Where to Ethically See Alligators in the Florida Everglades

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on preliminary research from company websites and travel review sites. I have not had firsthand experience with any of these tours yet. Cover photo provided by Robert Zunikoff on Unsplash.

I chose Miami as my next destination to cross “see an alligator in the Everglades” off my bucket list. I thought it would be easy to find a tour to take you around the Everglade marshes to peacefully see lounging alligators and other wetland animals, yet, hours of research later, it seemed like it was impossible to find a company that does NOT offer alligator wrestling shows or encourage guests to handle young animals for pictures and entertainment. 

This is the research I’ve compiled that could hopefully help you make a decision without having to search through hundreds of websites to find what you’re looking for. Drop me a note if you have any recommendations or experiences with any Everglade tours!

Everglade Swamp Tours

Adult: $50 | Airboat Ride: 60 minutes
5/5 1,000+ reviews (TripAdvisor)
4.8/5 480+ reviews (Google reviews)
5/5 45+ reviews (Yelp)

Nestled west of Fort Lauderdale, Everglade Swamp Tours is one of the rare airboat tour companies that don’t offer gator shows or hands-on interactions with animals. Hundreds of reviews confirmed spotting numerous alligators with a knowledgeable guide who answered all of their questions. They also offer kayak rentals at $30 for the first hour and then $20 for each subsequent hour.

At Everglades Swamp Tours, our goal is to provide unique, private or semi-private airboat rides and tours so that when participants set foot back on land, they leave with more than just a memory. No two tours are the same! The Everglades is home to hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, plants and insects, you never know what Mother Nature has in store! Your experienced, knowledgeable guides are sure to give you a tour through the Everglades you’ll never forget!

Everglades Holiday Park

Adult: $33.99 | Airboat Ride: 60 minutes
4.5/5 4,000+ reviews (TripAdvisor)
4.4/5 6,600+ reviews (Google reviews)
4/5 570+ reviews (Yelp)

Also located southwest of Fort Lauderdale, Everglades Holiday Park is an extremely popular attraction with gator show presentations by members of Gator Boys, an alligator rescue show on Animal Planet. Although there is a wrestling show and hands-on programs with various animals (standalone or additional cost), their website states that all animals are treated humanely and with respect. Some (but not all) of their inhabitants are rescues. The website states that, “unlike other American alligator shows, the health and well-being of our star attractions is something we take seriously”.

We cater to families, individuals, educators, corporations and anyone looking to experience the magic and wonders of our state’s most exciting natural resource. We encourage visitors to enjoy the pristine Everglades ecosystem while learning about important preservation efforts.

Everglades Safari Park

Adult: $28 online or $31 at the door | Airboat Ride: 30-40 minutes
4/5 2,000+ reviews (TripAdvisor)
4.4/5 3,90+ reviews (Google reviews)
4/5 180+ reviews (Yelp)

West of Miami is home to the 10-acre Everglades Safari Park. Their admission price includes an airboat tour, gator show, and access to their Jungle Trail, observation platform, and other attractions including a museum. Although their website encourages guests to “learn about the conservation and preservation of one of the world’s most delicate and vital ecological systems and its inhabitants” in their park, some reviews claim that the experience was disappointing with no alligators found during the airboat ride. Some reviews also said that it felt more like a roadside zoo than a wildlife experience. Morbidly, they also serve alligator meat.

We offer a variety of ways to observe the Everglades at our park, including an Airboat Ride, Alligator Show, and a Jungle Trail. Our 30-40 minute Airboat Rides are guided by skilled narrators, familiar with every aspect of the Florida Everglades, including its history, vegetation, and wildlife, as well as its impact upon the community. The Alligator Show provides guests an informative, interactive opportunity to become familiar with the features of the American Alligators as well as a variety of other wildlife.

