Shark Valley Tram Tours

I wouldn't recommend going during the wet season like we did, unless there's no alternative. There were so many mosquitos when we stopped at the observation tower that we had to run back to the tram. We used insect repellent but the mosquitos didn't seem to care. I would go completely covered! We still enjoyed it. We got to see lots of alligators and birds, and even learned about the different flowers and plants in the area. Bob and the driver were great.

This is where you want to go to see gators THRIVING. Our driver was Taylor and our naturalist was funny, informative and passionate (I can't remember his name but can remember Taylor's because he said it a lot, I'm sorry!) We went 5/22 at 4pm. If you go: tip your driver and naturalist! Alligators are my favorite wild animal and I cannot wait to go back and experience them in this incredible section of a national park (oh and protect national parks!)

AMAZING EXPERIENCE IN AN EERIE PLACE. There is literally no place else like this on the planet, and this two hour ride with 20 minutes to walk a trail and or view from an observation tower is a fantastic way to begin to engage with it. I would hike or bike it only after taking this tram tour. You would likely miss too much that is too unfamiliar to register. Our tram captain Barbara and guide Bob did a masterful job of slowing down and drawing our attention to animals worth seeing, and they also gave us the ecological and historical context we need to connect with what we were seeing. Coming here in the dry season is highly recommended - the alligators cluster in the few wet spots and you can watch interactions with hatchlings, whereas in the wet season (May - November) when you can get zero-alligator-and-infinite-mosquito tours. In mid April we saw countless alligators (courting, protecting their young and mostly sunning), one crocodile, black cultures eating an alligator carcass, turtles, the majestic great blue heron, great egrets, anhinga, double crested cormorant and more. (I hardly took photos - was too spellbound, so what's here is mostly just from the last 15 minutes of the ride.) If possible, take the 9am tour. It is not too hot and the entrance traffic was light. Hardly any wait.

What a beautiful way to engage in nature and its wildlife. Despite the heat (temp of app.80F with 85% humidity) the bike ride provides a refreshing way to cover a lot of ground. We counted 10-12 Alligators between us, different species of birds and snap turtles on the way to the observation tower. There are mile markers in case you don’t want to track your movements and just enjoy. Despite what the bike tour rental reps say there is a water refill station at the observation tower but definitely still bring more water than you think you need especially if you traverse this in the summer months.

Bibby and Kelly were a plethora of great information about the park, the wildlife, what berries to eat and which to stay away from. Bobby was hilarious! We got a huge kick out of him agreeing to strut a catwalk with a mosquito net on his head. 😂 We learned that the rain brings out some fierce mosquitoes. However, it also bings out the animals. And we were able to see big alligators, alligators that were only a day or two old, plus several different species of birds, fish and turtles.

We really enjoyed this tram tour! Highly recommend. It was very hot in may to bike this trail so we enjoyed sitting and hearing all the facts the naturalist provided for us about the Everglades and animals there! Highly recommend. The ride is long and u only get 20 minutes at the observation area fyi. I would have liked to spend a little more time there. There are bathrooms at the observation area too which is good. Bring water with u. It was not as "buggy" as I expected though I did put but spray on.

Of your goal is to see alligators this was the spot. The canal side of the loop had so many. Babies, juvenile and adult gators. We biked the trail. It is very long. You saw more wild life that way than in the tram. We had 4 kids ranging from 11-17 with us. We all beasted it against the wind. So glad we can say we made it around the whole loop.

Great 2 hours tour. The tour made 20 minutes stop at the observation tower. Along the route, you will see many alligators and the baby, many types of birds, turtle, small lizard, and plants. There are 2 trails that you can kill time while waiting for the tour to start. You can buy water, soft drink and snack at the visitor areas. $33/adult. About 1 hr. drive to MIA airport. If you don't want to take a tram, you can also rent a bike. Don't recommend walking, it is really far and hot.

The tour was just amazing. It was $33 but worth every penny. I thought it would be a little bit of narration but the commentary was pretty non stop for the entire 2 hours. Yes, it sounds like a lot but we didn't get bored one moment. We gathered a wealth of information about Shark Valley, The Everglades and all the flora and fauna in it. We started early at 9:30am and it was absolutely an amazing day for the tour. We started with a mission of counting the gators but the moment we saw a big puddle with a bunch of baby gators, we quickly realized it would be really big and gave up counting. The number would easily be over 100 and you are visiting Florida, you can go back and say you saw the real wild life in Florida. There was a 20 min in between break for going to the top of the viewing tower and to use restrooms. We were a party of 10 and some of us initially considered renting a bike but I am glad we did this tour instead and got to learn so much from the narrator. Next time, I will do the bike ride especially if it's a cool day. There isn't any shade in the park(no large trees), so please come prepared for that. Tram tour is highly recommended.

