Frequently Asked Questions

Individual bookings of 5 or fewer guests can be cancelled with a refund or rebooked to another availability or activity up to 48 hours prior to activity.

Individual bookings of 5 or fewer guests will not receive a refund for cancellations or changes to bookings within 48 hours of their activity.

Private bookings or bookings of 6 or more guests can be cancelled with a refund or rebooked 14 days prior to trip.

Private bookings or bookings of 6 or more guests will not receive a refund for cancellations or changes to bookings within 48 hours of their activity.

If a Biscayne National Park Institute activity must be cancelled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, you will have the opportunity to rebook for another day or receive a full refund.

All bookings will be considered a “no show cancellation” if you have not checked into the park store and signed the waiver at least 5 minutes before the activity and a refund will not be issued.

Refunds and rebookings cannot take place the same day as your activity. We strongly recommend trip insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances.

If you have a question, please contact our information center at (786) 465-4058 between 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. est. You can also contact us through email at [email protected]

Excursions may be canceled for several reasons, including weather conditions, unsafe water or trail conditions, or unexpected vehicle or vessel maintenance. Some programs may run while others are canceled, depending on location, activity type, and safety considerations.

If your excursion is canceled by us, you will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund. For more details, please refer to the specific trip description, as some programs are more weather-dependent than others.

Our website is live and up to date with availabilities, so if you are not seeing the options you would like, it means we do not have it and would suggest looking at a different date, time, or excursion to fill your needs.

Private trips are available but if the website is not showing the option to book it, it means we do not have it available for the date you are looking for.

We would also suggest looking at our other Institutes to see if there’s an excursion available on the day that you’re interested in.

There is no waitlist, but cancellations can occur, we would suggest monitoring the website for availability on the live calendar.

Reservations are highly recommended. Some programs, like the Everglades Experience and Wet Walk, may accept walk-ins if space is available—please arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour starts. However, other programs such as the Flamingo Experience, Canoeing for Beginners, Florida Bay Eco-adventure, and the Nine Mile Pond Guided Paddle require booking at least 24 hours in advance.

While we’ll do our best to accommodate everyone, space is limited and not guaranteed without a reservation.

Depending on the time of year and season, we suggest booking ahead of time and if plans change you have 48 hours before your excursion to rebook or refund your trip. We can’t guarantee that there’ll be spots available if you try to book as a walk up.

We highly suggest booking big groups, private tours, and tours during our busy holiday month (November-beginning of January) at least two months in advance to assure a reservation on a desired trip date and time.

Yes, you can still make a booking even if you’re unsure of the exact members in your group.
You’ll need to pay in full for the total number of guests you plan to bring. If your plans change, our Cancellation Policy allows for the following:

• Groups of 5 or fewer: You may cancel one or more guests up to 48 hours before the trip for a refund.
• Groups of 6 or more: You may cancel one or more guests up to 2 weeks before the trip for a refund.

You may need assistance if you do not have the names of those that will be in your party, please call us at (786) 465-4058 between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM est. One of our Information Specialists will be happy to help!

Yes, you can make this change at any time.
Just be sure the new group member(s) complete their waiver before the trip. To make the switch, call us at (786) 465-4058 between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM est, or email us at [email protected]. We’ll simply need your booking number, the name of the participant who is no longer attending, and the name of the new participant.

One of our Information Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Our tour guides, Naturalists, are continuous students of the natural world and provide interpretive, educational, and historical programs in South Florida’s National Parks. Each are trained by the National Park Service to ensure they are equipped with and can provide the most up to date information, research, and opportunities when connecting with guests.

Interpretation is a purposeful form of communication that seeks to translate the world around us. Our Naturalists help interpret the natural environment, history, research, etc. to support guests in broadening their perspectives, deepening their understanding, and inspiring them to cultivate meaningful connections with South Florida’s National Parks.

We recommend bringing the following in all Everglades National Park Institute activities:

• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Snacks
• Picnic lunch if you have an all-day program
• Water
• Refillable water bottle, refill stations are located throughout the park
• Comfortable, athletic or hiking shoes
• Rain gear for wet season (summer)

If your activity involves being on or in the water, you may want to bring a dry bag, a bug jacket, and insect repellent.

Restrooms are available at several main locations, including the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Royal Palm, West Lake, and Flamingo.

• Nine Mile Pond Paddle: There are no restrooms at the launch site or along the route. Please plan accordingly.

• Florida Bay Eco-Adventure: This is a primitive backcountry experience with no restroom facilities during the tour. Nature-style bathroom breaks may be necessary.

We recommend using the restroom before your tour begins, especially for remote or water-based programs.

Yes. If you wish to bring food on the vans and boats, please bring picnic lunch options that are not messy and do not require heating.

Food can be purchased at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Royal Palm, and the Marina Store in Flamingo. There is also a restaurant located in the Flamingo Lodge.

