Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Florida: Miami, the Everglades and the Keys to Key West
7 days from Miami: the Art Deco District and Little Havana, a day in the Everglades, Key Largo and Islamorada, then two nights in Key West with the reef and Mallory Square.
7 days · Round trip from Miami · up to 12 guests
Rooftops of Old Town Key West, with the water beyond Photo: Julian Lupyan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buildings_on_the_Corner_of_Front_and_Duval_Street,_Key_West,_Florida.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Miami
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Easy
Easy walking on flat ground: about 3 km on the Art Deco walk, under 2 km on the Anhinga Trail boardwalk and about 2 to 4 km a day in Key West. The reef trip is about an hour in the water with a flotation vest; you can stay on deck. No day has more than about 4 hours in the vehicle.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 950 (estimated price)
- Season
- November to April
Highlights
Why this trip
- A guided morning walk through the Art Deco District on Ocean Drive, before the heat
- Cuban coffee, lunch and dominoes on Calle Ocho in Little Havana
- The Shark Valley tram through the sawgrass, then an airboat with a licensed operator
- The Anhinga Trail early, when alligators and wading birds are close to the boardwalk
- A glass-bottom boat or a mangrove kayak in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
- The Seven Mile Bridge and Bahia Honda on the way to Key West
- Hemingway's house and its six-toed cats, then sunset at Mallory Square
- A half-day snorkel on the reef off Key West, gear and guides included
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 950 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Miami Beach
Miami International Airport to your hotel in Miami Beach
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Miami Beach
- Drive about 30 min
Evening
Fly into Miami International Airport (MIA) in time for the evening welcome: plan to land by about 4 pm (the exact latest arrival is confirmed with your final itinerary). A driver meets you in arrivals for the half-hour drive east over the causeway across Biscayne Bay to Miami Beach, where we stay two nights within walking distance of Ocean Drive. If you land early, the beach is a block or two away and the sand is wide and public. In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the week: how the days are paced, what to pack for the boats and the reef, and what the Everglades are like in the dry season. Then we walk to a welcome dinner together nearby, as the neon on the Art Deco hotels along Ocean Drive comes on.
Included
- Pick-up at Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner in Miami Beach
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
The Art Deco District and Little Havana
Miami Beach to Little Havana and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Miami Beach
- Drive about 45 min
Morning
We start on foot in the morning, before the sun is high on Ocean Drive, with a guided walk through the Miami Beach Architectural District, the hotels and apartment blocks of the 1930s and 1940s that preservationists saved from demolition in the late 1970s: porthole windows, racing stripes, terrazzo floors and pastel facades, with Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern buildings in between. After the walk we drive across the bay to Little Havana, the neighbourhood that grew with the Cuban exile community from the 1960s.
Afternoon
Lunch is a proper Cuban meal on Calle Ocho, then we walk the street with our guide: a cafecito at a walk-up window, the old men's games at Máximo Gómez Park, known to everyone as Domino Park, the Tower Theater, a cigar shop where leaf is still rolled by hand, and the murals along the side streets.
Evening
We are back in Miami Beach by mid-afternoon, and the rest of the day and the evening are yours.
Included
- Guided Art Deco District walking tour, Miami Beach
- Cuban lunch on Calle Ocho
- Little Havana walk with your guide: Calle Ocho, Domino Park, the Tower Theater and a hand-rolled cigar shop
Easier option: Sit out part of the Art Deco walk at a cafe on Ocean Drive; the van can take you straight to lunch.
More active option: On your free afternoon, walk or cycle the beach path north from South Pointe Park.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free in Miami Beach
Activity: About 3 km on flat pavement in the morning and 1 to 2 km in Little Havana.
Shark Valley and an airboat in the Everglades
Miami Beach to Shark Valley on the Tamiami Trail, then Homestead
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Homestead
- Drive about 2.5 h
Morning
We leave after breakfast and drive west on the Tamiami Trail, the 1920s road across the Everglades, about an hour and a quarter to Shark Valley. Everglades National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Shark Valley is its northern door: a paved loop of about 24 km through open sawgrass, the slow river of grass that gives the park its name. A naturalist-led tram takes us round in about two hours, stopping for alligators on the canal banks, herons and wood storks, and at an observation tower halfway with a view over the whole prairie.
