The surprises you can find in Southwest Florida seem to never end. One of the places that hides a lot of secrets that you’ll find pleasant once uncovered is the Ten Thousand Islands. It’s located around south of Naples, Florida and is an archipelago of tiny islands that span 35,000 acres and is composed of what seem to be 10,000 islands. The area looks glorious especially when viewed from above, which is why flying by a light aircraft is something we recommend for you to try. But if you want something more up close, then we got 5 ways for you to unravel the natural secrets of the Ten Thousand Islands.
Indian Key
One of the secret gems in this place is the Indian Key. It’s a fifteen mile kayak and hiking trip that goes round. This is a great place for swimming and doing picnics and enjoying the outdoor life. You would want to start paddling after the high tide of Everglades City to arrive to the Indian Key, if not, your boat might have to fight against the current. This means the place may not be for the beginner sort, which is a call to challenge for the experienced ones.
Sandfly Island
Sandfly is a kayak trail that’s 5 miles long which starts from the visitor center and takes around 2 to 3 hours to complete. You may even go paddling off the trail if you’re feeling quite adventurous and discover bays, islands and passes that can be easily missed by many. There is also a pass in the general area where in you can see the homes of the pioneers that are still standing to this day. This place is also great for picnic and walking.
Stay Overnight
See the stars out in the night sky, free from the light pollution of the city. Set up a tent and gather round a bonfire while roasting marshmallows at Tiger Key or in Picnic Key. Although the Picnic Key does not offer much in the way of protection against storms, Tiger Key’s natural landscape creates a barrier against any sudden storms, so the choice is up to you if you want to take this trip on the edge or want to play safe. Both places have a limited reserve date you may want to book at least a day in advance.
Boat Tours
If you’re new to the area, one of the safest and most educative ways of exploring Ten Thousand Islands is through a guided boat tour. You can sign up for a tour in the Visitor Center and the trip lasts for 90 minutes. An expert on board will tell you all about the area as you take pictures of dolphins, hawks, sea turtles, large fishes and many more.
Wilderness Waterway
Probably the one of the best adventures you can have while in the Ten Thousands Islands is through this 99-mile waterway that’s surrounded with nothing but nature. This week-long journey starts from the Everglades City and then to Flamingo or Cape Sable. Yes, you read it right, the trip takes one week to complete. This means this is not for the amateur or the inexperienced. This trail will test ones skills in navigation and survival, physical endurance and mental strength. In other words, the Wilderness Waterway is where heroes are born.
