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Last updated: 29 May, 2023

This 1.5-million-acre park, dubbed the ‘river of grass’, is the US’s largest subtropical wilderness. Alligators, endangered mammals like the Florida panther and more than 360 bird species all dwell here.

Happily, excursions into all that raw nature can be as adventurous or tame as you’d like, from strolls on boardwalk paths to kayaking trips and boat tours into the thick of things.

The most thrilling means to explore is on one of the famous airboats – they don’t damage underwater vegetation with props, and can glide over otherwise inaccessibly shallow areas.

Dive in.

The Ahinga Trail

Everglades National Park, Florida, United States of America (USA)

The Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park

A great way to enjoy the Everglades without much effort – this short, 0.8-mile paved walkway and boardwalk winds through a mix of forest and freshwater sawgrass marsh; expect to see alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons, egrets, and many other birds, especially during the winter. The trail starts at the Royal Palm Visitor Center, about 4 miles from the park entrance.

Best for ages 6+

Duration: 1 hour

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Price from: £25
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 6+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Several official park entrances can be accessed from points in the Florida Keys and along the east and west coasts of South Florida.

Stop into a visitor centre once you’re on park property to ask about trails and get a feel for nearby offerings. Some of the best trails with easy walking terrain for all levels of fitness can be reached from the Flamingo Visitor Center in Florida City, about 30 minutes south of Miami.

Loud and thrilling, airboat tours aren’t allowed inside the park but sign up for a fun way to see the swampy alligator-infested exterior.

Everglades Area Tours offer guided camping and sea kayaking tours into the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangroves and sandy islands on the western edge of the park.

Even during the milder winter months, biting bugs can be an annoyance. Apply plenty of insect repellent as soon as you get out of your car and carry plenty of backup.

When to do it

The park is accessible all year round. Visit wildlife viewing areas early in the morning or at dusk, when the animals are most active and the strong sunlight is more bearable.

Winter’s dry season, from November through March, is the best time to visit. Temperatures are cooler and water levels are lower so more animals, especially alligators, can be seen.

Avoid the summer months, especially July and August, when the heat, humidity and bugs (mosquitoes in record numbers) are particularly intense. June and September can be borderline, too.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

3 - 4 hours Everglades Tour from Miami

Miami

3 - 4 hours Everglades Tour from Miami
Explore the Everglades on this 3-7 hour start to finish tour from Miami. Glide along the water on an airboat ride and listen to expert commentary from both your tour guide and airboat captain. We use most of the time small vehicles to transport people to the park. Many times we are flexible to pick up people from out of the route locations. We use good and prompt communication pre tour with our guests.

Price: $70

Min age: 0

Rating 4.70 / 5 [1117 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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60 min. Airboat Everglades Tour plus pick up in a small group with an experienced tour guide

Miami

60 min. Airboat Everglades Tour plus pick up in a small group with an experienced tour guide
On our Everglades Tour you'll be guided by an actual Everglades specialist with over 10 years if Miami experience. Personal contact is very important for us. That's why our tours only happen in small to medium sized groups, so that each and every one of your questions can be answered by your tour guide. We're looking forward to having you aboard. 'Fast paced' perfectly describes the 60-minute airboat ride through the 'River of Gras' that we hand selected for you. On your trip into this incredibly beautiful natural habitat which is home to alligators, turtles, snakes and plenty of other wild animals you have the chance to make lifelong memories, take in what mother nature has to offer and take stunning pictures that your friends and family are going to cherish. Our airboat ride takes twice as long (60 minutes) and is twice as fast (speeds of up to 49 mp / h) as the competitions. With the passage of the centuries the Everglades have constantly changed and had to face new challenges. Be it drying them out, constructional development, or the invasion of non-native plants and animal species from all over the world. This is the best place for you to experience the incredible biodiversity of the Everglades' unique flora and fauna.

Price: $79

Min age: 2

Rating 4.37 / 5 [352 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Semi-Private 1-Hour Airboat Tour of Miami Everglades

Florida

Semi-Private 1-Hour Airboat Tour of Miami Everglades
Whip and slide around the river of grass on our airboats with all the beauty this one of a kind ecosystem has to offer.

Price: $80

Min age: 0

Rating 4.96 / 5 [184 ratings]

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Private 1-Hour Airboat Tour of Miami Everglades

Florida

Private 1-Hour Airboat Tour of Miami Everglades
Our private, guided airboat tour offers your group a chance to experience the serenity of the Everglades in an intimate and exclusive setting.

