If you hear the word Everglades, your mind will most likely immediately conjure up the image of airboats about to take flight with their large propellers as they speed through the canals at breakneck speeds. You will also imagine daring gentlemen risking their lives feeding gigantic crocodiles while people take photos. You might even easily remember an episode of the series ‘CSI Miami’.
And yes, indeed, those scenes are part, in one way or another, of this incredible place located in South Florida, but there are many other scenes, in my opinion, more interesting ones that make Everglades an essential place to see in Florida. So please, make room in your mind for new images because you’re going to be surprised.
What you will find in Everglades National Park
Start by knowing, as the title of this section states, that you are in a national park. But not just any national park. Everglades is the second-largest national park in the entire United States, covering more than 6,000 square kilometers.
It doesn’t just stand out for its size, but because Everglades is home to a unique subtropical ecosystem in the country. You will enter a gigantic tapestry of grass, a great wetland that moves very slowly until it dissolves into a curious mixture of waters: those of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
And this curious picture painted in green and blue, depicting mangroves, swamps, marshes, lakes, forests, sawgrass prairies, and tiny keys, is home to a multitude of animals, some of which are endangered. Alligators and American crocodiles are undoubtedly the most prominent stars; in fact, they say the Everglades is the only place in the world where both species coexist.
But watch out, for the elusive Florida panther also lurks here, the West Indian manatee swims, the raccoon prowls, the white-tailed deer survives, the otter explores, snakes hide, and all kinds of birds fly, from ospreys to ibises, herons, and even pelicans.
The Everglades hardly cares if you once looked down on it, as just a quick trip from Miami. It knows it is important, which is not surprising because it holds prestigious titles: World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance.
Are you starting to see it with different eyes now?
Entrances to Everglades National Park
Before organizing your visit to the Everglades, you must take its size into account. This gigantic national park occupies more than 6,000 square kilometers in the southern Florida peninsula. For this reason, it will not surprise you to learn that Everglades has three different entrances. Depending on your origin, the part of the park you want to explore, or the activity you wish to do, you will choose one entry point or another.
Pay attention as I tell you from which three places you can access Everglades National Park. I can already tell you that if you’re wondering how to get from Miami to the Everglades, you should know that the closest entrances to this city are the Miami entrance (Shark Valley) and a bit further south, Homestead (Ernst F. Coe).
Homestead – Ernst F. Coe Visitor Center
This is the main entrance from which you will access the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. From there, the park’s main road crosses through, passing first the Royal Palm Visitor Center to finish on the coast at Flamingo, the southernmost visitor center, which also has a small port.
Homestead Visitor Center address: 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead
Miami – Shark Valley Visitor Center
The name itself already indicates that it is the closest Everglades entrance to Miami. Although it depends on the time, the traffic, and the area of the city you are leaving from, it will take you approximately one hour to get there from Miami.
Shark Valley Visitor Center address: 36000 SW 8th Street Miami
Everglades City – Gulf Coast Visitor Center
This is the closest entrance to the city of Naples, which is about 50 minutes away by car. There you will find the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, as it is already right next to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf Coast Visitor Center address: 815 Oyster Bar Lane, Everglades City
What to do in the Everglades
Now that you are a bit more situated on the Everglades map, keep reading as I tell you about the multitude of activities to do in the Everglades beyond gliding at full speed ‘dodging’ alligators through the wetlands.
Get an adrenaline rush while riding an airboat
Without a doubt, taking an airboat ride through the Everglades is the star activity of this national park for the majority of tourists. Feeling the adrenaline of speed in a unique natural environment and going on a very particular kind of safari in search of alligators and other animals is an attraction that few can resist.
If your intention is to ride an airboat in the Everglades on your own, you will need a rental car or to pay for an Uber to head to the Miami entrance, towards the Shark Valley Visitor Center via the road that borders the north of the park, the Tamiami Trail.
There, among others, operate the only three companies with permission to navigate within the national park itself: Coopertown, Gator Park, and Everglades Safari Park. In fact, with the exception of these three companies, airboat navigation is strictly prohibited within Everglades National Park, as you will see indicated at the entrances. This measure aims to protect this special natural environment and ensure the peace and quiet of the wildlife living there, which includes endangered species like the West Indian manatee, the American crocodile, and the panther.
The rest of the companies that offer the traditional airboat ride through the Everglades actually do so in the areas surrounding the national park, in places like Sawgrass Recreation Park. However, the experience is the same and at least spares the animals in the park from extreme noise.
You can book the airboat ride for just 25 euros and go directly on your own to the meeting point. Typically, the airboat trip lasts about half an hour. If you are on a road trip through Florida, maybe you are driving from the Keys and this is a good option.
