Florida·United States
Photo: evergladesnps · Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and its southwest coast is a labyrinth of mangrove islands, rivers and bays. Paddlers camp on beaches and raised chickee platforms among alligators, manatees, dolphins and wading birds.
In season: Dec–Apr · Peak: Jan–Mar
The 160 km Wilderness Waterway takes about a week, with tides, wind and navigation through look-alike channels as the main challenges. Winter is the only comfortable season; summer brings storms and insects.
Mangrove maze and chickee platforms, tide-dependent
Tight mangrove tunnels, easy to lose the way
Ninety-nine miles from Everglades City to Flamingo
Get the wilderness permit at the Gulf Coast or Flamingo visitor centre and carry charts and a GPS. Try the Ten Thousand Islands or the Hells Bay canoe trail first, then plan the full Waterway with a shuttle.
Cave diving3 routesUnited States
Crystal-clear spring caves under the forests of North Florida, the training ground of cave divers worldwide.
Snorkelling3 dive sitesUnited States
Floating beside wintering manatees in the warm springs of Kings Bay, the one place in North America where it is legal.
Diving3 dive sitesUnited States
Coral reefs and big artificial wrecks along the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States.
KayakingUnited States
Paddling at night through water that glows blue-green with every stroke, in the brightest bioluminescent bay ever recorded.
Kayaking3 routesUnited States
Sea kayaking in front of tidewater glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park, with sea otters, puffins and whales.
Kayaking3 routesUnited States
A week of sea kayaking to the calving faces of tidewater glaciers, with humpbacks, seals and bears along the shore.
A short note when a batch of places worth the trip goes up. No spam, no operators, unsubscribe anytime.