Wednesday 05.03.2025 West Palm Beach - Green Cay Boardwalk Boynton Beach - Flamingo, humid 30ºC with some rain
On our journey south, we made a stop in Boynton Beach to visit Green Cay Wetlands. This beautiful nature preserve, also known as Green Cay Wetlands and Nature Center, spans 100 acres (0.40 km²) and was originally farmland owned by Ted and Trudy Winsberg. In the 1980s, they sold the land for a third of its appraised value, with the condition that it be transformed into a wetland. Construction began in July 2003, and it’s incredible to see how, just 22 years later, the landscape has flourished—it looks as though it has always been this way! At the Visitor Center, we caught a glimpse of the movie The Life of Birds, a documentary hosted by David Attenborough, before joining a guided tour at 11 AM with our guide, Ron. While we appreciated the walk, I have to admit that when it came to identifying the birds, we actually knew more than our guide!
From there, we continued our drive to Florida City, stopping for a meal at Denny’s before heading further south to Flamingo in the Everglades National Park. Along the way, we visited the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center before finally reaching our lodge. After a long day on the road, I was happy to find we had internet access at last. Sitting on the balcony of our room (302), we sipped piña coladas and indulged in the dessert we had taken from Denny’s, all while soaking in the view—a perfect way to end the day.
Thursday 06.03.2025 Flamingo, very windy 24ºc
We started the day with breakfast at the restaurant before setting off on a walk to the marina. What an incredible surprise awaited us there—so many manatees, so close and so clearly visible! As if that wasn’t exciting enough, we also spotted a crocodile and an osprey family.
Next, we strolled along the scenic Guy Bradley Trail at the end of which we saw again an osprey nest. After a light lunch at the restaurant, we joined a guided plant walk to learn about the fascinating plant life. One of the highlights was witnessing how a strangler fig begins its slow takeover of a host tree—starting as a tiny branch with just a few leaves before engulfing its host entirely.
Our journey continued with a drive to Paurutis Pond, where we admired one elegant Roseate Spoonbill. Then, at Nine Mile Pond, we hoped to see crocodiles—and sure enough, two were there, seemingly awaiting the kayakers coming ashore.
Our final stop was West Lake, where we walked along a boardwalk that meandered over the lake and through the three types of mangroves—black, red, and white.
Back at Flamingo, we picked up some dinner at the Marine store before heading back to our apartment, still marveling at all we had seen. Volker went to the talk about bats of the Everglades at the Amphitheater.
Friday 07.03.2025 Flamingo, warm and sunny 23ºC without wind
This morning, we joined a guided bird walk with a ranger at 8:30 AM. Luckily, a knowledgeable couple in our group, Susan and Buck from Minnesota, true bird enthusiasts, assisted the volunteer guide, making the experience even more enriching. Thanks to them, we spotted a wonderful variety of birds, and we hope to see them again tomorrow evening in Homestead.
After the walk, we drove to Rowdy Bend and tackled the single-track trail leading to Snake Bight Bay. On the way back, I opted for the easier route straight to the road, while Volker retraced his steps along the same rugged path. At 8.7 km over challenging terrain, it was one of the longest and most demanding hikes of our trip. The landscape was striking, with bromeliads clinging to trees, adding a touch of wild beauty to the scenery.
Later, we enjoyed a late lunch before strolling to the marina, where we were treated to sightings of an osprey family, crocodiles, and even a manatee. And as if the day hadn’t been magical enough, from our balcony, we’re almost certain we spotted a nurse shark gliding through the water!
Saturday 08.03.2025 Flamingo - Florida City, hot 28ºC
We drove to Florida City and started the day with a late breakfast at Denny’s. While Volker headed off on a snorkeling tour at Biscayne National Park, I took care of some practical things—doing laundry, packing for tomorrow’s departure, and then unwinding in the almost unbelievably warm pool (I’d guess around 32ºC!).
Volker’s tour took him far out into the bay, where he was lucky to spot vibrant marine life, including many fish, stunning coral formations, and even a nurse shark gliding beneath him at a depth of 2–3 meters! Sadly, about two-thirds of the coral was already bleached. The tour lasted from 1:30 to 5:00 pm, and when Volker returned, he was feeling cold—so we headed straight back to the pool to warm up.
For dinner, we went to Outback Steakhouse, where I treated myself to a truly massive steak. Volker was convinced I wouldn’t be able to finish it—but I proved him wrong!
Sunday 09.03.2025 Florida City and Homestead, hot 30ºC
We finished packing in the morning, and the receptionist was incredibly kind—he told us we could take as much time as we needed, even until 1 or 2 PM. Still, we decided to head out. On his recommendation, our first stop was Robert Is Here, where we discovered much more than just a large fruit stand. The place was full of surprises—rescued animals, baby alligators, and plenty of attractions for children, all beautifully arranged.
At 2 PM, we met Susan and Buck for lunch at Bangkok Cuisine, a Thai restaurant. The food was good, but even better was the conversation—we chatted so much that it felt like we had known each other forever!
With time to spare before our flight, we decided to visit Rock Castle, and it turned out to be absolutely fascinating! One man single-handedly built an entire rock garden and intricate stone structures, using only homemade tools fashioned from old car parts. We hadn’t expected it to be this impressive!
Eventually, it was time to head to the airport, return our rental car, change into warm clothes for the flight, and bid farewell to South Florida.
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| Green Cay: On the left the land how it used to be with the pepper plantation and on right how it was transformed into the wetlands |
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| and that's how it looks nowadays! |
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| Baby Alligator |
Anhinga with 2 babies
Purple Martin
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 | On the balcony on our apartment at Flamingo, Everglades
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| The kayaker wanted to see the crocodile close by, not the other way around |
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| The manatees were really close by |
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Osprey family
 | | Look how the Strangler Fig starts evading her victim and then ... |
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| Tree almost fully entangled by the Strangler Fig |
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| Roseate Spoonbill |
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| Crocodile at Nine Mile Pond |
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| At West Lake |
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| Mockingbird |
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
