everglade swamp tours reviews

Everglades Swamp Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Everglades Swamp Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Protect Your Trip »

The 9 best everglades airboat and swamp tours.

See much more than alligators during one of these exciting trips.

The Top Everglades Airboat & Swamp Tours

Getty Images

If you're planning a trip to Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida , visiting Everglades National Park should be on your to-do list. The South Florida national park is known for its expansive beauty, as well as its varied population of wildlife that includes everything from bobcats to alligators.

To see all the Everglades has to offer, sign up for a guided tour. U.S. News consulted both traveler sentiment and expert opinion to identify the top Everglades tours. Before you go, make sure you read through the National Park Service's Wildlife Viewing Ethics to keep both yourself and the animals safe during your time in the park. When choosing the best Everglades tours, we avoided recommending operators that promote wildlife shows or encourage feeding or holding the animals for photo-ops.

Visitors should plan to pay a fee to enter the park, as it may not be included in the price of the tour ticket. You should also keep in mind that many of these tour operators are located at least 30 miles west of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Tours that run on airboats – open-air vessels with huge fans at the back that propel the boat – can be very loud. Companies will generally offer ear protection, but if you or your companions are sensitive to loud noises, contact the tour provider to discuss options before you book.

The Best Everglades Airboat and Swamp Tours

Everglades swamp tours – one hour group tour.

Price: Adults from $60; kids from $30 Duration: 1 hour

This sightseeing trip takes you out on an airboat to cruise through the Everglades' main waterways in search of alligators, birds and interesting vegetation. Throughout the ride, knowledgeable guides share facts about the area's history and ecology. Many travelers recommend booking this tour, describing it as fun and informative, with plenty of wildlife sightings. Departures generally take place daily at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., but availability may vary by month.

Children 5 and younger can ride for free, but still require a reserved seats. Also check out Everglades Swamp Tours for private airboat tours that last up to two hours.

Check prices & availability on:

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures – 30-Minute Airboat Tour

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $30 Duration: 30 minutes

Located at the headwaters of the Everglades in Kissimmee, Florida (about 40 miles south of Orlando), Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures earns praise from reviewers for its personable, experienced staff and the family-friendly environment. On the airboat ride, you and up to 16 other passengers will glide through the tall grass in search of eagles, alligators, raccoons and more. In addition to airboat rides, the site houses a replica of a Jororo Tribe village, as well as a gem and fossil mining activity for kids.

Tours depart throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 5 pm. You can buy your tickets online, but there are no reservations for this tour. For a longer adventure, consider the company's hourlong airboat ride. There are also sunset and night tours, if you're hoping to avoid the midday heat and crowds.

Marsh Landing Adventures – 90-Minute Everglades Airboat Tour

Price: Adults from $65; kids from $60 Duration: 1.5 hours

For wildlife lovers who want more than half an hour to experience the Everglades, this 1.5-hour airboat ride from Marsh Landing Adventures is an excellent experience. Located in Kissimmee on Lake Tohopekaliga, Marsh Landing Adventures promises travelers an in-depth look at the headwaters of the Everglades and the plants and animals that inhabit its waters. What's more, the company says it can reach areas of the Everglades that are inaccessible to larger boats because of its small crafts. Travelers give kudos to the boat captain for their educational and entertaining delivery. Many call the experience the highlight of their Florida vacation.

Tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations are required, and there is a 1% fuel surcharge added to each ticket. Marsh Landing Adventures also offers hourlong, two-hour and four-hour airboat rides.

Everglades City Airboat Tours

Price: Adults from $47; kids from $31 Duration: 1 hour

Everglades City Airboat Tours sets itself apart from other companies by offering participants two-way headsets, which allow passengers and guides to better engage with one another throughout the hourlong ride. As you navigate through narrow creeks and shallow bays, you may spot alligators, manatees and birds. Tourists enjoy the ride and appreciate the headsets. Reviewers are also complimentary of the boat captains, who they describe as entertaining and knowledgeable.

Tours depart multiple times Monday through Saturday, although timing may be modified based on the season. It's a good idea to reserve your tour in advance. Everglades City Airboat Tours is located approximately 85 miles west of Miami and 35 miles southeast of Naples, Florida.

Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours – 45-Minute Standard Airboat Tour

Price: Adults from $45; kids from $27.50 Duration: 45 minutes

For an excursion that combines cultural immersion and wildlife viewing, consider this outing from Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours. The Miccosukee family-owned company's standard tour focuses on introducing visitors to the homelands of the Miccosukee people: an American Indian tribe that migrated to Florida before it became a state. During the tour, you'll not only see local wildlife, but also will get to see a Miccosukee Indian camp and take a nature walk. Visitors recommend the tour, describing it as an amazing experience thanks to the small, intimate group size.

Tours run daily at multiple times between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The company also offers private outings.

Everglades River of Grass Adventures – Semi-Private River of Grass Airboat Tours Everglades

Price: Adults from $85; kids from $45 Duration: 1.5 hours

One perk of this tour is that it is capped at six to eight travelers per boat. During the excursion, you'll get the chance to see the famous flora and fauna of the Everglades, including herons and alligators. Visitors say this is a family-friendly tour and call the trip "memorable" and "amazing."

These tours run seven days a week; since they're semiprivate, you must call or email to find out the best times to depart. River of Grass Adventures also offers sunset tours of the Everglades.

Other Popular Everglades Tours

Shurr Adventures Everglades – Three Hour Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour Small Group Adventure

Price: Adults from $109; kids from $99 Duration: 3 to 4 hours

Enjoy an up-close view of animals and nature, and get some exercise in too, on this kayak tour of the Everglades' mangroves. As you paddle your way through the mangrove tunnels, you may spot orchids, birds and, of course, alligators. Kayakers say this tour is excellent and appreciate the patient, experienced guides who share a wealth of information about the plants and animals that reside in this unique ecosystem. What's more, reviewers appreciate that the tours are limited to just eight participants.

Tours are available Monday through Saturday from August to April; times vary by season. Children must be at least 7 years old to participate. Tourgoers will enjoy three to 3.5 hours out on the water but should plan to spend a total of four hours on-site from start to finish. Shurr Adventures Everglades also offers a full-day tour of the mangrove tunnels, as well as a motorboat tour in the Ten Thousand Islands region of Everglades National Park, among other options.

Shark Valley Tram Tours

Price: Adults from $31; kids from $16 Duration: 2 hours

These naturalist-led excursions not only include a tour around Everglades National Park in an open-air tram, they also give tourgoers the chance to explore on foot. Halfway through the tour, participants can climb a 45-foot-tall observation deck to see sweeping views of the surrounding vegetation. During the two-hour tour, travelers also have the opportunity to observe a variety of wildlife. Tourgoers enjoy learning about the Everglades from the expert guides and say riding the tram is part of the fun. Many also recommended taking a morning tour to avoid the midday heat.

From mid-December through late April, tours depart on the hour daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. From May through mid-December, tours depart at 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. Shark Valley Tram Tours also offers self-guided bike tours. (Note that you'll have to pay a separate fee to enter Everglades National Park for any tour.)

Everglades Florida Adventures – Ten Thousand Islands Tour

Price: Adults from $59; kids from $29 Duration: 3 hours

If you're hoping to see the Everglades by boat, but want something a little quieter than an airboat ride, consider this cruise. Departing from Port of the Islands Marina in Naples, this 45-foot passenger catamaran glides across the Faka Union Canal while guides share information about the history and ecology of the area. Tourgoers report spotting lots of birds, turtles, dolphins and manatees. They also call out the insightful crew and clean, comfortable boat as highlights.

Cruises are offered Monday to Friday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Everglades Florida Adventures also offers kayak and canoe rentals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Like any other form of transportation, riding an airboat may come with some risks. To stay safe on your Everglades airboat tour, be sure to choose a company run by experienced, professional boaters (most of which undergo special training and are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard) and adhere to all rules set forth by your guide. Parents should keep a close eye on children and be sure they are properly fitted for their life jackets, and all passengers should protect against the heat by wearing sunscreen and staying hydrated. Commercial airboats typically do not exceed speeds of 30 to 40 mph to ensure a safe, smooth ride, and most operators will reschedule your tour in the event of lightning or other inclement weather. Tour companies will also generally provide riders with proper ear protection, as the boats are quite loud.

