Airboats and Alligators, Florida 🇺🇸

Part of my Real Florida Guide

If one of the things you want to do on your holiday is to explore the swamplands of Florida – and why wouldn’t it be? – taking an airboat ride is one way to do it in style!

Before we begin: Crocs or Gators?

Firstly, let’s get it right: Central Florida has alligators. The American crocodile does exist, but only if you venture south to the Florida Keys. The American alligator on the other hand – they are across the whole of the Sunshine State – from the swamps to the golf courses, to taking dips in swimming pools!

Fact: There is an estimated one alligator per 15 people across the state of Florida! Unsurprising, perhaps, since there’s also 6.7 million acres of habitable areas for them!

If you happen to come face to face with either (!), here’s how you can tell Alan from Collin. The alligator – browny/grey in colour – has a wide, rounded snout. The croc, by comparison, has a longer snout and shows it’s teeth even when it’s mouth is closed. It also favours a green attire.

Airboat tours

There are lots of companies (and independents) that offer 30 minute, 1 hour and twilight airboat rides – each offering the opportunity to see alligators in their natural habitat as their USP.

Over the many years that we have been going to Florida, we’ve tried a fair few of the airboat companies within the Orlando and Kissimmee areas, including ‘Boggy Creek’, ‘Wild Willy’s’ and the independents such as ‘Captain Fred’s’ – which is sadly no longer operating in 2022.

Boggy Creek has been going for the longest time and offers high speed, high adrenaline, interactive tours. The guides (airboat operators) are always really knowledgeable and you’d be surprised by how they can spot any movement of gators when the rest of us can’t. When they do, they will slow the boat right down and let us eager tourists take our snap shots (see what I did there?) and ask questions.

When the boat is travelling along at full speed, it’s a really invigorating experience to feel the breeze on your face – especially on a really hot day! The airboats are really, really loud, so you’ll always have to don a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Check out my video for a little look at what to expect.

Back at base, you have the opportunity to see baby gators on site and – like most airboat tours – have the opportunity to hold one and have your picture taken (usually for a fee). As you’d expect, any of the airboat companies will provide on-site toilet facilities and a little gift shop for that all-important souvenir of your swampy adventure!

The Boggy Creek location at East Southport Road also has a Native American Indian in residence, who gives regular talks on his heritage and his ‘chickee hut’ camp. So, if you want to mix in some education with your gator tour, Boggy Creek might be the winner for you.

What’s the cost?

Prices for airboat tours vary across the state, but you’re generally looking at $35 for 30 minutes and $50 for an hour (2022 prices). Twilight cruises and private tours won’t come in cheap. It’s always best to book ahead either on the phone or online, especially during busy months as the airboats aren’t huge.

If you’re keen to save a few bucks on your tour price, the more commercial airboat tours always feature in those discount leaflets/ area maps you find all across Orlando – in shops, restaurants and tourist centres.

Tip: You can never be guaranteed to see an alligator on an airboat trip – in fact, you’re far more likely to spot birds of prey, turtles and pretty waterlilies – but one way to heighten your chances is by going first thing in the morning. Due to the temperatures being cooler earlier in the day, the gators are more active and more likely to come to the surface to say hi!

Tight budget? There are other options….

Whizzing across the swamps in a speedy airboat with the spray hitting your face is undoubtedly great fun – but what happens if you pay all that money and it doesn’t deliver the goods? You probably feel a bit short changed. As I’ve said, gator-spotting is not guaranteed on the airboat tours.

The sure fire way to guarantee to see an alligator (and also a crocodile) is at Gatorland – a long-standing, family-run, inexpensive park just outside of Orlando. Although a visit to Gatorland means being able to view these huge lizards up close and safely – it does take away the experience of seeing them in their natural habitat.

Although Gatorland promotes the conservation of alligators and keeps them safe and fed, of course it could also be viewed as unethical to keep gators in these environments. It’s fair to suggest that entertainment value is clearly placed high with ‘gator wrestling shows’ and ‘jumparoo’, where the animals are made to jump up for their food. We have visited in the past, but haven’t done so for many years now.

Spot a gator – for free!

If you want to spot an alligator without paying the airboat or a dedicated park fee, you may just be in luck. Gators love fresh water lakes, canals and slow moving rivers so, as I mentioned earlier on, they can pop up just about anywhere.

Disney’s ‘Celebration’ is one of my favourite place to ‘accidentally’ spot alligators as they seem to love basking around the lakes and will live happily amongst the residents. Despite their look, gators are known to be surprisingly shy creatures who would rather you kept away from them, than the other way around!

Take a trip further north of Orlando to the Apopka Wildlife Drive if you want to see as many gators as you can shake a stick at. Each one is completely in their own environment and away from the confined spaces of theme parks. It really gets no better than this experience, in my humble opinion – and we only discovered it in 2022.

You can read about both Celebration and the Apopka Wildlife Drive in my Real Florida Guide, if you want to know more.

Respect the Gator!

If you do see a gator, do respect their privacy. It goes without saying not to approach them in any way. Don’t be stupid and try and get the perfect ‘gator selfie’ because even if they look big and slow, you’ll soon find out how fast they can move if they feel under threat! Put bluntly: Do not mess with something that has that many teeth and a whiplash tail!

As the signs suggest, do not attempt to feed an alligator either! Not only would that be a stupid move, it’s also against the law. And nobody wants to go to jail on holiday!