The fee is $24.45 plus tax for adults, $16.45 for children under 12 years, and $19.45 for seniors. 1 Biscayne National Park in One Day. This is a great way to explore the park without a boat. Overall, this was a great tour and our ranger gave a great talk." Florida's Biscayne Bay is a lagoon that stretches 35 miles along the Florida coastline. Search. Visitors may enjoy the beautiful scenery while learning Biscayne National Park glass bottom boat tours leave from Convoy Point. We spend about 15 minutes in Stiltsville going to each house for photos and a historical perspective delivered by the captain. The institute offers a variety of tours, including a historic boat tour, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and scuba diving. The parks visitor center is on the mainland, but the park, both land and sea, is only accessibly by boat. This twice-a-day snorkeling trip is 3.5 hours long and costs $99. Canoeing, kayaking, or paddleboarding in Biscayne National Park are a fun way to explore the mangrove coastlines lining the bay. 1.1 Dante Fascell Visitor Center. 1.5 Snorkeling in Biscayne Bay. We spent 6 hours touring Biscayne National Park (other than the Jones Lagoon tour with Biscayne National Park Institute). 1 of 3 Florida NP. The address is 9700 Southwest 328th St., Homestead, Fla. 33033. Tours & Prices. Biscayne National Park is the largest marine park in the National Park System. Dante Fascell Visitor Center can be reached from the Floridas Turnpike (exit 6/speedway Blvd.). 1.4 The Jetty Trail. Without your own boat, the best way to do this is with one of the Biscayne National Park tours operated by the Biscayne National Park Institute. Whether you are taking a boat tour or doing something more active, such as snorkeling at Biscayne National Park, the water is where you really experience all that the park has to offer. The institute offers a variety of tours, including a historic boat tour, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and scuba diving. Boats depart year-round from Convoy Point at 10am and stay out for about 3 hours. reviews. A popular option if you dont want to get wet. You journey through Biscayne Bay to locations such as Fowey Rocks, Soldier Key, and Boca Chita in search of the various species of birds found in Biscayne National Park. Book your adventure now! Explore our sailing tours in Biscayne National Park below! News. Operating most days, there are several daily departures from the marina at the Biscayne National Park Visitor Center. Boat tours out of Miami offer views not just of the city and coastline, but several sights that can only truly be appreciated from the water. Visitors may enjoy the beautiful scenery while learning about the history, wildlife and ecosystems Boat Tours and Charters. Biscayne National Park is home to a variety of tours in and on the water, from trips to islands to stand-up-paddleboard outings to snorkeling within the park. 2 Useful Tips. The 10 Best Miami Boat Tours. The Biscayne National Park Institute provides eco-adventures including snorkeling at a shipwreck on the Maritime Heritage Trail and colorful coral reefs full of life, cruises to Boca Chita Key and lighthouse, sailing on beautiful Biscayne Bay, exploring the seldom seen wonders of Jones Lagoon, and more! This fish wasnt the most colorful one on the reef, but I kind of love its pattern and camouflage. The trip lasts three hours and costs $35 per person. 4 reviews of Biscayne National Park Tour Boats "Basically, the glass bottom boat tours by the park rangers will let you observe coral beds and fishes near the coast line as well as potential dolphins. 1.2 Biscayne National Park Institute. (Sadly, a seventh house burned down in early 2021.) These are small group trips with no more than 12 participants. Boca Chita Key is a small island in Biscayne Bay, once owned by Mark Honeywell. The park is located within sight of downtown Miami but feels a world away from the hustle and bustle On this accessible, self-guided tour, you can discover a unique national park with four ecosystems, 600 species of fish and other kinds of fauna, including sea turtles and manatees. Biscayne National Park snorkeling is known as some of the best in the United States, so its well worth booking yourself a tour if you wont have access to a boat yourself. About; BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK. Breathtaking views await you on our Biscayne Bay Boat Tour. Well take you cruising along the Biscayne Bay, Port Miami, Flagler Monument, Fisher Island, Star Island, Downtown Miami skyline, Miami Beach, and million-dollar celebrity homes. The overall tour is 3 hours long and you will have plenty of time to tour the lighthouse, walk the island, splash around/swim, and be back to the boat for your return trip. Boat Tours The Heritage of Biscayne seemed to be the most popular option (and very kid-friendly). NOTE: Stiltsville Miami tours are included on our daily 2-hour tour. NPS Sula Jacobs and her evil behind the scenes read more see our tours: Join us on this 1 hour wildlife safari tour as we travel into Everglades National Park. Paddle tours guided by naturalists are available through the Biscayne National Park Institute by the Visitor Center. The park is opened daily, 24 hours, but park personnel are available to answer questions between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. One of