Typically, passengers will feel the most comfortable in lightweight, sleeveless clothing and shorts while on an Everglades airboat tour. If you are taking a wintertime tour, keep an eye on the weather – pants and long sleeves may be a better option, but you likely won't need a heavy jacket. Be sure to bring sunglasses, sunscreen and water to protect yourself from the effects of the sun; you may also want a hat to provide further shade and keep hair in place. Passengers with long hair are advised to wear it in a ponytail or bun to keep it from becoming knotted in the wind. Tourgoers may also wish to apply some bug spray prior to embarking on their adventure.

Airboat tours last about an hour, though duration will depend on the tour company.

An airboat's top speed is about 30 mph.

Not normally, but you run a small risk of getting misted with water. If you take a tour when it is raining, expect to get wet.

In winter, you'll want to time your visit for midday, when it warms up. In summer, you'll want to visit in the morning or later afternoon when it's coolest. Visiting at these times can increase your chances of seeing wildlife, but you'll likely see all kinds of critters no matter when you visit year-round.

You might also be interested in:

• Best Miami Tours
• Best Miami Boat Tours
• The Top Museums in Miami
• The Top Things to Do in Florida
• The Best Medical Travel Insurance

Top All-Inclusive Resorts in Florida

Tags: Tours , Vacations , Travel , Florida

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

Flight canceled or delayed what to do.

Amanda Norcross April 26, 2024

The Best Beach Hats

Megan Johnson and Sharael Kolberg April 26, 2024

The Best Florence Tours

John Rodwan April 25, 2024

The 9 Best Louisiana Swamp Tours of 2024

John Rodwan April 24, 2024

How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

Gwen Pratesi April 24, 2024

The Best Whale Watching in Cape Cod

Lyn Mettler April 24, 2024

Best Whale Watching Tours in Maine

Marisa Méndez April 23, 2024

The Best Wineries in Napa Valley

April 23, 2024

The Best East Coast Beaches

April 19, 2024

The Best Carry-on Luggage

Erin Evans , Rachael Hood , Catriona Kendall , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson April 17, 2024

Everglades Nature Tours

Review Highlights

“ We visited a village while riding on a airboat it was great where you'll meet up with Jumper. ” in 39 reviews

“ Captain Ozzie was full of good information and knew exactly where to go to find the wildlife. ” in 15 reviews

“ 5 hour private tour along with my best friend's family, and were so completely thrilled with the end result. ” in 12 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

12314 SW 224th St

Miami, FL 33194

Serving Miami Area

You Might Also Consider

Miami Yacht Charters, Boat Rentals, Bachelor Parties, Jet Ski Tours, Fishing Charters, Day or Night, Bookings Available! read more

in Boat Tours, Ticket Sales, Boat Charters

Coral Castle

6.9 miles away from Everglades Nature Tours

Marianne W. said "Naturally living in South Florida for years I've been here to enjoy this Historic Landmark. In 1984 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There's quite a story behind it's creation. You can look up the…" read more

in Museums, Tours

Mayaimi Skating Tours

Mayaimi Skating Tours offers an alternative way to see the South Shore. Glide along the beach as you learn about all the iconic sites and restaurants. Be Active & Alert! read more

Amenities and More

2 More Attributes

About the Business

Business owner information

Business Owner

Everglades Nature Tours (ENT) is taking the South Eastern Florida Everglades by storm! We are the one stop touring company that is ready for your Everglades adventure in any way you want to see nature, customizing and catering to your wants and desires as best we can. Our higher-end airboats are for those who want to tour in first class private luxury. No ear bleeder here folks, just a smooth glide with plush cushion seats for your comfort. For those who want a no insect, A/C adventure, take a guided van tour through the umbrella Cypress, tall pines, hardwood hammocks and sawgrass. For our deep thicket adventurers who want to get away from the tourist areas and go further into the national park, take a drive on our nostalgic swamp buggy that sloshes through the sloughs and cypress thicket for further range tours. Picking up the pace at ground level, we invite hikers and walkers for a more up close and personal swamp and prairie experience. If you or your family love fishing, we have some honey hole action in both the freshwater and saltwater arenas as well. And lastly, for the hunting sportsmen, we have an experienced Gladesman who will be happy to guide hunts for turkey, deer, hog, snakes and gator when in season. We have taken the River of Grass and the deep Everglades to a whole different level of professionalism. We welcome any and all travelers, adventurers, and sportsmen who just want a unique experience. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Got a question about Everglades Nature Tours ? Ask the Yelp community!

