NEW: Great Calusa Blueway
Burnham Guides is expanding! We've come up with a new, five-day kayak trip on the Great Calusa Blueway, Feb. 12-16, 2013. Coinciding with Valentine's Day, why not bring your sweetheart, or meet afterwards at the gorgeous Lover's Key Resort.
Spend five glorious days paddling with dolphins, manatee and wading birds on Florida's southwest Gulf coast. We'll pass the famed beaches of Sanibel and Captiva, stay on Cayo Costa, Florida's least-visited state park (accessible only by boat), and explore the watery mangroves tunnels of Sanibel Island's Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
The trip includes two nights of island camping watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico, a night in a beach cottage on Sanibel, and a stay in the Old Florida village of Matlacha, home of the "fishingest bridge in the world." We'll average 8 to14 miles daily, 55 miles in all.
Cost: $1150 per person, all-inclusive of kayaks, camping equipment, lodging and food. Discount for bringing your own kayak and/or camping gear.
Call 305-240-0650 or E-mail for datesEverglades Adventures
There is truly no other place like it on Earth. New in 2013, we offer three options for exploring the diverse environment of Everglades National Park, from coastal beaches to brackish mangrove swamp to freshwater sawgrass prairie. Our experienced guide will take you on fascinating interior routes, where camping is on chickees and ground sites, and out into the Gulf of Mexico to camp on gorgeous palm tree beaches.
-5-day Flamingo Loop: Jan. 31-Feb. 4. Cost $950
-5-day Everglades City: Feb. 22-26. Cost $950
-8-day 100-mile Wilderness Waterway: Feb. 10-17. Cost $1650 (Includes car shuttle between start at Flamingo and end at Everglades City, camping and dinner the night before the launch).
Closest airports: Miami and Ft. Myers. All trips include sea kayaks, camping gear, meals, and camping fees. 20% discount for bringing own boat and gear. Click for 2012 Trip Report
Call 305-240-0650 or E-mail to make a reservation.Florida Keys Backcountry
In the Lower Florida Keys, a mass of mangrove islands unreachable by road, spreads out into the Gulf of Mexico. From the pages of our Florida Keys Paddling Atlas, we leave the highway sounds of US 1 behind and delve into a world where fish school through shallow flats and stingrays lay silent at the bottom of turquoise blue channels. Our small group primitive camping trips range from 3 to 5 days, with time to explore winding creeks and shallow coves, snorkel or fish. The 5-day trip traverses the entire Backcountry.
Cost: $570-950 per person, all-inclusive, kayaks, camping gear, meals, & camping fees. 20% discount for bringing own kayak & camping gear.
Offered December-April ~ TRIP CALENDARCall 305-240-0650 or E-mail for dates
Ten Thousand Islands
On the northwest edge of the Everglades lies the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, a maze of mangrove islands and creeks teeming with birdlife. We'll island-hop along the Gulf of Mexico with pristine, white sand beaches to camp on.
Cost: $570-950 per person, all-inclusive, kayaks, camping gear, meals, & camping fees. 20% discount for bringing own kayak & camping gear. Offered February 2013 ~ TRIP CALENDAR
KL2KW: 100 miles Key Largo to Key West
Our 5th annual signature trip, the KL2KW, is the bucket-list trip of a lifetime, paddling the 100-mile coral island chain to the southernmost point in the US! New in 2013, we're taking paddlers gulfside to traverse the vast Lower Keys Backcountry for a more primitive and remote experience.
Along the way, we paddle alongside Henry Flagler's beautiful railroad bridges, and stop on islands to lunch, rest and swim. Each night we'll set up camp in time for a delicious dinner, often featuring fresh Florida seafood, and watch the famous Keys sunsets.
Difficulty: This is a strenuous trip, for experienced paddlers able to kayak 10-17 miles per day, and set up camp each night. There's a rest day at the half-way point for sightseeing, relaxing poolside and massages.
Camping: A mix of primitive islands, state parks and commercial campgrounds.
Pre and post-trip Lodging: In 2013, the cost includes the pre-launch camping and St. Paddy's dinner at beautiful Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo on March 17, 2013. At trip's end, March 27, we recommend making a reservation at the Southernmost Guesthouse, right across the street from our landing in Key West.
Transportation: Ideally, fly into Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and take the keysshuttle.com to Key Largo. At the end, fly out of Key West, or take the Keys Shuttle to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale airport. If you are driving, we can help you with the logistics of parking and shuttling for an additional charge.
Cost: $1950 per person includes sea kayaks, camping gear, meals, & camping fees. See below for discount for bringing own gear.
5-day, 50-mile "Half Marathon" option available: $975 per person
Seven Mile Bridge Crossing
Watch Video
The Seven Mile Bridge spans Caribbean-blue open water, originally built to carry Henry Flagler's Railroad. Paddle between the old and new on a full-day or easy overnight, with a stop on Historic Pigeon Key. Never far from civilization, this is a great intro to kayak camping.
Evening finds us watching egrets and ibis fish in the flats off our island campsite. As the sun sets, we'll see the distant lights of cars crossing the bridge.
Cost: $135 full-day includes lunch and admission to Pigeon Key ~ $380 overnight. ~ TRIP CALENDAR
Prices
Optional restaurant dining or hotel stays are at customer's expense.
Discounts:
Discounts cannot be combined
10% off for bringing own sea kayak (capable of overnight expeditions), we supply camping gear.
20% for bringing your own camping gear and sea kayak (must be approved by Burnham Guides as capable of overnight expeditions).
50% for children under 12 in a tandem with parent
10% off to members of Florida Paddling Trails Association
and Chesapeake Paddlers Association
Deposit/Cancellation:
20% deposit required at time of booking. Balance charged on arrival.
With the exception of weather cancellations by Burnham Guides, a 21-day notice is required for cancellation or deposit will not be returned.
Transportation/Lodging
You should plan on arriving the night before the trip launch as all trips leave in the morning. We can recommend lodging and camping options near your launch, but it's up to you to make reservations. Exceptions: Pre-launch camping and dinner is included in the 8-day Wilderness Waterway and 10-day KL2KW. Closest Airports: Key West, Miami or Ft. Lauderdale for Keys trips; Miami for Everglades; Ft. Myers for Great Calusa Blueway and Ten Thousand Islands. For the KL2KW trip we recommend flying into Miami or Ft. Lauderdale and flying out of Key West and using the keysshuttle.com.
