60 min. Everglades Airboat ride & pick-up ,small group +pro guide
Miami, USA
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Overview
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- pick up & drop off
- 1 hour airboat ride
- Expert guide
- small group
- alligator show
- Live commentary on the transportation in the language chosen.
- Live commentary on the airboat and educational activity in english only.
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 01/03/2023 - 07/21/2027
Monday - Sunday : 5:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Itinerary
Miami (Pass By)
1
Everglades Wildlife Management Area
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Everglades National Park
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Coordinated start times between 7:45 AM and 1:30 PM depending on location
- The guides will send out the pickup times the afternoon before the tour via email. Please check your Viator message center for that information as well.
- Please note: The unpredictable weather is a regular occurrence, with fluctuations observed every other day. This tour will operate in rain or shine.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (20)
Q:Where do we meet for the Everglades tour?
A:Hotel pickup is offered from a limited area in Miami. When making your reservation, please be sure to select your hotel from the list. If your hotel does not appear on the pickup list, you may either select the nearest location or opt to meet at Maurice A. Ferre Park in central Miami.
Jul 2023
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
David_H
We had a great time with our tour guide Ruslan. He was very knowledgeable about Miami and made the drive to the Everglades fun and educational. The air boat tour allowed us to see several alligators up close in the wild. I would highly recommend this tour.
Reviews
4.4
based on 1,373 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Samuel_W, Jul 2026
Its ok, not a fast boat with big fan, very slow barge with 20 - 30 other passengers. Saw some small aligators.
Alastair_M, Jun 2026
Dreadful experience! Company offered no communication whatsoever until afternoon before tour. I had booked pick up at a local hotel closest to me, although that was still 7 miles away. Never received any confirmation of pick up there. I paid for Uber to get there and then their bus driver, on querying where I was, told me I should have met them at a location in South Miami, which was around 25 miles away. Uber costs to that point would have been around $60 each way! Not feasible on a $65 your. I clearly used the pick up location correctly on the Viator platform. Their service has been dreadful. Avoid at all costs!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi,
We're genuinely sorry things didn't work out for you, but we'd like to clear up a few misunderstandings.
Unlike a city bus with a fixed timetable, every one of our tours has a **custom pickup route**. That's why pickup details are sent the afternoon before the tour—only then do we know everyone's hotel locations and can build the most efficient route.
Now, about those 7 miles...
In most places, 7 miles doesn't sound like much. In **Miami rush-hour traffic**, however, it's a completely different story. 🐊
Picking up one guest 7 miles outside our service area doesn't just add 7 miles. It means:
➡️ 7 miles to reach you.
⬅️ 7 miles back to the planned route.
➡️ And exactly the same again at the end of the tour.
That's **28 additional miles**, which can easily turn into **up to two extra hours of driving** in Miami traffic—all for a single booking.
If we did that for every guest, our "5-hour Everglades Tour" would quickly become the "See You Tomorrow Tour." 🌴😄
That's why our pickup area is clearly defined in advance, and guests staying outside that area are given a convenient meeting point.
Regarding communication, we intentionally don't operate by phone for day-to-day tour logistics. After many years of experience, we found that dozens of phone calls, voice messages, missed calls, and changing pickup requests create far more confusion than they solve.
Instead, all tour communication is handled through **Rezdy**, one of the world's leading tour reservation and management systems. Every guest receives the same written information, pickup instructions, reminders, and updates, ensuring everyone has exactly the same details and nothing gets lost in translation.
This system allows us to keep hundreds of guests organized every week while making sure our guides spend their time showing guests the Everglades—not sitting in traffic or answering phones.
We understand this wasn't the experience you hoped for, but the pickup procedures and communication process were carried out exactly as described.