However, the most common and convenient option is to book an Everglades excursion from Miami with transport and guide included so you don’t have to worry about how to get there. If you choose this organized tour to ride an airboat and then see the crocodiles up close, keep in mind that it will take about 4 hours in total for the round trip to Miami.
A new option is to take the Everglades airboat tour at night
If you are short on time...
If you only have a few days but do not want to miss the park, a great option is the excursion that, in a single day, takes you on an airboat ride in the Everglades, on a guided tour of the highlights of Miami, and finally on a boat trip past the celebrities' houses. Here you have all the details of the Everglades excursion + Miami tour + boat trip.
But you can visit the Everglades from more than just Miami; take a look at other excursions that allow you to visit the Everglades from Fort Lauderdale or even combine entry to the Kennedy Space Center with an airboat ride through the Everglades from Orlando.
Navigate calmly by boat
Indeed, the Everglades is not just about airboats. If speed is not your thing, if you are traveling with babies or very young children, or if you simply prefer to enjoy this subtropical ecosystem in a more peaceful way, I recommend taking one of the guided boat tours that depart from the small port at the Flamingo Visitor Center at the southern tip of the park, which you can reach by driving on your own from the Homestead entrance.
These water tours are operated by Flamingo Adventures, which usually offers two different options, although as of today (April 2022), the bay cruise has been suspended. Since I was traveling with three children under five, I took the Back Country tour on a motorboat that takes you slowly through the mangroves for an hour and a half before navigating faster in more open waters.
During the trip, with luck you will be able to see both American crocodiles and alligators because in this area of the Everglades park, both coexist as freshwater and saltwater mingle in the estuary. Additionally, manatees also live in these waters, and for example, I was able to see them eating just before getting on the boat.
The price of the Everglades boat tour is $40 per adult, $20 for children aged 5 to 12, and free for those under 5. I recommend booking in advance to choose the time that suits you best. They depart every day at 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, and 15:00.
Keep in mind that although it might seem expensive, you will be accompanied by a naturalist guide who will tell you many interesting facts about both the park’s history and the plants and animals you will see. Of course, seeing more or less wildlife depends on luck; remember you are not in a zoo.
How about sailing among ten thousand islands in the Everglades? Everglades Florida Adventures runs a different guided boat trip that leaves from the Gulf Coast visitor centre, by the Everglades City entrance, a two-hour drive from both Flamingo marina and downtown Miami. On the 10,000 Islands tour you will sail among the little mangrove keys until you reach the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is a great chance to see dolphins too, and to discover a different side of the Everglades. The price and the duration are the same as the other tour, and you can also book it online.
Explore the Everglades on foot along its trails
I highly recommend that you do not leave Everglades National Park without taking a walk along one of the many trails scattered throughout the park. When you pay the entrance fee, ask for the map where all these trails are marked so you can choose which one(s) to do.
Each one offers a different experience and landscape: wooden walkways over wetlands and mangroves, paths through lush vegetation, trails through a subtropical pine forest, hikes with views of the endless flooded grass prairies… Hiking is the most environmentally respectful way to visit the Everglades.
Many of these trails start from the main road, the one from the Ernst F. Coe Visitor Center, which you access from the Homestead entrance. I did two of the most famous ones, the Anhinga Trail and the Gumbo Trail, which depart from the Royal Palm Visitor Center.
Anhinga Trail, a must-do in the Everglades
This surprising trail, fully accessible for both strollers and wheelchairs as it combines asphalt with raised wooden walkways over the wetlands, should definitely be on your list of things to see in the Everglades.
Over just over a kilometer, Anhinga Trail becomes a stunning showcase to observe the inhabitants of this unique ecosystem in the United States very closely. Just start walking to begin seeing alligators, turtles, fish and all kinds of birds like herons, ibis or anhingas, the curious black bird that gives the trail its name and which, when diving to fish underwater, seems to be confused with a swimming snake.
However, the best time to do the Anhinga Trail is the dry season which runs from approximately November to April, when it is easier to see animals. Without a doubt, Anhinga Trail won me over immediately. Doing this short trail is a free and very simple activity but with a giant reward, that of enjoying the Everglades in all its splendor before your eyes.
Additionally, if you go with small children, Anhinga Trail is the perfect way to discover the Everglades. The ease of seeing animals from the start keeps them walking very motivated in search of new specimens. Furthermore, during the route there are explanatory signs perfect for telling them more about the Everglades ecosystem.
