Everglades & Keys Kayaking
DAYS
Intensity
I’m beyond excited to share this trip into a unique wilderness and a subtropical escape. The Everglades and the Florida Keys are two of the most amazing paddling destinations in the world. As we explore, we encounter gentle manatees, curious dolphins, and hundreds of bird species. Along the way, we beach camp before glowing sunsets, weave our way through island mazes, and learn about crazy ideas to build railroads across open water.
Ticking items off bucket lists, we experience tidal paddling and backcountry self-supported kayak camping. However, we keep the intensity mild, to make the trip accessible to adventurers of lots of skill levels.
So, let's do this! Join us for a kayaking adventure of a lifetime!
Matt Stan, Bad Adventures founder
P.S. - Want an even bigger Everglades kayaking adventure? Check out our 8-day Wilderness Waterway Kayaking trip!
Is this for me?
We keep it to no more than 8 amazing travelers plus a guide or two.
The first two nights of the trip are at our comfy base camp at Long Pine Key. The final two nights of the adventure we spend in the Everglades National Park backcountry on a self-supported kayak camping trip. Dome-style tents and self-inflating camping mattresses are provided. You won’t share a tent unless you specifically request to.
Most of our meals are cooked together at camp. Your guides have prepared scrumptious recipes, will provision the trip, and lead meal preparations. This is gonna be yummy!
We paddle single-person sit-on-top touring kayaks. The physical activity is mild, but the paddling is sustained for a few hours each day. All kayaking gear is provided!
Traveling Solo?
This trip works well for couples, friends, and solo travelers. The adventures we plan seem to attract like-minded people. Odds are, you'll enjoy the company of your fellow travelers.
There’s no singles supplement fee!
DAYS
Intensity
Here's the plan...
Everglades Ho!
Meet your guides, at either the Fort Lauderdale Airport Tri Rail station (at 6:55 AM) or in your hotel lobby near Miami International Airport (between 8:30 and 9:00 AM).
Let's hit the road! We load the van and drive south, watching the Miami skyline give way to the wetlands of the Everglades. Our first stop? Flamingo Visitor Center to get a lay of the land.
We're here to go kayaking though, right? We put-in on Florida Bay for a day paddle to a beautiful bay within the bay, called Snake Bight. There's a good chance of seeing a variety of birds, dolphins, and manatees! We eat a yummy lunch in our kayaks.
In the late afternoon, we pitch our comfy basecamp at Long Pine Key and chow-down a signature Bad Adventures frontcountry camp dinner.
To the Keys, Please!
Your guides whip up a hearty breakfast to start the day. We leave our tents pitched, load the van, and point the wheels past the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula. We leave wetlands behind, in favor of blue water and bluer skies.
More kayaking awaits! We put-in at Marathon to paddle to Pigeon Key, a 5-acre island containing 8 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. We’re treated to a tour and learn about the Key’s significance in the construction of the Florida Overseas Railroad, which connected Key West to mainland USA from 1912 to 1935.
We paddle to a restaurant lunch overlooking Boot Key Harbor, then circumnavigate Boot Key to return to our put-in. We finish the day with a stop at a Florida Tiki Bar and dinner back at camp.
Ten Thousand Islands
We organize our gear into dry bags (provided) as we strike camp. This morning we travel to Everglades City, the gateway to the next phase of our adventure in the Ten Thousand Islands.
After a final gear-check, we put-in for three-days of self-supported backcountry kayak camping within the National Park. We paddle 6 to 10 miles to a gorgeous beach campsite.
We watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico and wind down in front of a golden beach campfire.
And Wait, There’s More
Nothing beats waking up to a new day in the backcountry. We start to get into the rhythm of our trip as we pack up camp and paddle an additional 6 to 10 miles to our final campsite.
Just Like That, It’s Over
We struggle to keep the “trip’s almost over” sad sniffles at bay, pack up camp one final time, then explore part of the Wilderness Waterway as we paddle back to Everglades City.
We load up our kayaking gear and return to Miami. Your guides can drop you off at any of the six designated gateway hotels near Miami International Airport, or the Tri Rail station for a return train ride to the Fort Lauderdale Airport area. The trip will end by 5:00 PM.