We wish you all the best and hope you enjoy the rest of your time in sunny South Florida—preferably with a little less Miami traffic than we have to deal with every day! 🌞🐊
EWayne_M, Jun 2026
This tour started at our hotel in downtown Miami (Hilton). Häagen was our driver and tour guide. I got a text via Viator saying they would pick us up at the hotel at 7:30am and he was there at the exact time. He was an excellent driver and guide. Very friendly and helpful. He gave us info on what we were seeing downtown while we picked up other people. We only had 9 people on a Banana Joe tour bus that could have held 18-20. We got to Everglades Holiday Park 30 minutes before our airboat tour was to start, plenty of time for restroom breaks and a quick stop in the gift shop. He picked up our wristbands for the airboat for us and we were #1. He explained how the day would go and that he would be there when the tour was over. The airboat held about 25 people and was covered. Be very careful getting in and out of the boat. You have to duck your head to get in or out and the floor of the boat has ridges that can trip you.
We saw 3 gators on the tour which they said was a little low but that’s nature for you. After the tour Haagen was there and handed us the group photo that had been taken before the boat ride. The photo was included in the admission. He told us there was an alligator show next and that we would leave on the bus at 11:45am. The show was a single guy talking about the gators in the little stage/habitat and he spent about 10 minutes interacting with one. Very interesting and at certain times amazing how calm he was and the gator was. After the show we had 20 minutes to use the restroom and/or shop. We boarded the bus at 11:15am and dropped everyone off at their hotels. If you get Haagen as your tour guide you will be very pleased. He is from Germany and has been here 18 years and is very friendly and helpful.
Diana_H, Apr 2026
We really enjoyed this tour. Boat driver made sure everyone could see the animals on our way. In the end we received picture for free. That was very pleasant.
Joseph_M, Apr 2026
Confirmation of pick up info came less than 24 hours away despite being booked months in advance and company were difficult to get hold of but it did arrive in the end. Picked up by Christian who was a great host. You are a small group for pick up but you get taken to a big commercial site and put in with many hundreds of others. The boat ride was 50 mins not an hour and it was a much bigger boat with a roof on, not like the pictures. You are in a commercial park in the Everglades eco system but not in the national park itself. The advert is alround misleading. Having said that we saw quite a few alligators (although our boat driver said it's actually quite rare to spot them these days) and the show was quite fun. Most of the time you are staring at reeds trying to spot wildlife and we only went fast once for no more than 30 seconds which was frustrating as that was the most fun bit. If you can afford a bit more I would advise seeking out a smaller operator operating in the actual national park.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi there,
Thanks for your detailed feedback — and great to hear that Christian made a good impression. We’ll make sure he sees that 👍
Now, about the confirmation timing — this one always sounds more dramatic than it actually is, so let’s clear it up:
We don’t send out pickup confirmations months in advance for a very simple (and slightly less exciting) reason: **we don’t own time machines yet** ⏳😄
Our pickup schedules are finalized based on real-world variables that only become reliable shortly before the tour:
* daily routing and traffic flow in Miami (which changes… let’s say *creatively*)
* hotel logistics and access conditions
* last-minute adjustments from previous tours
* and yes, sometimes even weather and Everglades conditions
If we sent you a pickup time weeks or months in advance, there’s a very high chance it would be wrong — and then we’d have a much bigger problem than sending it the day before.
So instead of giving you a “nice early but inaccurate guess,” we give you a **final, accurate pickup window within 24 hours** — which is actually standard practice for operational tour logistics in South Florida.
As for being “hard to reach” — we’re always reachable, but during peak times (especially holidays with, as you probably noticed, half the planet visiting Miami 😅), response times can stretch a bit while we’re out there actually running tours.
