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Explore the Past 15 Million Years!
If you like beachcombing, mushroom hunting, metal detecting or geocaching you’ll love our fossil tours!
Our canoe fossil-hunting tours are $125. per person for teens and adults. Kids age 12 and under are $90. Private tours can also be arranged; please call for info. We can accept cash, Venmo, Zelle, or US checks made out to Paleo Discoveries on the day of your tour. Deposits are not necessary to hold reservations. We do not process credit/debit cards on our tours.
Fossil hunting expeditions generally take place on the Peace River in central Fla. and are approximately 2 hours driving distance from West Palm Beach, Vero Beach areas, 1 hour from Sarasota, Tampa and approximately 1-1/2 hours from the Orlando area. 1 hour from downtown Ft. Myers. We often visit the towns of Wauchula, Zolfo Springs and Arcadia. Transportation is not supplied. Tours last 5-6 hours, not including travel time.
We usually meet at a pre-arranged location near the river at 9:30 am. We return to our vehicles about 3:30 PM. We’ll supply directions to the meeting location the day before your trip.
1. Clothing that can get wet and preferably dries easily such as bathing suits. Regular shorts and t-shirts ok. We suggest you wear things that you don’t mind getting dirty. 2. Closed footwear that is secure on your feet such as water shoes or sneakers w/socks. (More comfortable if sand and fine gravel get in.) Dive boots are great if you’ve got ’em. Flip flops, wading boots or any open shoes or sandals are not recommended because sand and gravel will get in them. 3. A wide brim hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are also highly recommended.
We supply the equipment you will need to collect fossils (e.g., screens, shovels, etc.). We also supply life jackets and vests for our canoe tours. We usually have a snorkel or two on hand for you to use if the water is clear; if you want to bring your own, feel free. Bring your own lunch and drinks. A cooler is fine for our canoe tours, they will fit in the boat if under 30″ long. Remember to bring any allergy or other medications you made need. Also, we highly recommend you bring a dry bag or zip lock bag to keep phones, keys and wallets dry.
Do you like to canoe/kayak as well as fossil-hunt? Then join us on the river for a combination expedition! We supply the canoes to get you there and find the goodies. Canoes allow us to access more remote and often less collected locations, as well as take in more wildlife sightings and scenery. Canoe expeditions are $125. per person for teens and adults; kids 12 and under are $90. Canoes seat 3-4 people. PLEASE NOTE: All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Keep in mind that fossil hunting expeditions are in essence field trips. Canoe trips are not recommended for children under 5 yrs old. NOTE: Florida state law requires a fossil-hunting permit to collect vertebrate fossils (shark teeth excepted) on state lands and rivers. WE HAVE A GROUP VERTEBRATE FOSSIL HUNTING PERMIT TO COVER YOU ON OUR TOURS. NO NEED TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO ATTEND OUR TOUR. Invertebrate fossils such as sand dollars and shells do not require a permit.