Photo of the Day!!

Close Encounters of the Avian Kind! This intrepid Cormorant decided to take a load off and sun on the front of one of our kayaks. (much to the delight of the other passengers onboard)

Silver Springs Kayak Tour

This weekend we paddled a section of the beautiful Silver River located just East of Ocala, Florida. The Silver River is fed by Silver Springs one of Florida’s largest first magnitude springs.  Approximately 550 million gallons of crystal-clear fresh water pours from Silver Springs daily and the resultant spring run is one of the most beautiful in the state. The clear water showcases the white sandy bottom, flowing green eel grass and one can see fish and turtles swimming under your boat.




One of our primary reasons for visiting the Silver River was to catch sight of the infamous Silver River macaques. In the mid twentieth century, 4 rhesus macaques (commonly known as rhesus monkeys) were released on one of the islands in the Silver River in an effort to enhance the popular tourist attraction at Silver Springs. It was believed at the time that the monkeys would be contained on the island, however, those responsible had not done their research as rhesus macaques are known to be excellent swimmers.

The monkeys escaped the island, and despite not being native to the area, not only survived, but thrived. There are an estimated 160 rhesus macaques living along the Silver River and its tributaries today.

Silver Springs has a long history as a popular tourist attraction dating back to the Civil War. Many of the early black and white Tarzan films were filmed along the Silver River and Ester Williams swam in Silver Springs for an early Hollywood film. A steamboat sunk in the 1800’s can still be seen along the river near Ocklawaha.

Give the Gift of Fun this Season!!!

This holiday season, give the gift of FUN! Give the gift of the Great Outdoors! Give the gift of quality time with friends and family!

Give a Gift Certificate from Biotica EcoTours. Get Your Gift Certificates Now

Gift certificates are available in the amount you choose and are good for a half-day guided tour of the recipient's choosing. And best of all, Gift Certificates are good all year long!

Fall is the Perfect Time for Outdoor Fun!

Fall is a great time to get outdoors! When the rest of the nation is starting to bundle up in sweaters and scarves, folks in Sarasota Florida are still chilling in flip flops and drinking iced tea. But when things start to cool off a little, we couldn't be happier. With the change in temperature, comes the peak of paddling season! 

And we're gearing up and raring to go. We've got some great trips coming up. Come and see what you've been missing.

Want more information? Contact Us Today

Biotica EcoTours Featured on A Gulf Coast Journal on WEDU

Watch A Gulf Coast Journal: November, 2011 on PBS. See more from A GULF COAST JOURNAL.

Biotica EcoTours was recently featured on A Gulf Coast Journal. We would like to personally thank all the folks who work so hard on A Gulf Coast Journal.  They were such a pleasure to work with; you couldn't ask to paddle with nicer people!

Biotica EcoTours Featured in Sarasota Magazine's Top Ten

Biotica EcoTours was recently featured in Sarasota Magazine's Top 10 Best Water Adventures. We're thrilled with the distinction and grateful to our customers who have given us such rave reviews.



We are looking to expand our tour offerings in the future, so stay tuned for more exciting updates in the realm of environmentally sustainable adventure travel.

Rum Island Springs Retreat

Note: Due to overwhelming inquiries, we will be doing another Rum Island Springs trip in August 22-24th, 2008. Contact us for more information and to reserve your spot. Check out http://bioticatours.com/rum%20island.htm for more details.









We just returned from an absolutely amazing trip to Rum Island Springs and the Santa Fe River, near Gainesville Florida. It was so much fun I didn’t want to come back! The cabin was amazing. Literally, we were within walking distance of one of the most beautiful natural freshwater springs in Florida. The water is crystal clear and such an amazing shade of blue. The temperature stays around 70 degrees year round, so a dip feels remarkably refreshing after floating down the river in a kayak.




The cabin retreat where we stayed was wonderfully comfortable and inviting. It is situated on ten acres of woods adjacent to the river that are home to numerous birds. We enjoyed sitting out on the balcony in the morning watching brilliant red cardinals swooping among the branches.

One of my favorite things about the cabin was the fantastic outdoor kitchen and dining area. We hung out in the outdoor kitchen until 2 in the morning just talking, laughing and playing some cards. The outdoor temperatures are marvelous this time of year and we were serenaded by the sounds of cicadas and a boisterous chorus of frogs. One of the best things about the trip was the marvelous food. We always eat very well on our outdoor excursions. It seems that food always tastes better when you work for it.

The river itself is one of my favorite paddles in Florida. The water is so clear that you can see turtles swimming underneath your boat. Wonderful aquatic grasses stream below your prow and you occasionally see the darting of a startled fish. Wonderful birds line the banks, fishing in the shallows. We saw numerous egrets and herons as well as kingfishers and wood storks. In the late evening hours we would hear the call of the Barred Owl. We couldn’t seem stay off of the river and ended up taking several short trips both up river and down stream to check out some of the remarkable surrounding springs. Ginnie Springs, though extremely popular with the locals, provides some amazing snorkeling opportunities. I am glad we weren’t staying so close to all the hubbub, though it made me appreciate our quiet cabin nestled on its ten acres of private woods all the more.

The cypress trees along the river are truly amazing. It is easy to forget to look up and notice how truly remarkably tall they are. I am truly amazed that anyone would ever consider cutting down these exceptional trees for yard mulch. The Santa Fe River ecosystem is desperately in need of conservation. Local ecotourism demonstrates to the residents and policy makers in the area that the local economy can benefit from the preservation of this awe-inspiring region.