Now regarding the rest:
* Yes, it’s a small group pickup — that part is exactly as advertised
* The airboats used depend on availability and conditions (especially with current low water levels), and covered boats are often used for safety and comfort
* And correct — we operate in the Everglades ecosystem, not inside Everglades National Park itself, which would come with significantly higher costs and restrictions (roughly $100+ extra per person)
Also, just to manage expectations for future readers:
There are no 30-minute high-speed rollercoaster rides through the Everglades — it’s nature, not a theme park 😉
Wildlife viewing always involves patience (and sometimes a lot of staring at reeds), but sounds like you still had some solid gator sightings 🐊
Appreciate the honest feedback — and for anyone reading this:
If you’re looking for a **well-organized, small-group experience with reliable logistics and real Everglades wildlife**, that’s exactly what we deliver.
And if we ever crack time travel, we promise — you’ll get your pickup time 3 months early 😄
Best regards
Boyka_B, Apr 2026
It was a wonderful experience! It was beyond our expectations. We saw alligators, baby alligators turtle and very exotic birds. Everything that we wanted to see.
Rachel_N, Apr 2026
Great half day trip out to the Everglades. Pick up was well communicated and on time. Christian was really knowledgeable about the area and organised the small group really well. Fab air boat ride where we saw lots of alligators.
Kyung_L, Feb 2026
The tour operator ( the person who picked & dropped us up ) was friendly and informative. It was a fun talkative ride! He drove us to the park that actually operates the boat tour. The boat ride itself is not as pictured in the advertisement. The boat was much bigger seating about 30 adults. We did see many alligators " luckily " due to low water level. The tour gives you a taste of the everglades just enough in my opinion.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your feedback 😊
As mentioned in the offer, we pick up guests in small groups with a professional guide — so the adventure already starts on the way to the Everglades 🚐🌴
The package includes a 60-minute airboat ride PLUS the wildlife show, which makes it one of the best-value experiences in South Florida 🐊💨
The airboat tour itself is operated by the licensed park, where boat sizes may vary depending on safety rules and daily operations (alligators don’t follow a schedule either 😄).
For guests who prefer a more exclusive experience, we also offer an upgrade to smaller boats as a private tour — same Everglades, fewer neighbors on the boat 😉
We’re happy you saw many alligators — that’s exactly what most visitors come for. Low water levels = VIP alligator viewing 🐊👀
Thanks again for joining us and bringing a little Everglades adventure into your day 🌞
Kathleen_E, Feb 2026
Great way to spend part of upgrading day in Miami, especially if you are short on time. Pick up and drop off from your hotel in a comfortable vehicle with a great guide ( we had Christian who was terrific!). The boat ride through the Everglades was amazing and the gator show was very entertaining
Highly recommend!
Emma_R, Jan 2026
Ray was an excellent guide for the day, great communication for pick up and very informative about Miami
Penni_H, Jan 2026
The scheduled pickup time was not honored, and both Viator and the activity provider declined my refund request.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks for your review 😊
We understand this situation is frustrating.
That said, our pickup times are honored exactly as scheduled ⏰ and clearly communicated in advance. If a guest is not at the agreed pickup location on time, the driver cannot wait or return later 🚐💨. This rule applies to all guests and is also clearly stated in Viator’s and our booking terms.
In short:
⏱️ On time + correct pickup spot = smooth ride
❌ Late or wrong location = no refund (simple but fair rule)
We’re always happy to help guests before the tour to avoid this situation 👍
Safe travels and all the best! 🌴
David_H, Jan 2026
We had a great time with our tour guide Ruslan. He was very knowledgeable about Miami and made the drive to the Everglades fun and educational. The air boat tour allowed us to see several alligators up close in the wild. I would highly recommend this tour.
Steven_S, Jan 2026
That if you only want to talk to AI that's all you will get. No person answerd a phone call or an email.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hard truth first:
Most problems around Christmas and New Year don’t happen because of us… they happen because many guests book in a rush, don’t read their pickup instructions, and then blame us when they aren’t at the right place. If you book last minute but ignore the information we send you, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Period. 🎄🎆
Here’s the reality without sugarcoating it:
During Christmas and New Year, things get hectic. People book on TripAdvisor or Viator at the very last minute, run to the beach, eat, party, post selfies, and think: “It will somehow work out.” ❌ No. That’s not how logistics work.
