tours of everglades national park

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THE 10 BEST Everglades National Park Tours & Excursions

Everglades national park tours.

• Ports of Call Tours
• Walking Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Private Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Helicopter Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Photography Tours
• Up to 1 hour
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• 4 hours to 1 day
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. 60 min. Everglades Airboat ride & pick-up ,small group +pro guide

2. Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour

3. 10000 Islands Everglades Boat Tour

4. Flamingo Everglades Boat Tours

5. Small Group Motorboat Eco Tour of the Everglades

6. 1-Hour Air boat Ride and Nature Walk with Naturalist in Everglades National Park

7. Everglades Kayak Safari Adventure Through Mangrove Tunnels

8. Two-Hour Everglades National Park Dolphin, Birding and Wildlife Boat Tour

9. Everglades Airboat Ride & Guided Hike

10. Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Experience with roundtrip transfer

11. Everglades National Park Biologist Led Adventure: Cruise, Hike + Airboat

12. Everglades National Park Boat Tour

13. Everglades National Park Biologist Led Hike, 2 boat trips + lunch

14. Everglades Day Safari from Ft Lauderdale

15. Dolphin and Manatee Boat Tour in 10,000 Islands NWR

16. Everglades Tour in Miami

17. Full-Day Kayak Adventure in the Everglades

18. Boat Ride in 10,000 Islands + Biologist Led Walk in the Everglades Small Group

19. Miami Combo: City Tour, Biscayne Bay Cruise and Everglades Airboat Ride

20. Everglades National Park Self Guided Driving Audio Tour

21. Small-Group Everglades Boating Kayaking and Walking Eco Tour

22. Everglades National Park Dolphin, Birding and Wildlife Boat Tour (2 hours)

23. Full Day Everglades: Biologist Led WET walk + 2 boat trips + lunch small group

24. Manatee, Dolphin and 10,000 Islands Sunset Cruise!

25. Everglades Express Small Group Tour from Miami with Airboat Ride

26. Everglades Airboat with or without pick-up

27. Ultimate Florida Self Guided Driving Audio Tour Bundle

28. Everglades National Park Small Group Guided Boating and Walking Expedition

29. Private HOUR Helicopter Tour Lauderdale -Everglades -Miami Beach

30. Everglades Kayak & Canoe Rentals

What travelers are saying.

• 60 min. Everglades Airboat ride & pick-up ,small group +pro guide
• 1-Hour Air boat Ride and Nature Walk with Naturalist in Everglades National Park
• Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour
• 10000 Islands Everglades Boat Tour
• Everglades National Park Biologist Led Adventure: Cruise, Hike + Airboat
• Florida Outdoor Adventures - Guided Everglades Kayak Tours
• German Tours Everglades LLC
• Everglades Birding

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The 9 best everglades airboat and swamp tours.

See much more than alligators during one of these exciting trips.

The Top Everglades Airboat & Swamp Tours

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If you're planning a trip to Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida , visiting Everglades National Park should be on your to-do list. The South Florida national park is known for its expansive beauty, as well as its varied population of wildlife that includes everything from bobcats to alligators.

To see all the Everglades has to offer, sign up for a guided tour. U.S. News consulted both traveler sentiment and expert opinion to identify the top Everglades tours. Before you go, make sure you read through the National Park Service's Wildlife Viewing Ethics to keep both yourself and the animals safe during your time in the park. When choosing the best Everglades tours, we avoided recommending operators that promote wildlife shows or encourage feeding or holding the animals for photo-ops.

Visitors should plan to pay a fee to enter the park, as it may not be included in the price of the tour ticket. You should also keep in mind that many of these tour operators are located at least 30 miles west of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Tours that run on airboats – open-air vessels with huge fans at the back that propel the boat – can be very loud. Companies will generally offer ear protection, but if you or your companions are sensitive to loud noises, contact the tour provider to discuss options before you book.

