swamp tours near charleston sc

Swamp Boat Adventures

Our exciting swamp boat rides offer a unique view of our vast garden landscape. Revel in the reflections of the tall bald cypress and tupelo trees mirrored in the dark, black water. Paddle along a marked trail looking for alligators, birds, turtles, lily pads and other swamp life.

Guided boat tours.

Additional $5 Per person, you must be on-site to reserve your seat. NO pre-pay accepted Limited to availability

Self Guided Boats

No additional fee — Limited to availability

Cypress Gardens SC, a 175-acre swamp garden, is located about 30 minutes from downtown Charleston in Moncks Corner.  The gardens were originally a freshwater reserve for the nearby rice plantation, Dean Hall. Visitors can enjoy the Butterfly House and observe the different stages of a butterfly's life cycle, or visit the Swamparium, where large tanks feature fish, amphibians and reptiles native to the South Carolina Lowcountry. Visitors can also rent a swamp boat to paddle along a marked trail, possibly spotting alligators, birds and turtles, or take a stroll along the 3.5 miles of walking trails that loop through the swamp and gardens. These amazing gardens were used in several movies, including scenes from The Notebook, Cold Mountain and The Patriot. 

Cypress Gardens SC Photos

Click Photos to Enlarge

Cypress Gardens SC Address and Map

Cypress Gardens SC 3030 Cypress Gardens Rd Moncks Corner SC 29461 (843) 553-0515 Cypress Gardens Website

Cypress Gardens SC Hours and Admission

Hours: Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day

Admission: Gen. Admission (18+) $10 Seniors (65+) $6.50

Please be advised that pets are no longer allowed from March - October.

What's Blooming and Flying in March?

Average temperatures range from 20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Peak Camellia bloom.
• Alligators may occasionally be seen on sunny days.
• Warm, rainy nights bring choruses from the Spring Peeper and Southern Chorus frogs.
• Brown Creepers and the Orange-crowned Warbler are highlights to see.
• Sunny days may bring the Cloudless Sulfur Butterfly.
• A River Otter may be seen playing in the swamp and winter-nesting Bald Eagles are often sighted overhead.

Events at Cypress Gardens SC

What : Torchlit Boatride When : May 10, 2024 Time : Evening Where : Cypress Gardens Admission : $25 a person

Pre-registration at the gift shop is required.

What : Blackwater Ukulele Festival When : May 19, 2024 Time : 9 am - 4 pm Where : Cypress Gardens Admission : Free with Park Admission

Enjoy music from The Charleston Hot Shots, Lil Uke Band, Nathan Miller, Blue Poodles, and Ukulele Union of the Grand Strand. The Festival benefits Berkeley Animal Center.

What : Free Saturdays for Berkely County Residents When : Jun. 15, 2024 Time : 9 am - 5 pm Where : Cypress Gardens Admission : Free for Berkely County Residents

Must show photo ID to take advantage of this offer.

Hotels Near Cypress Gardens SC

Best Western  

Wingate by Wyndham

Fairfield Inn and Suites

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Audubon Swamp Garden

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Audubon Swamp Garden - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
• (4.56 mi) Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston Arpt-Conv Ctr Area, an IHG Hotel
• (4.52 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Charleston Airport
• (4.73 mi) Tru by Hilton Charleston Ashley Phosphate
• (4.94 mi) Hampton Inn Charleston-North
• (3.87 mi) DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel North Charleston - Convention Center
• (6.84 mi) Toast! All Day
• (3.53 mi) Nigel's Good Food
• (8.36 mi) Toast! All Day
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• (6.46 mi) The CODfather Proper Fish and Chips

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Save The Date: Beidler Forest's 50th Anniversary

Come join us in celebrating our 50th year anniversary on May 11th, 2024, exactly 50 years from the dedication ceremony on May 11th, 1974.

Quick Swamp Notes

Information about our center and trails is located here. For more information check our Visit , Program , and our Bird FAQ . Online registration for tickets is available but not required . Walk-ins welcome, we just ask that you arrive by 2 pm so you have plenty of time to enjoy the boardwalk.  To purchase your tickets online click here!