Your pickup instructions are sent to your TripAdvisor / Viator message inbox. Everything is in there: pickup time, meeting location, schedule, details. You just have to read it. 📩👀
Let’s be honest for a second:
Picking up guests all over Miami during peak season is not “just driving around.” It’s precision planning, route management, time control, and a bit of magic. 🧠🗺️✨
We schedule drivers.
We coordinate routes.
We manage timing windows.
This only works if you do your part:
👉 Read your messages
👉 Understand your pickup time
👉 Be at the meeting point on time
No “I’ll be 10 minutes late” phone calls.
No “Can you squeeze me in somewhere else?”
No “Can I just switch to another time?”
That simply does not work. No matter how nice you are ❤️
Here’s the deal, crystal clear:
You want a comfortable tour, pickup included, stress-free, great price? Then your “payment” is not just money — it’s attention and responsibility.
The price for convenience is simple:
📧 Read your pickup email/messages
🕒 Be on time
📍 Be at the meeting point
That’s it. That’s the whole “magic trick.” ✨
We ALWAYS stick to our schedule. ⏰
Our drivers are professionals. If there is a problem, we call YOU.
A hundred phone calls from guests do not help.
A hundred WhatsApp messages don’t change physics.
Chaos on the phone does not solve logistics. ☎️💥
If you truly have a real question, then please email us:
📧 info@bananajoetours.com
That way everything stays organized, tours run smoothly, everyone gets picked up correctly, and you get to enjoy your experience instead of panicking on the phone. 😎🌴
To summarize it simply:
We do our job.
You do your part.
And together we make it an awesome tour — every single time. 🚐🔥
Gayatrishirish_J, Jan 2026
Worst tour, tour operator does not provide the service of pick up and drop off, these people are total scammers, do not ride with them, they are looting people in name of pick up drop off, which they don’t provide, we were given wrong out of service number of your operator, which really makes you tense, espeacilly when you have paid hefty amount for the ride, and this is non refundable, shameless people, please do yourself a favour and book with someone else. Also would add these people were not on time we were waiting for 45 minutes to get picked form far away location which was 15 miles away from hotel. Very inconvenient and scammers. Avoid them.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Here’s a little reality check with a smile 😎🌴
Pickup is provided in Miami & Miami Beach. Guests staying far outside that area (like 15 miles away 🚗💨) receive a designated meeting point, which was clearly sent to you in your confirmation emails ✔️📧
That doesn’t make us scammers… that just means geography still exists 😂
We also double-checked:
✔️ Correct info was sent
✔️ Phone numbers work
✔️ Instructions were clear
❌ Reading them is unfortunately not automated yet 😉
Christmas & New Year season is wild in Miami 🎄🌴 – lots of travelers, lots of emotions… and every year a few people who miss details and then blame the tour operator because that feels easier than saying “yeah… maybe I didn’t read everything.” 😉
But hey, Miami still loves you, and we hope your next adventure goes smoother ❤️😄
Manjula_R, Dec 2025
We didn't go. The company canceled but we were never motors that it was canceled. I still haven't seen the refund.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi there!
It sounds like this whole situation was about as much fun as a crocodile with a dentist appointment… and that’s definitely not the experience we want anyone to have. 🐊💀
If we canceled and it was our mistake, we ALWAYS refund — no drama, no debate, no wrestling with alligators required. 💸✨ There’s really no reason to be mad at us, because your money is on its happy way back to you.
