Grassrivers: Airboats, Gators & Watson Bay

The untamable jewel of Leonida's crown. The Grassrivers are Leonida's Everglades: a vast swamp of shallow water, sawgrass, mangroves and canals spreading south and west of Vice City. You never know what lies beneath the surface of this primordial expanse, Rockstar warns. The gators may be the most famous attraction, but there are far deadlier predators and weirder discoveries among the mangroves.

Getting around

Roads are scarce. The airboat is king — skimming over water and grass alike — with kayaks for the narrow channels. Even the vehicle chases are different here: Trailer 2 shows a Buzzard attack helicopter chasing an airboat through the reeds.

Watson Bay

The main settlement: a rough town right on the water, with buildings over the water on stilts, beat-up docks, fishing boats, a motel and a bar. The Ultimate Edition's Paradise Garage is here, with a weapon locker and a secure stash for stolen goods — and it's where you'd keep the '67 Vapid Dominator Buggy. Nearby on the community map is Bobcat Key.

People of the swamp

• Gladesmen-style locals who live off hunting and trapping, far from any city.
• Armed poachers and gator traffickers, working at night by spotlight.
• Wildlife officers who patrol in their own pickups, chasing the poachers.
• Footage of locals posing with gators and pythons around camp fires tells you all you need to know about the vibe.

Wildlife

Alligators everywhere, big snakes and birds — plus whatever Rockstar means by far deadlier predators. Expect the swamp to hide some of the game's strangest secrets.

Why go there

• Losing the cops. Police cars can't follow you into the swamp, and helicopters struggle to track an airboat through the mangroves.
• Fishing from an airboat rigged for it.
• Exploration. The "weirder discoveries among the mangroves" are a clear invitation.
• Vice City views. The skyline is visible across the swamp — a great reminder of how close the wild is to the city.