Tour Miami's Wildlife Attractions

Greater Miami & Miami Beach may be known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife and food and art scene, but its breathtaking wildlife is not to be missed. From manatees to alligators, the best wildlife attractions in Miami are fun for the whole family.

Explore a Vast Subtropical Wilderness

If you are a nature lover, you can’t miss visiting the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. Everglades National Park. The park’s 1.5 million acres of wildlife is located at the southernmost tip of the Florida mainland – right above the Florida Keys – and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Everglades is known as the “River of Grass” because of the water that flows through the park’s expansive sawgrass marshes. You’ll find a wide range of water and land animals, including alligators, herons and egrets, among mangrove forests and tropical hardwood hammocks. Choose from a variety of guided tours – from the Shark Valley Tram Tour to a variety of airboat tours.

Visit the Only Subtropical Zoo in the U.S.

Zoo Miami is the largest zoo in Florida and the fifth-largest in the United States. Because of Miami’s unique climate, it is also the only subtropical zoo in the U.S. and can replicate animal habitats from the Everglades to the Amazon. The 750-acre attraction in South Dade houses more than 3,000 wild animals, including mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles, as well as more than 1,000 species of trees and plants.

In addition to the Kid Zones – offering the Ocean Voyage Splash Pad and Jungle Journey Playground – you can rent a Safari Cycle for up to four adults and two small children, explore together along the four miles of meandering walkways and stop occasionally to feed giraffes and parrots.

Roam With the Primates at Monkey Jungle

Further south, Monkey Jungle is a fun attraction in a subtropical forest and the only monkey reserve in the U.S. that the general public can explore. The 30-acre preserve is home to 30 species of primates – including Java macaques (also known as crab-eating macaques), orangutans and spider monkeys – that roam freely.

You might also see parrots and turtles, and you can book a guided tour that gives you an up-close-and-personal encounter with the animals as well as admission to the Wild Monkey Swimming Pool Show.

Immerse Yourself in Nature at Jungle Island

Jungle Island, located on Watson Island near PortMiami, is an eco-adventure park where you can interact with wild animals like lemurs, flamingos, capybaras, bunnies and sloths. The whole family can explore Treewalk Village, an outdoor playground of giant interconnected treehouses. At on-site Treetop Trekking Miami, South Florida’s only aerial adventure park, you can climb, swing and zip through the forest canopy.

Explore an Underwater World at The ReefLine

The ReefLine, which opened in October 2025, is a public underwater sculpture park that stretches seven miles, from about 600-feet offshore east of 4th Street in South Beach past North Beach to Bal Harbor. It is made up of exhibits by artists from around the world who submerged their sculptures approximately 15 to 20 feet under water.

The unique structures are meant to raise awareness about the fragility of marine ecosystems and serve as much-needed habitats for marine life. You can swim to the artwork or take a guided snorkel tour and interact with a wide variety of sea life, including tropical fish and turtles.

Help Preserve Wildlife at Zoological Wildlife Foundation

If you’ve ever wanted to see a liger – a hybrid of a male tiger and a tigress – in real life, the Zoological Wildlife Foundation is the place for you. This multi-acre wildlife attraction, located about 20 minutes west of Zoo Miami, is devoted to raising awareness of rare and endangered animal species and how we can help preserve them.

At this appointment-only park, you can choose from a variety of wildlife tours, including the General Wildlife Experience – a one-hour guided tour that includes hands-on interactions with reptiles, birds and small mammals – and the Primate Experience, which includes an encounter with a lemur or capuchin monkey.

Discover Butterflies at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables is 83 acres of pure South Florida splendor, with lush rainforests, tropical gardens and even a coastal habitat. It’s home to nearly 3,500 species, including tropical fruit, orchids and other native and exotic plants.

You won’t want to miss the famous Butterfly Garden, featuring more than 40 rotating species of butterflies among a variety of flowering plants. You can take a tram or a guided or self-guided tour through the different gardens and exhibits. Check the schedule for unique events, such as orchid festivals and early-morning bird walks through the gardens.