Everglades Tours from Miami

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance—only a few places on earth make all three lists—the Florida Everglades are a must-do in southern Florida. Here’s what you should know about visiting from Miami.

Airboat Tours

The best way to see the Florida Everglades is by airboat, a flat-bottomed, fan-propelled boat that skims across the shallow, marshy waters where normal boats aren’t able to go. An airboat’s simple, open-air design provides unobstructed views of the mangroves and swamp grass, where you might spot wildlife such as gators, manatees, or ocelots in their natural habitat.

Combo Tours

For a longer experience, Everglades airboat tours can be combined with another activity, whether urban or environmental. Some combo tours include Miami or South Beach sightseeing or a Biscayne Bay cruise, while others feature a wildlife show, alligator tour, or a visit to Big Cypress National Preserve, which borders Everglades National Park.

Things to Know

• Tours from Miami typically last three to five hours.

• Not all tours from Miami go to Everglades National Park but instead take travelers to a separate area of the Everglades region, which is larger than the park itself.

• Not all tours include transportation from Miami; some require that you get yourself to the starting point in the Everglades.

• An Everglades airboat ride exposes you to the elements, so make sure you have sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and water to stay hydrated in the Florida heat.