I did the full-day tour and it was indeed a full day -- 12 hours from pick up to drop off. The length can vary based on where they are picking up and dropping off. I happened to be the only Fort Lauderdale visitor in my bus; everyone else was staying in Miami, so I had an extra "tour" through Miami at the end of the day.
The coordination efforts for the day were amazing: I had 4 tour guides and all were helpful, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable.
Highlights: The description on the website of what you will do this day is accurate but doesn't do justice to everything you will see. The view of the Everglades from the boat would have been worth it, even without the Miccosukee Indian village and alligators, although they were (obviously) engaging too. The quick stops at an art gallery and local museums would have benefitted from more time, but were very informative and interesting. Lunch was outstanding and just what one needed to keep going into the afternoon. The boat tour of the 10 Thousand Islands was much better than I anticipated. I wasn't sure what all you could see in an hour on a boat in this part of the Gulf; but the tour of the islands built from oyster shells by the Calusa Indians was utterly fascinating. (And we saw dolphins, which always pleases everyone, even it they just pop up and go away quickly. Would that family visits were as appreciated! But I digress...). The walking tour of the National Everglades Park was our final activity and was made especially enjoyable by our guide, Chris, a national park ranger and Wild Lime team member, who pointed out a wonderful array of critters and plant life, explaining each in highly engaging narrative detail. You can do this walk without a guide and many people were. But had I done it without a guide, I would have walked by the alligator hole thinking it was just a pond overgrown with brush and would most certainly have missed the turtles and baby alligators, and would have had no idea what the various birds were or that the plants I was brushing past included both northern and tropical plants, exemplifying the biodiversity that makes the Everglades a unique ecosystem and national park. If you go to the Grand Canyon, I feel you can still experience the sublime without a guide. I don't think that's as true in the Everglades. What's amazing about them is not obvious to the uninformed eye. You'll see the alligators without a guide, but you won't learn anything about what they contribute to this ecosystem.
Odpowiedź od gospodarza
Feb 2019
This is certainly one of the best reviews we have ever received. Thank you so much for taking the time to include so many details and highlights, making it a special day. I loved your comment about why becoming immersed in the Everglades is aided by having an expert guide, considering the subtle nature of some of the wildlife and beauty there. One of the joys is the subtle change between ecosystems (a lot of people think it's just one, but there are many ecosystems there), and the rich biodiversity there; like no other place. And yes, that is something that is easily lost for those who may be used to Yosemite or other National Parks that are easier to get right away. We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to leave us this review, and for coming with us. Please connect with us again one day!