ORLANDO
Orlando’s best days out.
The 13 most popular wildlife tours in Orlando, with prices, run times and who you book through. The standouts worth building a day around, and what each one actually gets you.
Wild Florida near Orlando: a 30–60 min airboat over 4,200 acres plus a wildlife park ticket and a live alligator demo for about $36.
Most Popular“Did not see many gators, but a great day out and kids loved it”
Clear kayak on Silver Springs with a guide, 2 hours on the water, and chances to spot manatees, turtles, fish, and monkeys.
“We had the best time at Silver Springs. Our tour guide Chris was amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable about the area and the local wildlife, which we got to see plenty of. Our favorite part was getting to see the manatees, and Chris made sure we got lots of pictures and underwater videos of them…”
A 2-hour pontoon boat cruise through Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes with history stops, wildlife spotting, and great local guiding.
“This was a very relaxing and informative ride on a pontoon boat through several lakes and channels. Our guide knew the places to view wildlife and had interesting stories about the area.”
A 90-minute Orlando Everglades airboat tour with expert guides, stadium seating sightlines, and chances to spot gators and bald eagles.
“It was an amazing trip in a fantastic nature place”
Paddle Silver River in a 100% clear kayak with a small-group guide, spotting manatees and monkeys from spring-fed, crystal-clear water.
“Wonderful experience! Crystal clear water, beautiful surroundings and so mane manatees. It was truly magical. What made the experience even more special was our tour guide, Josh , who led our small group. He had a wealth of information to share and was very respectful of the wildlife around us.”
1-hour pontoon cruise on Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes with a local guide, wildlife spotting, and spring-training + Cypress Gardens stories.
“Captain D was the best captain ever! We learned alot and had fun. The weather was hot, but it’s FL. We will take a longer tour next time!”
Rent a clear canoe at Silver Springs for a self-led wildlife paddle. See manatees, turtles, birds, and maybe rhesus monkeys.
“Great Experience, beautiful clear spring water. Really enjoyed not having to have a guide on the tour but getting to use the clear canoes to see the fish and manatees. Saw manatees, alligators, turtles, all types of birds and fish. We did not see the monkeys, but I think we heard some. It was spring…”
1-hour Everglades wildlife airboat tour from Kissimmee for $58.50. Ear protection included, max 8 people, English-speaking.
“Amazing experience with friendly and knowledgeable staff Family owned business which is especially important!”
Kayak Silver Springs in a small group for wildlife spotting, clear spring water, and guide-led nature talks. 2 hours from $65.
“I can’t recommend this tour enough! Tania is such a wonderful person – eco-conscious and passionate about sustainability, especially when it comes to preserving Silver Springs. We had an amazing time kayaking with her and spotting manatees, birds, turtles, and fish, all while learning about the history of the local flora and fauna. Tania is…”
Paddle clear kayaks on Silver River at Silver Springs State Park, guided by Casey Barrick, with strong wildlife odds and small groups.
“Casey did an amazing job making us feel very comfortable in the kayak and pointing out all the sites. Also took many amazing photos for us!!!”
Paddle a kayak through Blue Spring State Park and look for manatees in quiet, crystal-clear water—$80 for a wildlife-focused 4-hour outing.
“Couldn’t really see the manatees, kind of lame, the water is very dark visibility about 8 to 12 inches down.”
Paddle the lower Wekiva River area on a guided 2-hour wildlife kayak trip near Orlando, with dry bags, vests, and real spotting chances.
“Great experience with Aaron. Great time kayaking through the river and the Springs. Discovery of Florida Springs and a lot of information about gators, manatees. We were able to see so many of them!”
Paddle through the Dora Canal’s cypress tunnel near Orlando. Small group kayak or paddleboard tour with wildlife, history, and photos.
“Katrina was very knowledgeable of the ecosystem, the history of the canal, and the local wildlife!!! Saw numerous birds, alligators and beautiful lake Dora!!! The paddle up and down the canal was very nice and easy to navigate even with boats passing through. The Bru Pub after the paddle was a great touch and nice…”
From the theme parks to the springs to the Space Coast, and every way to spend a Florida day.