The Best Everglades Airboat and Swamp Tours

Everglades swamp tours – one hour group tour.

Price: Adults from $60; kids from $30 Duration: 1 hour

This sightseeing trip takes you out on an airboat to cruise through the Everglades' main waterways in search of alligators, birds and interesting vegetation. Throughout the ride, knowledgeable guides share facts about the area's history and ecology. Many travelers recommend booking this tour, describing it as fun and informative, with plenty of wildlife sightings. Departures generally take place daily at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., but availability may vary by month.

Children 5 and younger can ride for free, but still require a reserved seats. Also check out Everglades Swamp Tours for private airboat tours that last up to two hours.

Check prices & availability on:

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures – 30-Minute Airboat Tour

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $30 Duration: 30 minutes

Located at the headwaters of the Everglades in Kissimmee, Florida (about 40 miles south of Orlando), Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures earns praise from reviewers for its personable, experienced staff and the family-friendly environment. On the airboat ride, you and up to 16 other passengers will glide through the tall grass in search of eagles, alligators, raccoons and more. In addition to airboat rides, the site houses a replica of a Jororo Tribe village, as well as a gem and fossil mining activity for kids.

Tours depart throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 5 pm. You can buy your tickets online, but there are no reservations for this tour. For a longer adventure, consider the company's hourlong airboat ride. There are also sunset and night tours, if you're hoping to avoid the midday heat and crowds.

Marsh Landing Adventures – 90-Minute Everglades Airboat Tour

Price: Adults from $65; kids from $60 Duration: 1.5 hours

For wildlife lovers who want more than half an hour to experience the Everglades, this 1.5-hour airboat ride from Marsh Landing Adventures is an excellent experience. Located in Kissimmee on Lake Tohopekaliga, Marsh Landing Adventures promises travelers an in-depth look at the headwaters of the Everglades and the plants and animals that inhabit its waters. What's more, the company says it can reach areas of the Everglades that are inaccessible to larger boats because of its small crafts. Travelers give kudos to the boat captain for their educational and entertaining delivery. Many call the experience the highlight of their Florida vacation.

Tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations are required, and there is a 1% fuel surcharge added to each ticket. Marsh Landing Adventures also offers hourlong, two-hour and four-hour airboat rides.

Everglades City Airboat Tours

Price: Adults from $47; kids from $31 Duration: 1 hour

Everglades City Airboat Tours sets itself apart from other companies by offering participants two-way headsets, which allow passengers and guides to better engage with one another throughout the hourlong ride. As you navigate through narrow creeks and shallow bays, you may spot alligators, manatees and birds. Tourists enjoy the ride and appreciate the headsets. Reviewers are also complimentary of the boat captains, who they describe as entertaining and knowledgeable.

Tours depart multiple times Monday through Saturday, although timing may be modified based on the season. It's a good idea to reserve your tour in advance. Everglades City Airboat Tours is located approximately 85 miles west of Miami and 35 miles southeast of Naples, Florida.

Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours – 45-Minute Standard Airboat Tour

Price: Adults from $45; kids from $27.50 Duration: 45 minutes

For an excursion that combines cultural immersion and wildlife viewing, consider this outing from Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours. The Miccosukee family-owned company's standard tour focuses on introducing visitors to the homelands of the Miccosukee people: an American Indian tribe that migrated to Florida before it became a state. During the tour, you'll not only see local wildlife, but also will get to see a Miccosukee Indian camp and take a nature walk. Visitors recommend the tour, describing it as an amazing experience thanks to the small, intimate group size.

Tours run daily at multiple times between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The company also offers private outings.

Everglades River of Grass Adventures – Semi-Private River of Grass Airboat Tours Everglades

Price: Adults from $85; kids from $45 Duration: 1.5 hours

One perk of this tour is that it is capped at six to eight travelers per boat. During the excursion, you'll get the chance to see the famous flora and fauna of the Everglades, including herons and alligators. Visitors say this is a family-friendly tour and call the trip "memorable" and "amazing."

