Everglades Birding & Dolphin Boat Tour: 2-Hour Wildlife Guide

Spot dolphins and eagles on a quiet boat through the 10,000 Islands

A two-hour guided boat tour of Everglades National Park where you search for dolphins, manatees and over 300 bird species across Chokoloskee Bay and the 10,000 Islands with a Florida Master Naturalist guide. Groups are capped at six people. Park admission is an optional add-on at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Everglades boat tour and wildlife viewing

• Board quiet, shallow draft boat
• Explore Everglades 10,000 Islands
• Spot dolphins, manatees, and birds
• Learn about Everglades ecosystem and history
• Enjoy wildlife photography opportunities

The experience

Chokoloskee Bay and the 10,000 Islands are accessed by a quiet, shallow-draft boat. The kind that lets you move slowly through the Everglades without the noise of an airboat. Your Florida Master Naturalist guide navigates the water-filled landscape looking for bottle-nosed dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and the resident birds: eagles, ospreys, pelicans, egrets, herons, rosette spoonbills and shore birds. The two-hour tour covers what makes each ecosystem different, the park's long history and the culture that shaped it, so you're learning the place while you're watching for wildlife.

The boat holds just six guests, which means you're not competing for sightlines or guide attention. Children from age one are welcome: infants sit on an adult's lap. You'll need to descend a 2–3 rung ladder to board, and the operator suggests bringing water, a hat, sunglasses and binoculars. Cameras are essential. The dolphins and birds are the whole point of being there. From June through October, morning departures are recommended due to weather patterns.

What’s included

• Two-hour guided boat tour with a Florida Master Naturalist guide.
• access to Chokoloskee Bay and the 10,000 Islands.
• wildlife spotting for dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and over 300 bird species.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs Monday to Saturday at 08:30, 11:00 and 13:30, from US$ 119.95 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 6 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 08:30, 11:00 and 13:30Another day? ›

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Child (1 to 11 years)

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 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Everglades Boat Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to watch wildlife in their natural habitat without the noise of an airboat: the quiet shallow-draft boat and small group size mean you'll actually hear the guide and see what the dolphins are doing instead of being drowned out by an engine.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 11 years).

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 birds and animals might I see on the Everglades boat tour?

The tour targets dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, plus over 300 bird species including eagles, ospreys, pelicans, egrets, herons and rosette spoonbills. What you spot depends on the season and where the wildlife is that day, but the guide knows where to look.

How many people go on each boat?

Each tour is limited to six guests, keeping the experience intimate so everyone gets a good view and the guide can answer questions without managing a crowd.

Do I need to buy Everglades National Park admission separately?

Park admission is optional and added at checkout if you want it. The boat tour itself operates within the park, and your guide is included either way.

Why is this a quiet boat instead of an airboat?

Loud airboats are not permitted in Everglades National Park because of their impact on the environment. The quiet, shallow-draft boat lets you move through the water without disturbing the wildlife or the ecosystem.

When is the best time to book this tour?

The tour runs year-round, but from June through October the operator suggests morning departures due to weather conditions in the afternoon.