About All ToursAirboat ToursBoat ToursFrom Fort LauderdaleFrom Miami ToursKayaking ToursAlligator ToursEco ToursPrivate Tours Directions Hours & Fees
Find Tours 
Explore the diverse ecosystems of the Everglades on a guided kayaking tour. Navigate through narrow mangrove tunnels, freshwater lakes, and cypress ponds alongside expert naturalist guides.
Free Cancellation Paddle through the Everglades' quiet mangrove tunnels and brackish lakes on a naturalist-guided tour.
Free Cancellation Explore the Everglades' mangrove tunnels and cypress ponds while spotting alligators, ospreys, and bald eagles.
Free Cancellation Explore the Everglades by boat, kayak, and on foot with a Master Naturalist to find dolphins, manatees, and rare birds.
Free Cancellation Explore cypress forests and mangrove tunnels on a 2-hour guided kayak tour through the heart of the Everglades.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Everglades — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Kayaking in the Everglades offers an immersive, ground-level way to experience the largest subtropical wilderness in North America. Paddling through the park's diverse waterways, you will get up close to unique flora and fauna while navigating the famous "river of grass" at a relaxed, quiet pace.
Navigate through narrow, shaded waterways formed by dense mangrove forests. These brackish environments serve as vital nurseries for the ecosystem's marine life.
Keep your eyes peeled for wild alligators, river otters, turtles, and a massive variety of wading birds fishing in the shallow waters right next to your boat.
Learn about the complex wetland ecology from certified Florida Master Naturalists who know exactly where to spot elusive animals and how to paddle safely.
Glide through open, serene cypress forests that showcase the freshwater habitats of the park, offering a stark contrast to the dense coastal mangroves.
Some excursions combine your kayak trip with a transport boat ride, allowing you to reach deeper, more remote areas of the park and walk on untouched beaches.
Enjoy comfortable, easy-to-maneuver kayaks equipped with adjustable seats. Operators provide high-quality life jackets and dry bags to keep your gear safe.
Before reserving your kayak adventure in the Everglades, there are a few important logistical and safety details to keep in mind to ensure a smooth trip.
Options range from quick 2-hour kayak safaris to comprehensive 3.5-hour combo tours that feature boat rides and remote beach walks. Most are small-group guided excursions, though private options exist.
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness to paddle for a few hours. Kayaking is generally not recommended for those with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.
Most tours provide the kayak, paddles, life jackets, and a professional naturalist guide. Many also include bottled water, dry bags or boxes for your electronics, and light snacks.
Double-check if your tour covers the national park entrance fee. Standard entry is $35 per vehicle. Note that starting January 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents ages 16 and over must pay an additional $100 nonresident fee.
Opt for quick-drying clothes you don't mind getting dirty, and wear water shoes or old sneakers. Bring a hat with a leash, polarized sunglasses, and apply reef-safe sunscreen before you launch.
The dry season (December through April) is the most comfortable time for kayaking, with lower humidity and fewer bugs. Summer wet season brings intense heat, daily storms, and heavy mosquito activity.
Most local operators offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, giving you flexibility if your travel plans or the weather changes.
| Standard Mangrove Kayak Tour | Kayak & Boat Combo Tour | Premium Guided Kayak Excursion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 - 3 hours | 3.5 hours | Flexible |
| Best for | First-time paddlers & wildlife lovers | Seeing remote areas & diverse habitats | Immersive ecosystem exploration |
| Includes | Kayak, guide, dry bags, water | Boat transport, kayak gear, guided beach walk | Private transport, snacks, paddling instruction |
| Price from | $75 - $100 | $199 | $114 |
Everglades National Park has varying hours depending on the entrance you use. The Main Entrance in Homestead is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, meaning you won't get locked in if your afternoon kayak tour runs late.
However, the Shark Valley entrance gate is only open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Most visitor centers, such as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center, operate daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Kayak tour departure times vary by operator, but typically run in the mornings (around 9:00 a.m.) and afternoons (around 1:00 p.m.) to maximize wildlife viewing and avoid midday heat.
A personal rental car is highly recommended for visiting the Everglades, as the park spans over 1.5 million acres and the three main entrances do not connect internally. Traveling between entrances requires driving outside the park, often taking over an hour.
From Miami, the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is about a 40-mile drive. Take the Florida Turnpike south until it merges with U.S. 1 at Florida City, then turn right onto Palm Drive to the park entrance.
If you prefer public transit, the City of Homestead offers a free seasonal trolley service to the Ernest F. Coe and Royal Palm areas from December through April, though you still need to pay the park entrance fee.
The absolute best time to kayak in the Everglades is during the dry season, which runs from December through April. During these months, the weather is pleasant, humidity is lower, and biting insects are far less active.
Because water levels drop during the dry season, wildlife like alligators and wading birds concentrate around the remaining water bodies, making them much easier to spot from your kayak.
The wet season (May through November) is generally the worst time to visit. It brings extreme heat, high humidity, daily thunderstorms, and incredibly dense swarms of mosquitoes that can make paddling uncomfortable.
While the Everglades has excellent wheelchair-friendly options on land—such as the paved Guy Bradley Trail and the elevated boardwalks of the Anhinga Trail—kayaking requires a bit more mobility.
