Springs, marsh and mangrove
Homosassa Eco Tours
Discover the Nature Coast up close — from freshwater springs to salt marsh and the Gulf, in a single trip through four rivers of the Homosassa system.
Our Homosassa eco tours take you up the Homosassa River, along its tributaries and out toward the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.
You traverse both freshwater and saltwater habitats in one run, which is why the species list is so long. The landscape moves from cypress bayheads to a sea of grass that looks like the Everglades, then opens into mangrove islands and Gulf shallows.
One trip, four rivers
Eco tours run on a pontoon boat or our custom skiff through the Homosassa River, Salt River, Little Homosassa River and St Martin's River. Each one has a different character — narrow and shaded, wide and grassy, or open to the Gulf.
What lives here
On and above the water
- Dolphins near the river mouth and Gulf
- Bald eagles, herons, egrets and roseate spoonbills
- Ospreys, pelicans and cormorants working the channel
- Alligators in the backwater channels
In the water and on the banks
- Stingrays gliding over the sand flats
- Turtles basking on logs and stumps
- Manatees in winter, when the springs are warm
- Blue crabs, scallops and starfish in the seagrass
Bring binoculars if you have them. A jacket helps in the morning, and a hat that fits snugly. We keep the pace slow and quiet so the animals stay where they are.
Herons and egrets line the channel all year.
Turtles stack up on the same stumps every morning.
Stingrays cruise the shallow flats in summer.
Before you book
Eco tour questions
What will I see on a Homosassa eco tour?
Where do the eco tours go?
Is an eco tour good for children?
What is the best time of day?
Get closer to the Nature Coast.
Book an eco tour online, or call (352) 628-5222 and ask about early morning departures.