Everglades Airboat Tour with Transport from Miami

Unorganized, unprofessional, and not as advertised. Transportation to the Everglades took well over 2 hours and involved driving all around Miami Beach, a temporary pit stop at a random hotel lobby to wait for another van due to overcrowding, and a poorly functioning van that wouldn't shift from 2nd to 3rd gear for a period of time and lacked operational doors and locks. Once to the Everglades, which mind you is not Everglades National Park but an area north of that on an Indian reservation, we were corralled like cattle to get on the air boat. Outside bathrooms were not functioning. The airboat ride was the best part - the captains are well experienced and do their best to put you near wildlife. But the boat was nearly fully enclosed roof above you, which was not what we requested and thought was confirmed by Viator staff. There are dozens of other boats out so it really feels more like a man-made amusement. However, the worst part of the ordeal was a lack of clarity with the timing. We thought we booked a half day 4 hour trip and would return around 1pm. Due to the long travel time to the Everglades and wait times once we were there, we barely finished with the airboat by 1pm. Fearing that we would miss our departing flight later that evening, we opted to bail on the second half of the tour a wildlife show and grab an Uber for transport back to our hotel. Our tour guide/driver could not be trusted to return us in time.

Overall, it was a disappointing experience on multiple fronts and I would not recommend to anyone. One is better off supplying their own transportation rental car, uber, lyft, etc. and going to the airboat docks on their own watch. Probably cheaper this route too.

The Everglades were well worth the trip, but the tour didnt pick us up at the hotel until 9:30, and we did a milk run around Miami for an hour picking up other tourists before we headed out, Because we had a cruise that day, I had asked specifically what time we would be back at the hotel when I confirmed and was told 1:00 however, when we got on the highway we were told we wouldnt leave the Park until 1:15. With the drive back to Miami and another milk run, I thought we may not be back at our hotel until around 3:00. So we did the first half of the excursion, the air boat ride, and then I had to call an Uber to get us back to Miami on time. Tour operator was not running the tour on time and was not honest about the timing.

We thoroughly enjoyed the airboat tour. If you enjoy spending 3 hours of hotel pickups prior to the actual everglades tour, then go ahead!

Great experience overall. Tonya the boat captain was engaging and fun. Seemed to know every animal personally. Saw at least 5 alligators on the tour and variety of interesting birds. Queuing at the boat boarding is a bit slow, but not bad. Note the boats are COVERED, unlike the photo in the booking ad. Bring water, it gets hot in Summer-- they do sell drinks in the small shop, but be prepared for tourist prices. The bus pick up/drop off is not fast, but is reasonably efficient.