If you are going walking in the Everglades, do not forget... Most of these trails are very easy and short, but always remember to bring enough water, a cap or hat, sunscreen and a good mosquito repellent. Please respect the environment and be very careful with the animals. Remember that you are in snake and alligator territory: if you meet one, keep a safe distance of at least five metres. Before setting off, check the current condition of each trail at the nearest visitor centre.https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cbh3W1Cq-PS/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Gumbo Limbo Trail
Right next to the start of the Anhinga Trail, by the Royal Palm visitor center, begins the Gumbo Limbo Trail which has nothing to do with the previous one. If before you continuously saw the green and humid horizon of the immense Everglades marsh, now you will enter the shade of a small tropical forest where even orchids and bromeliads grow.
The route doesn’t even reach a kilometer, so it is completed quickly depending on how many times you stop to take photos, observe a fine ray of sun sneaking through the overwhelming vegetation, or simply stop to listen and breathe in silence.
If you are traveling with babies, keep in mind that a part of this trail is riddled with roots, branches, and puddles, so it is not stroller accessible. Use a baby carrier and explore it with your little one too.
Other trails in the Everglades
I have told you more in depth about the two routes I did, but there are many other options. Here is a short list of some depending on the area of the Everglades where you are:
Ernest F. Coe Highway: Pinelands trail (subtropical pine forest), West Lake Trail (mangroves), Mahogany Hammock Trail, and Pa-hya-okee Overlook. None of them reach two kilometers.
Shark Valley Visitor Center: Bobcat Boardwalk, Otter Cave Hammock trail, and Tram trail (24 paved kilometers with the opportunity to see animals)
Flamingo Visitor Center: Christian Point trail, Bear Lake trail (ends at a lake), Snake Bight (also accessible by bike), Bayshore Loop Trail, Coastal Prairie (almost 10 kilometers)
Explore at your own pace in a canoe or kayak
Let your adventurous spirit out and dare to discover the Everglades by rowing, renting a canoe or kayak to make a journey through mangroves, canals, lakes, or cays. For those who have their own rowing vessel, in the southern Everglades alone there are up to 7 different routes.
If you are up for it, you can rent them at the Flamingo visitor center port. From $20 you can rent a double canoe for two hours. If you prefer a kayak, the price will be $22.50 for a single or $28.50 for a double, also for two hours.
During the boat tour I took from Flamingo, I saw many people in kayaks and canoes. With luck, you might even calmly enjoy a manatee coming up to breathe next to you or see alligators sunbathing.
You also have the option to rent at the Gulf Coast visitor center, although prices there are a bit higher and the minimum rental time for the canoe is four hours.
Discover the Everglades by bike
If two wheels are your thing, you’ll be glad to know that you can also visit Everglades National Park by bicycle. One of the most common routes is to ride the 25-kilometer round-trip paved Tram Trail that starts at the Shark Valley visitor center.
Riding at your own pace by bike along this path, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy the landscape and see alligators, turtles, snakes, plenty of birds, and even raccoons. Halfway through, take a break to go up to the Shark Valley observation tower, a giant concrete walkway that takes you to a tower rising into the sky so you can contemplate the Everglades at your feet.
In the Everglades, renting a bicycle will cost you $22 with the company Shark Valley next to the visitor center of the same name at the Miami entrance. From there, you can start pedaling. Rentals begin at 8:30 in the morning and you can keep them until 5 in the afternoon.
Getting on the Shark Valley ‘tram’
If you have your own car, a good alternative to see a part of the Everglades after having finished the classic airboat ride (instead of going to a crocodile farm show) is to go to the Shark Valley visitor center, which is just a step away. From there, a type of open and ecological mini-train departs, which they call a tram that does a two-hour guided tour through the northern part of the park. It is a relaxed and different way to visit the Everglades.
The Tram Tour departs every hour between 9:00 and 16:00 from Monday to Friday, while on Saturdays and Sundays it does so at 9, 10, 14, 15, and 16:00 hours. The price is $28 per adult and $15 for children between 3 and 12 years old. If you decide to do it, it is recommended to book online in advance because it is quite in demand.
Participating in ranger programs
In each of the visitor centers, ranger-led activities are organized. From small educational talks where you can learn, for example, about manatees, ospreys, or discover why it’s possible to see crocodiles there, to kayak trips through the bay, guided hikes or children’s programs so that little ones over five years old can learn about the very special nature they are in.
Check the calendar because they are restricted during the rainy season and each visitor center also has its own programs and schedules. Of course, all these Everglades ranger activities are free, as they are included in the park entrance fee.
How much it costs to enter Everglades
As of March 2022, the entrance fee for Everglades National Park is $30 per car, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 if you enter on foot, by bike, or with a rowing vessel such as a canoe or kayak.
The ticket entitles you to re-enter for 7 consecutive days as many times as you want.
You can buy the ticket directly from your car at the Homestead (the main one) and Shark Valley (the closest to Miami) entrances where you can pay by card without any problem. Also at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, which corresponds to the Everglades City entrance.
