a short 4 hour downstream paddle. We saw alligators, wood peckers, blue heron, hawks turtles along with a lot of other wildlife. I have paddled with Greg for many years and have gone on several of his trips. He is an excellent guide and knows more about Florida flora and fauna then anyone I know. If he doesn't know something he is quite capable of making it up with a good story to go with it. If you do decide to take a trip with him you will most likely learn something about Florida along with hearing a good tale. You have to decide which is the truth and which is the tale. Sometimes it is very hard to tell.

Beste Kajak Tour ever!!! Alles hat super geklappt. Guide war sehr nett und wir haben einen Alligator und Manatis gesehen. Vielen Dank für den schönen Tag.