Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Exhibit, & Roundtrip Bus from Miami
Badge of Excellence
Miami, USA
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore the Everglades during a scenic airboat ride that includes the chance to see local wildlife like alligators. Take off down the canal and enjoy opportunities to photograph wildlife in their natural habitat including soft-shelled turtles, birds, and both large and small alligators. Learn how these reptiles live in the swamps and the recovery they've made from the endangered species list.
- Explore the Everglades by airboat adventure
- See alligators up close in the Everglades
- Learn about alligators from your guide
- Keep your eyes peeled for other wildlife
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Guided Airboat Tour with Priority Boarding
- Roundtrip bus transfer in motorcoach
- Wildlife exhibits with over 50 rescued and adopted animals
- Free Group Photo at Everglades Park
- No additional fees
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
Type to search
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Miami (Pass By)
1
Sawgrass Recreation Park
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Please arrive 15 minutes in advance of your chosen departure time.
- The journey to the Everglades takes between 45-60 minutes. Total tour duration is approximately 5 hours.
- Please inform us in advance if you have accessibility requirements (e.g. if you are a wheelchair user) so we are able to make arrangements to accommodate you comfortably.
- Spanish Everglades tour option includes Spanish on bus only. Everglades tour in English.
- We recommend bringing sunscreen, water, and wearing comfortable clothing to ensure a pleasant experience.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 400 travelers
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Frequently Asked Questions (4)
Q:How far away is the Everglades from Miami?
A:The Everglades Natural Park is approximately 50 mins. drive away from Miami in each direction.
Mar 2021
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Foram_P
The tour was PERFECT. We saw 4 alligators during our airboat ride and the boat captain was very knowledgeable, explained a lot of interesting stuff about alligators. The bus tour guide was also kind and entertaining.. shared so much information about miami during the tour. The wildlife exhibit was a beautiful experience as well. We enjoyed a lot. Highly recommend to do this tour if you’re in Miamiii
Reviews
4.3
based on 2,319 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Carl_V, Jul 2026
The ride was great, it is not often you get to see Mother Nature up close and personal. Very informative, you will always learn something new. The bus ride was great and the driver was the best.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Carl! Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the airboat ride and the opportunity to experience nature up close. It's great to know you found the tour informative and that both the bus ride and driver helped make your day even more enjoyable. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon! 😊 Daniel@BigBusTours
Parnab_D, Jul 2026
Bus pickup and ride was very professional and comfortable.
The actual location was ok. But if I compare it to the New Orleans swamp this was way too bland. Not scenic at all. On top of that we did not see a single alligator or Croc, even though this is supposed to be a larger area. It was very disappointing.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello!
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are glad to hear that you found our bus pickup and ride comfortable and professional. However, we are truly sorry that the Everglades tour itself didn't live up to your expectations, especially compared to your experience in New Orleans.
While the Everglades is a unique and vast ecosystem, the wildlife is completely wild and free-roaming, meaning alligator sightings can unfortunately never be 100% guaranteed, as much as we wish they could be!
We appreciate your honest review, as it helps us manage expectations for future guests, and we hope to provide you with a better experience next time.
Maria.S@BigBusToursCustomerTeam
Lance_C, Jul 2026
Good people accommodating the best experience a visitor could have in the Everglades. Our tour guide made the boat ride fun and memorable and was very eager to share interesting facts about the flora and fauna.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Lance!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such a great experience in the Everglades and enjoyed learning about the incredible flora and fauna along the way.
It's fantastic to know your guide made the boat ride both fun and memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Mary_S, Jul 2026
We road the big maroon bus to the Everglades. Driver Lisa was top notch! Adam was a great captain, too. We saw several gators on the ride. Everyone there was very informative. We left a donation for them as well as the gators! Overall this was a great experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Mary_S,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great experience at the Everglades and that Lisa and Adam helped make your day so memorable.
Seeing several gators is always a highlight, and we're delighted you found the team informative and welcoming. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again on another adventure soon!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours Team
Carole_H, Jul 2026
Great organised day out. It’s a shame
the alligators didn’t make an appearance but that’s nature for you!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Carole_H. Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback! We are pleased to know that you enjoyed our bus tour, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back on board in the future. Best regards, Razvan @BigBusTours
Simon_S, Jul 2026
Pick up and drop off flexible, friendly driver, although music played on the return journey was way too loud. Everglades need to be visited in the right season to see more of the wildlife; peak summer is not ideal as nature hides from intense heat. Other trips include some education with talks about alligators and their habits, this one didn’t to any detail. If time is short and you want easy pick up and drop off the trip was ok.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Simon! Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you appreciated the convenient transportation and friendly driver. We're sorry that the loud music and limited wildlife viewing affected your experience, and we appreciate your comments about the onboard commentary. Your feedback will be shared with our team as we continue to improve our tours.
