The Everglades National Park is not only one of the largest national parks in the US, but it’s also the largest naturally formed tropical wetland in the world. Unique features of flora and fauna are easily seen.

Both alligators and crocodiles live in the Everglades and this is the only area where they live side-by-side. Learning to distinguish one from the other can take a few tries, but your expert guides will certainly help.

Touring the Everglades National Park up close via an airboat is not only unique but something you may not have the opportunity to experience again or anywhere else.

Best Everglades Tours From Miami

	Florida Everglades Small Group Adventure Tour	1-Hour Air boat Ride and Nature Walk with Naturalist in Everglades National Park	Everglades National Park Biologist Led Adventure: Cruise, Hike + Airboat
Departure Point:	Pickup and dropoff service	500 SW 177th Ave, Miami / Hotel pickup available	Hotel pickup
Departure Time:	Between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM	7:00 AM	9:00 AM
Duration:	9 hours (approx.)	5-6 hours (approx.)	9.5 to 10 hours (approx.)
Includes:	Guide, all entrance fees, 2 boat trips, beverages with snacks and lunch, sunscreen and insect repellent available, use of binoculars	Naturalist guide, airboat ride through the Everglades, tour of native village	Van transportation to Everglades National Park, airboat ride, park ranger guide, alligator show
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

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Quick Answer: The 5 Best Everglades Tours From Miami

1. Florida Everglades Small Group Adventure Tour
2. From Wilderness to Wealth: Everglades & Miami Adventure
3. Miami: Everglades Airboat & Wildlife Tour with Pickup
4. Everglades National Park: 3.5-Hour Adventure Tour
5. From Miami: Florida Everglades Small Group Boat Tour

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Best Everglades Tours From Miami Reviewed

We’ve reviewed the top tours of the Everglades from Miami. Whether you are looking for a short airboat tour to see things up close or you would rather spend an entire day learning about this unique ecosystem, there’s something for everyone.

#1 Florida Everglades Small Group Adventure Tour

This small group adventure tour of the Everglades makes it easy to experience some of the most ecologically diverse environments in the world. In fact, it’s so easy they will even pick you up and drop you off.

You’ll learn more about the Miccosukee and how they’ve adapted to thrive in this harsh environment. You will also experience that environment up close with a hike through both Big Cypress National Preserve and the Everglades National Park.

In addition to the hike, your complimentary lunch comprised of locally grown produce will help energize for even more exploration.

You and your small group will stop by a local art gallery featuring some of the region’s most talented artists as well the smallest post office in the United States.

The visit to the Trading Post will allow you plenty of opportunity to grab a few souvenirs for yourself and those back home.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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#2 1-Hour Air boat Ride and Nature Walk with Naturalist in Everglades National Park

The Everglades National Park is home to many native species you won’t find anywhere else, or in the quantities you’ll see here. Many species thrive in this harsh environment and you will learn more about them with your naturalist guide.

Not only will you be able to experience the Everglades from an airboat, you’ll also take a short hike along the Jungle Trail. From this trail, you’ll be even closer to many species as well as flora and fauna.

Your guide will show you the local birds and alligators that in inhabit the area as you walk around the park. After which you will take a guided tour of a Native tree island village. Here you will learn their way of life that has changed little in the last few hundred years.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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

With a private tour of Everglades National Park accommodating as few as two people, you’ll experience the wildlife thriving here with a knowledgeable and experienced park ranger.

A private van will drive you the 50 minutes from Miami to the Everglades. Once there, hop aboard an airboat and learn more about the 30 species of snakes, 120 species of trees, and over 300 species of birds that live here. With your camera at the ready, you might even be able to snap some pics.

The Everglades National Park is unique in that it is the only place on Earth where both crocodiles and alligators cohabitate.

Your park ranger guide will help you learn how to tell the difference between them.

After your airboat ride, head to an animal show to not only learn more about the many birds, amphibians, mammals, and other types of residents in the Everglades, but you’ll enjoy a show as well.

If you’d like to add a trip to a local Native American village and museum, you can experience even more of the culture of southern Florida.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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#4 Everglades National Park: 3.5-Hour Adventure Tour

The short ride to the Everglades National Park will allow you to see much of the unique scenery in southern Florida. When you arrive at the Park, you will meet your expert guide and board an airboat.

