The Everglades are one of the best places for wildlife viewing in South Florida. Perfect for birding and photography. This unique ecosystem is mostly made up of marshland and coastal mangroves, and you can expect to see numerous species of aquatic birds and of course alligators. Perhaps if you are lucky you may also spot a crocodile or an endangered Florida panther. Well, one can only hope to be so lucky, but one thing is for sure visiting the Everglades National Park will guarantee a change of scenery from Miami!
The winter dry season is the best time to go to observe wildlife. The temperature is cooler and with lower water levels the animals tend to congregate near water sources. At this time of the year, it’s easy to spot alligators sunning themselves along the paths to raise their body temperature. During the hot and muggy summer months alligators tend to stay submerged in the water since they don’t need to warm up. Another benefit of going in the winter is that you will not have to worry about the voracious mosquitos of the humid summer months!
Shark Valley and Ernest F. Coe are two of the most convenient entrances to the Everglades National Parks from Miami. This time around we opted to go to Shark Valley. Here, there’s a long wide path often lined with alligators warming up in the sun and posing for pictures. There’s also a tram to see more of the park and to take you to the observation tower. Wanting to social distance we skipped it and opted solely walk around.
For more information about Shark Valley see our post: Visiting the Everglades National Park
Sometimes we go to the Ernest F. Coe entrance and stop at the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm. This trail is more of a boardwalk winding over the marshland from where you can see alligators, turtles, fish, and birds. Nearby there is also the Gumbo Limbo Trail where you can spot colorful tree snails. From here, you can drive all the way to the end of Florida’s mainland and see the Florida Bay.
See our post about our road trip from the Ernest F. Coe entrance: A Scenic Road Trip in the Everglades National Park
Conclusion
Thriving with life the Everglades are ideal for wildlife viewing, birding, and photography. And thankfully, a large expanse of this unique and beautiful ecosystem is protected within the confines of the Everglades National Park. It’s our go-to place to encounter wildlife in South Florida.