The Shark Valley district may be the busiest section of Everglades National Park. And within Shark Valley, riding the two hour tram excursion through the heart of the park is probably the #1, most popular activity. So...although Everglades NP is broken up into 4 separate parts...here at Shark Valley, it's most accessible to tourists and who doesn't enjoy being chaperoned around along a narrated tour (avoiding the rugged Florida heat especially in summers), feeling the fresh air breeze hitting your face without having to work hard to see the sights around a national park?? I just revisited this Shark Valley area of the Everglades and let me give an updated perspective about what you can expect from this tram ride. - Tram Tours are 9am - 4pm - Tours depart at the top of every hour. Last tour is 4pm. Most mornings tours sell out quickly with mid to late afternoon tours having remaining availabilities. - You can pre-book online ahead of time at sharkvalleytramtours.com or you can arrive the day of and purchase tickets from leftover tours inside the Visitor Center. - Adults are $33, Seniors are $25 and Children ages 3 through 12 are $18. - Tours are two hours long and are escorted by a park ranger who gives all details about the Everglades, the wildlife in the park and the swampy landscape surroundings. The tram follows the 15 mile roundtrip, paved loop around Shark Valley. - It's open seating for tours. Trams accommodate 5 passengers per row. - The first hour of the tour is driving halfway into the Everglades and stopping for gator and bird sightings and introducing guests to what makes the park so important in preserving. - After the first hour, you take a 20 minute pause to exit the tram and walk up an observation tower ramp to uncover 360 degree panoramas of the Everglades from high above. - The remaining 40 minutes returns back towards the Visitor Center navigating beside the park's canal and stopping for anything of relevance. - Here's an inside tip...I sat on the left hand side of the tram and was rewarded with the best views along the tour, especially on the trip back towards the entrance. The scenery on the canal side was more colorful and scenic compared to the marsh side on the right hand side. Overall, the tram tour ride is fine. I believe it's worth the 2 hours for being in the middle of the Everglades. The park ranger offers good insights. You get to see some gators along the way. In the end, I'd suggest it when coming to Shark Valley. Btw, instead of riding the tram, there's an alternative.... The park rents out bicycles to visitors. Bike rentals are available starting from 8:30am - 4pm. Bikes are rented for unlimited time throughout day at $26. You can even take the bike around the full 15 mile loop of Shark Valley while stopping at your leisure. You can reserve a bicycle online at the same website as tram tours....sharkvalleytramtours.com. You can also bring your own bicycle with you to the Everglades without having to pay for a rental. And finally, you can walk, hike or jog any and or all of the paved loop yourself depending on how adventurous you may be. One last detail to mention....Shark Valley park gates open daily at 8:30am. It is suggested to arrive as early as possible as there's usually traffic when entering at the park gates including driving on Highway 41 to arrive here, which is one lane each way. Also, there's limited parking at Shark Valley. Lots can be full and then you're out of luck for entering. There's no alternative parking lots. Obvious advice...make plans in advance. Book tours ahead of time. Arrive as early as possible. Thanks for taking a moment to read this. Have a good one.

This was an amazing tour of this part of the Everglades. Our guide and driver were both very helpful in pointing out various birds and reptiles on the tour. We lost count of the number of alligators we saw, and there was even a crocodile hanging out near the observation tower. We also saw many types of birds--storks, herons, egrets, purple gallinule, and more. The guide and driver were also good at explaining the history, geology and ecology of the Everglades. So, glad we took this tour, and it is relatively inexpensive.

The tram tour was so much more than I expected. The weather was great which added to the experience. The tour is 2 hours with a 20 minute stop at the observation deck. The driver pointed out various bird species, talked about the ecology of the Everglades. We saw so many alligators, alligators hatchling and a crocodile. Getting into the place was a nightmare. Stayed on line for 20 minutes because the parking lot was full. One car out, one car in. We missed our noon tram but caught the 1:00 tram. The gift shop was cool. The bathrooms were beyond disgusting. I don't even know how to describe it. The getting in and bathroom were definitely downsides. You can park out on the street and walk in and I would do that if I go back. The trail is 14.9 miles and you can walk it or rent a bike. There are a few picnic tables. It is a Unesco Heritage site which I did not know. It's really a very cool place. I would avoid going in the summer as there is no tree cover so you'd melt

Can't say enough good things about Shark Valley tram tours! We were going to bike the 15 mile trail, but thought better of it to take on such a demanding physical task in July. We chose to take the tram tour at 9:30am on a Wednesday. Dan was our driver and Juan was our guide. These guys made the trip absolutely worth the money! They were both knowledgeable, funny, and quick to point out anything of interest during the ride. The only thing that could make this experience better would be if the ports-potties halfway through the tour had hand sanitizer. If you want to see gators, try to go during the cooler months and not in the hottest parts of the day. We only saw one on a very hot July morning, but these guys still made it an unforgettable experience. Would highly recommend. 10/10!