Firefly Nights

Join us on the boardwalk for select firefly viewing nights.

Space is limited and registration is required!

2024 Beidler's 50th Anniversary Photo Contest

Beidler is a visually rich place, and you can help us showcase that. This contest is for anyone and everyone, complete with prizes and overly critical acclaim.

If you would like to become a Beidler annual pass-holder, and support your favorite swamp, please  click here to purchase an annual pass.       If you are unable to register for a walk on our boardwalk, consider visiting  the new Grasslands-Woodland Trails  near the entrance to the center! Open everyday from sunrise to sunset and no admissions or reservations are required, although  online  donations  are always appreciated.   

Stay in touch and  subscribe  to receive our  eNewsletter  and other updates from Beidler! We also invite you to visit our social media channels on  Facebook ,  Instagram , and  Twitter  for updates and virtual education opportunities.   

Photo: Richard Covey

Plan Your Visit to the Boardwalk!

Purchase tickets for boardwalk admission and events online.

We're open Fri to Sun from 9AM to 4PM

Feel the beauty and serenity of this ancient forest . . .

Frequented by photographers and nature lovers from all over the world, our 18,000-acre bird and wildlife sanctuary offers a beauty unsurpassed in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Beidler is the world’s largest old-growth cypress-tupelo swamp forest — a vibrant ecosystem untouched for millennia. Enjoy thousand-year-old trees, a range of wildlife, and the quiet flow of blackwater, all from the safety of our 1.75-mile boardwalk.

Looking to get swamped? Find directions, programs descriptions, and more here.

In case you hadn't heard... they're kind of a big deal.

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Prothonotary Warbler

Latin:  Protonotaria citrea

Latin:  Strix varia

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Latin:  Nyctanassa violacea

Pileated Woodpecker

Latin:  Dryocopus pileatus

Swainson's Warbler

Latin:  Limnothlypis swainsonii

Swallow-tailed Kite

Latin:  Elanoides forficatus

Hooded Warbler

Latin:  Setophaga citrina

Northern Parula

Latin:  Setophaga americana

Painted Bunting

Latin:  Passerina ciris

Great Blue Heron

Latin:  Ardea herodias

Great Egret

Latin:  Ardea alba

Carolina Wren

Latin:  Thryothorus ludovicianus

How you can help, right now

Click here to purchase a membership, which provides free admission for a year and other benefits. We offer both Individual and Family Memberships.

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If you wish to support us, please consider donating. 100% of your donation goes back into Beidler Forest.

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Audubon Swamp Garden ...

a nature, wildlife, and photography perspective.

Audubon Swamp Garden - South Carolina

Joe Kegley | E-Mail | Updated 04-26-10

Black-crowned Night Heron, Audubon Swamp Garden - Joe Kegley

Introduction, great egret in breeding plumage, audubon swamp - joe kegley.

The Audubon Swamp Garden occupies 60 acres near the entrance of Magnolia Plantation in Charleston South Carolina. This section of the plantation was originally used as a freshwater reservoir for the rice fields. The reservior has since been converted into a wetland habitat. Trails, boardwalks, and dikes surround and cross through this cypress-tupelo swamp, allowing visitors easy access to the environment and its inhabitants. The rear section of the swamp borders a driveway and a paved path used for the plantation's nature train tour.

The swamp is named after John James Audubon, the famous naturalist and hunter known for his paintings of birds. At one time, Audubon was a guest of the Reverend John Drayton, then owner of Magnolia Plantation. Audubon used fine shot to kill his subjects. He then propped the birds into natural positions using wire and set about capturing their essence on canvas. This method deviated from the other artists at the time who used stuffed birds in rigid positions as models. Audubon's work set high standards against which later ornithological drawings and paintings would be judged. Over his lifetime he discovered 25 new species and 12 new subspecies. At the time his field notes and paintings contributed significantly to the understanding of birds and their behavior. Charles Darwin even occasionally quoted Audubon in his publications.

