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There is a stretch of the Wakulla River, close to the start of the spring that is not accessible to the everyday person.   It’s unspoiled Florida, the real Florida as many know it and for over half a century the Wakulla Springs Jungle Cruise Boat Tour at Wakulla Springs has been the one way to get a look into Florida as it once was.   There were actually people exploring this area in glass-bottom boats as far back as 1875 and while the glass bottom boats no longer run, the riverboat tour is still cruising along with outings 365 days a year.

We had a chance to go out and experience the Wakulla Springs boat tour as a family and it was by far our favorite part of our weekend visit.  We also stayed at the historic Lodge at Wakulla Springs and I will share more about it in a future post but today, I want to talk about the jungle cruise!  This has been one of our favorite Florida adventures to date.  You can check out more of them here.

Wakulla Springs Jungle Cruise

This 45-minute – 55-minute ranger-led boat tour is an affordable way to get out on the water and experience life in the Wakulla River.  This rich ecosystem is a bird lover’s paradise, but on our trip, we also saw manatees, deer, turtles, and a whole lot of alligators.

On the Jungle Cruise, the boat will travel in a two-mile loop downstream and then back up upstream, starting and ending at the dock directly in front of the Lodge at Wakulla Springs.  I had my camera with me and was able to get a lot of great photos of the wildlife we encountered on the boat tour and will sprinkle them throughout this post as I share more about Wakulla Springs State Park itself and also how to book your jungle cruise.

Price of the Wakulla Beach Jungle Cruise

The Jungle Cruise is currently priced at $8 for adults (13 years old and up) and $5 for children (ages 3 to 12).  Children under 3 are free.    You will have to pay the entrance fee for Wakulla Springs State Park as well and the current price is $6 for a vehicle with two to eight occupants or $4for a single-occupant vehicle.

Currently, the Wakulla Springs River Boat Tour runs at 9:40 am, 10:20 am, 11:00 am, 11:40 am, 12:20 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:40 pm, 2:20 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:40 pm, 4:20 pm, 5:00 pm but please click here to current times before planning your visit.

How to Book Your Your Boat Tour

At this time, reservations are required in advance and may be made through the Lodge at Wakulla Springs State Park website.  Same-day reservations may be made at least one hour before departure at the Lodge at Wakulla Springs State Park front desk but with this being a popular outing, if it best to make your reservations in advance.

What to Bring on the Jungle Cruise

The Wakulla Springs State Park Jungle Cruise boats are 30 feet long and covered and while they do run in the rain, they will not run in thunderstorms or if temperatures are under 40 degrees.  So, make sure to dress accordingly.  You may also want to bring a camera, binoculars, and water.   You don’t want to bring food or pets.

History of Wakulla Springs

When visiting Wakulla Springs State Park, you will notice several placards with all sorts of fun information about the park and the spring itself.  Two things that I found very interesting is that researchers have determined that this area has been continuously occupied by humans for almost 15,000 years.  On the Jungle Cruise Tour, the guide pointed out an area called The Meadow that has produced numerous artifacts from various points in history.

It’s no wonder that humans settled here, as the largest and deepest freshwater spring in the world, a true first magnitude Spring, Wakulla Springs was a constant source of water for indigenous people who thrived here.   Did you know that the word Wakulla is derived from a Native American word meaning mystery or sometimes river of the crying bird.

Wakulla Springs is designated as both a  National Archaeological and Historic District, a National Natural Landmark, and as a State Geological Site and it was here that in 1850, the first bones of an ancient mastodon were first spotted at the bottom of the Spring.  In the years since a number of now-extinct prehistoric mammals have been discovered including the giant ground sloth, saber-toothed tiger, short-faced bear, ancient bison, mammoth, and more.  We actually got a chance to see the skeletal display of that mastodon when visiting the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee.

Edward Ball and his impact on Wakulla Springs

You may have noticed that the official name of this 6,800-acre Florida State Park is Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park.  That is because it was Edward Ball who purchased the property in 1934 with intentions of preserving this natural wonder and providing a place for people to experience the beauty it holds.  It was later purchased by the State of Florida and officially made a Florida State Park.

Edward himself designed and managed the construction of the Lodge itself breaking ground in 1935.  This historic lodge is a feat all of its own.  The interior is covered in marble and my favorite park is the hand painted ceiling in the lobby.

Movies Made at Wakulla Springs State Park

So, I have to mention the movies filmed here and they were actually discussed on the Jungle Cruise Boat Tour.  Our knowledgeable guide filled us in on all kinds of fun facts around filming!  Before you board the tour, you can’t miss all of the movie posters hanging on the exterior of the boathouse.

The most famous movie filmed at Wakulla Springs is Creature From The Black Lagoon but other popular movies include several of the early Tarzan films including Tarzan’s New York Adventure as well as  Joe Panther, Airport ’77, Night Moves and of course Return of the Creature.

Swimming at Wakulla Springs State Park

Local folks know a good swimming hole when they find it and Wakulla Springs is no exception!  A roped-off swimming area is located adjacent to the boat docks and in front of the lodge.   I know what you are thinking!  I am showing you photos of gators and then chatting about swimming in the same waters.  But people have been doing it for years.  I assume that the gators prefer not to hang out with all of the people anyway when they have all of that preserved natural area at the welcome.  But, I did see a couple of manatees right next to the rope last week!  People were snorkeling just feet away from them which is such an awesome experience.

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