Afternoon
Lunch is nearby. In the afternoon we head back east to a licensed airboat operator outside the park for a ride of about 30 to 40 minutes across the marsh; ear protection is provided. Then we drive south on Krome Avenue, past nurseries and tomato fields, to Homestead, the farm town at the park's main gate.
Evening
Dinner is together tonight.
Included
- Everglades National Park entry
- Shark Valley tram tour with a naturalist
- Lunch near Shark Valley
- Airboat ride with a licensed operator on the Tamiami Trail
- Dinner together in Homestead
Easier option: Skip the airboat and wait at the operator's cafe and boardwalk, or ride in the quieter middle seats.
More active option: Cycle the Shark Valley loop on a rented bike instead of the tram, about 24 km on flat pavement (bike hire on site, availability confirmed on the day).
Activity: Mostly seated; short walks at the tram stops and the observation tower ramp. Bring a hat and sunscreen: the tram is open-sided.
The Anhinga Trail early, then Key Largo and Islamorada
Homestead to Royal Palm and the Anhinga Trail, then Key Largo and Islamorada
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Islamorada
- Drive about 2 h
This is why we slept at the gateway. We are on the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm early, about 20 minutes from the hotel, when the light is low and the car park is still quiet. The boardwalk loop is under a kilometre, over Taylor Slough, where water gathers in the dry season and draws in alligators, anhingas drying their wings, herons, egrets and turtles, often within a few metres. A ranger leads the walk where the park's winter programme runs; otherwise our guide does. Then we drive onto the Overseas Highway and into Key Largo, to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, opened in 1963 as the first undersea park in the United States. Choose a glass-bottom boat out to the reef or a guided kayak through the mangrove channels.
Afternoon
Lunch is in Key Largo, then it is half an hour down the road to Islamorada, where we stay on the water.
Evening
Dinner tonight is fresh local seafood.
Included
- Early walk on the Anhinga Trail, Royal Palm, Everglades National Park
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park entry
- Glass-bottom boat to the reef, or a guided mangrove kayak, Key Largo
- Lunch in Key Largo
- Seafood dinner in Islamorada
Easier option: Take the glass-bottom boat, which needs no swimming and has a shaded deck.
More active option: Kayak the mangrove trail with the park's guide, or add the Gumbo Limbo Trail next to the Anhinga Trail before we leave Royal Palm.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Islamorada
Activity: An early start, about 7 am, for the best wildlife. The Anhinga Trail is flat, paved and boardwalk, under 1 km.
Over the Seven Mile Bridge to Key West
Islamorada to Bahia Honda over the Seven Mile Bridge, then Key West
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Key West
- Drive about 2.5 h
Morning
After breakfast we follow the Overseas Highway south and west, island to island, with the Atlantic on one side and Florida Bay on the other. The road crosses the Seven Mile Bridge from Marathon, and you can see the old bridge of Henry Flagler's railway, finished in 1912, running alongside.
Afternoon
We stop at Bahia Honda State Park for a walk on its sandy beach and up onto a surviving span of the old railway bridge for the view over the channel, then carry on to lunch on the way. We reach Key West in the early afternoon, check in for two nights, and walk into Old Town to the Hemingway Home and Museum on Whitehead Street, where Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote in the 1930s; dozens of cats live there now, many with six toes.
Evening
Late in the day we walk down to Mallory Square for the sunset over the Gulf, with buskers and jugglers on the pier. The evening is free.
Included
- The Seven Mile Bridge
- Bahia Honda State Park entry and beach walk
- Lunch on the way
- Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West
- Sunset at Mallory Square
Easier option: Stay at the hotel pool after the Hemingway Home and meet the group at Mallory Square, a short taxi ride.
Free time: Evening free in Key West
Activity: About 2 to 3 km on foot in Old Town, on flat streets.