For a map of the Audubon Swamp Garden's 1.25 mile trail, click here --> Audubon Swamp Garden Trail Map

Nature Perspective

The Audubon Swamp Garden is probably best known for its wading bird rookery during the spring. See the above trail map for the exact location of the rookery. Birding and photography are popular activities at the swamp. Nesting birds observed included Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and Anhingas. The Great Blue Herons seem to prefer to nest in higher branches of the trees while the Great Egrets usually offered the best viewing opportunities. The Little Blue Herons and the Snowy Egrets usually nest in the brushy tree thicket areas of the swamp making their nests harder to observe.

Northern Parula, Audubon Swamp Garden - Joe Kegley

Pileated woodepecker, audubon swamp - joe kegley.

While the long-legged waders seem to occupy the attention of most tourists and photographers, I actually found the songbird activity much more interesting. Six of the bird species I observed in early April were winter residence in (or getting close to) the process of migration. These species probably departed not long after my visit for their northern territories. These included Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Cedar Waxwings (these guys were everywhere), Hermit Thrushes (again a fair number), White-throated Sparrows, Blue-headed Vireos, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. It was fun to observe the mixture of winter residence among the spring arrivals.

Probably the most vocal of the songbirds during my April visit were the Northern Parula and the White-eyed Vireo. Both species appeared to be quite active in the wooded area between the swamp and the parking lot. In addition to the previous mentioned, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Prothonotary Warblers were also found while birding the same area.

Northern Flickers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were frequently heard on the north side of the trail, but the jewel of the picidae family tree had to be the Pileated Woodpecker. During my brief visit I was able to observe one individual who had a liking for a particular stump in the swamp. So much so, the bird came back several times to forage which allowed for a couple of photographs. Birding the northern side of the trail was also where most of the Blue-winged Teal were found.

During my brief weekend visit in early April I observed the following bird species:

Juvenile American Alligator, Audubon Swamp Garden - Joe Kegley

Marsh rabbit, audubon swamp - robert kemmerlin.

In addition to the avian variety of wildlife, reptiles and mammals were also present. There are a fair number of alligators within the 60 acre swamp. Inclined wood platforms have been built at various locations in the water to allow the alligators an easy way to sun. In addition to the American Alligators, yellow-bellied sliders also used the platforms and it was not unusual to see 4 or 5 turtles alongside the gators on these man-made landings. More interesting is the juvenile alligators one might find in the east section of the trail. They can usually be found during the springtime not far from the intersection of the paved nature train path and the driveway that borders the east side of the swamp.

The mammal you are most likely to see in the Audubon Swamp Garden is the marsh rabbit. An interesting behavioral trait is that these rabbits can swim, they have no problem with water. When threatened they may jump into the water and float submerged with only their eyes and nose exposed on the surface. White-tailed deer may occasionally be observed near the wooded boundaries of the swamp. Though otters are supposedly present, I did not see one. Otters are probably more comfortable in the swamp during the winter when alligators are dormant. Raccoons seem to be more prevalent near the actual plantation where they can find food scraps from tourists visiting the gardens.

Prothonotary Warbler, Audubon Swamp - Joe Kegley

Wilderness experience perspective.

Nope, sorry, there is no wilderness experience whatsoever at the Audubon Swamp Garden. One should realize this is a tourist attraction, the more people who come, the more money Magnolia Plantation makes.

You are going to hear traffic noise throughout the Audubon Swamp Garden trail system, the swamp is close to Hwy 61 (Ashley River Road). There is also a nature train that gets going around 9 or 10am and the driver engages the tourists through a loud speaker system. It's fairly obnoxious, though perfect for those with mobility issues, so I think a good idea from the plantation's management standpoint.

Not all is lost, if you enter the swamp at dawn, you will have a fairly quite and more personal experience up until about 9:00am. If you wish to do that, you will need to purchase your entry ahead of time the day before, or if you plan on visiting more than a couple of days, a season pass maybe in order. You will need to enter through the 'Exit' gate on Hwy 61 if you arrive early, the 'Enter' gate will be closed until the normal operating hours.

Photography Perspective

Hermit thrush, audubon swamp - joe kegley.

