National Parks & Preserves of Florida
Tour Map
Daily Itinerary
November 3: Fort Myers to Everglades City
Gather in the early afternoon to transfer to Everglades City. Explore this small town and even do a little neighborhood wildlife watching before dinner. An evening National Parks Conservation Association presentation gives an overview of the Everglades and the efforts being made to protect and restore one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. Ivy House (D)
November 4: Corkscrew Swamp & Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
After an early bird/nature walk,* depart for Corkscrew Swamp—one of the best old-growth swamp
forests in the country. Prowl the boardwalks searching for otters, painted buntings, ibis, storks,
reptiles, kites, flowers, and 1,000-year-old trees. Later, we explore the back roads of the Florida
Panther Preserve, searching for wildlife and wildflowers. Ivy House (B,L,D)
November 5: Big Cypress National Preserve & Fakahatchee Strand
Put on your old sneakers and your grubbiest clothes for one of most unique hikes you will ever take, as we swamp walk through a section of the Big Cypress National Preserve. Gain an entirely new and exciting perspective of this amazing preserve as we stalk heron-like through knee-deep water among the cypress trees. This unique hike is a safe activity that naturalists have led for many years. After cleaning up, visit the gallery of celebrated Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher and see a section of the Fakahatchee Strand State Nature Preserve, famous for orchids and wild royal palms. Ivy House (B,L,D)
November 6: Shark Valley, Everglades National Park
Traveling east to the Shark Valley section of Everglades National Park, we detour onto the Loop Road through a legendary Everglades wildlife viewing area. Board a tram for abundant wildlife viewing in the everglades; and we should see alligators, wading birds, river otters, and—if we are lucky—the Everglades kite, one of the rarest birds in the world. Holiday Inn Key Largo (B,L,D)
November 7: Flamingo, Everglades National Park
Today we travel into the heart of the Everglades National Park to Cape Sable and the settlement of Flamingo. Stops at the Visitor Centers at both Royal Palm and Flamingo, as well as the famous Anhinga Trail, Mahogany Hammock, the Overlook, and other interesting areas give us ample opportunities to learn about the Everglades Ecosystem and observe the flora and fauna of the park. A backcountry boat tour at Flamingo (weather permitting) offers the chance to experience the excitement of the area with its teeming bird life, including Roseate Spoonbills. Holiday Inn Key Largo (B,L,D)
November 8: Biscayne National Park
Today it’s off for a watery adventure at Biscayne National Park, which includes (weather permitting) a glass-bottom boat tour in the crystal clear waters over the third largest coral reef in the world. On Elliot Key we hike and discover some of the interesting plants and animals that inhabit these islands, with an optional snorkeling trip in the shallow clear waters of the park. Holiday Inn Key West (B,L,D)
November 9: Dry Tortugas National Park
Board the morning ferry for Dry Tortugas National Park and enjoy a comfortable two-hour cruise to the park. There is plenty of birding, history, snorkeling (if you brought your own gear) and just plain sightseeing during our half-day stay at this remote park. We return to Key West for our farewell dinner and the famous sunset viewing on the docks. Holiday Inn Key West (B,L,D)
November 10: Key West to Fort Myers
After an early breakfast we transfer to the Fort Myers Airport for evening departures. (B)
Special Tour Notes
*Each day of the tour at Everglades City we will have a pre-breakfast bird/nature walk.
See Dry Tortugas slideshow.