Daniel@BigBusTours
Melissa_T, Jul 2026
The activity was fun but the AC on the bus didn’t work on the way back. The Big Bus company didn’t send a new bus to pick us up and made us ride an hour back to Miami.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. While we are glad to hear that you found the Everglades activity itself fun, we are incredibly sorry for the highly uncomfortable ride back to Miami.
Experiencing a broken AC, especially during a Florida summer, is completely unacceptable, and we understand why you were frustrated that a replacement bus wasn't sent. We are addressing this directly with our fleet management team and Big Bus partners to ensure our vehicles are fully inspected and that we have better backup protocols in place for unexpected maintenance issues.
We want to make this right. Please reach out to our customer support team through our contact form with your booking details so we can assist you.
Madalina@BigBusTours
Wenkang_H, Jul 2026
The gathering place was easy to locate. The bus driver was friendly and gave clear instructions. Nice complimentary photo. Air boat ride was fun. The breeze from the fast boat ride made it cool in the hot weather.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi there! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you had a smooth experience from the start and that our team provided helpful instructions. We are glad you enjoyed the complimentary photo and had fun on the airboat ride, especially with the refreshing breeze along the way. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another Big Bus adventure soon. Alexandra@BigBusTours
Benjamin_B, Jul 2026
The operators are terrible communicators. They do not answer texts, and their phone line is an invalid number. If you miss the bus because of their poor meet-up directions, they provide no way of rescheduling or refunding the tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced with communication and the meeting point information. We understand how frustrating this must have been and appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention. Please contact us via live chat or email with your booking details, and our team will be happy to look into your experience and assist further. You can reach us by accessing our contact page: https://www.bigbustours.com/contact-us Daniel@BigBusTours
Alyssa_C, Jul 2026
Was pretty fun and educational. I would recommend going in the cooler seasons because we went in the summer and you will see less alligators when its hot. Not at all their fault. Still a fun experience.
Monica_B, Jul 2026
Our bus driver, tour guide and the show were great! We had a great time. It’s about an hour drive in a nice air conditioned bus, but there is no restrooms on the bus, so go to the restroom before you get on. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who loves to learn about animals and experience an ecosystem like no other!
anjan_s, Jul 2026
I had a tour booked on 4 July 2026.
I first recieved a mail 2 days who stating that my tour was rescheduled from 2.30pm to 2.35am!
I mentioned that the new time was strange and if it was correct, it was unsuitable as I had just got off a flight at 9pm the night before.
My tour operator then confirmed from big bus company, the tour operator had made a typographical error and it was at 2.35pm
On arriving at 2.10pm at the pick up point bayside market place, I was told by the local operator that the tour was leaving from Miami port and that there was no option of pick up from bayside market place.
Had I been informed earlier, I would have arranged to get picked up from the alternative, but no such communication was made by either big bus operator or viator.
The whole experience has been extremely disappointing and as a regular user of viator, puts your reliability in question.
Apart from the refund not being possible online, the fact that I have lost an opportunity to visit a once in lifetime experience in spite of having arrived one day earlier during a business trip, has left a bitter taste.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Anjan! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear about the confusion regarding your tour details and the disappointment this caused.
We understand how frustrating it must have been to receive conflicting information about the tour time and then discover that the departure location differed from the one you had planned for. Given your limited time in Miami, we appreciate how disappointing it was to miss an experience you had been looking forward to.
Your comments regarding communication and tour information have been noted and will be shared with the relevant teams for review. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Alexandra@BigBusTours
Cecily_C, Jul 2026
May not see actual alligators in the wild but the exhibit was good. The bus driver could have been nicer.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Cecily! Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the exhibit. While the alligators roam freely in their natural environment, we're glad the overall experience still had positive aspects. We're sorry to learn that the service from the bus driver did not leave a better impression. We strive to provide a friendly and welcoming experience for all our guests, and your comments will be shared with the relevant team.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Alexandra@BigBusTours
Kay_M, Jul 2026
German V. did an amazing job taking care of us! Gave us a great picture as we left. Our boat captain found 2 alligators in the wild! The air boat ride was a new experience for us!! .
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Kay! Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that German V. took such great care of you and helped make your experience memorable with a special photo. It's also fantastic that your captain was able to spot two alligators in the wild, making your airboat adventure even more exciting.