the most popular areas on our 2-hour Biscayne Bay Adventure Tour is historic Stiltsville located in Biscayne National Park. Reservations are not required, but strongly recommended. Well take you cruising along the Biscayne Bay, Port Miami, Flagler Monument, Fisher Island, Star Island, Downtown Miami skyline, Miami Beach, and million-dollar celebrity homes. Biscayne National Park is located in Homestead, FL. Includes a stop at either Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key, or Adams Key. Its free for children 4 and under. Tours are guided by Biscayne National Park staff. Scuba Certification Guided Dives Private Boat Tours - Tropic Scuba. One of the most popular areas on our 2-hour Biscayne Bay Adventure Tour is historic Stiltsville located in Biscayne National Park. contact. You can see the Miami skyline from Biscayne National Park, part of the chain of Florida Keys, and yet visiting feels like stepping onto another planet. The Boca Chita Key Lighthouse. Advance reservations are required. We spent 6 hours touring Biscayne National Park (other than the Jones Lagoon tour with Biscayne National Park Institute). IMPORTANT: Jet skis are not allowed in Biscayne National Park. Day 1: Arrive in Miami, afternoon Jones Lagoon Eco Tour with Biscayne National Park Institute. Sleep in Homestead. The other half of the island was left natural and today includes a short walking trail. In the 1930s, he developed half of the island to include an ornamental lighthouse, a small chapel and a garage. Island Boat Tour Take the Trolley from Downtown Homestead to Biscayne National Park for the Island Boat Tour. The Biscayne National Park boat trip to Boca Chita. The national park operates boat tours through its concessionaire, Biscayne National Underwater Park, Inc. Biscayne National Park is unlike any other American national park, as the park is 95% water. It could take anywhere from one hour to 90 minutes to drive to Biscayne National Park from downtown Miami. History Miami conducts large group boat tours to Stiltsville approximately 4 times per year guided by local historian Paul George. Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida, south of Miami. The park covers 172,971 acres (69,999 ha) and includes Elliott Key, the parks largest island and first of the true Florida Keys, formed from the fossilized coral reef. I booked the Heritage Boat Tour with Captain John & environmentalist Jason. contact info. Services. In Florida, there are three total, including Biscayne National Park, located just south of Miami at the start of the Florida Keys. (Photo: Bonnie Gross) Home; About. Biscayne National Park and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens Popular Miami Areas Our Miami boat tour also visits some of the more popular and famous areas found along the shoreline of Biscayne Bay including: Celebrity Mansions and Star & Fisher Islands Scarface Mansion and Port Miami Downtown Miami Skyline and Venetian Islands Boca Chita Key Visitors may enjoy the beautiful scenery while learning about the history, wildlife and ecosystems of the park. Most people come to Biscayne National Park to take a boat tour around the bay and take pictures of the Boca Chita Lighthouse on the island of the same name. Gallery. The Boca Chita Island Experience costs $44 for adults and $34 for kids ages 5 to 12. Explore the crystal clear waters of Biscayne Bay and the iconic Boca Chita Key. The three-hour tour is on a 25-foot powerboat and it takes at least a half hour to reach the island from Deering Estate, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Miami, FL 33157, where the tour begins. The park preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs. or call (305) 375-1492. About 95% of the parks 173,000 acres is comprised of water. Remember to Biscayne National Park Institute boat (at Boca Chita). More. Boats carry fewer than 50 passengers; reservations are almost always necessary. Departing from Deering Estate, this new three hour tour will allow you to view the birds of Biscayne National Park while guided by a Deering Estate Naturalist. The Baldwin-Sessions House viewed from a boat on the Stiltsville Miami tour. If you have your own, you can launch from the Visitor Center docks at Dante Fascell Visitor Center can be reached from the Floridas Turnpike (exit 6/speedway Blvd.). A popular option if you dont want to get wet. 2.1 Book Excursions in Advance. All ages are welcome aboard the three-and-a-half-hour history boat tour that A private sunset sail in Miami's Biscayne Bay National Park is a must-do, according to travelers. The telephone number is 305-230 -1100. Biscayne National Underwater Park, the Biscayne National Park Concession, was forced out of business because the owner is Heterosexual and a Christian. Currently, prices start at $700 for a 4 hour tour of Biscayne National Park (click the link above for updated pricing). Biscayne National Park is not as well known as Everglades National Park. Our day started at 9:00 a.m., getting onto a speed boat with two tour guides and six other people, along with a stack of stand-up paddleboards. Leave it to Florida to give us a perfectly tropical take on national parkland one you can access only by boat since 95% of the park is comprised of water. As you approach, Boca Chita Island is a beautiful sight framed by the turquoise water. Other Authorized Companies. This 3.5 hour experience will motor across Biscayne Bay and along the the northernmost islands of the Florida Keys with a stop at either Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key, or Adams Key. At $45 for adults, $35 for seniors, and $30 for children 12 and under, the scenic and informative tours are pricey but if you don't enjoy the trip, they promise a full refund. 