The Everglades are a unique biosphere and make up a significant portion of south Florida’s land area. We recommend that you plan time to visit it on your next trip to Florida. Many travelers transit through Miami or Fort Lauderdale for cruise vacations as well. If you find yourself in south Florida then you should definitely make time to visit the Everglades.
If you are cruising, we recommend coming a day earlier or staying at least a few extra hours after your cruise to explore the Everglades. The Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It is a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance.
Nature Hike
We recently went on small group Everglades nature hike and airboat tour after our cruise. We were picked up at the port and driven to the Everglades. Once we arrived, we were taken on a nature walk and learned about the ecosystem and animals.
It was an amazing experience as we got close to alligators while keeping a safe distance. We even saw baby alligators crossing the hiking path. Sixteen
different species of wading birds live in the Everglades. We spotted several birds: great egret, great blue heron, limpkin, and purple gallinule.
Airboat Tour
After the nature walk, we went on an hour long airboat ride into the Everglades. We did not see another boat the whole hour. Towards the end of the ride we stopped a Miccosukee Indian Village that is only accessible by boat.
We love small group tours as they have a more personalized experience than the larger cruise tours. Also, this tour had an hour long airboat ride while the cruise line’s tour only had a 30-minute ride.
Getting there
Please note that the Everglades National Park is not especially close to Miami or Fort Lauderdale. The drive time from Miami to the Everglades is 45 minutes while the drive time from Fort Lauderdale to the Everglades is 60 minutes without traffic. So, you will spend a significant portion of the tour driving to and from the Everglades, but it is worth it!
Would you like to visit the Everglades? We’re here to help. Our preferred tour vendors provide the best possible experiences in Florida. Please contact us to start planning!