Cruising the bay of Biscayne National Park on the Heritage of Biscayne Cruise
For those who want to see the islands of Biscayne National Park but do not have a boat, the Biscayne National Park Institute offers a tour that gives a great overview of park, the 3.5-hour Heritage of Biscayne Cruise. The tour stops offshore at Adams and Elliott keys and goes ashore at Boca Chita Key. There is no snorkeling, paddling, or diving on this tour, so it is suitable for all ages and physical abilities. The only physical activity involved is getting off the boat at Boca Chita Key, but the grounds are flat, so even those in wheelchairs can enjoy the stop. (Note: If you are in a wheelchair, be sure to request an ADA accessible ramp for the boat prior to the tour departing.)
The Heritage of Biscayne Cruise leaves twice daily, typically at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM, from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center on Convoy Point in Homestead, Florida. The Biscayne National Park Institute has an office inside the Visitor Center, so you can book a tour on the day of your arrival as long as spots are available, or you can book one in advance on its Heritage of Biscayne Cruise web page. You can also get the latest schedule and fees on the web page.
Before departing, all participants must sign a waiver. If you make a reservation online, you will get instructions about filling out the waiver online. However, I found the instructions to be confusing—I couldn’t even find the link in the email—so I just signed one at the Visitor Center.
In addition to the waiver, you must register at the Visitor Center prior to departing to let the tour guide know you have arrived. Once registered, wait outside near the restrooms at the bottom level of the building. There may be other tours departing at the same time, but your tour guide will make an announcement when your boat is ready to board. You don’t need to arrive way ahead of time. As long as you can sign the waiver, register, and step onto the boat before it pulls away, you’re in like Flynn. Fifteen minutes should do the trick.
Upon departing, the tour first heads out to Adams Key, the southernmost of the tourist-friendly keys in Biscayne National Park. Adams Key is a day-use area only, meaning that no overnight stays are allowed. It has a picnic area and a short hiking trail. The tour group does not go ashore, but the guide does give the history of the island as the boat slowing moves along the shoreline.
Adams Key in Biscayne National Park
The second stop is at Elliott Key, the largest of the three islands. Elliott Key has a harbor, campground, picnic area, and hiking trails. Unfortunately, the waters surrounding the harbor are very shallow, and the tour boat is simply too large to enter. As with Adams Key, the boat stops offshore and the tour guide tells the history of the island.
Elliott Key in Biscayne National Park
The final stop is at Boca Chita Key, the most popular of the islands in Biscayne National Park. Boca Chita has all the same amenities as Elliott Key, plus it has an ornamental lighthouse that was built by the island’s former owner, Mark Honeywell, founder of the Honeywell electronics company. It also has a harbor with a deeper entrance, so the boat can enter and dock. After giving a brief history of the island, the tour group gets to go ashore for about an hour. This is plenty of time to walk the grounds. If you bring a picnic lunch with you, picnic tables are available. You can even bring alcohol. There is a restroom on the island.
Lighthouse at Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
Grounds of Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
Since the tour guide and boat captain are not National Park Service Rangers, and thus not federal employees, they can accept tips. If you enjoyed the tour, be sure to give them a few bucks.
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Last updated on November 1, 2023