Price: $133

Min age: 0

Rating 5 / 5 [33 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Everglades & Miami city tour with experienced guide in small group

Miami

Everglades & Miami city tour with experienced guide in small group
Our Everglades & Miami City Tour is conducted by a real tour guide with over 10 years of Miami experience. Personal contact is very important to us, which is why our tours are offered in small to medium-sized tour groups so that every question can be answered. We look forward to seeing you. Your Banana Joe team

Price: $159

Min age: 1

Rating 4.92 / 5 [55 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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

Miami

1-Hour Air boat Ride and Nature Walk with Naturalist in Everglades National Park
With your expert naturalist guide, head out on an amazing nature walk in Everglades National Park. Immerse yourself in the beauty of different ecosystems in the actual National Park. View a wide variety of birds, alligators, and other wildlife up close! And where it should be experienced, in the wild! We never go to places with animals in cages and pens. With your guide discover the flora and fauna of this wetland wilderness, and the role of water and conservation in this unique national treasure. Go on an exhilarating 1-hour air boat ride way far out in the River of Grass. This is no touristy type of trip. Become immersed in the fascinating native culture as you visualize their remote way of life. You can only get there by boat and on this tour!  Take in a scenic narrated drive through the Everglades, led by your master naturalist guide. Wild Lime Adventures is the highest rated tour company in South Florida! If you book this directly with us, we can offer a dsicount to you.

Price: $169

Min age: 5

Rating 4.84 / 5 [392 ratings]

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Private 1.5-Hour Airboat Tour of Miami Everglades

Florida

Private 1.5-Hour Airboat Tour of Miami Everglades
Our private, guided airboat tour offers your group a chance to experience the serenity of the Everglades in an intimate and exclusive setting.

Price: $184

Min age: 0

Rating 4.96 / 5 [32 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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

Fort Lauderdale

Everglades National Park Biologist Led Adventure: Cruise, Hike + Airboat
Explore the real Everglades on a full-day guided tour, led by an experienced master naturalist. This is a comprehensive Everglades experience! Take a 1-hour, guided boat tour of the beautiful 10,000 Islands. Chance to see bird species: like roseate spoonbills, white pelicans, and ospreys. See manatees and dolphins up close. Go on a 1-hour dry nature hike led by a master naturalist, where you will immerse yourself in incredible wildlife and rare plants and orchids, under a canopy of huge cypress trees. Hold onto your hat on an exhilarating 1-hour air boat ride, the best in the Glades. Discover the remote beauty of a Native American tree island village where they used to live, one can only get to by boat. Witness alligators and other wildlife where they should be spotted, in the wild, and up close! Visit a historic trading post and other intriguing cultural and ecological stops. A delicious lunch is included. Wild Lime Adventures is the highest rated tour company in South Florida!

Price: $259

Min age: 5

Rating 4.90 / 5 [401 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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

Fort Lauderdale

Full Day Everglades: Biologist Led WET walk + 2 boat trips + lunch small group
This incredible real eco adventure starts with an amazing wet walk led by an experienced naturalist. Here you’ll have the opportunity to see rare orchids, and incredible wildlife; all under a beautiful canopy of cypress trees few get to see. This wet walk in this is a bucket list item that will change your life! Next, take a spectacular guided 60 minute boat tour of the 10,000 Islands in Everglades National Park with a multi-generational boat captain guide. Chance to see pods of dolphins, manatees, saw tooth fish, roseate spoonbills, white pelicans, and more. Visit a historic trading post along with other surprise eco stops! A delicious local lunch is included. Wrap up the day with a 1-hour air boat trip way out in the real Everglades; with a stop at a Native tree island village. Small group and personalized. Wild Lime Adventures is the highest rated tour company in South Florida. We are also one of only a select few to hold a permit in Everglades National Park.

Price: $339

Min age: 8

Rating 4.93 / 5 [58 ratings]

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Miami & Florida Everglades Adventure Package

Miami

Miami & Florida Everglades Adventure Package
We specialize in providing a private, high-end tour with amazing sightseeing and very intelligent interpretation. We combine the opportunity to learn and see all things related to the Florida Everglades as well as an in depth view of Miami and its unique facets. Our Jeeps make this tour Tons of Fun as we can easily do it safari style with the top down, or a comfortable ride with air conditioning in a fun vehicle. Travelers that are looking to pack a lot into one tour should consider this tour as it offers the best of both worlds. The Everglades portion is very popular and year after year we have proved that our knowledge of the area results in magnificent sightings of birds, alligators, and various mammal species. We are also the original Jeep tour company in Miami and have been backed by the park service which issues our permits and re-certifies our guides every two years. Once in the city, this tour is simply the best. We are able to showcase the city like no one else.

Price: $349

Min age: 0

Rating 5 / 5 [25 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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