We’re truly sorry for the inconvenience. Miami can be a little crazy sometimes (especially around holidays), but we never want our guests stuck wondering what happened. If you don’t see the refund shortly, just give us a shout and we’ll chase it down faster than a jet ski in Biscayne Bay. 🏝️🚤
Thanks for your patience and we hope you’ll give us another chance in the future — preferably one where you actually get to enjoy the adventure instead of refund detective work. 😉
Warm tropical greetings,
Banana Joe Tours Team 🌴🍌
Tero_T, Dec 2025
The guide/driver contacted us in advance via the Viator app and WhatsApp, which was very helpful. Hotel pickup was punctual, and transportation was by minibus with three families on board. During the drive, we learned about the history of Miami and the Everglades, and the guide was knowledgeable. Seating on the airboats is quite tight, and from the middle seats it can be difficult to see well or take photos. We saw three alligators during our tour, and the ride lasted about 40 minutes. Earplugs are recommended, as the airboat is very loud. After the ride, there was an alligator show, followed by a souvenir shop visit and transport back to the hotel. The total duration was about 4.5 hours. I recommend this tour.
joanne_C, Dec 2025
It was an ok tour. We enjoyed it but it felt quite rushed and a lot of driving for a small activity.
The bus was quite cramped in but ok.
The everglade tour was fun but we were lucky as we were in the front row. This is not a tour on the more authentic open air boats its like a custom boat with seats and a roof and the people seated in the middle going towards the back do not have much of a view.
A big plus was that we did some some alligators but the guide missed a few of the ones we saw and we just drove by. It's very hard to communicate with the driver.
The show after was very short but good.
It's mainly aimed at cruise passengers coming in bulk in a. coach ...
The shop is ok but we were quite rushed and did not have much time other than look around.
We left in a hurry as the bus was needed back for a city tour so on our way back we were dropping and collecting.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 😊
This experience is designed exactly as advertised: a budget-friendly shared group tour that makes it possible for many travelers to enjoy the Everglades in a comfortable, efficient and affordable way. That naturally means logistics, shared transport and a structured schedule – not a slow-paced private expedition.
Guests who want longer time, more freedom, open-style boats, zero rush and pure “Miami luxury vibes” absolutely get that option too – that’s what our Private VIP Everglades Tours are made for. Slower, deeper, more exclusive, no timetable pressure, pure premium experience. Different product, different price, different expectations 🌴✨
You still got what matters most: real Everglades nature, alligators, wildlife, a fun ride and a good show 🐊 And yes, communication with airboat drivers can sometimes be tricky – nature isn’t a staged theme park and the gators don’t follow scripts, which is part of the adventure.
We appreciate you joining us, we’re glad you enjoyed parts of it, and next time we’d love to welcome you on the VIP side of Miami life 😎
Vickie_S, Nov 2025
Was not picked up at location. Emil’s showed we would be picked up in Ft Lauderdale at our Hotel. Driver called and said they did not pick up in Ft Lauderdale. The email I received shows Miami has no pick up spots. We specifically chose this tour for pick and drop off location.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thanks for your message — let’s clear this up before anyone thinks Fort Lauderdale suddenly moved to Miami. 😅
Our system (and our emails) never list Fort Lauderdale pick-ups for one simple reason:
Fort Lauderdale is… not Miami.
Shocking, we know. Geography can be wild.
Think of it like ordering pizza in New York and expecting the delivery guy to swim across to New Jersey because the map “looked close enough.” It’s physically possible, but your pizza — and our tour — would not survive the attempt.
Here’s the simple truth:
🚐 Our tours do Miami pick-ups only.
Because the whole route, timing, traffic planning, and guest logistics are built inside Miami.
If we added Fort Lauderdale:
– The van would arrive late to everyone in Miami
– The tour would fall apart like a wet taco
– And the driver would need therapy
Miami traffic is chaotic enough.
Adding a Fort Lauderdale detour would be like putting a crocodile on roller skates: technically doable, but nobody wants to see the outcome.
The driver called you because he saw a Fort Lauderdale hotel and thought:
“Wait… unless I activate teleportation mode, this isn’t happening.”
We totally get that you booked expecting pick-up service — but that pick-up area has always been limited to Miami Beach, Downtown, Brickell.
