Car Hire Everglades National Park - Mini guide to Everglades National Park

The Florida Everglades is an amazing and unique wetland ecosystem located in the south-central part of the state. Home to numerous endangered species, the Everglades is a 64-kilometre wide shallow ‘river of sawgrass’, slowly moving to the ocean. This is nature-lover’s paradise; however, even those who come to Florida for Disneyworld will undoubtedly also find this a fascinating place to visit.

The best way to view the flora and fauna of Everglades National Park is to take one the numerous trails that wind through it. The Anhinga Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park and is ideal for getting a general overview of the area, especially during the dry season. The place is teeming with wildlife and, if you have your wits about you, you can spot alligators, lizards, turtles, herons, egrets and many other wonderful creatures.

Alternative ways to view the park include hikes along the Gumbo Limbo Trail and Shark Valley Road. The former has a jungle feel and is renowned for its wonderful lush vegetation as the trail is lined with palms, ferns and orchids; while Shark Valley Road is ideal for biking and also offers a guided tour by tram.

Southwest of the park, the Big Cypress National Preserve was created to protect the endangered Big Cypress trees, and offers many good hiking opportunities. Only 56kms south of the park is a completely different world altogether - the famous beaches of Miami. This lively, cosmopolitan city is home to colourful people from a variety of far-flung places, and is the location of the notorious South Beach, with its Art Deco architecture and electric nightlife.

To get to the southern entrance of the park from Miami, go west on I-395 to State Road 821 south, which ends in Florida City. Take your first right turn through the centre of town and follow the signs to the park entrance on State Road 9336. The international airport in Miami offers flights from numerous cities in the United States, Europe and South America.