Guided snorkeling and paddling tours through Biscayne Bay's coral reefs, mangroves, and historic islands.
Biscayne National Park Institute runs guided water tours through one of the most underrated parks in the country. Most people drive straight past Biscayne on their way to the Everglades or the Keys without realizing what's out there. Coral reefs, mangrove tunnels, historic stilted homes, and a bay so clear you'll spend half the boat ride just staring into it.
The tours cover serious ground. Snorkeling trips take you out to the reef and often include stops at landmarks like Stiltsville and Boca Chita Key, with guides who actually know the history and ecology behind what you're seeing. Paddling tours get you into the mangroves up close. The guides (Pablo, Casey, Duncan, Dave, Kaci, Captain Jess, Captain Natalie) come up constantly in reviews, and not in a generic way. People remember their names. That's the real tell.
It's a solid pick for families. Kids old enough to snorkel will have a blast, and the guides are good at making the experience accessible without dumbing it down. Conservation is clearly part of the mission here, not just a marketing line.
Homestead puts you right between Biscayne and Everglades National Park, so this fits naturally into a longer South Florida trip. Spend a morning on the water with the Institute, then head west into the Everglades in the afternoon. Two completely different ecosystems, one very good day.
8,475 reviews
a month ago
What an amazing experience! My guide Pablo was outstanding. Knowledge & accommodating. You can tell that he truly cares about the conservation of these ecosystems and making sure we were able to appreciate all of the beauty out there, while making sure we have a great time. Overall good dude. I would definitely recommend the all day snorkeling trip so that you can stop by several historic sites and see all the different underwater ecosystems.
2 months ago
We had a blast! Duncan did great going through the history of Biscayne in a very fun and interesting way. Captain Jess and Captain Natalie were both so experienced and amazing at what they do and were both so kind to us! We went during the summer months with the snorkeling offered and it was so much fun. Duncan also snorkeled and helped point out creatures. My husband and I went with our 10 month old and they were so accommodating to her and so kind to us. We would recommend this to anyone. Definitely worth the money and they also told us all proceeds goes to supporting and taking care of Biscayne National Park. Definitely be prepared to swim! The boat was bigger than I was thinking it would be. We brought a waterproof bag and a small cooler and there was enough room for it. There was a lily pad out while we were snorkeling that we used to hang out with the baby so she could be in the ocean. At Boca Chita we got to explore the lighthouse and the island, even got in the water at the beach, however, the beach is very shelly—beautiful but wouldn’t hurt to bring swim shoes. There were a ton of bugs on Boca Chita but it was such a cool experience and such a fun way to explore this beautiful national park!
a month ago
We had an awesome tour visiting Stiltsville and Boca Chita Key, as well as some snorkeling! We felt very well taken care of and had a blast! We enjoyed hearing a lot of history and amazing facts about the park, animals and surrounding areas. Our captain was awesome and very communicative and kept us feeling safe. Our naturalist had a ton of great knowledge and was overall amazing! Would definitely recommend, well worth the price!
3 months ago
I would absolutely recommend a snorkeling trip with Biscayne National Park Institute. The reef and the location were superb. Our guide Casey and our boat captain were informative, friendly and made sure we all had a fun time. I had my two young children with me who will start playing for the first time. They helped Both of them figure out the mask and snorkel gear and ensure that they got to see the amazing creatures on the reef.
3 months ago
Dave and Kaci were awesome! Super fun, knowledgeable, professional and helpful in every way. These guys know their info and were super easy going. I’m 4 months pregnant and was nervous about the boat ride but it was super doable and mostly comfortable. Would recommend riding at either the front of the boat or back to sit facing riding into the direction of the ride. Sitting sideways during the ride was a little challenging - this was a personal preference! All in all, this was an awesome experience and great way to get out to the national park! Captains stopped for a pod of dolphins along the way too - that was really fun to see! 12/10 would do it again!
Your first stop for exploring one of America's most overlooked national parks, where the water is the wilderness.
Free admission, ocean-front boardwalks, and guided kayak tours through one of Florida's most underrated national parks.
Boat tours and water access into Biscayne National Park, right where the park begins.
A full beach day without leaving the mainland, complete with a lagoon, boat ramp, and tiki bar.
Waterfront seafood and burgers with live music and happy-hour drinks right on the bay.
65,000-seat NASCAR oval with pit lane access, camping, and full-throttle driving experiences right in Homestead.