For most wildlife photography a long lens is going to be required. I used a 500mm with a 1.4 extender giving a total focal length of 700mm. The rookery, for the most part, is too far away from the boardwalk for photos of nests. In addition, the trees are littered with branches obscuring clear shots of the nests. While one might not be able to obtain clean shots of the nests, it may be worthwhile to hangout in the area for in-flight shots.

There are plenty of landscape backdrops available for scenic photography. Be sure to go in the early morning if you want to capture the foggy mist enveloping the bald cypresses and their spanish moss companions. One should note that much of the water is covered with duckweed or other aquatic vegetation so there is not much opportunity for capturing reflections. Reflection opportunities are better on the small lakes near the plantation.

There are many other photography opportunities within short driving distances of Charleston, SC. The area includes many historical structures either in the city or surrounding area. Bull Island is a popular destination for wildlife observation, birding, and shelling.

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon Swamp - Joe Kegley

Gear/equipment suggestions.

Insect Repellent - During early spring repellent is usually not necessary, but it might be good to keep some on hand just in case.

Location and Points of Interest

Directions - Traveling south on Interstate 26, take Interstate 526 west at North Charleston. Drive approximately 5 miles to the Ashley River Road (Highway 61) north exit. Follow the parkway approximately 2 miles until it dead ends into Bee's Ferry Road. Bear right onto Bee's Ferry Road and drive about 2 miles until it dead ends into Highway 61. Turn left. Watch for the Magnolia Plantation signs. Magnolia Plantation is 3 miles up Highway 61 on the right.

Audubon Swamp Garden (Google interactive map)

left double click to zoom in right double click to zoom out click and drag to move hover over markers to see descriptions

Additional information.

• http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/ - Official Magnolia Plantation and Gardens website.

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Audubon Swamp Garden

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Also popular with travellers

Audubon Swamp Garden - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sat 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• (7.30 km) Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston Arpt-Conv Ctr Area, an IHG Hotel
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The Audubon Swamp Garden In South Carolina Takes You Through A Lush And Enchanting Swamp

Robin Jarvis

More by this Author

Have you ever been deep in a swamp area and stopped to think just how beautiful it really is? Being surrounded by the tall cypress trees and seeing the hanging moss just seems otherworldly. We find these places to be so pretty and simply can’t get enough. So if you are looking for an epic swamp experience then we have a good one for you today. Explore a 60-acre cypress and tupelo swamp in the Lowcountry at the Audubon Swamp Garden found within Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston. The last thing you might expect to find in Charleston is a swamp garden, but this lush and enchanting swamp will wow you with its natural beauty and bright colors that never seem to wane.

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Parking for this swamp in South Carolina is limited so make sure you get tickets in advance. If you have been searching for “some of the best gardens near me” then this is one you should be putting on your list. Have you ever explored the Audubon Swamp Garden at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens? Let us know in the comments below what you loved about it. To buy tickets and more please visit the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens website.

For more fun in the Charleston area take a historic tour on a horse-drawn carriage .

Also while you are off galavanting around the state make sure to check out Conway a charming small town we covered in this video:

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Francis Beidler Forest

At Beidler we have a 1.75 mile long ADA-accessible boardwalk trail through the heart of an ancient swamp with trees over a thousand years old.

Photo: Richard Covey

Silver Bluff has trails winding through gorgeous longleaf pine and along the bluff of the Savannah River, as well as managed Wood Stork feeding ponds.

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New ownership.

After 12 great years sharing the blackwater swamp with our guests, we will be transitioning from Charleston Kayak Company to Charleston Kayak, which will have a non-profit component, Youth to Ocean! Not only will guests continue to have access to the private nature reserve, but will also be directly supporting a great cause connecting underserved communities to our natural spaces. 

Charleston Kayak Company

4279  Ashley River Rd

Charleston SC 29414 

843-452-9937

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Charters & Naturalist-Guided Eco Tours in Charleston, SC

With the air and water temperatures warming, new life is sprouting and entering into the salt marshes protected by our barrier islands. The tidal creeks are becoming even more alive with the enormous amount of marine life that will hide, eat well and grow in this incredibly productive ecosystem.