We're delighted you enjoyed this unique experience and appreciate you sharing your feedback. We hope to welcome you again for another great adventure! Alexandra@BigBusTours
Frederico_P, Jul 2026
Lisa was a great tour guide! Fed us some nice gator and was sweet. We got hit with bad weather but she made it alright!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear Lisa made your tour such an enjoyable experience with her kindness and great guidance, even despite the challenging weather. We'll be sure to pass along your lovely comments to her, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure with us soon. Best regards, Denis @BigBusTours
Sue_S, Jul 2026
It was cool until it started to rain we had to turn around. We were told we had 10 minutes left. Hoping to get a refund?
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear your tour had to end early due to the weather, although the safety of our guests and team must always come first. We understand your disappointment and, if you haven't already, please contact us directly with your booking details so we can review your request and assist you further regarding your refund enquiry. Best regards, Denis @BigBusTours
Sagikhan_Z, Jul 2026
Lisa was an amazing driver and guide during our Everglades tour. She was incredibly kind, friendly, and welcoming from the very beginning. She made everyone feel comfortable, shared interesting information, and always had a positive attitude. Her professionalism and warm personality made the experience even more enjoyable. Thank you, Lisa, for making our trip so memorable. I highly recommend her!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi!
Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback. We're delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable Everglades tour and that Lisa made such a positive impact on your experience.
It's fantastic to know that her kindness, professionalism, and welcoming attitude helped make your trip so memorable. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Lisa and the local team—they'll be thrilled to hear your recognition.
Thank you for choosing Big Bus Tours. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another adventure with us soon! Andreea@BigBusTours!
Michael_L, Jul 2026
Booked this experience early morning on the day we were meant to do it. It didn’t go according to the itinerary. We picked the afternoon 230pm slot. Arrived at the pick up point from around 145pm and started waiting from around 2pm. We were at the precise coordinates according to google maps. A lot of tour buses use the same pick up and drop
Off points it seems. However. For us. No one turns up. I message the experience provider via the app. No reply. Try the phone number. No answer. Poor from them. Standing and waiting till 3pm in the Miami heat with young children wasn’t nice. Thanks to Viator for arranging refund.
Dhruvin_S, Jul 2026
Value for money. Overall tour guide experience was top notch. Got to see a lot of alligators. Their animal exhibits were also really knowledgeable. Cannibal is 68 years old!!! Pro tip don’t accidentally call an alligator a crocodile! Besides that, the tour guides are fun, knowledgeable and helpful. Second pro tip and the more important one: Reach the venue 15 mins before departure!!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi! Thank you so much for this amazing review! We are thrilled to hear that you had a top-notch experience with our tour guides and that you found the tour to be great value for money.
Cannibal is definitely a celebrity around here, and it’s incredible to see guests get so excited about meeting him! We also love your pro-tips—not mixing up alligators with crocodiles is definitely a lifesaver, and arriving 15 minutes early is the perfect advice to ensure a smooth departure.
Thank you for highlighting how fun and knowledgeable our team is. We hope to welcome you back for another wild adventure soon!
Best regards, Mihaela@BigBusToursTeam
theresa_h, Jul 2026
My 13-year-old son wanted to visit the Everglades. Along with his stepdad, we all boarded the bus. Little did we know we would have such a wonderful storyteller. Our tour guide’s name was Raphael and he provided us with in-depth history about Miami, South Beach, man-made islands and Over Town! I must be honest, we did not expect all of the information provided, but were grateful. While in the Everglades Captain Josh took us to find alligators. I think we saw spotted at least four. I’m very grateful that we took the trip. On the way back Raphael even gave provided restaurant suggestions! This trip was well worth it for a great family adventure.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Theresa! Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your recent tour to the Everglades. We are delighted to hear that the experience provided a worthwhile adventure for your family.
It is wonderful to know that Raphael enhanced your journey with his extensive knowledge of Miami's history and that his insights exceeded your expectations. We will certainly recognize both Raphael and Captain Josh for their excellent service and for ensuring you had a memorable alligator-spotting experience.
We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you on board our tours again in the near future.
Best regards, Mihaela@BigBusToursTeam
Brian_M, Jul 2026
Great fun, especially on the boats. Staff are great. Overall good experience and a free photo. Scary show as well
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you had a great time, especially on the boats, and that our team helped make your experience enjoyable. We're also glad you enjoyed the free photo and the scary show. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Best Regards Razvan@BigBusTours!
Louise_M, Jun 2026
Marketed as Everglades tour and didn’t go to the Everglades. A common complaint that I felt worth sharing.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
We're sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. We understand how disappointing it can be when an experience is marketed around a particular destination and doesn't align with what you anticipated. Thank you for taking the time to provide your honest feedback. Alex@ BigBusTours
Denise_O, Jun 2026
Amazing experience and so glad we booked the trip with Viator, customer service is excellent. The bus ride was cool and comfortable and we were there in 45 minutes. Straight on the airboat with a captain who clearly loves the alligators. Knows where to look for them and calls for them by name to make an appearance :-) the exhibit is nicely done by a guy in bare feet in a pen with 3 alligators he had spent time earning their trust.
