Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
Boca Chita Key is the northernmost of the three tourist-friendly islands at Biscayne National Park. It has a harbor and boat dock that allows overnight docking, a campground, a picnic area, and a short hiking trail. It is the most popular of all the developed keys and mainly caters to the Miami “party” crowd, as evident from the stack of beer cans piled high directly under the “This is a Trash Free Park” sign. I did not see anyone who was not drinking, including me and my buddy Mike, who provided a boat for my trip.
From what I have read, salsa and rap music permeate the air all night long on the weekends (I had no problems on a slow Thursday night). When a Ranger arrives things quiet down, but everything gets turned back up to 11 as soon as he or she leaves. Police can show up as well and hand out tickets for noise violations. However, it is generally accepted that if you camp at Boca Chita on a busy weekend that you know the situation, so don’t be a party pooper. Families and those seeking peace and quiet camp at Elliott Key.
Swimming is allowed wherever you can access the shore, though from May 1st through August 15th certain areas will be marked as “closed” due to turtle and shorebird nesting. Also, there is no swimming in the harbor or in the No Wake Zones. There are swimming spots on the north side of the island near the individual campsites and at the group campsite, and on the south side of the island with a view of Sands Key (access the south side via the Boca Chita Key Loop Trail).
Beach near the group campsite on Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
Boca Chita Key Campground area swimming access in Biscayne National Park
View of Sands Key from Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
If you are coming to Boca Chita to tent camp during the weekend, you probably won’t have a problem finding a campsite because most people sleep in their boats. What you need to worry about is finding a place to dock your boat. I came to camp on a Thursday in early March and the boat dock was about 60% full, but I am told that on weekends from November through April that it will be full by noon. You can always access the dock to unload your gear and then anchor off shore, but if you don’t have some sort of dinghy, you must wade back in. Keep in mind that if you do get a dock space, if you leave you might not find a spot when you return. For those without a boat, there is no shuttle service to the island for campers, though Biscayne National Park Institute, the main park concessionaire, does run day trips to the island that allow for short, one-hour visits. See the Guided Tours and Excursions web page here on National Park Planner for more information.
The lighthouse on Boca Chita Key does not work. It was built by the island’s former owner, Mark Honeywell (founder of the Honeywell electronics company), back in 1937. He tried to use it as a navigational aid for friends coming to his island, but it was quickly shut down by the U. S. Coast Guard. It has served as a decoration ever since. The lighthouse is not open unless a park Ranger is around, which is not all that often. Some guys told me that they had been on the island for three days and only saw a Ranger once. If you get a chance to climb it, the view from the observation deck is supposedly very nice. The lighthouse is only 65-feet tall, so there aren’t too many stairs to climb.
Lighthouse on Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
Honeywell supposedly used to fire the cannon located at the base of the lighthouse whenever guests arrived.
Cannon at the base of the Boca Chita Key Lighthouse in Biscayne National Park
Boca Chita Key has a restroom with flush toilets that use salt water, but there is no fresh water and therefore no sinks or showers. There is no electricity either, so bring a lantern with you after dark. I’d hate to see what the restroom looks like on a busy weekend after a bunch of puking drunks get done using it.
Restroom facility at Biscayne National Park’s Boca Chita Key
There are three other buildings on Boca Chita Key. On the south side of the harbor, the building that looks like a stone barn is actually a garage built by Honeywell to house a few of his collectable automobiles. This is now used by the National Park Service for storing maintenance equipment. A second, smaller building is a storage shed built by Honeywell, and it’s still used as a storage shed today.
Garage built by Mark Honeywell on Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
Mark Honeywell’s storage shed on Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
On the north side of the harbor is a small building with a steep, triangular roof. This is a chapel built by Honeywell.
Chapel on Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park
I camped on Boca Chita Key in early March, and the mosquitoes were already bothersome, though not burdensome. They do tend to go away during the day in the open areas once things heat up, but they are around 24-7 in the surrounding maritime forest. At night they come back out in force, so you’ll need either bug repellent or clothing for protection. The temperature was nice during my visit, so I just wore long pants and a thin jacket and my hat with a mosquito net on it—I hate applying bug spray when I can’t take a shower before going to sleep. A park employee told me that by the end of April that you won’t be able to function on any of the islands without full mosquito suits, which all employees wear. I am not sure how bad they are in the dead of winter, but the Biscayne National Park website claims they are year-round pests. I was also told that gnats and biting flies would soon join the party.
Boca Chita Key is a trash free island, meaning that you must take your garbage with you. Obviously, not everyone follows the rules. Also, no pets (except for service dogs) are permitted anywhere on the island, not even in your boat. If a Ranger sees you with a pet, you will be asked to leave. Those who argue can be fined on the spot.
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Last updated on January 19, 2024