Your confirmation emails show exactly that.
No Fort Lauderdale.
No Hollywood.
No Orlando.
No intergalactic travel.
(We’re working on the last one.)
If you need help getting to Miami for the tour, we’re happy to guide you — but doing a Fort Lauderdale pick-up on a Miami route would break the space-time continuum of our schedule.
Let us know how you want to proceed — we’re here to help keep the day smooth and fun. 🐊🌴
Ava_E, Nov 2025
Christian was great for the ride to and from the experience! We saw two gators on the Everglades tour. Two things to note: there are three separate people who need to be tipped (driver, boat captain, and gator show host). Also, this does include a short gator show after the boat tour.
Abedeh_A, Nov 2025
Wrong description (half hour airboat NOT one hour)
not responsive
Does not worth it
Do not recommend to friends and family
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for your review.
We are sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations.
Just to clarify for future guests: the airboat ride included in this tour is 60 minutes long. This is the official duration provided by the Everglades park partner we work with. If your ride felt shorter, this may have been due to the timing at the dock or the boat’s return procedure, but the scheduled airboat time is one full hour.
We always respond to messages as quickly as possible, and we apologize if we missed one — that is never our intention.
We understand that not every experience fits everyone’s preferences, but we stand by the accuracy of the tour description and the value provided: transportation with a professional guide, a 60-minute airboat ride, and the wildlife show.
If you would like us to look into your specific tour day to understand what happened, we are happy to assist directly.
David_M, Nov 2025
A little bit disappointed on the experience for 3 reasons. Firstly I booked to be put in a small group which we ended in a group of 20.
Secondly thought we were going in an open air fan boat that you see advertised ideally for a small group, but we were put in a covered boat with long seats, so if you were sitting in the middle you did not see much.
Lastly we did not go far into the Everglades, just going in circles although we did see a small amount of wildlife, which is in the hands of the Gods on such tours.
Pleased on the overall experience but it could have been better had we gone on an open air fan boat.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Christian and our team are glad that you still enjoyed parts of the tour, but I’d like to clarify a few important points for future guests:
The tour you booked is our standard Everglades package, which uses shared airboats operated by the official Everglades park partner. These boats can take up to approx. 20–25 guests. This is the normal setup in South Florida and the reason why this tour is available in the budget-friendly price range.
The photos on our listing show the typical open air fan boats used in the Everglades. Depending on weather, demand and daily boat availability, the park sometimes uses boats with partial shade or a roof. This is managed directly by the operator and cannot be guaranteed in the shared option.
Shared boats also follow a shorter, standard route. Deeper rides into the wetlands are only possible on our private small-boat tours, which are a different product and a higher price category. Those are the tours that match the fully open boat experience people often imagine.
Wildlife sightings vary naturally, but we’re glad you still saw some alligators and heard valuable information from the captain.
We appreciate your feedback and always recommend the private airboat if someone specifically wants a small group, open boat and longer route — and we’re happy to arrange that anytime.
Carlos_R, Nov 2025
It was on time. Really great guide. Very informative, friendly. We highly recommend it.
The van was very clean. Smooth ride.
Shaun_Y, Oct 2025
If I could give zero stars, I absolutely would. This “tour” was a complete joke and a blatant scam. The company’s description is false advertising at its finest — everything they promise online is a lie.
They claim it’s a “small group” experience where you can interact with the captain and ask questions. In reality? You’re crammed onto a large, noisy boat with around 20 strangers, while the captain sits completely separate, shouting generic lines through a speaker like a prerecorded tape. There’s zero interaction, zero engagement, and zero value.
We paid a premium price expecting something intimate and educational — instead, we got a cheap mass-tourist trap that other companies offer for half the cost. It’s a money grab, plain and simple. The marketing photos and descriptions are intentionally misleading, and they clearly know it.