For over 25 years we have been giving folks of all ages and walks of life the opportunity to experience this beautiful place first hand. We hope to have you aboard one of our eco-tours to Capers Island or on an inshore fishing charter soon!

All trips Depart from the Isle of Palms Marina

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Public tours.

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• Guest Favorite!

Capers Island Wildlife Exploration

Immerse yourself in the beauty and wildlife that Capers Island has to offer! Enjoy a boat excursion as we venture to one of the few remaining undeveloped Charleston barrier islands on our eco tours!

• Key Hole Public tour
• Hour Glass 3.5 hours
• New Excursion!
• Hour Glass 1.5 hours

Salt Marsh Creeks and Sounds Loop- Dolphins, Birds, Crab Traps and More!

We will cruise south along the Intracoastal Waterway and then navigate the creeks and sounds behind Goat Island for this 1.5 hour loop back to the marina.

Dolphin Sunset Cruise

Our Most Popular Cruise! »

Blue Crabbing Excursion

Popular Eco Tour »

Family Activities

Memorable Family Outings »

Public Low Country Boil

Summer Only! »

About Our Eco Tours in Charleston, SC & Mission

Our goal is to promote awareness, conservation, and enjoyment of south carolina’s coastal resources..

Barrier Island Eco Tours offers naturalist-guided eco tours to Capers Island Heritage Preserve, located just 15 miles north of Charleston, SC. Our trips depart from the Isle of Palms Marina and take you through winding salt marsh, tidal creeks, and the Intracoastal Waterway to Capers Island.

Along the way, you learn about this amazing ecosystem and the plants and animals that call it home. Bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles, and numerous birds are common sightings. Your guide pulls crab traps and throws cast nets to bring marine life onboard to put in our touch tank for closer examination.

The majority of our scheduled trips are aboard our covered 49-passenger pontoon boat equipped with a restroom and beaching ramp. We also offer inshore fishing and private eco tours on our 6-passenger and 16-passenger boats through our sister website, isleofpalmfishing.com . Book your Charleston, SC boat tours online today! Welcome aboard!

Join Us For Unforgettable Eco Tours In Charleston, SC!

Courtney greeted our group of students on the bus- from her intro, I knew this was going to be a great time. She was amazingly witty (too witty for 10 and 11-year-olds, but as an adult, I loved her)! She was super friendly and very knowledgeable about all of the ocean life we encountered on the tour. It's a beautiful place and you will enjoy walking the sands and learning about the history of the land.

Captain John (Stingray) and Jassen were wonderful guides on April 17, 2019! From explaining the eco system in the marsh, showing us a variety of crabs, allowing us to interrupt when we saw dolphins, pointing out a U-boat look-out tower on Dewees Island, and other wildlife that was seen on our way to and from Caper's Island.

Very informative boat ride through the intracoastal waterway. We saw dolphins and pulled up crab pots. Capers Island is the real deal. Once there, you see why photographers from every corner of the world come to photograph the beach. Extraordinary! Great trip for visitors, locals and families.

We were very impressed by this low environmental impact boat trip to Caper Island. Lots of wildlife to enjoy on the way followed by some gentle peaceful time on the island itself. Our guide and skipper was highly knowledgeable and took time to explain the marine and bird life we encountered. Highly recommend.

WE LOVE BARRIER ISLAND ECO TOURS!! We are locals and do this every opportunity we can. We have been able to do 2 dolphin sunset cruises in different seasons. The dolphins came very close to the boat (sometimes right up to the boat) and a beautiful sunset to top it off both times. I loved seeing boneyard beach as the sun was starting to go down. The captains were very knowledgeable! So much wildlife we even saw the rare rosette spoonbills!

This was our second time out, first was with my son's therapy group and this time we got to bring my husband and I cannot speak highly enough of our trip! Our tour guide Robert was so knowledgeable, fun and made learning so much fun for us and our kids! We have lived in Charleston for 9 years and the Capers Island Tour is seriously by far the best thing we've done here. Don't miss out!

Swept Away Today

Get swept away with jennifer broome, swamp boat adventure at cypress gardens near charleston, south carolina.

