Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Tours

Here’s a recent comment from a family from the UK who took an airboat ride on Spirit of the Swamp… it’s nice to know that they noticed and appreciated our new, state-of-the-art airboat!

Both my kids and my wife said this was the best part of our vacation, and we “did” all the theme parks, Kennedy, and some pistol shooting too.  I found Spirit of the Swamp on the web and was attracted by the fact that they are a small family run operation.  I wasn’t keen on being on a 15 seat airboat barge that the big guys use. We were not disappointed – Captain Harold was great, Harold knows his stuff, and we never felt rushed, in fact our 90 minute tour was over too soon!

Their airboat is a work of art, it’s new and clean, and wasn’t as noisy as I had thought, they provide not only ear defenders, but full 2-way intercoms built in. My nervous younger son, who I had thought would freak when Harold opened up the engine, was fine too, so don’t worry if you have young kids, they’ll love it.

We do this again in a heartbeat.  Terry Rush and Family, UK

Yes, those Trip Advisor Reviews keep on rolling in.  Actually we’re very proud of our 5-star airboat ride rating on Trip Advisor, and we certainly love to share the reviews with you:

What a fab hour we spent with Captain Harold, a very knowledgeable and friendly bloke.  It’s the first time we have been on an airboat and can’t wait to come back and do it again. Thank-you very much, hope to see you again next year.  Ian, Pippa, Matt, Freya & Robin, Horsham, UK

Many people don’t realize how many of Florida’s beautiful and rare birds they’ll see on an airboat ride!  Michael and his family took an airboat ride with us, and here’s what he had to say: 

I’ve made an Excel spreadsheet of the birds I saw either from the boat, or on land near your boat launch. Considering the trip was in the heat of the day, and in the middle of summer, it isn’t a bad list for a trip that is NOT focused on birds.  

Here’s Michael’s list of birds:  Wild Turkey, Double-Crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Green Heron, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Wood Stork, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Crested Caracara, Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Florida Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Grackle, Osceola Turkey and Boat-tailed Grackle.

By the way, Linda, our son Brandt, and I all had a wonderful time.   We loved it and have no regrets at having chosen the 2-hour trip.   It seems that the short trips couldn’t possibly get one back into the more remote sections of the county as you were able to do with the longer trip.   Thanks again.  Michael Hay