These tours run seven days a week; since they're semiprivate, you must call or email to find out the best times to depart. River of Grass Adventures also offers sunset tours of the Everglades.

Other Popular Everglades Tours

Shurr Adventures Everglades – Three Hour Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour Small Group Adventure

Price: Adults from $109; kids from $99 Duration: 3 to 4 hours

Enjoy an up-close view of animals and nature, and get some exercise in too, on this kayak tour of the Everglades' mangroves. As you paddle your way through the mangrove tunnels, you may spot orchids, birds and, of course, alligators. Kayakers say this tour is excellent and appreciate the patient, experienced guides who share a wealth of information about the plants and animals that reside in this unique ecosystem. What's more, reviewers appreciate that the tours are limited to just eight participants.

Tours are available Monday through Saturday from August to April; times vary by season. Children must be at least 7 years old to participate. Tourgoers will enjoy three to 3.5 hours out on the water but should plan to spend a total of four hours on-site from start to finish. Shurr Adventures Everglades also offers a full-day tour of the mangrove tunnels, as well as a motorboat tour in the Ten Thousand Islands region of Everglades National Park, among other options.

Shark Valley Tram Tours

Price: Adults from $31; kids from $16 Duration: 2 hours

These naturalist-led excursions not only include a tour around Everglades National Park in an open-air tram, they also give tourgoers the chance to explore on foot. Halfway through the tour, participants can climb a 45-foot-tall observation deck to see sweeping views of the surrounding vegetation. During the two-hour tour, travelers also have the opportunity to observe a variety of wildlife. Tourgoers enjoy learning about the Everglades from the expert guides and say riding the tram is part of the fun. Many also recommended taking a morning tour to avoid the midday heat.

From mid-December through late April, tours depart on the hour daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. From May through mid-December, tours depart at 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. Shark Valley Tram Tours also offers self-guided bike tours. (Note that you'll have to pay a separate fee to enter Everglades National Park for any tour.)

Everglades Florida Adventures – Ten Thousand Islands Tour

Price: Adults from $59; kids from $29 Duration: 3 hours

If you're hoping to see the Everglades by boat, but want something a little quieter than an airboat ride, consider this cruise. Departing from Port of the Islands Marina in Naples, this 45-foot passenger catamaran glides across the Faka Union Canal while guides share information about the history and ecology of the area. Tourgoers report spotting lots of birds, turtles, dolphins and manatees. They also call out the insightful crew and clean, comfortable boat as highlights.

Cruises are offered Monday to Friday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Everglades Florida Adventures also offers kayak and canoe rentals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Like any other form of transportation, riding an airboat may come with some risks. To stay safe on your Everglades airboat tour, be sure to choose a company run by experienced, professional boaters (most of which undergo special training and are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard) and adhere to all rules set forth by your guide. Parents should keep a close eye on children and be sure they are properly fitted for their life jackets, and all passengers should protect against the heat by wearing sunscreen and staying hydrated. Commercial airboats typically do not exceed speeds of 30 to 40 mph to ensure a safe, smooth ride, and most operators will reschedule your tour in the event of lightning or other inclement weather. Tour companies will also generally provide riders with proper ear protection, as the boats are quite loud.

Typically, passengers will feel the most comfortable in lightweight, sleeveless clothing and shorts while on an Everglades airboat tour. If you are taking a wintertime tour, keep an eye on the weather – pants and long sleeves may be a better option, but you likely won't need a heavy jacket. Be sure to bring sunglasses, sunscreen and water to protect yourself from the effects of the sun; you may also want a hat to provide further shade and keep hair in place. Passengers with long hair are advised to wear it in a ponytail or bun to keep it from becoming knotted in the wind. Tourgoers may also wish to apply some bug spray prior to embarking on their adventure.

