After a morning hotel pickup in the Fort Lauderdale area, it’s off to one of the most beautiful and unique places on earth—the Florida Everglades.
On this naturalist-guided excursion, begin with a spectacular airboat ride over and through the sawgrass prairies and pond apple forests of the Everglades. Then hop in a van for a wildlife drive through the pine savannahs and cypress forests of Big Cypress National Preserve. Look for alligators, turtles, and birds and keep an eye out for the elusive Florida panther. Next, enjoy a nature walk below towering bald cypress trees. Alligators, herons, egrets and dozens of other species can be spotted at any time throughout the year here. Also, less visible but ever-present otters, bears, pigs, deer, and panthers roam the local wilderness.
After lunch, which includes alligator appetizers, hop on board a scenic boat ride into the Ten Thousand Islands mangrove forest in Everglades National Park. This relaxing cruise features manatees, sea turtles, osprey and a variety of other marine life, including the occasional pod of dolphins feeding in the nearby bay.
The tour concludes with a relaxing return trip to the Fort Lauderdale area.
Notice: If hotel is not on the pickup list, meet at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Fla.
