10,000 Islands Boat Tour + Everglades Walk: Wildlife & History

Paddle through mangrove islands and walk into cypress swamps where wildlife lives wild

A half-day tour of Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve combines a 75–80 minute boat trip through the 10,000 Islands with a guided walk through cypress forest and stops at a historic trading post. Your naturalist guide leads you through five different ecosystems, identifying birds, dolphins, manatees and other wildlife as they appear in their natural habitat. Hotel pickup from the Naples area is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Everglades and Big Cypress

• Pick up from Naples hotels
• Drive east into Western Everglades
• Orientation at Big Cypress Preserve
• Walk from prairie to gator hole
• Boat trip through 10,000 Islands
• Visit Nathaniel Reed Visitor Center
• Scenic driving tour of Old Florida town
• Tour historic trading post
• Boat trip in Everglades National Park

The experience

The tour starts with a drive east into the Western Everglades, where your naturalist guide orients you to Big Cypress National Preserve. You'll walk a dry trail from prairie habitat out to a gator hole ringed by cypress canopy, learning how the swamp's layered ecosystems support the region's biodiversity. The guide points out the flora and the animals that depend on it. This is the foundation for everything you'll see on the water.

The boat trip through the 10,000 Islands is where the wildlife emerges. Your captain-guide, multi-generational and deeply familiar with the region, navigates the mangrove maze while identifying the birds nesting in rookeries, watching for dolphins and manatees in the shallows. You'll likely get off the boat to explore a remote island on foot. Wild Lime Adventures holds special permits to guide in Everglades, Big Cypress and Dry Tortugas (access most tour operators don't have), and the guides are trained to find animals in the wild, never in cages or pens.

After the boat, you'll visit the historic trading post on the National Registry, where angled counters and waterfront views tell the story of Seminole and settler trade. A scenic drive through Big Cypress includes a stop at Nathaniel Reed Visitor Center, where you can collect park stamps. Snacks and water are provided throughout. Bring a reusable bottle to refill.

What’s included

• Snacks and water throughout the tour.
• hotel pickup from the Naples area.
• access to Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park with a naturalist guide.
• the cypress swamp walk and gator hole exploration.
• the 75–80 minute boat trip through the 10,000 Islands.
• a visit to the historic trading post.
• a scenic narrated drive through Big Cypress with a stop at Nathaniel Reed Visitor Center.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Wild Lime Adventures

Is this one for you?Join a guide who knows the remote channels and islands where dolphins congregate and rare birds nest. You'll access restricted areas and get the naturalist commentary that solo visitors miss, but you follow the guide's route rather than exploring at your own pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife might I see on the 10,000 Islands boat trip?

Dolphins, manatees, roseate spoonbills, white pelicans, and sharks are all possible sightings. The guide watches for them constantly as the boat moves through the mangrove channels, and the rookeries near the islands hold large concentrations of birds.

What is the cypress swamp walk like?

The walk follows a dry trail from open prairie into a cypress canopy dome forest, ending at a gator hole. Your naturalist guide explains the flora and the wildlife that depends on each layer of the ecosystem. It's an orientation to how the swamp is built, not a long hike.

Why does Wild Lime Adventures have permits other tour companies don't?

Wild Lime Adventures is the only company holding special permits to guide tours in Everglades, Big Cypress and Dry Tortugas National Parks. The permits allow access to remote areas of the 10,000 Islands that general visitors cannot reach on their own.

What is the historic trading post?

The trading post is a preserved building on the National Registry of Historic Places, located on the edge of the 10,000 Islands. It once served as the chief place of trade between the Seminoles and the first non-Native settlers in the region, and its architecture, including outward-angled counters, reflects that history.

How long is the boat portion of the tour?

The boat trip through the 10,000 Islands lasts 75 to 80 minutes. You'll spend the rest of the half-day on the Big Cypress drive, the cypress swamp walk, and stops at the trading post and visitor center.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup is included from many hotels in the Naples area. The tour begins with a drive east into the Western Everglades after collection.