Explore guided tours, private boat rentals, specialty cruises and more aquatic fun in Orlando.
Updated Sept. 24, 2026
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
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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
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.
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.
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.
Gray Line Orlando
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
Map
Orlando Water Adventures FAQ
What are some unique things to do on the water in Orlando?
Orlando’s water adventures include private boat rentals, sailing excursions, pontoon cruises, kayaking, paddleboarding, airboat rides, guided fishing trips and scenic boat tours. Nearby day trips add experiences such as bioluminescent kayaking, manatee tours and glass-bottom boat rides.
Where can I rent a boat in Orlando?
Lake Fairview Marina near College Park rents catamarans, pontoon boats, paddle boats and sailboats along with canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Paradise Cove near Walt Disney World® Resort offers pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards, while select Walt Disney World marinas rent 10-passenger pontoon boats.
Can you rent a boat at Walt Disney World® Resort?
Yes. Select Walt Disney World Resort marinas offer 10-passenger pontoon boat rentals for exploring waterways including Seven Seas Lagoon. Kayaks and canoes are also available at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
Can you take a boat tour at Disney Springs®?
Yes. The Boathouse offers guided Amphicar tours at Disney Springs® aboard restored vintage vehicles that drive from land directly into the water. An expert captain guides the cruise and points out sights along the way.
Can you watch Walt Disney World® Resort fireworks from a boat?
Yes. Private Walt Disney World specialty cruises offer views of nighttime spectaculars including Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom® Park and Luminous The Symphony of Us at EPCOT®. Cruises include a captain, snacks and assorted soft drinks.
Where can I go sailing in Orlando?
Sailing Orlando offers private two-hour sailing experiences on Lake Fairview with a captain and instructor. Lake Fairview Marina also offers sailboat and catamaran rentals plus sailing lessons and 15-hour sailing certificate courses.
What is the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour?
The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is a one-hour guided cruise through the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. The experience passes natural scenery, historic buildings and waterfront estates, with departures conveniently located near Park Avenue.
Where can I take an airboat ride near Orlando?
Airboat tour options include Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, Wild Florida, Black Hammock Airboat Rides, Crazy Gator Airboat Tours, and Tom & Jerry’s Airboat Rides. Tours explore Florida wetlands where riders can watch for alligators, birds and other native wildlife.
Can you drive your own boat on an Orlando water tour?
Yes. Catboat Escapes in Clermont lets guests captain two-person catamarans on a guided 2.5-hour tour of Lake Minnehaha, combining time on the water with scenery, wildlife and information about the area.
Can you go kayaking in Orlando?
Yes. Kayak opportunities include rentals at Lake Fairview Marina and Paradise Cove plus guided excursions around Central Florida. Adventure Outdoor Paddle also offers kayaking expeditions through Mount Dora’s canals and waterways.
Where can I see bioluminescence near Orlando?
Florida’s Space Coast, about one hour east of Orlando, offers guided bioluminescent excursions. Options include clear-kayak tours and larger raft experiences, with bioluminescence available year-round and particularly notable during the summer months.
Can you see manatees near Orlando?
Yes. Manatees gather in Central Florida’s warmer waters during winter, with Blue Spring State Park among the notable places to see them within an hour of Orlando. Guided trips from Orlando are also available.
Can you swim with manatees near Orlando?
Crystal River offers opportunities to swim with manatees and can be visited as a day trip from Orlando. Guided excursions are available, including transportation options departing from Orlando.
Where can I ride a glass-bottom boat near Orlando?
Silver Springs State Park offers historic glass-bottom boat tours where passengers can look beneath the water for fish, ancient artifacts and even movie props. Glass-bottom boats originated at Silver Springs more than 150 years ago.
Are there dinner cruises near Orlando?
Yes. St. Johns Rivership Company in Sanford offers themed dining excursions aboard one of the Southeast’s last sternwheelers, along with immersive theater shows, live music, sunset views and opportunities to spot wildlife.
What water activities are available near Walt Disney World® Resort?
Options include pontoon boat rentals at Walt Disney World Resort marinas, kayaking and canoeing at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, lessons and chartered tours at nearby Paradise Cove.
What water adventures make good day trips from Orlando?
Day-trip options include bioluminescent tours on Florida’s Space Coast, kayaking and tiki cruises in Mount Dora, manatee viewing at Central Florida springs, swimming with manatees in Crystal River, and glass-bottom boat tours at Silver Springs State Park.
FAQs are based on this blog’s content, created in partnership with Microsoft Copilot, and edited by the real humans at Visit Orlando.
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