Timing

Timing

Winter is the best time to visit Biscayne National Park, Everglades National Park, and Big Cypress National Preserve. Temperatures and mosquito activity are low to moderate, low water levels concentrate the resident wildlife around sloughs that retain water all year, and migratory birds swell the avian population. Winter is also the busiest time in the park. Make reservations and expect crowds at Flamingo, the main visitor center (known officially as the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center), and Royal Palm Visitor Center. In late spring the weather turns hot and rainy, and tours and facilities are less crowded. Migratory birds depart, and you must look harder to see wildlife. Even if you're not staying in Everglades National Park, try to stick around until dusk, when dozens of bird species feed around the ponds and trails. While shining a flashlight over the water in marshy areas after dark, look for two yellowish-red reflections above the surface—telltale signs of alligators.

Summer brings intense sun and billowing clouds unleashing torrents of rain almost every afternoon. Start your outdoor activities early to avoid the rain and the sun's strongest rays, and use sunscreen. Water levels rise and wildlife disperses as the day goes on, and mosquitoes hatch, swarm, and descend on you in voracious clouds, making outdoor activity virtually unbearable, unless you swath yourself in netting. Mosquito repellent is a necessity any time of year.