Pick up the bus from Lincoln South Beach no matter where you stay in Miami. It’s the start of the trip, has a Big Red Bus office and everything is smooth. Not like trying to pick up the bus downtown where you think you’re in the right place but there’s no obvious place to wait and get picked up. We missed the 10am trip because of this but rebooked for the afternoon from South Beach and Viator took care of the admin for us. There are many tour companies but with Viator there’s the trust you’ll get there safely and if there are any wee bumps they’ll be there to fix it.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi, Denise! Thank you so much for the amazing review! We are absolutely thrilled that you had such a great experience with our airboat captain and the alligator exhibit. We also really appreciate your great tip for future travelers about using our Lincoln Road, South Beach location for a much smoother start. We are so glad our partners at Viator were able to easily fix the booking bump and get you out to the Everglades for a comfortable, memorable trip. Thank you for exploring with us, and we hope to see you on board again soon! Alina@BigBusTours
Keara_I, Jun 2026
Amazing experience! The boat ride was so fun and we got to see 3 alligators and lots of birds. Our boat captian was a very nice woman and had a lot of facts for us. We also got to pet a cute little alligator at the animal exhibits at the end. Loved it.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your feedback!
We’re delighted to hear that you had such an amazing experience and enjoyed the airboat ride and wildlife encounters. It’s great that the captain’s commentary and the chance to interact with the animals made your visit memorable.
We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you again soon.
Andrei@BigBusTours
Noleen_S, Jun 2026
An excellent experience, reasonably priced and thoroughly enjoyable. We loved Nick's commentary. He was knowledgeable and very engaging.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello Noleen_S. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We are thrilled to learn that you had a wonderful experience on our bus tour, and we hope to see you again soon. Best regards, Razvan @BigBusTours
Shoshana_E, Jun 2026
The bus driver refused to look at our ticket and claimed we werent at the right location for pickup even though it was the location and time on our ticket. After a protracted argument they allowed us on the bus. Although advertised as air conditioned, it was broken. Additionally dirty water leaked on us from the roof of the bus in both directions. Once there we waited for an hour for an airboat ride during which we saw a single alligator.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello. Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that you have had such a disappointing experience. You can contact us via chat or email so we can find the best solution for your situation. Razvan@BigBusTours
Liam_T, Jun 2026
Awful customer service. I clicked the coordinates link provided on the Viator app which took me to the completely wrong pickup point for the excursion. I tried to contact the tour operator through the number provided which took me to a line not in use. I then messaged them on the live chat seeking help finding the pickup point and received no response whatsoever.
I requested a refund which has been rejected twice despite me providing proof through screenshots that the coordinates given to locate the pickup location are wrong, as well as a screenshot showing there was no response to my request for help.
This is not how you treat customers. I’m sure everything is great when all is well, but if you require any assistance don’t expect any to come. Quick to keep your money though.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello Liam_T. Thank you for providing your sincere feedback; we are committed to improving our customer experience. We are sorry to hear that the bus tour did not fulfill your expectations. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to us directly, and we will be happy to assist you. Best regards, Razvan @BigBusTours
Keith_O, Jun 2026
Boat captain and gift shop staff were great but ticket lady that allowed us onto the dock should not work directly with customers. We observed her be rude to multiple guests. As we learned summer is NOT the time to see many gators as they stay under water, aside from a few heads. Once at the facility there is very little communication as to where to go for the next activity, staff seems to yell when your group was expected to be somewhere for a show and even then were rushed back onto our bus. With that said, if you’ve never seen an alligator, you will see a large one on exhibit.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Keith_O, thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are sorry to hear about the unproper behavior provided by some staff members. We can assure you that we don't tolerate it and we'll investigate the matter further. We hope to have the chance to welcome you aboard again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Michael_R, Jun 2026
Try to go during cooler months, it can get pretty hot. The female bus driver is very lively. I really enjoyed it.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Everglades adventure and that our driver helped make the experience even more memorable. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to the local team.
Miami can certainly get warm, and we appreciate you sharing that helpful tip with future travellers.
Thank you for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Madalina@BigBusTours
Amy_S, Jun 2026
The actual airboat was nice. A little too crowded for us. I should have booked a private tour. This way my grandson could have had a better view.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello! Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the airboat experience. We understand that the tour felt a little crowded and that a private tour may have been a better fit for your group, especially for your grandson to have a clearer view. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
Denis @Big Bus Tours
From $49.80
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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