Tram was good, but we could not hear much of what the tour guides said. Observation tower was very cool, along with the small hike. Every thing was good except for not being able to hear the guide and the amount he talked.

We did the Shark Valley Tram Tours while at Everglades National Park as it is pretty much the only thing to do there if you're not biking. It's operated by a 3rd party - we paid around $85 for two adults and one child. All rides are usually fully booked and unless you're a party of 5 or more, you'll have to sit with other people. I found that a bit uncomfortable as I was basically staring at some strangers each time I would look to the right. The staff was great - very knowledgeable and kind. That being said, as someone who has been the Everglades plenty of times, I didn't find this to be the most exciting tour. It's about two hours long including a stop at the observation tower. You mostly see sawgrass. The breeze is nice tho - we all took a quick nap lol. We did see over 20+ alligators including babies and birds like egrets and cranes. Overall a nice afternoon but probably a one and done kind of experience for me.

We had a fabulous 2-hour tram tour at Shark Valley on 2/19/24 at 3 pm. Both guide and driver were excellent, with the driver doing a great job to spot wildlife and ensure that everyone on board had a chance to see it. The guide ID'd the wildlife and gave great explanations of the local flora and fauna while mentioning what was invasive as well. We saw many alligators, anhinga red-shouldered hawk, purple gallinule, herons, egrets, and other species. I highly recommend this educational tour. A couple of things to be aware of: 1) while this tour operates within the national park, it is a concession. 2) You need to pay admission or have a pass to enter the park. Parking is limited, and when the lot is full you will wait in line to enter the park. One car is allowed in when one car leaves. If you've prepaid, plan to arrive early to be sure you don't forfeit your reservation.

Did this in June, and it was packed. They said February was usually their best time. We lucked out and got a non-rainy tour. Maybe a few drops, but we stayed dry. Both the driver and Ranger Jeep were great, lots of good information all around. Only saw a few gators as it was super hot and they were under water, but it was fine. Lots of cool birds, the fish at the tower at the halfway point were awesome. Just lots of good information and humor throughout. Highly recommend!

Nice tour, definitely recommend! I was so glad we did the tram- the park is vast and full of gators!

Best way to see the Everglades on a hot day with 2 young kids. Bob and Bethany we're great guides...full of facts and tips. Saw tons of gators, birds, and even saw an American crocodile from the observation tower.

I'd highly recommend the 15 mile bike ride through the Everglades here! You'll pay about $35 to enter the park with your car, and once you're in, plan to see lots of gators and cool wildlife! I've been here twice. On the first visit, which was a cold, cloudy day, we saw over 40 gators, some of whom were sunbathing right in the bike path! Today was warmer, so most gators are under the water. We saw about 8 total throughout the ride. We also some a few beautiful birds. Overall, this is a very peaceful and relaxing ride that almost anyone can do!

We had an amazing experience on the Tram Tour! Our driver was Dianah who was paired up with Kelly as our guide. We learned so much about Everglades NP and saw lots of great wildlife. We even got stories associated with specific gators. We were originally going to rent bikes and do the loop. The waitlist was too long but we got on to a Tram Tour. We feel lucky for that! Thanks Kelly for your knowledge and the convo!