A short airboat ride allows you to see some of the wildlife that calls the Everglades their home. You will also most likely be able to see both crocodiles and alligators, which your guide will help you to distinguish.

After the airboat tour, you’ll have a chance to enjoy an educational wildlife show. Both educational and fun, this show is great for families.

The animal experts will introduce you to a few of the many animals, fish, amphibians, and birds that call this tropical wetland their home.

Once the show concludes, you can enjoy lunch at the park, including the famously unique fried alligator tail sandwich. For those not quite as adventurous when it comes to food, many other options are available or you can bring your own sack lunch.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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#5 From Miami: Florida Everglades Small Group Boat Tour

You’ll board a 6-passenger airboat captained by an expert guide. This guide will explain the history of the Everglades, a natural, tropical wetland that hasn’t been significantly altered in over 15,000.

Listening through provided headphones, as the airboat can be quite loud, you’ll learn about the wildlife, flora and fauna that thrive in this harsh environment.

If you have the opportunity to see both a crocodile and alligator, your guide can help you learn to distinguish the differences. Also be on the lookout for the otters that play and splash in the wetland, often incorporate travelers in their fun.

Your guide will also tell you what newest changes have been seen in the environment and what future changes they expect.

If you’d like to spend a bit more time in the Everglades National Park and learn more about it, there is also a 90-minute airboat tour available that meets at the same location. However, there are 4 meeting times that are different from those for the 1-hour tour.
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Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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Everglades Tours From Miami Guide

• Airports & Entry
• Planning Tips
• Restaurants & Eating Out
• Nightlife & Entertainment
• Getting Around
• Accommodations
• Weather
• Attractions

Miami is a city that thrives of nightlife but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to do that are family friendly. In fact, a vacation in Miami might even be educational for all travelers, in a fun and not so obvious way.

Whether you plan on spending your time in Miami at the beaches, partying at the Clevelander or at South Beach, or you plan on taking in the cultural and historical aspects of the city, Miami is a place everyone can enjoy.

Airports & Entry

If you are flying into Miami, you’ll likely land at Miami International Airport, dubbed MIA. This airport is very busy every day of the week and 24 hours a day. In fact, over 1,000 flights depart or return here each day. This means that things can get hectic, but there is usually staff around that can help point you in the right direction.

When leaving the airport, you have several options. If your hotel offers a free airport shuttle, this is going to be your best bet for getting to your accommodations quickly and affordably. If they don’t and you don’t mine ridesharing, there are several shuttle services leaving the airport often. You can choose from SAS Transport Service or Go Airport Shuttle.

If you are flying into Miami from another country, you will need your passport as well as authorization. If you will be staying less than 90 days, which most visiting travelers do, you will need to apply for an ESTA, Electronic System for Travel Authorization. Essentially, this is waiving your visa that you would need if you intend to stay for more than 3 months.

Planning Tips

It’s important to keep several things in mind when planning your vacation to Miami. If you have other tips for those who will be visiting the Magic City, or if you have questions about your trip that aren’t answered in this guide, we would love to hear from you in the comments!

Tip #1: Miami vs Miami Beach

The City of Miami and Miami Beach are two different places. While you may want to spend time in both places during your stay, you should choose accommodations in the place where you intend to spend the most time. The easiest way to get from one to the other and back again is with either Uber or Lyft. It’s also the most affordable.

Tip #2: Choose Local & Day Trip Tours

Just as with any city that attracts many travelers each year, there are plenty of tours available. You might want to take a guided tour of several different museums, or of the art district. You can even take a day trip tour away from the hustle and bustle of Miami and head to the Keys or even to several botanical gardens in the area.

Tip #3: Spend at Least One Day at the Beach

Even if you aren’t going to Miami to sit on the beach the entire time, you should spend at least one day there. There are many beaches up and down the coastal areas of Miami and Miami Beach so you’re sure to find one that has the vibe you’re looking for. Don’t really want to sip cocktails all day under an umbrella? Try a more family-friendly beach instead.

Tip #4: Get Wrapped Up in the Cuban Influence

The Latin American influence is everywhere in Miami, from food and drink to music and dancing. Most likely, you won’t get the same authentic Cuban experience anywhere else outside of Cuba so soak in the culture.