The reef off Key West
Key West, by boat to the reef and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Key West
- By boat
Morning
This morning we go out by boat with a licensed local operator to the coral reef that runs along the Keys, about 10 km offshore, inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Mornings are usually the calmest time on the water. Masks, fins, snorkels and flotation vests are provided, the crew gives a briefing, and you snorkel for about an hour over brain and elkhorn coral with parrotfish, angelfish and, with luck, a turtle or a nurse shark. If you would rather not swim, stay on deck.
Afternoon
Back on land, lunch is together in Old Town, and the early afternoon is yours: the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor, the Key West Lighthouse, or the Southernmost Point buoy. Late in the afternoon your guide leads an easy walk through the quieter streets, past the wooden conch houses, the Key West Cemetery and City Hall on White Street.
Evening
We end with a farewell dinner together.
Included
- Half-day reef snorkel trip with a licensed operator, gear and vests included
- Lunch in Old Town
- Late-afternoon Old Town walk with your guide
- Farewell dinner in Key West
Optional experiences
- Swap the reef trip for a full day at Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson by the park's ferry, about 2.5 hours each way (priced at booking, subject to availability)
Easier option: Stay on deck during the snorkel stop, or spend the morning at the beach in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
More active option: Take the optional Dry Tortugas day instead, with snorkelling off the fort's beach.
Free time: Early afternoon free in Key West
Activity: About an hour in open water, with a vest; if the wind cancels the reef trip, we switch to a glass-bottom boat or a sheltered kayak trip and tell you that morning.
Back up the Keys to Miami
Key West up the Overseas Highway to Miami International Airport
- Breakfast and lunch
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
A last breakfast in Key West, then we drive back up the Overseas Highway, about 260 km and four hours of driving before stops, at the steady speed the islands allow. The road looks different heading north: the morning light falls on the Gulf side, and you see the bridges you crossed two days ago from the other direction.
Afternoon
We break the drive with a short stop in Marathon and lunch together in the Upper Keys, then cross onto the mainland at Florida City and take the turnpike north to Miami International Airport, arriving by about 3 pm. Your guide sees you to the terminal before saying goodbye. If you would rather not do the drive, you can fly home from Key West International Airport instead; tell us when you book and we will take you to the terminal that morning.
Included
- Drive from Key West to Miami with your guide
- Lunch in the Upper Keys
- Drop-off at Miami International Airport (MIA)
Easier option: Fly home from Key West International Airport (EYW) instead of driving back; we take you to the terminal.
Activity: Book a flight from MIA leaving after about 5:30 pm. Traffic on the Overseas Highway can be slow on winter weekends.
- Miamistart
- Miami Beach2 nights
- Homestead1 night
- Islamorada1 night
- Key West2 nights
- Miamiend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: From December to April the Everglades dry out and water gathers in the sloughs, so alligators, herons, egrets and anhingas concentrate along the trails and mosquitoes are much fewer. Winter cold fronts can bring a few cool, windy days that cancel reef trips; we hold a backup plan for day 6.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Miami, the Everglades and the Keys in one week without driving it themselves
- Wildlife watchers and birders: the Anhinga Trail and Shark Valley are at their best in the dry season
- A gentle pace with free evenings, real meals and short drives
- First-time snorkellers, with vests, a crew and the option to stay on deck
Not for you if you want
- A beach holiday: there are beaches, but the days are guided
- Travellers who want nightlife every night in South Beach
- Summer travel: the trip runs November to April only
- Anyone who wants a long stay in Key West; add nights before or after instead
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Miami Beach2 nights
- Homestead1 night
- Islamorada1 night
- Key West2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights: 2 in Miami Beach near the Art Deco District, 1 in Homestead or Florida City at the Everglades gateway, 1 in Islamorada on the water, 2 in or near Old Town Key West
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard; the Everglades gateway hotel is simpler. We name each one when we confirm your dates
- Hotel resort fees
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Miami International Airport (MIA), or drop-off at Key West International Airport (EYW) if you prefer to fly home from there
- Our own air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the group, with seat belts and spare seats
- The Shark Valley tram