TIP: Sit on the driver side of the tram for the best views in my opinion. JUST TAKE IT! We took the Shark Valley tram in April 2023 while visiting the Everglades. I had been hesitant to take the tram as the reviews I'd read were so-so, but there wasn't much else to do, so we went for it. We were pleasantly surprised! The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is I felt it was a bit on the pricey side, but ultimately well worth it. PARK AND PAY We arrived on the early side and parked in the Shark Valley Visitor Center parking lot. We paid for the tram ride in the gift shop and waited on the benches outside where you can use the restroom, get a soda from the vending machine or eat snacks and sandwiches purchased from the shop. You can also get your National Park Passport stamped in the shop/visitor center. The visitor center is quite small -- if you want to visit a larger/better one at Everglades, I recommend the Ernest F. Coe visitor center, closer to Homestead. INFORMATIVE The narrator, Kelly was excellent -- she was very enthusiastic , passionate and interesting and totally made the tour. Also a shout out to our driver Woody! I was glad that we took the tram over renting a bike as we were able to benefit from the educational narration and a roof over our heads, sheltering us from the sun. Definitely wear a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and bring water as even in April it was very hot and humid. The tram itself has hard seats and is a bit cramped as you're sat knee to knee with your neighbor. My husband and I sat one in front of the other so we both had a seat next to the 'window'. (There's no glass, it's all open air). OBSERVATION TOWER STOP Approximately halfway through, (at the 7-mile mark) we stopped at the Shark Valley Observation Tower for about 20 minutes. It's an ugly concrete tower with walking ramps that was formerly part of an oil well that gives you a 360 degree, 20 mile view over the area. It was good to stretch our legs. We saw a variety of wildlife along the way including many alligators and birds. Note: There are restrooms at the visitor center and at the observation tower, although some of them weren't working at the observation tower. We later drove to the Oasis Visitor Center, but it was disappointingly closed, so be sure to check for opening hours/closures.

Our group took the Tram Tour today. The speaker, Mike did a great job. We saw lots of gators and a few birds. It was two hour tour which was mostly looking at sawgrass.

We had an awesome driver and emcee. We saw a lot of alligators, turtles, birds. We had the opportunity to climb the tower which was really cool. Our emcee was very knowledgeable about the ecosystem of the Everglades, the type of wildlife we saw. She explained the difference between alligators and crocodiles. Overall would do this tour again.

We went on a tram tour with Mike and Adam and had a fantastic experience and saw many alligators, including some babies, and many birds. Mike's narration added to our education. Really glad we booked this for our trip to South Florida.

Tour guides Brian and Bethany were very knowledgeable and did a great job spotting interesting things to see and explaining the workings of the ecosystem.

We absolutely enjoyed ourselves on this tour. The weather was perfect and the tour was so informative. We recommend this over walking or biking the 15 miles... you simply can't get all of the good info on your own as you take in the amazing Everglades wildlife.

We drove from Miami after getting off the plane for the 9:30 am tram tour. We were a bit early, so did a short walk on the trail. Many people already had rental bikes and were also on the trail. The tram tour is a two hour loop. From other reviews, I was excited to see many alligators. We did stop to see one female alligator guarding her nest. That was the only one we saw. the guide said it was too hot for the alligators to be out. In the winter and early spring, the alligators would be out laying on the trail. The scenery was nice, and we saw a lot of large birds. The lookout tower was interesting, but my teenage boy was not that enthused. It was nice but we were tired and dosed off during the tram ride.

Another essential while in Miami is a Shark Valley Tram Tour. You'll need to reserve ahead of time for the tour. You'll see the best of Everglades National Park from the comfort of a tram. Our guided pointed out the wildlife such as birds commonly found in the area and also the driver helped us locate the alligators in the wild. Do not miss the tour while you are in Miami. You'll need a rental car to get there as it's quite from from the city.

Enjoyed the tour . Kelly and Ricky were amazing . Saw quite a few alligators and birds in December.

I don't recommend it to anyone, you'll just waste your time. You won't see any alligators here

Speaker system was terrible. Couldn't understand anything the guide was saying. When spoke to guide off the tram he was extremely informative. Very disappointed that we couldn't understand what he was saying during the tour

