When I first moved to Florida back in 2016, I was a New York transplant — a city girl through and through. My idea of the Everglades was a humid, mosquito-infested swamp, and airboat rides an overpriced tourist trap that posed little interest. Today, I’m an Everglades convert happy to admit that I was dead wrong. The Everglades is a majestic place unique from everything else Florida has to offer.
My conversion happened during my very first airboat ride. Just as Aladdin introduced Jasmine to a whole new world in “Aladdin,” I was fortunate enough to meet a man who did the same for me — he took me on a magic airboat ride through the Everglades at night, introducing me to a whole new world that has become one of my favorite places.
The diverse “River of Grass” is home to hundreds of different species of plants, birds, snakes, turtles, fish, frogs, and the American alligator. Gliding across the top of the clear, shallow water, airboats are the perfect way to pass through this beautiful terrain. No matter what time of day you venture out, you’re sure to see something different.
Reaching speeds upward of 60 miles per hour, airboats are equal parts sightseeing and thrill rides that can easily turn a hot summer day into a cool, enjoyable run. Under the morning/midday sun, you’ll have a crystal-clear view of the scenic sawgrass marshes and floating hydrilla, the greens dynamic against bright blue skies. Stare below the water’s deceptively clear surface and you’ll likely see garfish, bass, bluegill, and a number of other fish.
Cruising across the Everglades at sunset, you’re bound to see ibises, anhingas, egrets, and purple gallinules taking flight, soaring against the deep pink and orange sky. Considered one of the top 10 birding locations in the world, the Everglades is home to more than 360 different bird species. Be wary though — the transition to sundown is when you are likely to encounter the most mosquitoes.
Once the sun goes down, the Everglades begins to come alive, which is why nighttime tours offer the best wildlife viewing. Gliding slowly down shallow passageways between tall grasses, you’ll see plenty of alligators, their eyes glowing red from the airboat lights. Airboats can quickly pull up right alongside gators, giving you the ultimate safe, closer encounter. Once the water moves, these creatures dive beneath the surface, hiding under floating mud — one of the places they store a kill they cannot finish eating in one sitting.
One of the most enchanting parts of a nighttime experience is to shut off the loud engine and take a few moments to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Above you will be a stunning night sky laden with stars. Close your eyes and you’ll hear the low growling of gators and the trilling of frogs, a wild symphony that offers a peaceful escape from the day-to-day grind.
Public Airboat Tours
There are two outlets near Parkland that offer public airboat tours:
- Loxahatchee Everglades Airboat Tours and Rides, 15490 Loxahatchee Road, Parkland. It offers a “Great Blue” 50-minute, guided airboat tour that costs $80 per adult and $45 for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Tours operate Monday to Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.evergladesairboattours.com.
- Everglades Airboat Tours at Everglades Holiday Park, 21940 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale. It offers daily one-hour tours starting at 9 a.m., with the last boat leaving at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $35.99 for adults 12 and older and $23 for children between the ages of 3 and 11. Everglades Holiday Park also offers animal encounters and gator shows run by the Gator Boys, stars of the “Animal Planet” reality TV series of the same name.
Private Airboat Tours
While they may be a bit pricier, private airboat tours offer a more intimate experience, along with the ability to see the Everglades at different times of the day, when the sun is no longer bearing down on you.
Everglades Airboat Excursions offers private two-hour sunset tours, which cost $425 for up to four people, and private two-hour night excursions, which cost $500 for up to four people. Groups larger than four can be accommodated for an additional $50 per person. All tours depart from the boat ramp at Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area in Weston on Highway 27. For more information, visit www.evergladesairboatexcursions.com.
What to Bring/Wear
If you’re heading out on a daytime tour, you’ll want to bring water, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and bug repellant. You may also want a cell phone neck holder if you’re planning on taking pictures with your phone. Most airboats do not have sides, meaning that, if dropped, your phone will likely slide off the deck and into the water (unfortunately speaking from experience on that one!).
If you’re embarking on a nighttime trip, make sure to check the weather forecast. The temperature tends to feel about 10 degrees cooler in the Everglades, with the wind from the propeller making it even chillier.