Explore guided tours, private boat rentals, specialty cruises and more aquatic fun in Orlando.

Ready your sea legs and chart a course for adventure in Orlando, where natural wonders abound on our pristine lakes, canals and waterways. From private boat rentals and guided tours to ethereal bioluminescent kayaking excursions, there’s no shortage of ways to see Orlando from the water. Your aquatic chariot awaits!

Discover: Nature & Outdoors

• Boat & Watersports Rentals
• Sailing & Cruise Tours
• Wild Eco-Adventures
• Day-Trip Worthy Excursions
• Map

Orlando vacation planning made easy — and free. Make a complimentary appointment with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners at a time and date of your choosing for the latest insider advice, special offers and more ahead of your next visit.

Private Boat & Watersports Rentals

Customize your Orlando adventure with private boat rentals for laid-back fun in the sun. Choose from pontoon boats, jet skis and more in downtown Orlando, with options in downtown Orlando, Lake Buena Vista and Walt Disney World® Resort.

Lake Fairview Marina

Lake Fairview Marina offers boat rentals, sailing lessons and more near the idyllic downtown Orlando neighborhood of College Park. Set sail in your choice of catamaran, pontoon boat, paddle boat or sailboat, or glide close to the water in a canoe, kayak or paddleboard. Fifteen-hour sailing certificate courses are also an option if you’ll be in town for an extended period.

Discover: Things to Do in College Park

Paradise Cove Watersports

If you’re looking for private boat rentals near Walt Disney World®, Paradise Cove has you covered with pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards. They also offer private lessons and chartered tours, which include a boat rental, skis, wakeboards, tubes and kneeboards, plus a driver and instructor to show you the ropes. It’s one of the easiest ways to soak up Orlando’s natural beauty, and you’ll make memories to last a lifetime.

Revolution Adventures

Revolution Adventures in Clermont offers endless outdoor fun, from archery and axe throwing to high-speed ATV tours. Unwind on a private lake with jet ski rentals or guided fishing excursions, or hit the road — and the water — on an amphibious Mucky Duck tour. It’s all just 30 minutes west of Walt Disney World® Resort.

Walt Disney World® Marinas

You can rent 10-seater pontoon boats at Walt Disney World® Resort. Head to the Walt Disney World® Marinas at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and other select resorts, then cast off in your private pontoon boat to cruise the Seven Seas Lagoon and more scenic waterways. Kayak and canoe rentals are also available at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

Discover: Things to Do at WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort

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Sailing & Cruise Tours

Orlando also has several serene boat tours, so if you’re hoping to take in the sights while someone else steers, you’re in luck! Here are some of our best guided tours for a laid-back day on the water.

Amphicar Tours at Disney Springs®

Get a truly unique perspective of Disney Springs® on a guided amphicar cruise from The Boathouse. These fully restored, vintage “dream boats” can drive right into the water, guided by an expert captain who’ll point out noteworthy sights along the way. Once you disembark, head to The Boathouse’s massive outdoor patio for themed drinks, waterfront views and a docked collection of vintage Dream Boats from the 1930s – ‘50s.

Discover: Things to Do at DISNEY SPRINGS

Sailing Orlando

Weigh anchor and set sail — yes, really — with Sailing Orlando, which offers sailing lessons and private two-hour tours of Lake Fairview. Every private sailing experience includes a captain and instructor, so you can relax and drink in the views or learn how to sail from a seasoned expert. Feel free to bring your own snacks — a cooler is provided — and book a sunset cruise for one of the most memorable sunsets of your life.

Walt Disney World® Specialty Cruises

See Walt Disney World® fireworks like a true VIP on a private specialty cruise complete with a captain, snacks and assorted soft drinks. No queuing, no crowds, no jostling for space. Instead, you’ll see unforgettable fireworks shows like Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom® Park and Luminous The Symphony of Us at EPCOT® from the comfort and privacy of your very own pontoon boat.

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

Discover iconic Central Florida history, sights and sounds on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, a tranquil, guided voyage through the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. The one-hour cruise departs near bustling Park Avenue, passing beneath abundant flora and fauna and offering sweeping views of the area’s historic buildings and opulent waterfront estates.

Discover: Things to Do in Winter Park

Cruise With St. Johns Rivership Company

30 minutes north of Orlando in the city of Sanford, St. Johns Rivership Company is your ticket to breathtaking natural beauty along the longest river in Florida. Board one of the last sternwheelers in the Southeast for immersive theater shows, live music and a variety of themed dining excursions. You’ll find plenty of outdoor diversions as well, from stunning sunsets to wildlife sightings.

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Wild Water Adventures

Airboat Tours

Equal parts thrilling and serene, an airboat tour is a quintessential Orlando experience for those who like to walk — or ride — on the wild side. Glide through untamed Florida wetlands, keeping an eye out for alligators, birds and more native wildlife along the way. Try Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, Wild Florida, Black Hammock Airboat Rides, Crazy Gator Airboat Tours, or Tom & Jerry’s Airboat Rides.

Discover: Airboat Tours

Catboat Escapes

Captain your own two-seater catamaran through wild Florida wilderness with Catboat Escapes, located 40 minutes west of our theme park and entertainment districts in Clermont. Explore the waterways of Lake Minnehaha on a breathtaking two-and-a-half-hour tour, during which you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery, spot native plants and wildlife, and learn more about the area from an entertaining guide.

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Worth the Day Trip

Our central location and ever-evolving lineup of things to do make Orlando the perfect home base for your vacation. Explore even more of the region’s natural beauty with unique aquatic activities like bioluminescent kayaking, all within a short drive of Orlando.

Bioluminescent Boat Tours

Witness the magic of nature on a captivating bioluminescent tour of Florida’s Space Coast, just one hour east of Orlando. All year long, and especially during the summer months, you can see thousands of glowing blue algae blooms on a guided eco tour with BK Adventure. Take to the water in a crystal-clear kayak for premium views or climb aboard a 10-seater raft that’s perfect for families and large groups.

Get Up and Go Kayaking, Epic Paddle Adventures, and Viking Eco Tours also offer bioluminescent clear kayak getaways during the summer months, plus a variety of thrilling eco-tours throughout the year.

Paddle & Tiki Cruise

Adventure Outdoor Paddle is best known for their kayaking expeditions through the lush canals and waterways of Mount Dora, our artsy neighbor to the north. If you’re looking for even more above-water fun, check out fun combination packages like the Paddle & Tiki Cruise, which includes a two-hour cruise in a floating tiki hut. Yes, there’s a bar onboard. The seaplane + kayaking combo tour is also worth mentioning if aerial views are more your style.

Guided Manatee-Spotting Tours

Manatees flock to Central Florida in search of warmer waters during the winter months, and there’s no better way to see them than on a guided tour from Orlando. You can spot these majestic creatures from multiple natural springs within an hour of Orlando, most notably Blue Spring State Park.

Discover: Where to See Manatees Near Orlando

Crystal River is also worth a visit, and for good reason: It’s the only place in the country where you can actually swim with manatees. Gray Line of Orlando Sightseeing Tours can get you there in a jiffy, and tour operators like Crystal River Watersports and Get Up and Go Kayaking offer guided excursions and rentals if you prefer to arrive on your own terms. Crystal River Watersports also offers a variety of guided boat tours, including sightseeing, snorkeling and sunset cruises around Crystal River.

Silver Springs Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Finally, Silver Springs State Park has a glass-bottomed boat tour that’s perfect for nature lovers, history buffs and even cinephiles. The boats originated at Silver Springs over 150 years ago, and if you look closely during your tour, you might catch glimpses of fish, ancient artifacts and movie props from underwater flicks like Creature From the Black Lagoon.

Discover: Orlando Natural Springs

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Map

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