No mosquitoes! We learned that since the water is always moving the mosquitoes are not here! They only lay eggs in stagnant water. The Everglades are comprised of water that is always moving. I wish I had known that before I lathered up with bug spray. Don't bother. At least not in winter. We live here in Florida now and I told my husband I always wanted to do this tram tour. He agreed to make the trip down the Tamiami Trail from Naples. We only had to sit twice waiting for crews working. Honestly they are never done working on this road. Make sure you leave extra time in case you get stopped (as usual) by work crews. They were chopping back trees in one spot and repaving in another. When you build on swampland, the maintenance issues never end. I tried to call ahead to buy tram tour tickets (online said they were no longer selling tix) but the park just told me to show up 30 minutes before the tour. Fortunately we left early so the delays on Tamiami Trail didn't muck things up. If you arrive early you have the opportunity to take a short boardwalk hike before the tram. I recommend you do this as tour guides have different stories and you might get some added info that the tram guide doesn't mention. The boardwalk is not part of the tram tour. I was surprised there were not more birds on the tour. We only saw a few great egrets, one small blue heron, some black crows and several anhingas. If you are looking for birds, this is not your tour. We all wanted to see gators and saw about 6 or 7 on the two hour tour. If you go in the heat of summer you may not see any gators! Our tour was end of November so it was cooler and several gators were sunning themselves right on the pavement. Honestly some of the gators were way too close for comfort. I mean they were right next to the wheels (and our feet fortunately up higher on the tram but .... yikes). It was shocking how close they let us get as we rolled by. We actually saw several more gators and a snake that the driver either missed or ignored (afterall they do have a schedule). In cooler weather if they stopped for every gator it would turn into a 4 hour tour. The observation tower is impressive with its circular concrete ramp. Disappointing you can't actually climb the spiral staircase in the middle. Our guide advised that section of the tower was originally designed as a fire watch platform but they concluded another 12 feet would not yield much of a different view so they locked it off as obsolete. As a risk manager I did like that the walls are high enough to keep little ones (under 6 years old) out of harms way. Unfortunately that also means they can't see over the rail. I wonder how much someone in a wheelchair could see? Our tour guide gave us some good info about the Everglades and some of the tree islands we were seeing. We also learned the difference between a swamp and a marsh. If you have little ones under 10 I think it would be a tough ask for them to endure this two hour tour. We had a bratty six year old on our tour that nearly ruined it for the rest of us. If the young ones want to see gators take them to a gator farm or zoo not on this tour. They'll be bored.

Our tour guides, Daina & Juan, did a fabulous job narrating and driving us through both sides of the 15-mile Shark Valley Trail loop. Gave us lots of chances to stop & view wildlife up close. Highly recommend this tour!!

$31 adult tram tour, takes about 2 hours, very informative, we're lucky to encounter gamers through the tram ride, so worth.

Random family day date! Extremely fun and very scenic. Did encounter multiple gators and birds. Will say bring snacks and water!

Shark valley tram tour is run in the Everglades NP but it is run by a private vendor. We took the tour and learned a lot about the Everglades. I would highly recommend taking this tour due to the heat, and being from MN, I loved it. The other options are to bike the road or walk it. The captain and driver are very knowledgeable about the park and do a guided tour on the tram. We saw many gators, birds, turtles laying eggs, and beautiful spring flowers. I highly recommend this tour and I'm sure you'll learn something too.

I was slightly hesitant about this but I am so glad we went!! Richard was our driver and Ricky was our guide and both were great and very informative. We got to see and learn about so many animals. My only advice is try to sit in the front tram if possible as the animals did often move out of view by the time the back tram got closer.

When you visit Shark Valley you have a few different options to complete the 15 mile loop that runs through the park. You can walk it, bike it with your own bike or rent one in the park, or take a Tram Tour. The last few times I visited I have biked it. This time I decided to see it the easy way by tram. The tram is an independent vendor, Shark Valley Tram Tours, and is not operated by the park service so bring money to tip your driver. Once you pay your park admission ($20) you can purchase the $25 tram tickets. Shark Valley is extremely popular and tram tours sell out so you want to purchase tickets as early as possible at the visitors center. Sometimes you can be completely shut out of the park on the weekends in the winter. On the day I visited I purchased my tickets at 1 o'clock and was booked for the 4 o'clock tram. Fortunately they had a no show for the 2 PM tram and they fit me on that. A tram tour is 2 hours long and departs from the Shark Valley Visitors Center. There is a 15 minute stop at the half way point so you can climb the tower and make use of the portable toilets. I got a lot of good information from the guide as we came upon many alligators and wading birds. The weather was colder which it made an excellent time to spot alligators. I also saw a lot of baby alligator, at least a hundred when I stopped counting. The only downside of the tram is it won't make a stop when you want to take a picture. You also want to make sure you sit at the end of a bench for the best view. It's nice to walk the foot path because you can take the time to find the hidden wildlife but if you want to see the whole park with the least physical exertion the tram is the way to go.