What's Included?
Explore Flamingo, the Keys, and the Ten Thousand Islands.
The trip culminates with a backcountry adventure off the beaten path!
We stay at beautiful sites! Tents and camping mattresses are included.
We'll bring a single-person 16-foot sit-on-top touring kayak, paddle, lifejacket, dry bags, and more for you to use!
Friendly, accommodating, fully credentialed, and always professional.
We’re talking about meticulously planned yummy provisions.
Sit back and relax! We've got the red tape covered.
Ride in style in a comfortable Ford Transit passenger van.
Medical kit, satellite phone, navigation supplies, and more.
Explore the history of the Overseas Railroad, “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
Your flights or other transportation to and from the trip, your accommodations the night before and the night after the trip, lunch on day 2, tiki bar libations, your personal clothing and gear on the packing list, travel insurance, and guide gratuity.
Important Details & FAQ
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You don’t need to be a professional athlete to take part in this trip! However, you do need at least a little base level of fitness. If you lead an active life or are willing to spend a couple of hours per week preparing for the adventure, it’s likely you’re up to it!
We kayak up to 10 miles per day at a mild to moderate touring pace.
Still have questions about whether this trip is appropriate for you? Don’t hesitate to contact us!
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We kayak 6 to 10 miles per day in protected waters at a mild to moderate touring pace. We stay together as a group and won’t leave you behind!
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It’s no problem if this is your first kayaking trip! Our guides have decades of experience and are happy to provide paddling instruction, beginning with the absolute basics.
If you’re a swaggering, experienced paddling pro, you’ll feel right at home, too!
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We tent camp all four nights of the trip. Our first two are spent at a comfortable frontcountry basecamp inside Everglades National Park. The final two nights are spent backcountry kayak camping in the Everglades!
Dome-style backpacking tents and self-inflating camping mattresses are provided. You’ll have a tent all to yourself, unless you specifically request to share with someone. You’re also free to bring your own tent if you’d prefer.
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It’s quite likely that we’ll see alligators while kayaking. We will, however, give them their space and avoid encounters.
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It’s exceedingly unlikely that we’ll get to see Burmese python while in the Everglades. Should you be worried about invasive constrictor snakes? Well, yes, in the sense that their presence is a huge disruption to the Everglades food web.
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If you arrive via Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, a Bad Adventures guide will meet you at 6:55 AM on the southbound platform of the Fort Lauderdale Airport Tri Rail station on the first day of the trip. (Don't be late because we're catching a train to rendezvous with the rest of our adventure companions!) We recommend staying at one of the following four hotels the night before the adventure. They're each an easy, five to ten-minute walk from the station.
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Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port OUR PICK!
400 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, FL
954-342-8333 -
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
2081 Griffin Rd, Davie, FL
954-981-2700 -
Homewood Suites by Hilton Ft.Lauderdale Airport-Cruise Port
2061 Griffin Rd, Dania Beach, FL
954-967-9063 -
Residence Inn by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
4801 Anglers Ave, Dania Beach, FL
954-989-3636
If you arrive via Miami International Airport, we can pick you up from any of the following six nearby hotels between 8:30 and 9:00 AM on the first morning:
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Courtyard by Marriott Miami Airport West/Doral
3929 NW 79th Ave, Miami, FL
305-477-8118 -
Hampton Inn Miami-Airport West
3620 NW 79th Ave, Doral, FL
305-513-0777 -
Holiday Inn Express Miami Airport Doral Area
8436 NW 36th St, Miami, FL
305-592-4799 -
Hyatt Place Miami Airport-West/Doral
3655 NW 82nd Ave, Miami, FL
305-718-8292 -
Quality Inn Miami Airport
3959 NW 79th Ave, Miami, FL
786-533-3636 -
Wingate by Wyndham Miami Airport
3755 NW 78th Ave, Doral, FL
786-749-7799
Your guides will email an exact time to meet in your hotel’s lobby about a week before the adventure.