Gator Park Airboat Tours

Adult: $19.99 online or $24.99 at the door | Airboat Ride: 30-40 minutes
4/5 2,000+ reviews (TripAdvisor)
4.3/5 2,300+ reviews (Google reviews)
4/5 250+ reviews (Yelp)

Gator Park Airboat Tours can be found beside Everglades Safari Park (5-minute drive away). In fact, both tours share many similarities, such as gator wrestling, hands-on activities and pictures, however, I couldn’t find any statements on their website about commitments to animal welfare, environmental preservation, or educating guests on conservation. However, I was able to find a comment from management to a negative TripAdvisor review that said, “our wildlife show is simply educational, and there is absolutely no animal cruelty happening here. All animals at Gator Park are well taken care of, and they are not hurt or uncomfortable at any time”. Many of the unsatisfied reviews speak to poor management and customer service.

With years of alligator experience to help brave the way, we’ll show you what alligator wrestling is all about. (Don’t try this at home.) Feeling brave yourself?  You can even hold a baby gator in your arms! When you embark on an Everglades safari, we ensure you really get to meet the natives.

Caption Jack’s Airboat Tours

Mangrove Airboat Tour – Adult: $41.99 ($2.50 off coupon available online) | Airboat Ride: 60 minutes
Grassland and Airboat Tour – Adult: $70.65 ($6 off coupon available online) | Airboat Ride: 30 minutes
Swamp Buggy Tour – Adult: $66.65 ($6 off coupon available online) | Airboat Ride: 60 minutes
Combo of all 3 Tours – Adult: $94.65 ($10 off coupon available online)
4/5 3,000+ reviews (TripAdvisor)
4.7/5 1,000+ reviews (Google reviews)
4/5 180+ reviews (Yelp)

Located 90 minutes west of Miami, Captain Jack’s offers a variety of Everglade tours, gator-wrestling shows, and “alligator hugs”. They also have an “animal sanctuary” which provides a home to “rescued” animals including a Florida panther, lions, tigers, otters, crocodiles, and over 100 alligators. Admission to view these animals is $9 or free with any tour.

Due to its close proximity to the Ten Thousand Islands, there’s a chance that guests will also see dolphins and manatees. Many reviews said that their visit was a lot of fun, but there were also many reoccurring negative comments about the state of the “animal sanctuary” and small animal enclosures. In fact, I could not find anything on their website about dedication to animal welfare or conservation efforts.

Why choose Captain Jack’s?
Safety – Your safety is our priority. Our boat captains are licensed by the US Coast Guard and our boats are regularly maintained.
Experience – Our expert guides combine the thrill of a fast boat ride with the fascination of an Everglades nature tour.
Alligators – Watch a live alligator show, hug a baby alligator, and visit our Animal Sanctuary, home to hundreds of animals.

Sawgrass Recreation Park

Adult: $21.45 online or $22.95 at the door | Airboat Ride: 30 minutes
4.5/5 1,900+ reviews (TripAdvisor)
4.4/5 2,900+ reviews (Google reviews)
4.5/5 200+ reviews (Yelp)

Sawgrass airboat tours are located in the Northern part of the Everglades (approximately 30 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale). This is another one of the rare Airboat companies that does not offer alligator shows, however, they do house animal exhibits – a reptile exhibit and Glades exhibit with “adopted and rescued animals”, such as snakes, turtles, peacocks, iguanas, and their 1,000 pound alligator named Cannibal. Their website encourages pictures with a baby alligator and other presentations, though their mission statement and commitment to green initiatives and educating guests is one that I have not seen elsewhere in my research.

Here at Sawgrass it is our mission to bring awareness to every visitor the importance of our Everglades ecosystem. In particular, we hope to express the need to preserve the fragile environment and sustain the wildlife that depends on it. We feel the generations yet to come, the children, will be the keepers of our planet. It is vital that they are educated and have the opportunity to interact with these magnificent creatures. Each mammal or reptile you see at our park is indeed our family and many have been adopted, rescued or donated over the years. We hope you leave our park with a better understanding of this special environment.

I have not yet decided on which Everglades tour to visit, if any, but will be updating this page with more information as I continue to research for my upcoming trip to Miami in October.