This was overall an incredible experience. My sister and I were trying to figure out the best way to see Shark Valley. I definitely didn't think I would be able to walk or bike 15 miles. In that case, the tram was the best option. Initially we couldn't find any tickets available online. So, we arrived early and thankfully they had tickets available. We got on a pretty full 9am tram with a school group and a number of smaller groups. Our guide, Amanda was amazing. She gave us so much knowledge about the park and the animals in a really captivating and witty way. I can say I was never bored. We saw alligators, different types of birds, land communities, and an absolutely breathtaking view from the tower. I highly recommend this tour. It's interesting, the views are beautiful, and it saves you from walking 15 miles. Tips: - They do tours rain or shine. (Within reason) So be prepared to get the full Florida experience and get a little wet. - Get a seat on the outside, great views seeing the park as the tram moves along. - Spend the money for the tram. We ended up picking up a few people on the backend of the tour bc they couldn't finish the walk. - Great for bird watching

This review goes to the very bitter old grandma who was extremely rude to me at the gift shop on 3/20/22 at approximately 3pm. It was a very sunny Saturday and my boyfriend wanted to be sweet and buy me a hat. Not realizing the hat he bought me, valued at $12, was for little girls. I immediately returned back to the store and asked if I could exchange it for a visor, valued at $10. I did not want my money back. I wanted to wear a hat that fit. The narrative: Me: "Excuse me. My boyfriend bought me this hat but it's too small." Bitter Grandma: "No refunds." Me: "I don't want a refund. Can I change it for this hat?" Bitter Grandma: "No refunds or exchanges." I took it and walked away. However, this didn't sit well with me. As the gift shop has NO SIGNS that display "No refunds or exchanges." The gift shop also does not disclose at the time of purchase. (They conveniently have NO cameras.) AND they did not give us a receipt. I returned and asked her to show me the sign. She said "I don't need to have one." WELL BITTER GRANDMA. Let's take a stroll through Florida Statue 501.142 (picture attached) which reads; The regulation of refunds is preempted to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance to the contrary. Every retail sales establishment offering goods for sale to the general public that offers no cash refund, credit refund, or exchange of merchandise must post a sign so stating at the point of sale. Failure of retail sales establishment to exhibit a "no refund" sign under such circumstances at the point of sale shall mean that a refund or exchange policy exists, and the policy shall be presented in writing to the consumer upon request. Any retail establishment failing to comply with the provisions of this section shall grant to the consumer, upon request and proof of purchase, a refund on the merchandise, within 7 days of the date of purchase, provided the merchandise is unused and in the original carton, if one was furnished. Nothing herein shall prohibit a retail sales establishment from having a refund policy which exceeds the number of days specified herein. However, this subsection does not prohibit a local government from enforcing the provisions established by this section. Still being rude, she continued to talk nasty things and finally asked a manager to honor the exchange. - THEN she said "I have the right to deny your business." CONGRATULATIONS! You know your rights. You most definitely do have the right to deny my business. I demanded a refund, which she gave to me. You lost my business. $12 + $30 at the door. You got a nasty review. Her day was ruined. ALL OF THIS because she was LAZY, BITTER and UNKIND. Save yourselves a lawsuit and get rid of this extremely bitter woman and put up some signs.

Shark Valley is rated as the best place to see animals, and it delivered! We took a tram tour on a weekend afternoon. The clouds were out when we left on the two-hour tour, and the rains came about halfway through. Even though we had rain jackets, we were thoroughly drenched by the end of the tour. Definitely dress for the weather! Our driver did a great job of spotting wildlife. We saw three alligators and so many birds that I lost count. Only one of the alligators was close enough for us to really see and get a photo - and it was towards the end of the tour when the rain had cooled the air down. It sounds like the morning tour had more sightings than any other on the day that we went. The tour guide was okay... he had an interesting personality and sense of humour, which I don't think translated well to the mixed audience. He did have some good information to share, yet was also easy to also tune out.

The tram tour was interesting and very informative. The guide, Mike, and driver, Richard, were pleasant, professional and engaging with lots of facts and information we would not have had. Mike was able to aim his presentation appropriately to different levels of knowledge and interests. The tour was well worth the cost and in our opinion the best way to visit Shark Valley.

We got there at 9AM and the weather was arguably decent because it was partly to heavily clouded and the sun didn't roast us alive - but it was very humid. Parking is $30 per vehicle, and you're allowed to park in any state park for a week for "free". We're going to Oleta next weekend and not pay for parking #winning. We went biking and rented our bikes for $20/half-a-day (I paid for mine in advance online). BRING WATER. If you have a hydration pack of at least 2L-3L bring it, and use a lot of ice because with a regular amount our water still got warm above room temperature. Gatorade was also helpful, it lasted me throughout our first 7 miles to the tower. The last 8 miles back around the loop was the hardest, but the wind hitting you as you bike helps: this is where the water comes in extra handy. There are mile markers on the floor that'll help you track your distance traveled, it ends at marker 15. Oh and 100% bring your own cushion for the bike seat, especially if you rent: they're super uncomfortable and it hurts. We saw about 4 gators in the water, none on the road. The view of the Everglades was breathtaking at the top of the tower, and we could see snap-turtles & bass in the water below, and we saw cranes from afar too! It was a wonderful experience, and I hope my tips help!

