Question 1:

Q: What items do you recommend that I bring along with me while I am on the tour?

A: You need to bring along a good insect repellent, sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30, all personal medication, a bottle of water, sunglasses, a hat, comfortable clothing, and a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. We suggest you bring a good camera or camcorder since there will be many opportunities for photographs. You may also consider bringing a good pair of binoculars for viewing the wildlife and scenery. It is also advisable to have a rain poncho in case of rain. We ask that you refrain from using perfumes or colognes since this attracts insects and may cause respiratory distress in some people.

Question 2:

Q. Where do you pick up and drop off passengers?

A. Granada Shoppes (Corner of U.S. 41 & Immokalee Road near Moe's Southwest Grill), The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Park Shore Plaza (near Perkins Restaurant), and Naples Plaza (near Books-A-Million Bookstore). If you are staying at another hotel in our area, we ask that you make arrangements for transportation to one of the designated pick up locations for your tour. When booking your tour, please choose your pick up location and notate the time of your pick up. It would be impossible to schedule a pick up at every hotel in the area prior to the tour, so we hope this does not cause any inconvenience for you. To see detailed maps of the locations where we pick up passengers, please go to the location pick up map page.

Question 3:

Q. Can I smoke while inside or outside the bus or while on the tour?

A. We offer a smoke free environment and a non-smoking vehicle for the tour. Most areas that we will visit are non-smoking environments, and most prohibit smoking. Restaurants maintain a smoke-free environment by Florida law.

Question 4:

Q. Can I use my cell phone, MP3 player, or other electronic devices while on the tour?

A. You may only use these devices while outside the bus before the tour or while at lunch. The tour director will be giving important information while both on the bus and while at our destinations, so we hope you won’t miss it. We ask you to turn off all electronic equipment including cell phones while in sensitive areas.

Question 5:

Q. Approximately how long should I allow for the tour?

A. Tour times vary depending on which tour you choose. We offer a full-day and a half-day tour. The trip time includes all pickup and delivery from hotels plus all destinations on the tour. We hope you will find the tour to be a very informative and have an enjoyable day.

Question 6:

Q. Is a meal included on the tour?

Question 7:

Q. How much does your tour cost?

A. The tour prices vary so please check our tour prices and schedules under our reservations link for additional information and pricing. All prices are subject to change without notice.

Question 8:

Q. Do you offer an air boat ride?

A. Yes, we offer an air boat ride on our full-day Everglades EcoTour and our Everglades Adventure. Lunch is included on all tours.

Question 9:

Q. What methods of payment do you accept?

A. We accept only Visa, MasterCard, Discovery, and American Express. All reservations can only be made online through our secure website.

Question 10:

Q. What is your cancellation and refund policy?

A. You must cancel your reservation prior to 48 hours before the start of your tour. A refund will then be issued to you less a $30.00 service fee. If you cancel after the 48 hours, you will be charged a 50% cancellation fee based on your ticket price(s). No refund can be given on any cancellation with less than 24 hours notification. You will be charged the full ticket price. If we have to cancel the tour for bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, we will refund your full amount paid for the tour, and you can then rebook for a future date if seats are available. To view our cancellation policy, please go to the refund and cancellation policy page.

Question 11:

Q. How do I make reservations for the tour?

A. Please go to the reservations section on our website. Check the calendar for available dates and then select the desired date that you wish to book your tour. This will allow to you make a reservation. Please complete all the required information on the reservation form including your pick up location and a telephone number where you can be reached in case of cancellation. You will then be sent an email confirmation for your records once the reservation is confirmed. Reservations will only be accepted via our secure website. Your email confirmation receipt that will be sent to you will be your ticket for the tour.

Question 12:

Q. What are your hours of operation?

A. Our hours of operation start at 8:15 a.m. and end at approximately 5:30 p.m. You may call the business from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday through Saturday. We will return your phone call as soon as possible, if you leave a recorded message.

Question 13:

Q. What if I have other questions, and I do not see them listed here?

A. If you have any more questions, please send an e-mail prior to your tour date to questions@southwestfloridaecotours.com. Be sure to include a subject line in the e-mail so we can correctly and fully answer your questions.

Question 14:

Q. Can I bring food on the bus or on the tour?

A. Food is prohibited on the bus, and food is not allowed in protected environmental areas. We ask that all guests observe this rule.

Question 15:

Q. Can I feed the wildlife or alligators?

A. It is illegal to feed wildlife or alligators in the state of Florida. You can be arrested plus given jail time and fined $500.00 for feeding alligators. Florida Fish and Wildlife officers regularly patrol the areas where we will be going, so please do not feed any wildlife or alligators.

Question 16:

Q. Is the tour appropriate for small children?

A. Our tours are educational and exciting for everyone. We ask that you not bring infants or toddlers less than 5 years of age on the full-day tour due to the length of the tour. You might want to consider our half-day tours when bringing children due to the shorter length of the tour. We will be in areas that are sensitive to wildlife, so silence is more the norm than not. If you do bring children, we ask you to please maintain strict supervision of them. This includes no running, screaming, or bothering the other tour guests or habitats. If you have infants or toddlers, most hotels have childcare services which can be arranged in advance of our tour. All children under twelve years of age require a ticket and a reservation.

Question 17:

Q. Do I have to wear a seatbelt while the bus is moving?

A. Yes, you have to wear a seatbelt at all times while the bus is moving. This is for your protection and safety, and we ask that all our guests observe this rule.

Question 18:

Q. What type of wildlife and plant life will we see while on the tour?

A. Florida has numerous species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians along with a diverse plant community. The Florida panther and black bear are two species of mammals that inhabit our area. Our bird population changes on a seasonal basis due to migration routes, so there is always something new and exciting to view. Whitetail deer have been spotted in the areas that we will visit. We ask everyone to keep an eye out for wildlife, since this can be an exciting part of the tour.

Question 19:

Q. What type of ecosystems will I see on the tour?

A. You will see coastal habitat, wetland habitat, and upland habitat while on the tour. You will be given information about these habitats and how they impact our area.

Question 20:

Q. Can I pick wildflowers or bring back a sample of plant life with me?

A. Collecting wildflowers and plant life is prohibited on the tour. There are many species which are either endangered or protected both on the state and federal level. We hope that you will take a photograph of what you observe.

Question 21:

Q. Will there be a lot of walking involved on the tour?

A. The tour is rated moderate. You have to be able to enter and exit the bus on your own ability as well as to be able to get on and off a boat. There is a moderate walk at the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary of 2.25 miles. The walk is on a level surface, and there are rest stops with benches along the way in case you get tired.

Question 22:

Q. Are there any gift shops to shop at during the tour?

A. The Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary features a Nature Store where you may purchase postcards, books, clothing items, and other souvenirs. Southwest Florida EcoTours, Inc. is not compensated nor does it receive a percentage from any of the sales in the gift shop. There is a self-serve snack bar and concession area near the gift shop for your convenience. 

Question 23:

Q. Are there any restrooms available during the tour?

A. There are restrooms available at all main locations during the tour. The tour bus does not have a restroom on-board. There aren’t any restrooms aboard the Everglades National Park tour boat or on the boardwalk at the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, so please use the restrooms prior to embarking on your tour.

Question 24:

Q. Am I expected to offer the tour guide a gratuity?

A. A gratuity is up to each client’s discretion; however, it would be appreciated.

Question 25:

Q. Should I bring my medication if I am under a physician’s order?

Southwest Florida EcoTours, Inc.
(239) 776-9050
Email: questions@southwestfloridaecotours.com