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

143 reviews

Been in South Florida a few years and always wanted to try this. My brother was in town and he was game. We reserved online and went out to the meetup location. You're kinda just driving and it's not quite clear where you are going to end up but we were able to figure it out. Before you board, your guide comes around and collects payment. Then you board. My brother and I rode with a family. I really enjoyed how knowledgeable our guide was about the Everglades and its various inhabitants. We saw gators big and small at various locations where they nest. They even give the big gators names! Lol It was not scary at all and I'm glad I went. I enjoyed it.

The airboat is well worth the price of admission because they do donuts and other fun stuff on the boat! They also provide you with safety ear wear some that the noise from the boat doesn't hurt your hearing. The park itself is sometimes sad - the emu peck at each other, the mountain lion walks in circles around the cage, and there are hundreds of alligators on top of themselves. There is an alligator show where they feed some of them rats...and tell some jokes. The gift shop is another thing all together full of chocolate alligator poop. And there are alligator themed things all over the place. The good news, their signage is great and the grounds are cleaned and well maintained. Their bathrooms are super clean as well.

See all photos from Larissa J. for Everglades Nature Tours

Must go for anyone in Miami! Admission includes Alligator show and feeding presented by Tyler. He's very entertaining and adventurous. Airboat driver was Sheridan. Educational ride and great drifting skills. I wasn't expecting an airboat to do 360 drifts! Expect to get wet especially at the front and sides. Overall great experience

Great Tour! Excellent airboat ride with very knowledgeable guide. Was Great fun for me and my 2 boys. Highly recommend!

This is typical alligator tourist trap. The airboat ride was short but fun. Don't expect to see any wildlife but it will give kids a thrill without the boredom of a longer tour.

First time in Florida and I knew I wanted to experience an everglade tour with my family. After researching all the other companies that offered this tour on Yelp and Trip Advisor, although it was a little more expensive then the other tours, I decided on this one. It did not disappoint. My family took the 3 hour Swamp Buggy tour and the 1.5 Semi-Private Airboat tour. They were amazing. Our tour guide was Ozzie. He was amazing! He was very knowledgable and passionate about the everglades and he taught us alot! He answered all of our questions, was very funny, and accommodating to everything we needed. Thanks so much for the cool experience Ozzie.

See all photos from Clarissa T. for Everglades Nature Tours

Excellent airboat ride with very knowledgeable guide. Great fun for the family and safe.

I am so glad that we took this Everglade Airboat Nature Tours with this company. This is a semi-private 90 minute tour. I would basically say it was private because there were only two other people with us. Their boats are on the smaller size, only sitting 4-6 people including the captain. Captain Lorenzo was the perfect tour guide. It's apparent that he loves his job. He showed us around the everglades, and explained the different species, and plant life, and how they are intertwined. Because the airboats are very loud, and noisy, Captain Lorenzo stopped the airboat several times, while he took the time for us to actually touch, and feel the environment instead of just speeding by. At one spot while the boat was stopped we had a visitor come, and visit us. "Jack", I don't remember what kind of bird he is, but Captain Lorenzo gave us some sunflower seeds to put in the palm of our hand, and "Jack" perched himself on my hand, and proceed to eat the sunflower seeds. How cool is that! Thanks Captain Lorenzo. Another time Captain Lorenzo spotted an alligator, and stopped the boat so that we could get a good look, and actually soak in what we were seeing. Captain Lorenzo answered all of our questions, and I learned so much about the everglades is was very interesting. Did you know that the depth of Everglades only comes up to your knees? Well the part we were at. There is also a predator that has taken over the everglades, and has no business there, and is killing off the natural wildlife? Pythons! For whatever reason, be it being transported by Hurricanes and/or Man. People buy them as pets, and when they keep growing they are hard to manage, so the owners dump them in the everglades. Pretty soon there won't be anymore alligators. When the tour guides see a Python, they jump in, and take it out. I'm glad that didn't happen on our tour, even though that would have been pretty cool to see. After our fantastic "Highly Recommend" experience with this tour company, we wanted to go again, and drove down the street, and took a tour with a different everglade airboat tour company, one with a BIG airboat that seats 50 people! Let me just say... I was glad "Everglade Nature Tour" was my first experience, because the other everglade tour was such a disappointment. (I will write a separate yelp review on that company, which won't be favorable, sorry but I have to report the truth) Don't hesitate booking this tour, you won't be disappointed.

