Miami Everglades: 60-Min Airboat Ride & Wildlife Show

The Airboat Engine Cuts Through Saw Grass at 80 km/h

You're picked up from your hotel and driven to the Everglades with a guide who talks the whole way; then you spend an hour on a fast airboat spotting alligators, turtles, and snakes through the saw grass; afterward you watch a 20-minute show with rescued alligators and learn how the ecosystem recovered. Hotel pickup, airboat ride, wildlife show, and all fees are included. The guide sends your exact pickup time the day before.

Step-by-step itinerary

Everglades airboat tour and wildlife show

• Pick-up and introduction to Everglades
• Drive with Everglades history and wildlife info
• 60-minute airboat ride through Everglades
• 20-minute wildlife show with rescued alligators
• Visit souvenir shop
• Learn about alligator population recovery
• Return journey with Q&A session

The experience

The engine roars to life and you're moving fast through the Everglades, water spraying, the saw grass a blur on both sides. You're on a 60-minute airboat ride that's twice as long and twice as fast as what most other operators offer in the Miami area. Your guide (someone with over a decade working these waters) points out alligators sunning on the banks, turtles sliding into the water, snakes coiled in the vegetation. The airboat ride itself is the centerpiece, but it doesn't start there. It starts with pickup from your hotel, and during the drive your guide is already talking, already sharing the history of how the Everglades began in the coastal areas of South Florida, how they've changed, what's living in them now. By the time you step onto the boat, you're not a tourist asking basic questions. You already know something.

After the ride, there's a 20-minute wildlife show where you see rescued alligators up close, the ones that were pulled from places they shouldn't have been. Your guide explains why the alligator population recovered, how the farms work, the whole story of how a species came back from the edge. The group stays small to medium-sized, which means your questions actually get answered instead of getting lost in a crowd. If something doesn't make sense or you want to know more, there's space to ask. The tour operates rain or shine (weather shifts every other day out here), so you're going regardless of what the forecast says that morning.

Pickup times are coordinated between 7:45 AM and 1:30 PM depending on where you're staying, and the guide sends the exact time the afternoon before via email. You get an air-conditioned vehicle for the drive, live commentary in the language you choose during transport, and then English-only narration once you're on the water and at the wildlife show. Everything is included (fees, taxes, the whole day), so there's nothing to negotiate or add on once you're there.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• live commentary during the drive in your chosen language.
• expert guide with over 10 years of Everglades experience.
• approximately 60-minute airboat ride through the Everglades at speeds up to 80 km/h.
• 20-minute live wildlife show featuring rescued alligators.
• all entrance fees and taxes.
• access to the park souvenir shop.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (14 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (2 to 13 years)

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “If outside the pick-up area, we'll assign a meeting point: Maurice A. Ferré Park, 1075 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA, or 7th Street Car Park, Miami Beach, FL, USA.”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.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

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Banana Joe Tours

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want the full Everglades experience (airboat speed, wildlife viewing, and expert storytelling) without arranging transport or worrying about timing. The small group size and knowledgeable guide mean you're not just passing through, you're actually learning how the ecosystem works.

Traveler reviews

4.36★★★★★★★★★★

1,392 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,028

4 ★125

3 ★79

2 ★38

1 ★122

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 13 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. No refund if you cancel.

How fast does the airboat go?

Up to 80 km/h. The ride lasts approximately 60 minutes and is designed to be faster and longer than standard Everglades airboat tours.

What time does the tour start?

Coordinated start times run between 7:45 AM and 1:30 PM depending on your hotel location. The guide emails your exact pickup time the afternoon before the tour.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your Miami hotel are included, along with an air-conditioned vehicle and live commentary during the drive.

What wildlife will I see?

Alligators, turtles, snakes, and other wildlife native to the Everglades. After the airboat ride, you'll also see rescued alligators in a 20-minute wildlife show.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the 60-minute airboat ride, the 20-minute alligator show, an expert guide, live commentary, air-conditioned transport, and all fees and taxes.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are kept small to medium-sized to ensure every question gets answered and you have a more personal experience.

Is there a souvenir shop?

Yes. After the airboat ride and wildlife show, you can visit the park's souvenir shop before returning to your hotel.