More than just an airboat ride, it is an Eco Tour of the back–country with some history and some color thrown in for good measure. During a 50 minute long tour, you will hear stories of how Garcia's came to be, some facts about the wildlife that inhabit the area, and a story—or two—about some incidents of interest. A tour of the marsh is just a phone call away. To schedule a tour, give us a call and we'll set up a time that is mutually agreeable to both of us. The airboat can accommodate as many as 15 adults comfortably. If you have a larger party, Captain Krista can arrange multiple boats and/or multiple trips to accommodate any number of guests. To guarantee a private tour, a discussion with Captain Krista is in order. You and your party will meet Captain Krista at Blue Cypress Recreation Area, also known as Garcia's, on County Road 512, 15-20 minutes before the scheduled ride time so that we may load the airboat and leave at our scheduled time. This will facilitate a full 50 minute tour.
It is advisable to allow enough time to stop at the closest exit to the park and visit their facilities, as the ones at the park are sometimes less than desirable. When your party arrives and the introductions are complete, we will load the airboat. Since I have, and maintain, a U.S. Coast Guard Captain's License, everyone on the vessel will wear a Coast Guard approved inflatable life vest and all children 12 and under will wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket—it is the law. Talk-Around Headsets are provided for ear protection and communication.
On a glide through the marsh, we will always see alligators, native and migratory birds, and flora. The time of the year determines where we will see the alligators and a variety of other sights. In the cooler months when the sun and air are warmer than the water, gators like to spend their days warming on the levees, while in the warmer months, they like the cooler water. Many species of birds are always here. Ospreys, egrets, herons, and ibis are here year round, while the ducks, falcons, hawks, white pelicans, roseate spoonbills, etc. come and go. In the spring, the egrets, herons, and ibis nest in a place that we call the Rookery. When this happens, there will be thousands of nests in a small area of the marsh. Photographic opportunities abound, from nests with eggs that haven't yet hatched to the floundering juveniles waddling around in the branches. For those wanting to see the flora, summertime is the best. As you can see, anytime is a great time to take a tour of the marsh. Believe me, we are never lost. I've been runnin' round this marsh for a long time, and we will always come back to where we started.
by Adventure & Activity Marketing Pros
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