Travel After Covid-19: The Best Outdoor Activities In And Around Miami

Not only does it have great weather, but Miami is blessed when it comes to natural wonders – it’s the only city in America bordered by two national parks, the Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park, that are rich with mangroves, pristine waters and emerald islands. Culture Trip helps you discover the true charm of Florida’s great outdoors.

1. Snorkel along North America’s only barrier reef

Natural Feature

Fish and corals in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The flawless beaches and clear blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean draw flocks of tourists to Miami every year. Florida is home to North America’s only barrier reef – the third-largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef and Belize Barrier Reef. The Florida Reef, spanning 220mi (354km) along the state’s coast, is protected by the National Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary Program. You can rent or buy snorkeling gear at either Austin’s Dive Center or South Beach Divers, where $12 (£9.65) will get you everything you need for a day in the water exploring Miami’s marine life.

2. Kayak through mangroves

Park

Kayaking is a double whammy – a chance to explore Florida’s mangroves while getting in a solid upper-body workout. Biscayne National Park is home to unspoilt islands and reefs, and the shallow waters here are ideal to explore by canoe or kayak. Experienced kayakers could traverse the 7mi (11km) Biscayne Bay to reach Boca Chita Key island for a lazy day in the sun, while less experienced kayakers can check out Jones Lagoon for a chance to see marine life like rays and upside-down jellyfish, or Hurricane Creek, also a great spot to snorkel and see crabs.

3. Camp in watery wonderlands

Camping

If you’ve been confined indoors during lockdown, you might like the idea of sleeping under the stars. Florida offers plenty of opportunities to camp. In the Everglades, less experienced campers can pitch a tent at Long Pine Key and Flamingo campsites, while more experienced campers will want to head out to the backcountry. The most popular season is between November and April, so make sure you have a campsite reserved. Meanwhile, 95% of Biscayne National Park is water, so you’ll need a boat to camp there. Head out to the islands of Boca Chita Key and Elliott Key, both of which have secluded campsites where spots are given on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’re camping in Elliot Key, check out the 7mi (11km) Spite Highway trail.

5. Explore swamps by airboat

Park

Spend a day out exploring the swamplands for which Florida is famous by taking an airboat or swamp buggy ride in the Everglades or Big Cypress National Preserve. Airboats and swamp buggies are specially designed to traverse the area’s wetlands and muddy marshes. If walking is more your thing, you can take a guided swamp walk that explores the marshlands here on foot. Keep an eye out for wildlife, including the elusive Florida panther that lives in the protected 729,000 acres (295,000ha) of Big Cypress.

6. Take a guided eco-tour of the Paradise Coast by kayak or boat

Natural Feature, Architectural Landmark

Venture out to Florida’s Paradise Coast, the area that includes Naples and Marco Island, for a guided eco-tour to learn more about the natural environment here. Go kayaking or canoeing along the Paradise Coast Blueway, a GPS-coordinated network of routes that will take you to secluded islands. Alternatively, try a boat tour on the Dolphin Explorer, where you can travel the waters of the Ten Thousand Islands and Rookery Bay, while helping dolphin researchers with ongoing projects.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.