Most kayak tours require a moderate level of physical fitness. You will need to be able to get in and out of a low-sitting boat, and on some combo tours, you may need to descend a short ladder from a transport boat to reach your kayak.
Tour operators explicitly state that kayaking is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers. If mobility is a concern, consider the accessible 15-mile Shark Valley tram tour instead.
Visitor centers at the park entrances offer modern restrooms, interactive educational exhibits, and water refill stations. However, once you are out on the water or at remote kayak launches, facilities are practically nonexistent.
Always use the restroom before meeting your tour guide. There is no indoor lodging inside the park aside from the Flamingo Lodge and houseboats, though campgrounds are available at Long Pine Key and Flamingo.
Food options are very limited inside the park boundaries. Bring plenty of your own drinking water and high-energy snacks, although many premium kayak tours will provide bottled water and light snacks as part of the package.
Wildlife Safety: Alligators and crocodiles are wild predators. You must maintain a strict safety distance of at least 15 to 20 feet from all wildlife. Never feed, provoke, or harass the animals, which is a federal offense.
No previous experience is necessary for most tours. Operators use stable, comfortable kayaks that are easy to maneuver, and professional guides provide a safety briefing and paddling instructions before you get on the water.
Yes, it is highly likely you will see wild alligators, especially during the dry season. Guides are trained to navigate safely around them, maintaining the required 15 to 20 feet of distance so you can view them securely.
Yes, the mangrove tunnels form a dense canopy over the waterways, providing excellent natural shade. This makes paddling through them much cooler and more comfortable, even on sunny Florida days.
You should bring plenty of water, reef-safe sunscreen, strong bug spray, polarized sunglasses, and a hat. Wear quick-drying clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet or muddy.
Most tour operators provide dry bags or specialized dry boxes for your electronics and keys. However, since you are on the water, it is always a good idea to have a waterproof case for your phone just in case.
This varies by operator. Some tours include it, while others require you to pay the park's standard $35 per vehicle fee separately. Note that starting in 2026, non-U.S. residents must pay an extra $100 fee.
Yes, children are welcome on most tours, but infants and toddlers are usually required to sit on an adult's lap. Always check the specific age requirements with the tour operator before booking.
Tours typically run rain or shine, so bringing a light rain jacket is recommended. However, if there is severe weather or lightning, operators will cancel the trip and offer a full refund or a chance to reschedule.
No, there are no restrooms out in the backcountry or mangrove tunnels. You should use the facilities at the visitor center or the tour check-in location before heading to the kayak launch.
Absolutely not. Swimming is strictly prohibited in all freshwater lakes, ponds, and canals in the Everglades due to the presence of alligators, crocodiles, and venomous snakes.
Browse verified tours with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
Find Tours
This guided paddle takes you deep into the Everglades to explore North America’s largest mangrove forest. Led by a naturalist, you’ll navigate a network of brackish lakes where fresh and salt water meet. These waters serve as a vital nursery for a wide range of wildlife, including alligators, river otters, and various fish species. The tour moves through narrow tidal creeks where the mangroves grow overhead, creating dense, shaded tunnels. This canopy maintains the humidity needed for air plants like orchids and bromeliads to thrive. Along the way, your guide will help you identify resident birds—such as wood storks, roseate spoonbills, and herons—while explaining the complex ecology of the forest. From June through October, we recommend booking a morning tour to ensure the best weather conditions.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
This guided excursion takes you deep into the heart of the Everglades, navigating through narrow mangrove tunnels and open cypress ponds. The route is designed to showcase the diverse ecosystems of the wetlands while providing a quiet, non-intrusive way to observe the local environment. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to see Florida’s iconic wildlife in their natural habitat. Sightings often include American alligators, osprey, and bald eagles, alongside a variety of rare wading birds. Our guides focus on the history and ecology of the area, ensuring a safe and informative trip through these protected waters.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
This trip into Everglades National Park combines a boat ride, kayaking, and a guided walk on a remote beach. Led by a Florida Master Naturalist, the tour begins on a transport boat to reach the park’s interior. Depending on the time of year, you may see manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and various birds like bald eagles, ospreys, and roseate spoonbills. After the boat ride, you will switch to stable kayaks to get a closer look at the local plants and animals. No previous experience is necessary, and both single and two-person kayaks are available. The final part of the tour takes you on a walk across a secluded barrier island beach that sees very few visitors. From June through October, we recommend booking a morning tour to ensure the best weather conditions.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Explore the freshwater ecosystems of Southwest Florida on a two-hour guided kayak tour. This trip is designed for a relaxed pace, using stable boats that are easy to maneuver through cypress forests and mangrove tunnels. Now in our 17th year, we focus on providing a clear look at the landscape for beginners and experienced paddlers alike. Led by professional naturalist guides, you will travel through three distinct ecosystems where wildlife is common. Expect to see alligators along the riverbanks, various bird species, and ancient cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. This specific route is chosen for its high concentration of animals and its accessibility for those new to kayaking. The tour is a practical option for families with younger children or visitors traveling from Miami or Naples who have limited time. At two hours long, it offers a comprehensive nature experience that fits easily into a busy schedule while showcasing parts of the Everglades that remain hidden from the main roads.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English