Try a cafecito, a strong and delicious Cuban coffee. Be mindful of the caffeine kick, however. Try various Cuban meals. And even if you only go just to listen and watch, step into a Cuban bar or nightclub one night just to get a feel for the flavor.

Tip #5: Safety First

Leave any expensive items you won’t need while you’re out and about back in your hotel room. If you won’t need them on your trip at all, you might want to think about leaving them at home. Try not to flaunt flashy jewelry and or an expensive camera. Not only do these things indicate you’re not local, but they can also make you a target for theft.

Because you most likely won’t be familiar with the areas of Miami you will be visiting, grabbing an Uber or Lyft to get to where you are going is probably the best idea. This way you get where you need to go without getting lost.

You may also want to ensure your health insurance will cover you while you are in Miami. If it won’t, supplemental health insurance plans for travelers is available.

Restaurants & Eating Out

There’s no denying the Latin American influence in Miami. Even if you only pick up a small lunch from a food truck to try a bit of Cuban flare, you should at least try something with the Cuban kick. In Miami, you will find everything from modern restaurants ran by celebrity chefs to food trucks that offer anything you can imagine.

Some of those celebrity chefs at work in Miami are Tom Colicchio at the Beachcraft restaurant and Paul Qui at Pao by Paul Qui. Want a modern throwback? The Wynwood Diner is a modern take on the classic roadside diner. Then you also have gastro-pubs such as Finka Table & Tap.

Nightlife & Entertainment

While there are plenty of nightclubs up and down the beach as well as in several areas of the city, you’ll also find plenty of dive bars with a laid-back vibe as well as some craft brewery options that have finally made their way to Miami.

Craft beer is a newcomer to the nighttime scene in Miami. As a “cocktail town,” Miami is the perfect place to find the classic cocktails alongside new, modern cocktail inventions. No matter what style of late-night entertainment you enjoy, you’ll find it in Miami.

One recommendation: The Ball & Chain. Once a favorite watering hole for the likes of Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and others, this bar and lounge will take you back through history just by walking in the door.

Getting Around

Driving in Miami may be more stressful than helpful. Many locals get frustrated with tourist traffic and many of those who decided to rent a Ferrari or Lambo usually get frustrated with the locals who don’t drive as fast as they want to. This means that renting a car isn’t your best option.

You also won’t want to depend on public transportation. It’s not very reliable and oftentimes won’t get you where you need to go.

The two best options are either a traditional taxi or the modern equivalents, Uber and Lyft. A taxi will most likely cost you much more than an Uber or Lyft ride, and Uber or Lyft will come to pick you up. This is much easier than trying to hail for a taxi.

Accommodations

You’ll find a wide range of accommodations in both Miami and Miami Beach. Luxurious high-rises are just as common as smaller, boutique hotels. If your trip is centered around the beach, you may even want to rent a bungalow.

When staying in Miami for a longer period of time, perhaps a week or more, then home sharing services such as Airbnb are a great option. You get to live like a local and save a few dollars as well, being able to cook a few meals at “home.”

The hotel where a party is always happening is The Clevelander. If you’ve come to Miami to party, that’s where you’ll want to stay. Then there are the classics like the Fontainebleau Hotel with its unique architecture. Frank Sinatra was a regular guest there and even today you may bump into a few familiar faces.

Weather

The perfect time to visit Miami is between March and May. If you’re still dealing with the cold and it’s been a long winter, head to Miami for a few days to warm your toes in the sand. The summer months can get pretty hot and humid, but some say that just makes the party even better.

Starting in the fall, you’ll encounter hurricane season so unless you have travel insurance in the event of poor weather, booking your trip to Miami in the Fall may not be best.

However, it doesn’t matter when you visit, there will always be something going on in Miami. Miami Fashion Week and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival are popular, annual events. If you’d like to visit during the time of a specific event, there’s really not a horrible time to visit.

Attractions

Snorkeling, scuba diving, and other watersports are a popular activity for families, couples, and groups alike. The waters off the beaches of Miami and Miami Beach are known for being clear and cool, perfect for enjoying the sight of some beautiful marine wildlife.

The art scene is huge in Miami. There are many galleries, and art museums as well, around the city. However, most are located in the art district. There are tours that can take you to several of these locations. Sometimes you can even get discounted entry into several locations all for one, bundled price.