Airboat tours last about an hour, though duration will depend on the tour company.

An airboat's top speed is about 30 mph.

Not normally, but you run a small risk of getting misted with water. If you take a tour when it is raining, expect to get wet.

In winter, you'll want to time your visit for midday, when it warms up. In summer, you'll want to visit in the morning or later afternoon when it's coolest. Visiting at these times can increase your chances of seeing wildlife, but you'll likely see all kinds of critters no matter when you visit year-round.

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Explore the Ten Thousand Islands of Everglades National Park!

Help protect the Everglades

Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour 

• Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour

49-seat boat

90–120 min tour, 2 attractions.

Boardwalk (Included)

View location.

Everglades National Park Rangers Join Us!

Park rangers join our ten thousand islands boat tour most days at 12:30. rangers may not be available on some days..

Why Choose Everglades National Park Adventures?

• Environmental Commitment

Exclusive Nature & Culture

Comfortable & accessible boat, national park rangers.

Meet the Animals of Everglades National Park!

• Everglades City Boardwalk
• Meet the Animals
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A Guide to Everglades National Park: The Best Boat Tours, Alligator Lookouts, and Local-Loved Fruit Stands

By Matt Kirouac

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Despite the fact that South Beach is barely an hour’s drive away,  Everglades National Park is a vast, immersive wilderness that feels like a world of its own. A far cry from the hustle and bustle of Miami, the mighty River of Grass—so named by conservationist and author Marjory Stoneman Douglas, describing its billowing sawgrass marshes and swampy waterways—protects 1.5 million acres of uniquely Floridian flora and fauna. While climate change and early developers have dwindled these once-mightier wetlands, fed at a trickle pace by Lake Okeechobee in central Florida, it’s still the largest subtropical wilderness in the country. National park status was given in 1947 to protect this delicate landscape from further drainage. 

Nowadays, Everglades, the third largest national park in the lower 48 states, is the only place on Earth where crocodiles and alligators coexist, and alongside rare Florida panthers, manatees, dolphins, sharks, and invasive pythons—in a sea of coastal mangrove forests, labyrinthine waterways, pine flatwoods, murky swamps, and sawgrass marshes so endless that early explorers coined the forever-sounding word “Everglades.”

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know for a visit to Everglades National Park. From the best time to visit to the boat tours that best showcase this wonder, consider this your definitive guide to the crown jewel of Florida's national parks . 

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Everglades National Park's Shark Valley observation tower 

Alligator in Everglades National Park

When to visit Everglades National Park

While most parts of the country see all four seasons, there are really only two in Everglades National Park: dry and wet. During the dry season, from December through March, humidity is at its lowest, rain is rarer, mosquitos wane, and temperatures are comfortably warm, with average highs of 77 degrees Fahrenheit and average lows of 53 degrees. The most popular months for the park’s one million annual visitors, this is also the season when wildlife is most active; animals like alligators, deer, and wading birds congregate around lingering water holes. With increased visitation, though, comes increased demand for campsites, ranger-guided tour slots, rentals for equipment like kayaks and canoes, and parking, thus necessitating advanced reservations across the board. 

The wet season, conversely, transforms the Everglades into a watery wonderland. Aligning with hurricane season, from May through November, this is when thunderous weather is more likely (afternoon downpours are a common, albeit fleeting, occurrence), humidity is over 90 percent, mosquitos and flies are swarming, and temperatures soar to average highs of 90 degrees. Higher water levels also mean wildlife is more dispersed, and ranger-guided programs drop off as some facilities enter a seasonal hibernation. Despite the drastic weather changes, a visit in the summer has its pros too: lusher landscapes, decreased crowds, prime boat tour conditions, and opportunities to spot more alligators in the water, rather than on dry land. 