This was an absolute waste of time and money. Shame on this company for deceiving customers with fake advertising and delivering such a hollow, soulless experience. Avoid this at all costs — unless you enjoy being lied to and overcharged.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Response from Banana Joe Tours 🌴
Hey there — sounds like you expected a private luxury safari and got the real Everglades instead 😅
Let’s set the record straight with some honest Miami sunshine and zero filters.
When we say “small group tour with live guide and hotel pickup,” it means you don’t have to find your way to a bus terminal or sit with 80 strangers on a coach with a prerecorded tape. You get picked up right at your hotel by a real human guide, not a machine — that’s already a win in Miami traffic.
Now, about the boat — it’s exactly as described: “up to 25 people per group.” It’s written clearly in the description because that’s how airboats are licensed and operated in the Everglades. They’re not private speedboats; they’re large, powerful crafts built to glide over the grasslands. Every single provider uses similar boats. The captain talks over a speaker so everyone can hear — not because he’s a robot, but because if he didn’t, the fan would drown him out (and you’d miss the fun facts about gators 🐊).
We also have over 400 real guest photos online showing exactly what the experience looks like — no stock images, no filters, no surprises. What you see is what you get: a great-value, authentic Everglades adventure that includes free hotel pickup, a live Miami guide you can talk to, a 60-minute airboat ride, and a wildlife show with local experts.
And yes — for guests who prefer something more private and quiet, we do offer private upgrades. You’ll get your own pickup, your own boat, and all the personal space you want. But as you probably guessed… that level of VIP treatment comes with a VIP price tag 💸.
So please, next time, read the full description — it’s all there. No scams, no tricks, just real Florida adventure at a fair price. The Everglades are wild, loud, and a little unpredictable — and that’s exactly what makes them unforgettable.
We’re proud of what we offer, and our guides work hard every single day to make sure guests leave with great memories (and maybe a few funny wind-blown photos).
Thanks for sharing your feedback — and if you ever come back to Miami, we’ll save you a seat up front. Just hold on tight — it’s gonna be a ride! 🌴🚤😎
— Your Banana Joe Team
Gina_K, Sep 2025
It was ok, very commercial but we did see gators. I would of liked more of an individualized experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We totally get it—our tour is the alligator of value 🐊: big bite for the budget. For what you paid, you got free hotel pickup, a professional guide, a 60-minute airboat ride, and a wildlife show—basically the full Everglades starter pack.
If you’re dreaming of a more “Indiana Jones goes Everglades” style adventure, we’ve got private tours listed on our website—those come with the individualized vibe (and the private-tour budget).
Susan_R, Aug 2025
After much stress regarding getting a response as to the time of pick up and location of pick up. We were eventually picked up from our cruise terminal a little late. The tour guide was very professional and informative - we learnt so much before getting to the Everglades. After a wait for our airboat and we were delighted with the experience and saw many alligators and birds.
The Alligator show was entertaining but the host's sense of humour was difficult to grasp. Holding the baby alligator and snake was the 'icing on the cake' for our granddaughter.
On reflection a good experience but better communication from the Tour Operator would be appreciated. We had to use the Viator chat to get any information.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your feedback! 🌴
Just a quick tip for future guests: it’s always better to book directly through our website – it’s cheaper and you have direct contact with us.
That said, booking through Viator is also very easy – you don’t need to call or make any extra arrangements. Everything is automated, and you’ll receive all your tour details directly in the Viator message center. Just keep an eye on your messages, and you’re good to go. ✅
We’re happy you joined us and look forward to seeing you again!
Vikki_p, Jul 2025
The tour guide was OK, but we only saw one alligator there was someone vaping on the boat as well , the driver was good except he played this horrible music on the way back
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks for your two-star masterpiece! A few clarifications:
The alligators – believe it or not, the Everglades are not a zoo. They're a national park. We can't bribe the gators to show up, pose for selfies, or do tricks on command. If we could, we’d be millionaires — or at least have our own Netflix show.