1.3 Boca Chita Key Excursion. Call (305) 205-7829; Email Us; Book Now; Menu. You can either take US 1 to the visitor center, or you can take Southwest 328th Street. $79 3.5 hours Island Visit, Special Topics, Boat Cruise Heritage of Biscayne Cruise Hear the stories of Biscayne as you cruise across the Bay and along the islands of the northern most Florida Keys. These tours give non-kayakers a chance to get on the water and learn about the marine life and geology of the area. Tour Options with the Biscayne National Park Institute: Heritage of Biscayne Cruise: Covers the history of the park and takes about 3.5 hours. Biscayne became a national park in 1980 so it is a much younger national park. These tours of the Boca Chita Key with the ranger run twice a day Thursday through Sunday, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (Renting snorkeling gear is $10 extra.) If you travel on your own to the island you can also use paddleboards in the lagoon area assuming the boat traffic is quiet. Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida. It is just 15 miles away from Miami, but it feels like an entirely different world. This park protects Biscayne Bay, its offshore barrier reefs, and the northernmost section of the Florida Keys. There are over 250 square miles of water and very little land in this park. Leave it to Florida to give us a perfectly tropical take on national parkland one you can access only by boat since 95% of the park is comprised of water. Ranger Led Boat Tours of Biscayne National Park. According to the National Park Service, Biscayne National Park is home to 512 species of fish, and many of these are visible to snorkelers and visitors on the glass-bottom boat tour. NOTE: Stiltsville Miami tours are included on our daily 2-hour tour. Tours pass by " Millionaire's Row ," a collection of celebrity homes owned by people such as Shaquille O'Neal. We were lucky and were able to spot a few dolphins. Fishing - the park preserves unique marine habitat and nursery environments that sustain diverse native fishery resources and support world-class fishing for spiny lobster, snapper, grouper, tarpon and bonefish. Tours are guided by Biscayne National Park. ; Guided Tours - guided boat tours depart from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. Breathtaking sights await you on the Mansions Of Miami Beach Tour, which passes through some of Miamis most elite residential areas and the iconic Downtown Miami. You can either take US 1 to the visitor center, or you can take Southwest 328th Street. Tours depart from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at 10:00 am or 1:30 pm on select dates Thursday through Sunday. It is about a 2.5-hour drive from Naples. A Stiltsville tour by boat is the best way to learn about the six remaining houses, built on stilts in Biscayne Bay a mile from land in Miami that are now part of Biscayne National Park. Tour Options with the Biscayne National Park Institute: Heritage of Biscayne Cruise: Covers the history of the park and takes about 3.5 hours. Third, you can purchase a kayak rental in Biscayne National Park and explore the water area around the visitor center. Glass bottom tours are offered daily, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We spend about 15 minutes in Stiltsville going to each house for photos and a historical perspective delivered by the captain. June 2, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Save. Date: January 27, 2016 Contact: Matt Johnson, 786-335-3679 HOMESTEAD, Fla. --- Island boat tours to Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park are expanding in a big way in a partnership between the City of Homestead, Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Florida National Parks You can see the Miami skyline from Biscayne National Park, part of the chain of Florida Keys, and yet visiting feels like stepping onto another planet. Tours pass by " Millionaire's Row ," a collection of celebrity homes owned by people such as Shaquille O'Neal. Second, you can go on one of the Biscayne National Park tours. Biscayne National Park. Biscayne Bay Sightseeing Tour Breathtaking views await you on our Biscayne Bay Boat Tour. Date: January 27, 2016 Contact: Matt Johnson, 786-335-3679 HOMESTEAD, Fla. --- Island boat tours to Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park are expanding in a big way in a partnership between the City of Homestead, Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Florida National Parks The boat tours feature the Miami-Dade Parks Pelican Skipper, a comfortable riding, ADA-accessible, 45-foot power catamaran. 2.2 Stay at the Beach. It could take anywhere from one hour to 90 minutes to drive to Biscayne National Park from downtown Miami. Advanced Purchase Recommended! [ Seeing Stiltsville by Call (305) 205-7829; Email Us; Book Now; Facebook Instagram Youtube. Boat tours out of Miami offer views not just of the city and coastline, but several sights that can only truly be appreciated from the water.