Fossil Hunting in Florida | Guided Canoe Fossil Tours

Fossil Hunting in Florida | Guided Canoe Tours with Paleo Discoveries

Discover Florida’s fossil history with your guide, Fred Mazza, on a fossil hunting tour. Experience fossil hunting in Florida as you explore the past 30 million years. Join us and discover your own piece of history — one that you can actually hold in your hand.

Trip Advisor

Check Out Our 5 Star Reviews

Welcome to Paleo Discoveries™

Check out Florida’s fossil history on our Fossil Hunting Tours!! Fill out our contact form or call (772) 539-7005 to learn more.

Many visitors travel from across the country to experience fossil hunting in Florida because the state’s rivers contain fossils that are millions of years old.

We offer canoe-based fossil hunting tours. These tours generally take place on the Peace River in the towns of Bowling Green and Wauchula and are approx. 1 hr east from Sarasota and 90 minutes from Orlando.

Fossil Hunting in Florida's Rivers and Streams!

Screen sift or snorkel in one of Florida’s shallow rivers or streams to find remains of ancient sharks, whales, dolphins, fish, saber-tooth cats, jaguars, mammoths, mastodons, camels, tapirs, horses, sloths, giant armadillos and much more. Join us and discover your own piece of history – one that you can actually hold in your hand!

Unlike a fishing trip, you’ll always come home with something. These day trips are safe, fun and educational. Experience genuine Florida eco-tourism.

Where We Go

What You Can Find

Know Before You Go (FAQs)

Fossil Hunting Tour Testimonials

    
 
 
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   CJ B 
 
 
 
 Verified Highly adventurous! We had a great experience with Paleo Discoveries! Fred was super kind and informative! We were able to canoe the Peace river and search for shark teeth. I would highly recommend if you're looking for something adventurous to do in central florida!
  
 
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   Serena F 
 
 
 
 Verified Fossil hunting Fred was very nice, and helped us identify all of our exciting finds! We found so many shark teeth, and had such a fantastic day!
  
 
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   Daryl M 
 
 
 
 Verified Great day. Amazing experiance! Fred is the guy you want on an adventure like this. Shovel man will keep ur sifting pan full of great finds. The river is soo beautiful and clean. I was worried my wife might be a bit petrified of actually being in a river but there was absolutely nothing that made her squeamish!! Perfect day, perfect weather!
  
 
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   Kristin V 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing day shark tooth hunting Fred was an awesome guide and gave me and my friends the best day ever! Because of him I finally found my first Meg 😊 This tour was well worth every penny and I will definitely join him again one day on another tour!
  
 
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   Tina S 
 
 
 
 Verified Great experience If you are a fossil person you will like this experience. The more wisdom the more exciting it gets. Lots of sharks teeth but other exciting fossils too.
  
 
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   Dietitian D 
 
 
 
 Verified Fossil hunting Such a fun and unique experience. Lots of great info and hands on guidance through the day. Fred was very responsive and instructions for meeting up was clear. My 8 and 11 yr old boys were digging for hours and we came home with lots of great finds including shark teeth , megladon teeth and other cool prehistoric fossils.
  
 
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   UPNorthguy41990 
 
 
 
 Verified Great day on the River Fred is amazing and so knowledgeable! What a fun day on the River. He brought us to two great spots and we left with many great finds and memories. Would definitely go again. The pictures are just a fraction of our haul.
  
 
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   Zachary B 
 
 
 
 Verified Fossil hunt Fred was a amazing tour guide he made sure everybody in the group was having a good time he is a very fun and easy going person who loves what he does everybody in the group found a Meg tooth and lots of other cool fossils and shark teeth I would definitely recommend too anyone 10/10 will be back soon for another trip!!
  
 
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   Josh 
 
 
 
 Verified Fossils! Fred is absolutely amazing! This was our second outing with Paleo Discoveries and won't be our last. If your into fossils and don't mind getting wet and a little dirty then you have found the experience you need to book. I can't wait for the next trip!
  
 
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   Inspire819784 
 
 
 
 Verified Fun, flexible, professional Fred does a great trip, flexible, accommodating and knowledgeable. He did everything he could to ensure we had a good time, were successful and learned a lot. Highly recommend him.

Took my 11 year old daughter and we had an amazing time! Found more shark teeth than we could count including 3 megalodon teeth! Fred is an excellent guide…both an encyclopedia of knowledge as well as being super helpful and positive to all different ages and fitness levels…can’t wait to come back with the whole family!

Rhett B

So amazing I want to go do it again tomorrow!

We had such a great time on the Peace River hunting fossils with Fred and Paleo Discoveries! Highly recommend this trip to anyone that enjoys searching Florida's history. Fred is extremely knowledgeable and runs an outstanding operation fully equipped for hunting fossils on the river! We look forward to going again next year!

Rod D

Great Fossil Hunting Trip!

Fred is an amazing tour guide. He mad sure everbidy in the group was having a good time. He is a very fun and easygoing person who loves what he does. Everyone in the group found a Meg tooth and lots of other cool fossils and shark teeth. I would definitely recommend to anyone 10/10. Will be back soon for another trip!

Zachary B

Recommend to Anyone 10/10!

Canoe Fossil Hunting Tours

Do you like to canoe/kayak as well as fossil-hunt? Then join us on the river for our Canoe based fossil hunting tours! We supply the canoes to get you there and find your treasures.

Screen sift or snorkel in one of Florida’s shallow rivers or streams, find remains of ancient sharks, whales, dolphins, fish, saber-tooth cats, jaguars, mammoths, mastodons, camels, tapirs, horses, sloths, giant armadillos and much more.

Join us and discover your own piece of history– one that you can actually hold in your hand! Unlike a fishing trip, you’ll always come home with something- these day trips are safe, fun and educational. Experience genuine Florida eco-tourism.

Our Mission

Fred Mazza started Paleo Discoveries in 2004 as a way to combine his passion for the outdoors with his knowledge of the natural history of our planet.

Our mission is to support others in discovering and experiencing that same kind of passion for our planet’s history in a fun and interactive way. This is what Paleo Discoveries is all about!

HOW TO BOOK A TOUR

NOTE: WE DO NOT HAVE AN ONLINE SIGN UP PAGE FOR TOURS!

TO BOOK A TOUR…

1. Call 772-539-7005 OR Complete the Contact Form with Your Name, Email and Best Phone Number to Reach You

2. Tell us the date(s) you want to go and how many people.

3. We will reply within 12 hours or less to reserve your spot!

4. We do NOT require a deposit to hold your reservation. We accept Cash, Check, Venmo or Zelle on the day of your Tour.

TO ASK A QUESTION…

If there is anything related to this website or fossils and paleontology that you have a question about, then please complete the Contact Form.