See all photos from Gemini U. for Everglades Nature Tours

Manny was our tour guide. He was very informative and funny! We enjoyed our time with him during our 40min airboat tour. We were able to see quite a few alligators in the wild. George being the biggest of them all. It was a great way to experience the Everglades.

LOTS OF RED FLAGS Booked a tour last night for today but when the reservation came up it said the tour was booked for July 3rd and not the date I specifically put in (April 10). There is no place on their website to cancel so I sent an email and attempted to call their posted phone number which DOESN'T RING and just goes straight to the mailbox saying it's full and then hangs up... VERY SUSPICIOUS! Hard to believe they have such high ratings if you can't get in touch with anyone.. how can a company who claims to have one of the best ratings not have anyone pick up their phones or manage their voicemails? Additionally, their reservation email said they only take 50% as a "nonrefundable deposit" but when I checked my card this morning, it says they've already taken the full payment... Seems like they are doing an awful lot to keep our money!

27 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Southpaw Fishing

Anna M. said "Went offshore for the day, and the Southpaw did not disappoint! We caught tons of fish and happily learned from the crew. Captain Brad and Matt were very polite and professional (not always easy to find). The boat was spacious and…" read more

in Fishing, Boat Charters

Lowe Art Museum

FREE Admission! Explore Miami's first art museum! With more than 19,000 objects spanning five millennia of human creativity, the Lowe Art Museum features the region's most comprehensive collection of western and non-western art. For… read more

in Art Galleries, Art Museums, Art Tours

Collections Including Everglades Nature Tours

Kid Activities - Petting Zoos- Preserves Conservation

By Danielle R.

Things To Do In Florida

By Kelvin W. A.

South Florida Theme Parks, Tours, and Attractions

Miami Florida

By Charlisha G.

By Stephanie P.

Must Visit On The List!

By Juan Carlos C.

By The Critical J.

By Melissa M.

THINGS TO DO🧬

People Also Viewed

Airboat In Everglades

Everglades Airboat Expeditions

Everglades River of Grass Adventures

Buffalo Tigers Airboat Tours

Tigertail Airboat Tours

Airboat USA

Coopertown Airboats

Cypress Airboats

Biscayne National Park Institute

Best of Miami

Things to do in Miami

Other Places Nearby

Find more Boat Tours near Everglades Nature Tours

Find more Fishing near Everglades Nature Tours

Find more Walking Tours near Everglades Nature Tours

People found Everglades Nature Tours by searching for…

Air Boat Tours Miami

Airboat Rides Miami

Airboat Swamp Tours Miami

Alligator Farm Miami

Alligator Tour Miami

Aquarium Museum Miami

Everglade Tours Miami

Everglades Airboat Tour Miami

Everglades Boat Miami

Gator Tour Miami

Swamp Tour Miami

Tourist Attractions Miami

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Things to Do

Kayak Rental

Boat Tours Near Me

Fishing Near Me

Fishing Lakes Near Me

Walking Tours Near Me

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

Everglades Swamp Buggy Tour

Tour information.

• Location This Is The Real Everglades!
• Duration 3.5 hours
• Reviews 0 Review
• Adults Unlimited
• Children Unlimited

This Is The Real Everglades!

239 -260-4577, [email protected], 3.5 hr swamp buggy tour, -$140 person 12 and up, -$60 children 11 – 6, -children 5 and under are free, -2 person minimum.

Swamp Buggies have been a part of the Gladesmen culture in the Everglades for many years. You can experience this Everglades tradition with a fifth-generation guide on an Everglades Swamp Buggy Tour. Our Swamp Buggy partners will take you deep into the Big Cypress National Preserve in search of alligators, black bears, and even the Florida panther!

Kick back and relax You’ll be seated high above the swamp which makes for great photography opportunities and wildlife viewing.  This high vantage point allows our guests to see for miles over the beautiful Everglades landscape.  The swamp buggy moves along at a slow pace through the cypress forest and you’ll see places very few people get to experience. You’ll even be able to stop and walk around and get your feet wet if you like.

Everglades City makes a great basecamp for all of our tours.  It is considered The Capital City of the Everglades as it completely surrounded by the 4 top parks / preserves.  Everglades National Park, Big Cypress Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand and The 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge all come together at Everglades City.

Everglades Swamp Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Everglades Swamp Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Visiting Tips (2024)