While visiting my longtime friend Wendy and her family in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, we headed over to Cypress Gardens for an afternoon. The 170-acre preserve was heavily damaged in historic floods in 2015 and then Hurricane Matthew in 2016, but has since recovered.

We explored the Butterfly House first. It’s a large greenhouse is filled with flowering plants and butterflies.

Next we headed to a small dock for a swamp boat adventure. Guided tours are offered every hour for a extra $5. Reservations are only available on-site. We opted to do the self guided tour included in admission. Wendy and I got in our flat bottom boat and paddled in the 80 acre blackwater swamp shaded by towering bald cypress and tupelo trees.

It was eerily serene as we paddled along a route marked by small arrows on trees keeping an eye out for alligators. We had to duck as we went under the first bridge. There was a turtle sunning on a log just on the other side of it. We only had to duck a little as we went under the second bridge. The swamp is only 4-6 feet deep at its deepest. You can see twisty tree roots in the water and “cypress knee” roots protruding out of the water. Wendy laughed at my excitement of seeing lily pads throughout our paddling adventure. It took us about 30-40 minutes to leisurely paddle the route.

The swamp at Cypress Gardens has been featured in many movies and television shows. Movies like The Notebook, The Patriot, and Swamp Thing were filmed here. The Netflix series Outer Banks has recently filmed some scenes here. You can ask to see the spots where some famous scenes were shot.

Afterward our boat ride, we followed a trail to a spot where you can sit and enjoy the the beauty of the swamp and watch boats pass by. Then we cooled off in the Swamparium. I’m not normally a fan of reptile houses because I don’t like snakes. Yes, there’s a few in here but there’s also a plethora of fish and amphibians native to swamp and nearby waterways.

This is a fun and affordable adventure, especially if you do a self guided boat ride. General admission is $10 for ages 18-64, $5 for 6-17, and $6.50 for 65+, 911, and military. It’s open 7 days a week 9am-5pm (last admission 4pm).

Author Jennifer Broome was born in South Carolina and loves exploring her home state. For food finds on this trip, check out blog G reat Southern Food: Where You Should Eat on Mount Pleasant near Charleston, South Carolina.

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Boat Tours & Airboat Rides

Wacca wache marina is home to plantation river tours, a premier murrells inlet boat tour company..

Enjoy the sights and surroundings of the beautiful Waccamaw, Black and Great Pee Dee Rivers aboard the Waccamaw Lady Sightseeing Tour or the Waccamaw Cooter/Gator Bait Airboat Tour, which depart from Wacca Wache Marina.

To make reservations for tours, please call  843-651-2994  or visit  www.plantationrivertours.com

Sightseeing Boat Tour on the Waccamaw Lady

On this 2 to 2-1/2 hour river cruise along the historic Waccamaw River, riders will enjoy a narration on six rice plantations nearby, as well as explore the natural beauty of the area. A local historian will narrate the history, mystery and legends of the rice plantations located along the Waccamaw River.

Boat tours run Tuesday- Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

• $38 plus tax per person ages 13 and up
• $25 plus tax per person for ages 0-12 .
• Reservations are required.
• Private charters are available.

Boat Tour Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, both tours require a minimum number of reservations. To make reservations, please call  843-651-2994  or visit  www.plantationrivertours.com

No, this is strictly a river tour.

Depending on the tide, the tour lasts between 2 – 2 ½ hours long.

Yes, but it must be sealed or in a container.

We ask guests of the tours to park along the seawall.

Yes, the boat is fully covered and ¾ enclosed with windows.

Yes, there is a $3 off coupon in the Monster Coupon Book. Please note, the coupon is only valid per person, not per party, therefore each person in the party will need to have their own coupon.

Waccamaw Nature & Gator Airboat Tours

This hour long airboat tour along the Waccamaw, Black and Pee Dee Rivers will provide riders with close encounters with some of nature’s most awe-inspiring creatures. See alligators, ospreys and much more in their natural habitats as you meander through back waters framed by moss-laden oak and cypress trees.

Air Boat Gator Tours run Monday – Saturday

• $48.50 plus tax per person ages 13 and up
• $38.50 plus tax per person for ages 12 & under .
• Minimum of four riders required.