Popular Fakahatchee Strand State Park night tours available, sell out fast: What to know

Stargazers should enjoy two programs this fall in the wilds of Collier County.

Fakahatchee Strand State Park has announced its first Night Sky Experience, set for Saturday, Oct. 7. Also, the first Full Moonlit Tram tour is Saturday, Oct. 28. Both programs continue on selected dates through April.

What are Fakahatchee night tours

“The Night Sky Experience offers participants the chance to view and photograph the nighttime sky in one of the darkest places in Southwest Florida,” park officials said in a news release.

“Your guide, an amateur photographer and astronomer, schedules each program when there is an interesting formation of planets and stars over the preserve. You do not need a telescope or expensive camera to enjoy these sessions.”

The cost for the Night Sky Experience is $25 per person.

Fakahatchee night tours sell out fast

Each departure of the Moonlit Tram is timed to arrive at the location where the full moon rises at the horizon. This is the “golden hour,” known to be ideal for photography and for spotting mammals and birds settling in for the evening.

The tram will provide an excellent platform for viewing park features illuminated by moonlight. Moonlit Tram tickets cost $40 per person.

Fakahatchee’s night events usually sell out fast, as there are a limited number of spaces available.

For more, visit www.orchidswamp.org and click on Tours & Events. For questions, call (239) 961-1925.

History of Fakahatchee Strand

The Fakahatchee ― which opened in 1974 and is just west of Copeland ― was made more famous by the Susan Orlean 1998 book "The Orchid Thief" and the 2002 film "Adaptation." The movie starred Meryl Streep, Nicolas Cage and Chris Cooper, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Fakahatchee is the largest state park in Florida at 120 square miles.

Popular tours: Moonlit tour reveals wonders of Fakahatchee Strand, largest state park in Florida

What else to know about Fakahatchee

How to get to tours: Enter the main park entrance off State Road 29 at Janes Scene Drive in Copeland.

When : Moonlit tram tours are during a full moon

Where to go for tours: Enter the main park entrance off State Road 29 at Janes Scene Drive in Copeland.

How far is the park from Naples: It's about 50 miles southeast of downtown Naples.

Best way to get there: The fastest way, depending on traffic, is east on Interstate 75 then south on State Road 29. It should take about one hour and 10-15 minutes from downtown Naples. Another way is to head east U.S. 41 then turn left, or north, onto State Road 29.

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can email him at dosborn@gannett.com and follow his social media on Instagram and Threads @lacrossewriter.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: How to buy tickets for popular Fakahatchee Strand night tours