ADA Service animals (any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability) are allowed on Everglades Institute tours EXCEPT the Wet Walk and Eco-Tour. This does not include Emotional Support Animals.

If you bring your pet to Everglades National Park, please protect them, others, wildlife, and park resources by abiding by these regulations.

• Pets are allowed anywhere cars are, they must be always kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under control.
• Do not leave pet unattended while tied to picnic tables, trees, or other stationary objects.
• Do not leave pets inside vehicles. Even if the window is cracked open, temperatures inside can rise quickly even on cooler days.
• Pet excrement must be immediately collected and disposed of in the nearest trash can.
• Pets (non ADA) are not allowed inside any Visitor Centers.

We can’t guarantee how much wildlife you’ll see and each is dependent on the tour you will be taking. Some common wildlife you might see in Everglades National Park are:

• Alligators and/or crocodiles
• Wading Birds, diving birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors
• Fresh or saltwater fish
• Fresh or saltwater turtles
• Snakes
• Lizards
• Butterflies

Our institutes want everyone to be safe and comfortable on our trips, so we put age limits to control fatigue and ability to do the activity.

• For safety reasons, if a child 5 or under requires a car seat or booster seat, they must go in their own vehicle. If you have a child under 5, please give us a call to ensure this tour is right for your kiddo.
• 9 Mile Pond Paddle is 12 and older because the paddle length is 3.5 miles guests must keep up with each other. Children must be accompanied by an adult per canoe
• The Wet Walk is 12 and older due to some areas having high water; for an adult, the water can reach the waist. This is also an environmentally sensitive area and requires participants to be calm and aware of their surroundings at all times.
• The Eco-Tour requires guests to be 12 and older due to the strenuous nature and backcountry location of the trip.

If you’re participating in a program that uses an Institute vehicle—such as van tours or wet walks—your park entrance fee is included. 

If you’re driving your own vehicle to the program location—such as Nine Mile Pond or Flamingo—you’ll need to pay the park entrance fee at the gate or show a valid national park pass.

Everglades and Biscayne are two very different parks with unique ecosystems and experiences. Everglades National Park is known for its vast wetlands, prairies, and diverse wildlife like alligators, wading birds, and turtles. Our Everglades tours depart from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center in Homestead, Nine Mile Pond and The Guy Bradley Visitor Center in Flamingo. 

Biscayne National Park, on the other hand, is 95% water. It features coral reefs, mangrove forests, and historic shipwrecks. To explore Biscayne, you’ll need to get on a boat—our tours depart from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead and Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove. Both parks are incredible but offer very different ways to connect with nature visit https://www.biscaynenationalparkinstitute.org/ to find more information about Biscayne National Park programs.  

Both our van programs are wheelchair accessible, and we’re happy to make accommodations when possible—just let us know in advance so we can prepare the appropriate vehicle or support. Accessibility may vary depending on the program and location. If you or someone in your group has specific needs (mobility, sensory, cognitive, etc.).

Please contact our information center at (786) 465-4058 between 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. est. You can also contact us through email at [email protected] before booking so we can discuss the best options and ensure a comfortable experience.

We do not provide transportation to the parks or between them. Guests are responsible for getting to the tour departure locations, which may include the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Nine Mile Pond or the Guy Bradley Visitor Center in Flamingo. Rideshare and taxi services can be used to arrive, but please note that return transportation can be difficult to arrange, as rideshare availability is limited, and taxis are not available from the site and there are no public transportation options to these sites. We recommend planning your transportation in advance. 

The type of vehicle depends on the tour:

• Van Tours & Wet Walk:
  Your naturalist will pick you up at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center in a shuttle bus or van that seats up to 14 passengers. Please note that passengers must climb steps to board. If you require an ADA-accessible vehicle, contact us in advance at (786) 465-4058 or [email protected] so we can accommodate your needs.

• Nine Mile Pond Paddle and Canoeing for beginners:
  You will drive your own vehicle to the Nine Mile Pond site and meet the naturalist there. Participants must be in even-numbered groups, as you’ll be sharing a metal canoe with a partner.

• Florida Bay Eco-Adventure:
  You will drive your own vehicle to Flamingo. From there, you’ll board a power boat to reach the kayak launch site, and use inflatable kayaks to explore the backcountry.

For the Van Tour, you will be in the vehicle for approximately 10-20 minute sittings. In between, you will be outside the van, exploring a trail or historic site.

For the Paddle, you will be in the canoe for approximately 3 hours. It takes about 40 minutes to drive to 9 Mile Pond from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center.

For the Wet Walk, you will be in the vehicle for about 20 minutes before reaching the predetermined location.

For the Florida Bay Eco-Adventure, travel to Flamingo from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center takes about 50 minutes. Travel in the power boat will be in approximately 30 minute increments and depending on the trip, time in the kayak could be from 1-2 hours.

Various tours leave from various locations in Everglades National Park. All trips require you to use the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center entrance station. Please see details of your specific trip to learn about your meeting location.