Ten Thousand Islands Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Ten Thousand Islands. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour

• Backwater Adventure's CraigCat Tours of the 10,000 Islands

• Marco Island 2 hour Dolphin, Birding, and Shelling Tour

• Best of Marco Island Tour

• Dolphin and Manatee Boat Tours in 10,000 Islands NWR

It’s free to visit the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, but many visitors explore it on a guided tour. Options include kayak tours in the mangroves starting at US$95, and boat tours to see dolphins and manatees for US$112.

Yes, Ten Thousand Islands is worth visiting. Nature lovers are drawn to this destination to see a variety of wildlife, such as manatees, dolphins, and turtles. It's also a popular place for birding enthusiasts. To cover more ground, consider joining a guided tour. Kayaking tours explore narrow mangrove channels and boat tours maximize time to see abundant wildlife during a single visit. 

Per one customer who booked the Backwater Adventure's CraigCat Tours of the 10,000 Islands, "This adventure combines speed, thrill, sea life wonders, and fun! After a few minutes of acclimating to the boat we were zipping across the water for the next hour and a half. We saw pods of dolphins 20 feet from us splashing in the water. We raced around islands at top speed. We got a little wet and had a lot of laughs. Don't even think about it, just do it!"

Yes, you can visit the Ten Thousand Islands region in Florida. A National Wildlife Refuge (and partly within Everglades National Park), the island chain is a popular destination for outdoorsy types. It can be explored on boat tours, kayaking, canoeing adventures, and overnight camping stays.

True to their name, the Ten Thousand Islands are best explored by boat, whether you embark on an active kayaking excursion or a more laidback eco boat tour. Typical jumping-off boats for tours include Goodland, Port-of-the-Islands, and Chokoloskee Island. You can also explore on foot via the Marsh Trail.

The Ten Thousand Islands are a largely uninhabited group of islands (comprised of mangrove islets or sections of largely submerged coastline), although they were home to Native Americans. The one exception is Chokoloskee Island, considered a northern gateway to the archipelago and home to some 400 permanent residents.

There are alligators in the Ten Thousand Islands—but not as many as you might think. Because of its salt-water environment, there are far fewer gators here than in the rest of the Everglades. Instead, you can look for other popular wildlife, from manatees and bottlenose dolphins to river otters.

Yes, it’s possible to go swimming (as well as fishing and shelling) in parts of the Ten Thousand Islands, including at popular locations like Indian Key; the island chain is home to several pretty beaches. However, opt for a boat tour if you want to immerse yourself in the scenery.

Yes, you can stay at the Ten Thousand Islands, but options can be limited. If you’re most comfortable in a hotel or inn, stay on Chokoloskee Island, among the only inhabited islands in the archipelago. Otherwise, camping is permitted—but you’ll need to access your site by boat.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Ten Thousand Islands. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Everglades National Park:

• Shark Valley

• Big Cypress National Preserve

• Tamiami Trail

• Chokoloskee Bay

• Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Everglades National Park.