More
than just an airboat ride, it is an Eco Tour of the
backcountry with some history and some color thrown in
for good measure. During an hour 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 me a call and we will set up a time that is mutually agreeable to both of us. Airboat tours are generally a private affair with only your party on the boat. But, I do reserve the right to fill the boat when there are eight, or less, persons so that I can accommodate as many guests as possible. I will never schedule an overloaded boat for the sake of taking a couple more guests. Comfort and safety are my primary concerns. To guarantee a private tour, a discussion with Capt. Steve is in order.
You and your party will
meet me at Blue Cypress Recreation Area, also known as
Garcia's, on County Road 512, preferably 10-15 minutes
before the scheduled ride time.
From Vero, Wabasso, or Sebastian, and US
1, the ride time to Garcia's is approximately 30 minutes
plus, depending on traffic. It is approximately 10–15
minutes from SR 60, or CR 512 and I-95 to Garcia's, just
to give you an idea of the travel times.
. When your party arrives and the introductions are complete, we will load the boat. 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 by Av-Com are provided 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.
