Unless you’re from the south, chances are that you probably haven’t heard much about swamp buggy tours. Visitors from all over the world come to Florida and see swamp buggy tours galore, but what exactly are they?
In this blog post, we will give you more information about what a swamp buggy tour is so that you can decide if it’s a good fit on your list of things to do while you’re in Florida.
A swamp buggy tour is a tour where you get into a vehicle that is open-air and travels over various surfaces (like dry land and through marshes). There will be a driver that will guide you through various ecosystems and land types, providing you the opportunity to see and encounter all kinds of wildlife.
The size of the swamp buggy will depend on the type of tour you’re taking. Here at Babcock Ranch Eco Tours, we use a converted camouflage bus (pictured here). A larger group makes for a very fun and interactive tour!
Most operators of swamp buggy tours are filled with knowledge and have likely lived in Florida or their local area for several years. Here at Babcock Ranch Eco Tours, most of our tour guides are Florida born and raised!
Nature and Animals on a Swamp Buggy Tour
The kinds of plants and animals you see on a swamp buggy tour will depend on where you’re going. In the Everglades, for example, you may see these:
- American Alligators (hence, the name for I-75 “Alligator Alley”)
- American crocodile
- Northern Pintail
- Gulf Toadfish
- Muhly grass
Babcock Ranch Eco Tours is located in Punta Gorda, Florida, and our guests have been known to spot animals like:
- American alligators
- Florida panthers
- Wild turkey
- Cows
What to Wear to a Swamp Buggy Tour
Some swamp buggy tours can be over an hour-long, so we recommend wearing comfortable clothing. The type of clothing you wear will depend on the time of year you go.
Here in Punta Gorda, our summers get extremely hot, so we recommend wearing athletic wear: a hat, shorts, a dry-fit shirt, and tennis shoes.
Our winters are a little more forgiving as the temperatures tend to be pleasant during the day. It’s still quite sunny, so we recommend wearing a hat, dry-fit clothing, and tennis shoes.
Book a Swamp Buggy Tour in Punta Gorda: Great for Families and Kids!
Our guests are able to have some of the most unique and up-close encounters with nature and wildlife. We offer several tours of the Babcock Ranch Preserve, including a 90-minute swamp buggy tour (our most popular!).
Our tour guides are one-of-a-kind, and we often have guests return to book with a different guide because they’re so filled with knowledge about Florida and our wildlife. In addition to our swamp buggy tour, we also offer:
- A self-guided walking tour
- Specialty wildlife tours
- Group and educational tours for schools
- A gift shop
- Our Gator Shack Restaurant
We look forward to seeing you soon! Book a tour today.