As you’re heading down to the Florida Keys, making a day trip into the Flamingo area of Everglades National Park is an easy and worthwhile addition to your trip. There are lots of things to do within the Flamingo Everglades section, but when it comes to having a bit of a safari and learning about this unique National Park, doing the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour is a must. This simple but beautiful boat tour is great for getting on the water and exploring away from the main park road. Crocodiles, manatees, birds and more are all on the viewing menu for the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour.
If you haven’t been to the Flamingo area before, you’re going to love it. The trails, the kayaking and the guided tours make it a fun precursor to your Florida Keys trip. If you have any questions about doing the Backcountry Boat Tour or general inquiries about exploring Everglades National Park, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to share more and help you plan a great trip to the Keys and Everglades!
Highlights of the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour
Being in Everglades National Park is very different from most of the places you’ll visit on vacation in South Florida because it’s such a unique combination of ecosystems and habitats. The Flamingo Adventures Backcountry Boat Tour isn’t at all like the airboat tours in the Everglades and it’s not like the sandbar tours in the Florida Keys. This part of Everglades National Park is where the network of streams, lakes and the River of Grass all make their connection to the Florida Bay, which is saltwater. And that means that here is where you’ll find crocodiles!
I think that’s the biggest highlight of the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour, that you get a great view and experience seeing cool wildlife with a smart, relatable narration. Unless you’ve studies zoology or ecosystems, or if you don’t live here in Florida, you might think that alligators and crocodiles are the same thing, or that they live in the same places, but doing a tour that teaches you something about each as you look for them is really cool.
The other thing I appreciated about the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour is how much of the backwaters you get to see during the trip. You start at the marina off the Buttonwood Canal and actually make it all the way to Coot Bay, through Tarpon Creek and out into another huge lake. You see so much of the Flamingo area of Everglades National Park and you have a shaded, narrated tour for all of it. It’s the best way to see wildlife AND cover a lot of ground here in the Park.
Book the Backcountry Boat Tour here!
Tips for a Great Flamingo Boat Tour
The Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour is pretty chill in terms of level of adventure. The tour boat is a catamaran, a pontoon style boat with a roof covering about 80% of the passenger area. Rain or shine, you’ll be able to enjoy the tour. There are two keys to getting the most out of your time on the boat: 1) listen to the naturalist’s narration and 2) actively be a part of looking for wildlife. There’s a lot of information about Everglades National Park and its wildlife and vegetation that’s pretty fascinating, so arrive with your listening ears on. If you’re doing the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour with kids, encourage them to ask every question about what they’re learning and experiencing. The guides LOVE that!
The other tip is to be an active part of looking for wildlife. While the Flamingo Backcountry Tour boat captain is always on the lookout for animals and the naturalist is too, they have limited vision and need all the help they can get looking for crocodiles, birds, racoons, alligators, manatees and more. I’ve been a guide and you have to focus on both the task at hand (and safety) and try to find the wildlife and it’s a lot to conquer. As you’re enjoying your tour, keep your eyes peeled and be quick with letting the naturalist or captain know when you see something cool!
Being Prepared for the Flamingo Boat Tour
Being a photographer I am always ready with my camera, especially when I’m on a tour where I’m not the driver or not responsible for biking or paddling myself. The Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour is on such a stable boat with so little disruption that you have a great opportunity for steady wildlife photography. Wildlife is tricky though, as it can disappear as quickly as it shows up, but being on a stable boat is a wonderful advantage for shooting the beautiful birds and crocodiles of Everglades National Park.
Camera tip: For much of the Flamingo boat tour, a lens up to 250mm should be sufficient, but there are times when using a larger lens, such as a 400mm or 600mm is great. It depends on how calm the wildlife is during your boat tour.
People always ask us about the mosquitoes in Everglades National Park, and rightly so. Yes, there are a lot of mosquitoes in the Everglades from mid-April until November. Summer is peak mosquito season, but I’ve found that being on boats like the continually moving catamaran for the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour keeps the mosquitoes away. They don’t like motion or windy days, so that’s to the advantage of tour-goers. If you’re doing the boardwalks or trails in Everglades National Park, you for sure need bug spray and I also recommend protective clothing if you’re very sensitive to mosquitoes.
Parking for Flamingo Boat Tours in Everglades National Park
The Flamingo District of Everglades National Park is on the eastern side of the park, closest to Miami. Each of the districts (Flamingo, Shark Valley, 10,000 Islands) is accessible from its own entry road with the Flamingo and 10,000 Islands areas also being accessible by boat. For the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour, Florida Bay Boat Tour or Flamingo kayak rentals, you’ll drive to the end of the Flamingo park road. The marina is next to the beautiful PINK visitor center, with the Flamingo Lodge, eco tents and campground just beyond. Park at the marina for any boat tours or kayaking and then you can drive to your accommodations. I say this as somebody who knows how hot Everglades National Park can get and how many mosquitoes are lurking, waiting for people to walk around gingerly.
Travel Between Everglades National Park Districts
While it might not look like a long drive between the different areas of Everglades National Park, from the Flamingo Visitor Center to the Shark Valley Visitor Center is a two hour drive. From Flamingo to the 10,000 Islands Gulf Coast Visitor Center is a two hour and forty minute drive. And keep in mind that there are lots of stops to make between each of these areas, including boardwalks and viewing platforms in Big Cypress National Preserve and Fakahatchee Strand State Park. Plan you time wisely as you continue to explore Everglades National Park.
Flamingo Adventures Operating Information
To be sure you have the best experience doing the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour and enjoying this district of Everglades National Park, here’s the operating information for your visit:
- Operating Dates/Season: year round (closes for active hurricane threats) 8:00 am to 4:00 pm typically
- Office phone number: (239) 695-1095
- Company website: Flamingo Adventures
- Tour check-in address: 1 Flamingo Lodge Hwy, Homestead, FL 33034
- Tour booking links: Book the Backcountry Boat Tour here! OR book the Flamingo Florida Bay Tour here
More Ways to Experience Florida National Parks
Yes, the Florida Keys have their own National Park: Dry Tortugas NP. Located way far off of Key West, this is one of the prettiest places in all of the Keys. It’s an adventure to get there but it’s worth it. Most visitors experience Dry Tortugas National Park as a day trip, but you can actually camp here too! We’ve got tip for ya…
I think the Everglades are really cool to explore, and with so much wildlife how can you pass them up. Everglades National Park is on the way to the Florida Keys, so it’s an easy addition. Whether you’re spending a few days exploring each of the districts of Everglade NP or you are just stopping into the Flamingo area (it’s the closest to the Keys), we’ve got lots of advice and ideas to have a great experience.
And you know there’s another National Park at the start of the Florida Keys: Biscayne National Park!!! While mostly known for boating and diving, Biscayne National Park is a beautiful place and is a great stop on the way to the Keys. You can experience Biscayne NP in a day and cross it off your National Parks list.
Lastly, there’s another often overlooked National Park Service area that is AMAZING. Big Cypress National Preserve shares a border with Everglades National Park and is a fascinating place to explore. Boardwalks through cypress swamps foot and paddling trails make this a really unique stop on the way to the Florida Keys.
Here are our suggestions for experiencing Florida’s National Parks:
I hope you’ll consider doing the Flamingo Backcountry Boat Tour or the Florida Bay tour. The wildlife and nature is just beautiful and it’s a great introduction to the magic of South Florida stretching into the Keys. If you have any questions about visiting Everglades National Park or need additional recommendations, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help plan awesome Florida Keys trips!