Arriving by private vehicle? You can meet us at Flamingo Visitor Center at 10:45 AM on the first day of the trip. Please note that if you arrive by private car, you’ll need to pay an Everglades National Park entrance fee.
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If you choose to depart by air on the evening of the last day of the trip, please pick a flight that leaves no earlier than 7:00 PM from Miami International Airport. If you fly out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, pick a flight that departs after 8:00 PM.
If you choose to book a flight out of Miami International Airport for the day after the trip ends, your guides can drop you off at any of these six suggested hotels near the airport:
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Courtyard by Marriott Miami Airport West/Doral
3929 NW 79th Ave, Miami, FL
305-477-8118 -
Hampton Inn Miami-Airport West
3620 NW 79th Ave, Doral, FL
305-513-0777 -
Holiday Inn Express Miami Airport Doral Area
8436 NW 36th St, Miami, FL
305-592-4799 -
Hyatt Place Miami Airport-West/Doral
3655 NW 82nd Ave, Miami, FL
305-718-8292 -
Quality Inn Miami Airport
3959 NW 79th Ave, Miami, FL
786-533-3636 -
Wingate by Wyndham Miami Airport
3755 NW 78th Ave, Doral, FL
786-749-7799
If you fly out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport the day after the trip, your guides will drop you off at the Miami International Airport Tri Rail station when the trip ends. We'll coach you through returning to the Fort Lauderdale airport area via the Tri Rail. We suggest staying the night at one of these four hotels near the Fort Lauderdale Airport Tri Rail station:
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Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port OUR PICK!
400 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, FL
954-342-8333 -
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
2081 Griffin Rd, Davie, FL
954-981-2700 -
Homewood Suites by Hilton Ft.Lauderdale Airport-Cruise Port
2061 Griffin Rd, Dania Beach, FL
954-967-9063 -
Residence Inn by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
4801 Anglers Ave, Dania Beach, FL
954-989-3636
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You bet. Just be sure to let us know! You can meet us at Flamingo Visitor Center at 10:45 AM on the first day of the trip.
Heads up: if you arrive by private car, you’ll need to pay an Everglades National Park entrance fee. You’ll also need to drive your vehicle in convoy with us to Everglades City on the third day of the adventure.
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Be sure to review the packing list carefully and follow it closely! The higher-value items you need to bring include a sleeping bag, a pair of sport sandals or water shoes, and a rain jacket.
Try to avoid overpacking. Bringing too much stuff will just slow you down!
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No problem. Just please let us know what you’re packing that's beyond the scope of the packing list, so we can load for the trip accordingly.
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You may! Please start by contacting us with a description of your boat. Large touring kayaks, tripping canoes, and sea kayaks are all appropriate for the trip. Recreational kayaks lack the carrying capacity required for this adventure.
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Weather varies, but let's hope for daytime highs in the 70's and nighttime lows in the 50's. We'll also prepare for unseasonably cold nights, strong winds, and unexpected storms.
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Nah. That’s pretty unlikely. This trip is solo traveler friendly!
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You can reserve your spot by paying a $219 deposit. The balance is due 60 days before the trip. Be sure to read the complete Trip and Course Policies.
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We recommend taking out a travel insurance policy. Bad Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips and a travel insurance policy keeps you protected. See the Travel Insurance Page for more information.
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There's no cancellation fee if you decide to cancel 90 days or more before the trip and we'll even refund your deposit! However, if you cancel less than 90-days before the trip, your deposit is nonrefundable. Additionally, there are significant cancellation fees if you decide to cancel your registration 59 days or less before the trip. Be sure to read the complete Trip and Course Policies.
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We only advertise trips we plan to operate. Since our founding in 2013, Bad Adventures has never canceled a multi-day trip. However, we must reserve the right to do so. Be sure to review our Trip and Course Policies and purchase travel insurance.
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I have many adventuring experiences with Matt Stan over the years. Matt has created a team of knowledgeable and...
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Meticulously planned adventures. World class guides. Friendly people. Delicious food. Spectacular sights. Epic experiences. I could go on....
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Don't let the pun fool you. These are FANTASTIC ADVENTURES. The guides are some of nicest people you will ever meet. ...
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