- An airboat ride with a licensed operator
- The John Pennekamp glass-bottom boat or a guided kayak
- A half-day reef boat from Key West
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from day 1 to day 7
- The Art Deco walk's local guide, the Shark Valley tram naturalist, a park ranger on the Anhinga Trail where the winter programme runs, and the boat crews (who leads each visit is confirmed at booking)
Activities
- Guided Art Deco District walking tour, Miami Beach
- Little Havana walk: Calle Ocho, Domino Park and the Tower Theater, Miami
- Everglades National Park entry
- Shark Valley tram tour, Everglades National Park
- Airboat ride, Tamiami Trail
- The Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm, Everglades National Park
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park entry and boat or kayak, Key Largo
- The Seven Mile Bridge and Bahia Honda State Park, the Middle and Lower Keys
- Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West
- Sunset at Mallory Square, Key West
- Reef snorkel trip with gear, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
- Old Town walk, Key West
Meals
- 6 breakfasts
- 6 lunches: Little Havana, near Shark Valley, Key Largo, on the way to Key West, Old Town Key West, and the Upper Keys on the way back
- 4 dinners: the welcome dinner in Miami Beach (day 1), Homestead (day 3), Islamorada (day 4) and a farewell dinner in Key West (day 6)
Not included
- International flights to and from Miami
- US visa or ESTA, if you need one
- Travel insurance
- Dinners on days 2 and 5
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide, driver and boat crews
- Optional activities, including the Dry Tortugas ferry day
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 950 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Six nights in central hotels with resort fees, 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 4 dinners, airport transfers, our own vehicle and driver, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, park entries, the Shark Valley tram, an airboat ride, the Pennekamp boat or kayak, the Hemingway Home, a reef snorkel trip with gear, and the Art Deco and Little Havana walks.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, in a vehicle with spare seats, so everyone can hear the guide on the boardwalk and fit around one table at lunch. Private trips are your party only.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide is with the group from the airport on day 1 to the airport on day 7. Local specialists join for parts of it: the Art Deco walk's guide, the Shark Valley tram naturalist, a park ranger on the Anhinga Trail when the winter programme runs, and the licensed boat crews.
How fit do I need to be?
Not very. The walking is flat and short: about 3 km on the Art Deco walk, under a kilometre on the Anhinga Trail and a few kilometres a day in Key West. The snorkel is optional, with a flotation vest, and you can stay on deck or take the glass-bottom boat instead.
I am travelling solo. What is the single supplement?
A room of your own is from CAD 950 more, about 18 percent of the price, shown up front before you book. Key West single rooms cost nearly as much as doubles in winter, which is most of the supplement. You are seated, fed and guided exactly like everyone else.
When is the best time to go?
November to April, which is when the trip runs. It is the dry season in the Everglades, when wildlife gathers at the water and mosquitoes are few, and the Keys are warm but not humid. Late December to March is the busiest and most expensive time in Key West.
Will we see alligators?
Almost certainly, in the dry season. Alligators gather in the deeper water at Shark Valley and along the Anhinga Trail from December to April, often a few metres from the path. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but the dry season at these two places gives you a good chance.
Is the airboat ride inside Everglades National Park?
No. Airboats do not run on the Shark Valley loop or the Anhinga Trail. We use a licensed operator outside the park on the Tamiami Trail, for a ride of about 30 to 40 minutes, with ear protection. You can skip it and wait on the operator's boardwalk.
Can we visit Dry Tortugas National Park?
Yes, as an optional full day on day 6 in place of the reef trip. The park's ferry takes about 2.5 hours each way to Fort Jefferson, with time to walk the fort and snorkel off its beach. It sells out in winter, so ask when you book; the price is shown then.
Do I need a visa?
Canadians need only a valid passport. Most other visitors need a US visa or an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program, which you arrange before you travel. We can tell you which applies when you book.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote it separately.
How does booking work?
Pick your start date and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until then. The small group starts from CAD 5,190 per person sharing, taxes included, and we name your hotels when we confirm your dates.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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