Big Cypress National Preserve Self Guided Driving Audio Tour
Take the road less traveled with this self-guided driving tour through the lush wetlands of Big Cypress National Preserve. Stroll along scenic boardwalks through the preserve’s diverse habitats, dig into the fraught history of this fragile ecosystem, and of course, keep your eyes peeled for alligators! As you tour this serene and strangely beautiful land, you’ll hear about the Seminole tribe, plans to destroy the preserve to build an airport, and a whole lot more. After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Departure Point
- You can also begin the tour from 33000 Tamiami Trl E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA. The tour works in both directions, so you can begin in Miami and end in Ochopee, or vice versa.
- Begin from 29701 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33194, USA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Return Details
- You can also begin the tour from 33000 Tamiami Trl E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA. The tour works in both directions, so you can begin in Miami and end in Ochopee, or vice versa.
- Begin from 29701 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33194, USA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Duration
2 hours - 3 hours
Languages Available
- Audio guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: US Highway 41
US Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 34141
Continue straight. The Miccosukee were far from the only tribe to call this region home. Over the centuries, South Florida was home to numerous distinct tribes, including the formidable Calusa. One of the last tribes to form in the region were the Seminole, descendants of the Creek tribe in Georgia. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Miccosukee Indian Village
500 US Hwy 41, Mile Marker 36, Tamiami Trail, Tamiami, Florida
Coming up shortly will be a chance to visit Miccosukee Indian Village. This village, run by members of the Miccosukee tribe, sells Native arts and crafts and features a museum about their history. The tribe has a long history in southern Florida. During the Indian Wars in the 1800s, 100 of them fled into the Everglades and hid to avoid being captured.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Nature Trail Tree Snail
Coming up soon is a short trail with a very special attraction. It’s the Tree Snail Hammock Trail, a quarter-mile loop through hardwood forest which takes only five minutes to complete if you only want to stretch your legs. But most folks will want to linger a little longer. That’s because this is a great place to spot the elusive tree snail.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: H.P. Williams Roadside Park
33100 Tamiami Trl E, Ochopee, Florida
Just ahead is H.P. Williams Roadside Park. If you’ve been hoping to see plenty of wildlife, this is the spot for you. A boardwalk runs along a waterway which is a favorite among alligators, turtles, and the occasional snake. It’s also a great place to see herons and egrets wading in the water, as well as hawks perching in the trees above.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Loop Road
Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, Florida
Continue straight. You’re cruising along what’s called the Loop Road. It might be easy to drive, but it certainly wasn’t easy to build. Back in 1915, Miami businessman James Jaudon had an idea. He envisioned a highway which cut across the South Florida swamp, allowing for easy transport of goods.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Gator Hook Trail
Jerome, FL 34141
So how did this place end up becoming a national preserve anyway? Well, it actually started with plans to build an airport. See, when the Everglades became a national park in the 1940s, the federal government wasn’t able to purchase this land from private owners, so it wasn’t included. That left it vulnerable to development. In the 1960s, the government unveiled a plan to build the Big Cypress Jetport within the area. At the time, it would have been the largest airport in the world.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Kirby Storter Roadside Park
48900 Tamiami Trl E, Ochopee, Florida
Up ahead is Gator Hook Trail, an experience like no other. This moderately challenging, 5-mile round trip hike starts on dry land but doesn’t stay there for very long. Hikers will soon find themselves stepping into ankle-deep water, then wading in deeper until it reaches their knees or, on shorter travelers, their hips!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Big Cypress National Preserve
33100 Tamiami Trl E, , Ochopee, Florida
Coming up shortly is Kirby Storter Roadside Park, one of the most iconic attractions in Big Cypress. The main draw of this park is the mile-long boardwalk which winds through lush hardwood and cypress trees. The trail is strikingly green and pleasantly shaded. If you want to be surrounded by some of the most striking natural scenery Big Cypress Swamp has to offer, this is a must-see trail.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 38000 Tamiami Trail E
38000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL 34141
Welcome to your tour of Big Cypress National Preserve! Your tour begins at 29701 Southwest 8th Street in Miami. You should see Buffalo Tiger’s boat shop on your right. If you aren’t already there, head there now. Note: This 48+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Big Cypress in 3-5 hours.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center
33000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL 34141
Keep an eye out up ahead for a little white shack. That’s the Ochopee Post Office, the smallest post office in North America! If you’d like to stop in and get something postmarked, they’re usually happy to do so. It’s the kind of souvenir you just can’t get anywhere else!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk
27020 Tamiami Trl E, Naples, Florida
Coming up in a minute is the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center and the end of our tour. At this visitor center, you can find all the usual amenities, as well as some of the paintings by famous Everglades artist Sam Vinikoff. But it’s also an interesting facility in its own right, as the whole thing was carefully designed with energy conservation in mind.
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
- Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Exclusions
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Redemption Instructions
Set your tour up NOW ahead of your trip, while in wifi/cell signal. Do not wait until your travel date, your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR.
1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW:
- Email: Search for “Action Tour Guide” with a subject line "Your tour operator sent you a message.". Check All Mail and Spam.
- Text: Search for “Action Tour Guide” sent from 14159804997.
- Viator App Messages: Viator App > Bookings > View Voucher > Contact Tour Operator
- TripAdvisor App Messages: TripAdvisor App > Account > Messages
Can’t find it? Ask Action Tour Guide to resend: actiontourguide.com/redeem/
2. Download The Tour NOW:
You MUST follow the instructions and download your tour BEFORE traveling to the site over WiFi/cellular. Do NOT wait until your travel date to download the tour.
Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR. The tour is not tied to your travel date and is valid any day, any time for multiple visits for one year from your purchase date.
3. Audio Tour Tips
Not familiar with Action Tour Guide’s audio tours? Watch a short video: actiontourguide.com/tutorial
Important Note: Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions.
CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use the phone speakers if needed.
Support: Action Tour Guide is here to help! For quick answers read the Action Tour Guide website FAQs at actiontourguide.com/faq. For further help, call Action Tour Guide at 1412-254-3988, chat online at actiontourguide.com, or email support@actiontourguide.com.
⚠️ Important Note:
Your reservation with us is for the audio tour ONLY. It does NOT include entrance tickets to the parks or attractions. To purchase entrance tickets, please visit Recreation.gov.
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Drive with Action in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Need To Know Info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings