10,000 Islands
Good for: wading birds and dolphins
- Address
- Everglades National Park
Lonely Planet review for 10,000 Islands
One of the best ways to experience the serenity of the Everglades - somehow desolate yet lush, tropical and foreboding - is by paddling the network of waterways that skirt the northwest portion of the park. The 10,000 Islands consist of many (but not really 10,000) tiny islands and a mangrove swamp that hugs the southwestern-most border of Florida.
The Wilderness Waterway, a 99-mile path between Everglades City and Flamingo, is the longest canoe trail in the area, but there are shorter trails near Flamingo.Most islands are fringed by narrow beaches with sugar-white sand, but note that the water is brackish, and very shallow most of the time. It's not Tahiti, but it's fascinating. You can camp on your own island for up to a week.
Getting around the 10,000 Islands is pretty straightforward if you religiously adhere to National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tide and nautical charts. Going against the tides is the fastest way to make a miserable trip. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center sells nautical charts and gives out free tidal charts. You can also purchase charts prior to your visit - ask for chart Nos 11430, 11432 and 11433.
Traveller reviews for 10,000 Islands (1)
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Kayak is the best way, but sailing it is a close second.
captpatrick recommends this,
The northern portion of the Ten Thousand Islands is administered by the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve rather than the National Park. They offer short guided kayak trips. Another alternative to an extended paddle is Everglades Area Tours out of Chokoloskee who do boat assisted kayak trips in which they portage you and the kayaks out to a Gulf barrier island where you get to paddle about before returning. This allows you to cover a lot of ground in half a day. Alternatively TropicBird Ecotours does full day falimy friendly naturalist-led ecotours of the 10,000 Islands under sail out of Goodland (by Marco Island) including landing on and exploring one of the Keys in the preserve. www.tropicbirdsailing.com
Good for: wading birds and dolphins