The best things to do in Everglades National Park

Unlike some of the iconic national parks in the west, with their soaring peaks and deep canyons, Everglades is the type of national park where water is the star. Yes, there are hiking trails, but most are short and all are flat—Florida, after all, is the  flattest state in the country . A majority of the trails are aquatic ones, for paddle sports and boats. Canoeing and kayaking are popular excursions, and guests are able to bring their own , or rent from within the park, at the  Gulf Coast area or  Flamingo . The Gulf Coast teems with tree-lined paddle trails, including the five-mile Sandfly Island Loop and those along Turner River. From the Flamingo area, paddlers have the opportunity to see crocodiles as they wind their way up Buttonwood Canal to Coot Bay, or out into Florida Bay, where Bradley Key is the only island available for landing.

Boat tours and rentals are also available throughout the park, with excursions to the Ten Thousand Islands from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, or back country boat tours to Whitewater Bay from Flamingo Marina. Airboat tours, meanwhile, are operated by three permitted outfitters near Shark Valley:  Coopertown Airboats ,  Everglades Safari Park , and  Gator Park .  

For those who prefer dry land, there are still plenty of options throughout the park. Anhinga Trail, close to the east entrance nearest Miami, is a crowd-favorite 0.8-mile boardwalk loop through a sawgrass marsh, where visitors are practically guaranteed to see an alligator or two (including some those that typically sun-bathe right next to the trail in the dry season). While you won’t see any sharks in the Shark Valley section of the park, located smack dab in the inland midst of the park’s sprawling marshland, you’re highly likely to spot alligators basking along the 15-mile paved loop road that leads to a 70-foot observation tower. Said tower is accessible via narrated tram rides or bike rentals, both from the Shark Valley Visitor Center. In the Flamingo area, at the southern nexus of the Florida coastline, trails include the bay-hugging Guy Bradley Trail, where manatee sightings are common, and the Coastal Prairie Trail, one of the longer treks in the park at 7.5 miles one way along a defunct road to a quiet beach.  

Bakers Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton

Where to stay in Everglades National Park

Camping in the park is a great way to immerse yourself further in the solitude and serenity of this subtropical wilderness. The largest campground in the park, Flamingo Campground is a Wi-Fi-less escape with 274 tent sites and 65 RV sites, along with glamping Eco-Tents. There are no proper lodging facilities in the park, but  houseboat rentals are available from Flamingo Marina, allowing up to six guests to literally sleep on Whitewater Bay. For something more primitive, paddlers and boaters can pitch tents on elevated riverside camping platforms called chickees ( permits are required ). 

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Matt Kirouac

Outside of the park, comfortable accommodations can be found near all of the entrances, including cottage suites at  Port of the Islands Resort near Everglades City, and all manner of chain properties between the main Ernest C. Coe Visitor Center and Miami . A bit more luxe,  Baker’s Cay Resort is a tropical paradise on nearby Key Largo. The Davidson Resorts property draws guests with its bay-front suites, two pools, dock-to-dish dining, a tiki bar, and one of the only sandy beaches on the Keys. 

What to do nearby

An apt pitstop outside the east entrance of the park,  Robert Is Here is the self-described “Disney World of fruit stands,” featuring an array of tropical fruits and a milkshake counter where guests can mix and match produce like guava, mamey, jackfruit, dragon fruit, banana, coconut, and canistel. 

Between Everglades and Miami is another smaller national park that flies a lot further under the radar. One of the most aquatic parks in the country,  Biscayne National Park is 95 percent water, awash with shipwrecks, more nautical wildlife than  Finding Nemo , and the largest coral reef in North America. Guided boat tours take guests to different keys for on-land outings, but most activities are wetter, like snorkel reef tours and stand-up paddle boarding through mangroves mazes at Jones Key. 

North of the park, the  Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge affords more opportunities for dry-land hiking in the Big Cypress Basin. Although panther sightings are rare and unlikely, the refuge allows visitors to trek through their native habitat, including along the 1.19-mile Panther Trail. 

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