Shark Valley is one of the spots where you can visit Everglades National Park and see lots of gators. It is located about 1-1/2 hours south of Naples -just follow US 41 until you get there (if you arrive in Miami you went too far!). Entrance to the park is $25/car and parking is limited so get an early start if you can. We had visited many years ago with little kids, this time our group was 5-adults. You have several options for seeing the wildlife on the 7-mike loop track: (1) book a seat on the hourly tram ($25 per person for 2-hour tour), (2) bike -bring your own or rent one for $9/hour (loop takes 2-3 hours in part because you have to dismount and move over every time a tram passes for safety on the narrow, flat road or (3) walk-probably an all day affair. We opted for the open-air tram because you get a great narrated tour with a guide so you know what all the birds are and the tram stops so you can take pictures in the safety of the vehicle. Tram times are on the hour beginning at 9-seats are limited so you might want to reserve online a day or so before so you don't get all the way down there and have to wait around for a later touWe arrived 20-minutes ahead for the 10 am Tour and were wait listed-luckily the scheduled school group didn't show up so we got on. TIP: sit on the left side of the tram for best views of all the critters. At the half-way point there is a 20-minute stop and you can walk up the observation tower-be sure to look straight down as there are usually some big gators lurking below. From there back to the visitors center we saw dozens of alligators sunning themselves on the edge of the road just a few feet away. You will DEFINITELY see plenty of gators on this trip. While they sell snacks and water you will probably want to bring something to eat and drink or even lunch. There really isn't anyway to buy lunch except for a crummy spot across from the park. Definitely worth a visit while in south Florida.

We took the 4pm tram tour in early June and saw a ton of wildlife. Reservations may not be strictly necessary in the summer. If you can, ask ahead and book a tour when Juan and/or Bethany are leading--they obviously love this place and are great at spotting wildlife. We saw lots of alligators and birds.

My partner and I took the tram tour today. I had no idea that it would be a two hour ordeal and waste of time. The tour narrator Bob was just okay. There was nothing to see nature wise. Over the two hours we saw about 4 different kinds of birds, no alligators. So disappointing. The swamp scenery was the same for the entire two hours. Had to pay $30 to enter the state park which we did not know in advance. Then two tIckets for tram cost $50. This was NOT an $80 experience. Tour was NOT run by state park system, rather a for-profit enterprise which requested tips at the end of the tour. Bottom line, skip it and save your money. Two hours of sitting on plastic uncomfortable, sweaty seats to see nothing is not worth it.

This was the highlight of our visit to Everglades National Park! You can't miss this tour if you're visiting! Our tour guide, Ranger Zach, was super fun, charismatic, and very knowledgeable about the Everglades, and Captain Bethany pointed out TONS of wildlife for us. This is a great tour if you're on a time crunch - you can see a lot of the park and the really cool Shark Valley Observation Tower (which is 7 miles from Shark Valley NPS Visitor Center) all on the tour, and the tram lets you off for 20 minutes at the tower. If you want to see the coolest wildlife the park has to offer, this is the tour for you. We saw at least 10 alligators (even some babies as we were there in March, which is the beginning of breeding season), the beautiful purple gallinule, wood storks, anhingas, and so much more. Zach had tons of great info and fun facts about the wildlife. He also shared a lot of info about the natural and human history of the park. Definitely recommend doing this early in the day - we did the 10 AM tour and saw lots of animals AND beat the crowds.

Enjoyed our tram ride with Bethany and Kelly. We saw quite a bit of wildlife and learned a lot about the park. I really appreciated being able to change to a tram tour instead of renting the bikes after recovering from a stomach bug. We also waited 1.5 hours in line at the gate so be prepared. Fortunately, I called and they put us at a later time for the tram. Very appreciative of the courtesy. One suggestion is to have the young children in the back tram car as they make a lot of noise and it is difficult for others to hear on the tour.

The tram tour is great. Our tour guide very ably introduced us to the wildlife (mostly birds), history, and more. It was an amazing morning with lots of birds to see (though no spoonbill, the one I want to see!). We had lots of alligators, too. Go early in the morning if you can - aim for the 9 am tram. There was a line of cars waiting to get in at 11:30 when we left.

Great tour! Very informative. Lots of things to see. Birds, alligators, a turtle, and a beautiful sunset. Only thing that could have been better was getting to see their salt water crocodile, but that can't control when she shows up.

