What Should I Wear On My Everglades Tour?

What Should I Wear On My Everglades Tour?

So you’re coming to visit the Everglades and do some type of tour but you’re not sure what to wear or what to expect. There’s lots of things to consider when packing for your Everglades adventures…what time of year, best time of day, will it rain, etc. Don’t worry, we’ve been doing this for a long time…we got you covered!

Everglades Kayak & Motorboat Tours

The first thing to think about is the time of year you’ll be visiting.

Traditionally the busy season here in Florida is October – April. The weather here during that time is absolutely perfect with almost no rain or humidity and lots of sunshine! With daytime highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s you can basically wear whatever you like. However, from December through early March there will be some days with overnight temperatures dipping down into the 20’s & 30’s. If you are doing a morning tour, Kayaking in the Everglades, Boat Tour of the islands, etc, you’ll want to pack a pair of closed toed shoes, long pants and a warm jacket just to be safe. During the Motorboat & Airboat tours you will pick up speed at some point and the wind will add to the chill so be prepared. By mid-day the sun warms things up and you’re good with short sleeve shirts, shorts, sandals, etc. If you’re on the water a hat and Polarized Sunglasses will not only protect you from the sun but will also help you see into the water! If you’re doing one of our Hiking tours…sturdy, water resistant shoes are best. Your normal gym shoes will work but never sandals, flip flops or crocs. You’ll also be happy to know that the mosquitoes dislike the cold weather and are hard to find during the winter months.

* If you are visiting during the winter months and your goal is to observe wildlife you should consider booking late morning or afternoon…once things have warmed up. Watch the weather…the wildlife here will “hunker down” when it gets too cold and seek the warmth of the sun once it’s high enough. That’s the best time to see them!

Everglades Motorboat Tours

What about Summer in the Everglades

If you’re planning to visit the Everglades from April through September you should pack for warm days with a possible chance of rain. We try to schedule our Kayak & Hiking tours as early as possible during the Summer to avoid the afternoon heat and potential thunderstorms. The Motorboat Tours of the 10,000 Islands are a little different because there is a cover over the boat and there’s always a nice breeze on the water. You’ll want to wear something light and comfortable that will keep you cool. Shorts, skirts, hat, sunglasses and tee shirts are all good. If you’re doing a Motorboat tour you’ll want shoes that can get wet because we’ll stop on the islands to walk the beach & explore. Bring a light rain jacket if you can…especially if you’re touring the the afternoon. It doesn’t rain Every Day so we do schedule afternoon trips over the Summer as long as the weather cooperates. Yes there can be mosquitoes here during the Summer. Sometimes they’ll be here then they’re gone for a week then back again. We have tried every home remedy including dryer sheets, Listerine, skin so soft, etc. That stuff may work in a backyard setting but the mosquitoes here are a different breed. The only thing that works effectively is repellant with Deet. The best approach is to wear a light, long sleeve shirt & pants and spray repellant on the clothing to keep the mosquitoes away.

* If you’re planning to visit during the Summer try to start early in the morning. The wildlife will be most active just after sunrise until about 11-12 Noon before it gets too hot. The best time is late afternoon just before sunset 4-8pm as long as the afternoon thunderstorms don’t move in.