If you're heading to Florida and enjoy kayaking, make sure to find the Ten thousand Islands on the southwestern tip of the state. Here you will enjoy the many wonders of the Everglades This tropical location is one of the greatest US destinations for paddling! Located near the southwestern tip of the state one can enjoy a wide variety of local and exotic animals such as Alligators and tropical birds. This area also holds many rare tropical trees not found anywhere else in the US like Rainbow Eucalyptus and Plumeria. After a little sight seeing its time to get out for some exciting everglades kayaking.
Don't expect to go to this area and find thousands of islands awaiting your enjoyment. There are hundreds of them, but not thousands. Most of these are not suitable for camping or hanging out. Yet, there are some great islands with beach shorelines, such as Tiger Key. So even though the name suggest thousands of islands, there are really only a few hundred or so, most being unusable.
If you don't have good navigational skills, make sure to bring someone along who does. Within this mangrove wilderness lies a web of bays, creeks, and channels in which it is all too easy to lose your way. Get a waterproof NOAA marine chart before leaving out on this Everglades kayaking trip. Don't consider carrying anything other than a waterproof chart. Of course, you will want a compass to make sure you can get back on the right path if something happens. Plus, I would highly recommend taking a (waterproof) GPS receiver. Naturally, you should know how to use all these navigational tools.
Chokoloskee Island is a great place to go for a day or weekend if you enjoy fishing, relaxing and everglades kayaking. When you want to enjoy some relaxation time on the island you can kick back and sink your pole into the water to catch a wide variety of fish. The island is big on relaxation and fishing, since they are blessed with redfish, tarpon, sea trout, snook, and many other types of fish. There are many paddling trails in the area and you can head out for multiple day trips by kayak and canoe.
This is not Disneyland. This is true wilderness and there are precautions that a kayaker needs to be aware of. The powerful sub-tropical sun can cause severe sunburn. Be sure to take sunscreen and have protective clothing (hat, long pants, and long-sleeved shirt) available when you need it. Since all the water in the area is saltwater, all you will have access to is what you bring with you. Everyone coming on your trip will need to bring a gallon of water per day spent in the area. Make sure to bring at least a gallon of water per person for every day that you plan on spending in this area of the Everglades. All the water in the area is saltwater, so even the raccoons are dying of thirst! They will chew holes through your bottles to get to the freshwater, so make sure to protect them at all times.
Sand flies and mosquitoes also inhabit this area, after all, this is the Everglades. You will need mosquito netting that also blocks out sand flies and of course enough insect repellent to keep your entire group comfortable. We visited the area in late may and, surprisingly, encountered very little in the way of mosquitoes.
As you probably know, canoeing and kayaking can be challenging and physically exerting at times.The Ten Thousands Islands is an exciting place to visit if you have those navigational skills and come prepared for the physical exertion of Everglades kayaking. The Ten Thousand Islands await you. Bon voyage!
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