Carlos Arazoza

Carlos “Charlie” Arazoza is perhaps the most experienced Everglades paddler, having kayaked almost all portions of the Florida Everglades at one time or another. He will serve as the Willoughby Expedition guide.

Arazoza is the former Chairman of the South Florida National Parks Trust, the founder of the South Florida Bush Paddlers Association, and the current Chairman of the Flamingo Forever Capital Campaign, restoring Flamingo after Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. Amongst his contributions to Everglades exploration and conservation, Arazoza:

Paddled on the first trip down the Taylor River Slough since drainage in the mid-1900s, traversing Everglades National Park from the north to Florida Bay and the Florida Keys;

Member of the trip to rediscover the Lost Portage. Mapped natural link between Broad River basin and Harney River basin. Making a direct link between the northern and southern Wilderness waterways without using the Nightmare route.

Co-led mapping expedition to establish inside route from Main Park Road to Cape Sable. The historic route down Bear Lake Canal has become impassible due to silting and deadfall. This route creates a safe alternative route when the Florida Bay route is unsafe due to weather.

Led two trips down the Wilderness Waterway from Everglades City to Flamingo. The first trip was in 1987 with no electronics, and the second trip was in 2008.

Participated in several River of Grass Expeditions with the Arthur Marshall Foundation, broadcasting into the schools in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties to promote adventure and environmental awareness. The first trip was from Boynton Beach to the Miccosukee Indian Reservation to follow the channelized flow of the modern Everglades water system. Guided the second trip through the grass and mangroves from the end of the controlled Everglades to Florida Bay. Guided third trip starting in Lake Okeechobee and ending in downtown Miami through the Miami Canal and River.

Led trips across Florida Bay from Flamingo to Islamorada and down Biscayne Bay from Key Biscayne to Key Largo.

Led high water exploration finding a route from the Pahayokee Outlook to the Shark River Slough trail, which is only possible in extreme high water.

Assisted in establishing the Jones Lagoon tours in Biscayne National Park, a spectacular but previously unused area of the park that is now accessible by visitors.

Mapped the Crazy 8s Loops with leadership at Big Cypress National Preserve. The trail is now included in the official canoe trails of the Preserve.

Assisted in the extensive mapping of the Gladesmen’s trails in Everglades National Park. These historic waterways were once the roads of the early settlers in the Everglades, lost and ignored for years, but are now mapped and their historical significance highlighted.

Assisted in and led crews in the maintenance of trails in Everglades and Biscayne National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve, including Turner River, the Nightmare, and Jones Lagoon.

Currently planning a trip from the headwaters of the Everglades in Orlando to Lake Okeechobee and a trip to analyze blue-green algae contamination on the St. Lucie River.

Professionally, Arazoza is an attorney and CPA in Miami, Florida.