Mike and Forrest were great tour guides. They stopped and pointed out all the wildlife and told stories to keep it interesting. Would definitely recommend...

If you want a tour that will get you the most alligator sightings, this is it! Throughout the 15 mile bike ride, I say we easily saw over 30 alligators along with other wildlife like turtles and birds. I recommend starting where the arrows point you to in the path (7 miles to the observation deck), especially if you're not going to bike the whole 15 miles. That side is the most interesting and has more alligators. The other side was dry and we were biking against the wind which made it less enjoyable. Overall the bike path is flat so it's not too strenuous. Watch out for crows! Make sure you take your food with you to the observation deck because the crows will unzip your bags and find it. Happened to someone next to us and it was pretty hilarious.

This tour was excellent. Parking: it's within the Everglades park which can have a long line to park. I recommend getting there 45 min before the tram tour to be safe. You can park on the highway but we had someone with mobility issues so we had to park closer to the tram. There is handicapped parking but no special entrance for that so you still need to wait on the main line of cars. The tour was 2 hours and most of the time is spent on the tram driving. We saw at least 75 alligator super close but yet it felt safe because you are in the tram. The guide was excellent and gave a lot of facts. we were seated every other row due to Covid and it felt extremely safe. Halfway through there is an observation tower you stop at for 15 min. The climb wasn't too vigorous to the top. There are bathrooms there but they were really messy so definitely go before the start of the tour.

The Shark Valley Tram Tours are an absolute must visit. The tours are 2 hours long and take you on a 15 mile loop through the lush Everglades national park. The tour itself is less than 30$ per adult, but the tram is located within the national park so you do need to pay the entrance fee if you don't have a parks pass, but it is more than worth it. Our amazing tour guides Juan and Richard kept us entertained with tons of information about the flora and fauna in the park, and constant stops to point out the wildlife. We also had an opportunity to view the park from the top of the 45 ft observation tower. All in all we saw at least 10 alligators, a small snake that we were allowed to pet gently, and hundreds of birds. There are lots of biting bugs so bring bug spray or purchase some at the gift shop before the tour starts! Thanks Juan and Richard, we had the best time.

Shark Valley tram tour did not disappoint. We opted for the Tram Tour rather than hiking on our own. We saw an abundance of wildlife while on the tram, up to 10 alligators were spotted. Kristen was our driver and Amanda was our guide. They were a great duo. Kristen always had her eye out for wildlife. Amanda had a wealth of knowledge and provided us with all the facts in a fun way. The forecast was a bit sketchy with a thunderstorm in the distance, but the tram goes out rain or shine.

For those of you who do not want to bike or walk the 7-mile trail to the 45 ft high Observation Tower, Shark Valley Tram Tours is a great way to explore the wonders of the Shark Valley (the northern region of Everglades National Park) in two short hours. Price: You'll need to pay TWICE: you pay once at the parking entrance just to get into the Shark Valley Visitor Center ($20 per vehicle and parking ticket is valid for the next 7 days at ALL park entrances) & $24 per adult for the ACTUAL 2-hour tour. Reservations are strongly recommended during busy season (late December to late April) and reserved tickets must be picked up at least 30 minutes before the scheduled tour time. The tour guide will begin to go over few rules (e.g. always have camera ready because the tram can't stop for every alligator, OK to stand but kids must be seated at all time, etc) 10 minutes before the scheduled tour time. There are two route to get to the Observation Tower (7-mile straight trail or 8-mile curvy trail). Our tram took the curvy route first and later took the straight route back to the visitor center. The tram will slowly cruise along the River of Grass and ultimately stop at the Observation Tower for 15 minutes. Here are few things I've learned from this tour: * Dry season starts in December and various stories about pythons (and how they affect the ecosystem). * Saw white egrets, willow trees, purple gallinule (also known as the The Jewel of the Everglades and lots of people travel here just to witness this bird), and alligators (one on the way to the Observation Tower, one at the Observation Tower, and many more on the way back - including 5+ baby gators and gator nests), and many more birds / turtles. * Alligators has a brain size of jelly, mating season starts in April / May, nests with temperatures less than 85 F produce female gators and temperature greater than 90 F produce male gators. Our passionate guide went over information a bit too quickly and most birds were too far to snap any good pictures. To maximize your experience, I would sit in the 1st section of the tram because I could not see any pictures our guide was showing (I sat in the 2nd section). The Shark Valley Tram Tours does not replace the exhilarating experience you get from the airboat ride, but I still think this is a good and informative FAMILY tour