The vaping incident – if someone was secretly vaping on the boat, the adult thing to do would be... say something. To them. Directly. You were there. We weren’t hiding behind the bushes with a fog machine — just ask the person to stop. Most guests are actually decent human beings.
The guide – you said you liked that part. That’s great, because that’s the part we do control. And we work hard to make it amazing. So, if the guide was good, the tour was organized, and nature did its unpredictable thing — why exactly just one star? That hurts, honestly.
We’re a small business that lives off reviews. We’re not a theme park with animatronic gators and remote-controlled guests. We give real experiences — sometimes wild, sometimes weird, but always genuine.
Anyway, hope your next adventure comes with remote-controlled reptiles and a no-vape forcefield.
All the best,
Your Banana Joe Team 🐊🍌
Wendy_G, Jun 2025
Loved the hotel pick up. Nice small group van ride to and from the Everglades Park.
The photo in the Viator ad showed a smaller, "more authentic looking" airboat (as apposed to the larger big tour ones shown in other tour choices)...which was one of the reasons I chose this specific tour over others...but when we arrived at the Everglades Holiday Park we were put with other larger groups and were on a large tour airboat and it was not a "small tour group" at this point.
I was really hoping for the smaller "real airboat" experience as pictured in the advertisement.
Other than that...we saw 12+ gators and enjoyed the airboat ride.
The tour guides (both our driver from Miami and the airboat guide) were knowledgeable and excellent guides.
I'm giving 3starts b/c of the type of airboat pictured in the ad compared to the one we went on. Overall, I would still recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hey there!
Thanks for the review – we’re glad you enjoyed the hotel pickup, the gator-filled airboat ride, and our awesome guides! 😎
Now, about that “authentic small airboat” you were dreaming of... yes, we do offer private airboats – sleek, wild, and straight out of a Florida action movie. But those don’t come with South Florida’s best budget tour price. You picked the most affordable Everglades experience that still includes hotel pickup, a 60-minute airboat ride, a wildlife show, and a professional guide from start to finish. Not bad, right?
We’re not hiding anything – there are over 400 pictures on Viator showing the exact park and boats we use. So no Photoshop tricks here. The private boats (and even private pickups) are absolutely available… at a very different price tag. 😅
All that said, we’re still happy you saw 12+ gators and had a good time overall. Next time, we’d be glad to upgrade you to the VIP airboat adventure – gators in tuxedos not included.
Thanks again and safe travels!
– Team Banana Joe 🐊
nicola_h, Jun 2025
Collected at hotel and about a 45 minute journey to the Everglades Park.
The one hour airboat ride was fine but, we seemed to stay in the canals leading to the Everglades Park. If you are expecting it to go flying over the reeds and grasslands as we were, you will be disappointed. We only saw one Aligator and if you were sitting on the right side of our airboat, you saw none.
The short Aligator show afterwards was very good.
Take lots of cash because everyone expects a tip!
Rosalind_C, May 2025
Easy booking and fast confirmation Got picked up and dropped off at our hotel by host Ross who was super! Shuttle van was comfortable and not crowded. Ross gave nice narrative and on arrival made sure our small group knew what to expect and where to go. Airboat ride with Captain Victor was super fun and lasted about an hour!! A mix of fast and slow speeds. It was beautiful and we saw lots of wildlife. The gator show after was nice and the guy was funny and entertaining. We received free individual photos which was a nice surprise. There’s time to buy souvenirs food & drinks. Ross drove expertly and dropped us off right at our hotel. Highly recommend this activity!!!
Paul_H, May 2025
Our Driver/Guide Dominick was very good, pick up from hotel and communication etc was faultless. Plenty of information about Miami in general which kept us entertained on the outwards journey.
Experience (boatride) itself was a little Disappointing for myself, went at a snails pace - but as our guide said low water season, did see some wildlife and was nice too see some unspoilt nature.
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