Choosing one of the several Everglades Boat Tours is an incredible opportunity to get out and see the heart of Everglades National Park and the river of grass!
Everglades Boat Tours
There are several boat tours available in Everglades National Park. The best part is that whether you choose to visit the Flamingo, Shark Valley, or Everglades City areas, you can find a boat tour in the area you visit.
Boat tours are a great way to watch for wildlife in their natural habitat while keeping a safe distance. Wildlife includes alligators, crocodiles, turtles, and many bird species.
The Boat tours typically have guides and naturalists who do an amazing job of pointing out wildlife, explaining the ecosystems of the Everglades, and providing historical information about the area.
We have been on every one of the Everglades National Park Boat Tours and have enjoyed them for several reasons.
Back Country Boat Tour (Flamingo)
⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 1.5 hours | 🛥️ Check Rates and Availability
- Wheelchair Accessible - If it's a large/heavy size or motorized, we can't get it on the boat
- Naturalist Guide
The Back Country Boat Tour takes you up the Buttonwood Canal through Coot Bay and Tarpon Creek into the mouth of Whitewater Bay. Along the way, the boat naturalist will help point out birds and other wildlife.
You will want to make sure you have sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, and sunglasses. Even though the boats have a roof, they can still get hot.
Florida Bay Boat Tour (Flamingo)
⭐️ Rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 1.5 hours | 🛥️ Check Rates and Availability
- Wheelchair Accessible - If it's a large/heavy size or motorized, we can't get it on the boat
- Naturalist Guide
The Florida Bay Boat Tour takes you out into the open waters. This tour lets you view dolphins, bird watching, manatees, and gorgeous sunsets.
Visitors learn more about the mangrove forests, the mixing of freshwater with salt water, and the wildlife in the area.
Similar to the backcountry tour you will want to make sure you have sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.
What to Pack/Bring with you
For the most part, I do not like to bring personal belongings on boat rides. This is because I don't want to lose them, drop them overboard, or create trip hazards for other guests. Having said that, I do like to make sure I have
- Sunscreen - The sun can be very intense in South Florida, especially on the water. I also buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
- Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
- Sunglasses - Sunglasses help protect your eyes from the sun and will help you to see the area better. Click here to get your National Parks Edition Goodr Sunglasses
- small drybag - I like to put my valuables inside a small drybag whenever I am on the water. This will help protect items from water and most dry bags will float and have a strap. This is perfect for vehicle keys, wallets, cellular phones, etc.
Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour (Everglades City)
⭐️ Rating: 4.3 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 1.5 hours | 🐬🛥️ Check Rates and Availability
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Expert Tour Guides
- Everglades City Boardwalk
This 90-minute excursion ventures across Chokoloskee Bay, into Indian Key Pass, and through the mangrove islands of Everglades National Park.
These tours take place on a pontoon boat with partial shade and bench seating. Visitors will want to make sure they have sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen.
Time - 90 minutes
Everglades Airboat Tours (Shark Valley)
⭐️ Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 40 minute ride | 🛥️ Check Rates and Availability
- 40-minute airboat ride
- Wildlife Nature Show
Airboat rides are great fun. You feel the air through your hair as you travel through the Everglades, gliding past stretches of sawgrass and alligator holes. These tours allow visitors to see more of the marshlands of the Everglades.
Airboat rides are very popular and highly criticized. Critics state that they harm the Everglades ecosystem with noise pollution, disturbance of wildlife, and potential damage to the ecosystem.
I want to provide you with this information so that you can decide which tours you are comfortable with. If you decide to take an airboat tour, I recommend using a tour company authorized by the National Park Service, as they have strict rules to help protect the Everglades Ecosystem. Some of these regulations include strict rules operating on different water levels and only being allowed to take certain routes.
Three authorized airboat businesses offer professional airboat tours inside Everglades National Park, including Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park, and Gator Park. All three are located along US Hwy 41/Tamiami Trail between Miami and Shark Valley.
Book Coopertown Airboat Tour HERE
Everglades National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.000 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$0.00 for Education/ Academic Group
$125.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Lodging near Everglades National Park
If you decide that camping is not for you here are some of the hotels that are nearby.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Florida City - At Holiday Inn Express & Suites Florida City, an IHG Hotel, you can look forward to free continental breakfast, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a gym. Free WiFi in public areas and a business center are available to all guests.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Homestead Florida City - Consider a stay at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Homestead Florida City and take advantage of free full breakfast, a grocery/convenience store, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a 24-hour business center.
Breezy Palms Resort - At Breezy Palms Resort, hit the beach, relax by an outdoor pool, or spend the day at a marina. Each apartment features a kitchen with a refrigerator and a microwave, plus free Wi-Fi and a TV with cable channels. Other amenities that guests will find include a sitting area and a coffee/tea maker. Weekly housekeeping is available.
Islander Resort - Consider a stay at Islander Resort and take advantage of a poolside bar, a terrace, and a garden. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a private beach, beachfront dining, and beach cabanas. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. The onsite restaurant, Tides Beachside Bar & Grill, features ocean views and al fresco dining. Enjoy onsite activities like basketball, volleyball, and fishing. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, with speed of 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices), and guests can find other amenities such as dry cleaning/laundry services and a bar.
Click on the map below to see the current rates for hotels and vacation rentals near Everglades NP.
Additional Resources
Things to do in Everglades National Park - Check out the great things to do in Everglades.
National Parks in Florida - Check out all of the national park sites you can visit while in Florida
Everglades Wildlife - Check out some of the epic wildlife you can see in the park!
Anhinga Trail - The Anhinga Trail is one of our favorite trails for seeing wildlife in the Everglades.
Things to do Biscayne National Park - Check out all the things you can do in Biscayne NP which is close to the Everglades.
Check out all of the National Parks in Florida along with neighboring National Parks in Alabama and Georgia National Parks
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