When paying the entrance fee, ask for the explanatory brochure with a lot of facts about the park and a map with points of interest and trail information.
Anyway, there is also the possibility of buying the Everglades ticket online in advance. You can download the ticket to your phone or print it.
What is the best time to visit Everglades
Remember that you are in a subtropical ecosystem. What does that mean? It means that heat and humidity promise to accompany you on your foray into the park. So if you can choose, the best time to go to Everglades is from November to April, coinciding with the dry season.
During those months, temperatures are not as high, which will make the visit more pleasant and the chances of seeing more animals will be greater because in the hotter months they remain less active and more hidden in the shade. Additionally, that is when there are fewer mosquitoes, when it rains less and when all the ranger programs are active.
In any case, Everglades National Park is open 365 days a year.
Where to stay in Everglades
Did you know that it’s possible to sleep inside Everglades National Park? Currently, you have three options to choose from.
Long Pine Key Campground
Near the Homestead entrance, shortly after the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, is the Long Pine Key Campground where you can stay overnight either in a tent or in a motorhome.
The price is $30 per night during the week and $35 from Friday to Sunday. However, it is a basic campground without electricity, but you have bathrooms, tables, drinking water, and a dump station for motorhomes. A unique opportunity to enjoy the starry sky and the night silence of Everglades in the middle of nature.
Flamingo Campground
The other option is to sleep at the end of the main road at Flamingo Campground, managed by the same company, next to the port. Here you also have both tent and RV sites. In this location, there is an option to have electricity, but in that case, the price increases to $45 per night during the week and $55 from Friday to Sunday.
Glamping: Eco tents
If you are traveling on your own in your car but don’t have camping gear, the ideal thing is to stay in one of the two Eco tents equipped with a double bed, table, chairs, shelving, and even a fan next to the bay. This way you will have the experience of sleeping inside the national park surrounded by nature but with many more comforts. Here the price starts at $90 per night and it is recommended to book in advance.
Important: These three accommodation options inside Everglades National Park are only available from November 1 to April 30.
Coming soon: Flamingo Lodge
During my visit to Everglades in March 2022, they were starting to build a small hotel next to the Flamingo Visitor Center that will have 24 rooms, some with kitchens. Additionally, it will also include a restaurant. Convenient? Certainly. Suitable to build something like this in a national park that should have maximum protection? Personally, I don’t see it.
Hotels near Everglades
In my case, I spent two consecutive days in the Everglades. However, both times I went and came back from Miami where I was staying in a HomeExchange house and entered through Homestead. But if you are looking for accommodation near the park entrances, here are three options that I found interesting:
If you want to be as close as possible to downtown Miami, but have a direct connection to the Everglades, a good hotel to sleep in is the Life House Little Havanna. I like it because it has very good reviews, a garden, charming rooms, and its location is perfect. It is right next to the famous Calle 8 in Little Havana, from where you will reach the Shark Valley visitor center without having to take a single detour, just straight ahead.
Just 15 minutes from the Ernst F. Coe visitor center, through the Homestead entrance, you can sleep at the Fairway Inn Florida City Homestead Everglades. They have double rooms starting from just €80 and receive very good reviews.
If you are coming from Tampa and entering through Everglades City, take a look at the Everglades Adventures Hotel Suites by Ivey House because it looks very good and you have suites with plenty of space and even a kitchen inside the room (to save on dinners, for example) from €124.
The importance of traveling with insurance to the United States
Precisely during my visit to the Everglades, my baby got a 104°F (40°C) fever and I had to take him to Miami to be treated in the emergency room. A situation like this on a trip generates a lot of concern, anxiety, and uncertainty from not knowing how to proceed, regardless of the high costs of any medical assistance in the United States.
Thanks to the fact that I was carrying Mondo travel insurance, I only had to worry about pampering my little one so he was as comfortable as possible. A free assistance call was enough for them to assist me immediately with empathy and care. Soon a card arrived in my email with an ID in my son’s name so he could be treated without having to make any kind of payment, along with a list of the addresses of the hospitals closest to the place in Miami where I was.
That is why my recommendation is that you don’t take risks and go with the peace of mind that someone is looking out for you. In addition to traditional coverage and Covid-19 coverage, with Mondo you have an app where you have a 24-hour medical chat where you can contact a health professional instantly for any query or emergency.
Now you can get 5% off your travel insurance for being a reader of this blog. Don’t risk it!
More useful articles about Florida: What to See in Florida on Your Own in 15 Days Kennedy Space Center: How to Visit NASA at Cape Canaveral What to see in Miami to enjoy it to the fullest How much does a ticket to Universal Studios Orlando cost? Where to see manatees in Florida
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