Biscayne National Park is not a traditional National Park. It is unique in that 95% of it is water. So as you’d expect, the best way to see this particular National Park is to get on or in the water. There are plenty of adventurous ways to do this park, but we’re going to talk about the easiest one — a boat tour.
I would like to say that we chose the boat tour because we were traveling with our 4-year-old, who is not old enough to do some of the more advanced water activities. However, I’ll be honest with you. I’m scared to Scuba dive and got seasick last time I tried to paddle board, so I wasn’t going to be doing anything else anyway.
If you’re looking for an easy, relaxing way to see Biscayne National Park from the surface, this boat ride is the way to go. In this post, I’ll explain our experience, and share some tips that we picked up along the way.
Keep reading to see what it’s like to see Biscayne National Park by boat on the Heritage of Biscayne Cruise.
Plan Your Visit to Biscayne National Park
First things first. Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a trip to Biscayne National Park.
- When to Visit: Late November to May is the best time to visit. It’s cooler, drier, and less buggy. Avoid June through early November because of hurricane season. During that time, weather can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
- Where to Fly: Miami, Florida
- Where to Stay: Homestead, Florida is a good option, especially if you’re visiting both Biscayne and Everglades National Parks. (We stayed at TownePlace Suites, Homestead.) You can also stay in Miami and do Biscayne as a day trip. Depending on traffic and where you’re staying, Biscayne is about a 1-2 hour drive from Miami.
- How Long to Stay: The general consensus is one day. You could potentially need a second day if you had multiple water activities planned or wanted a buffer for bad weather, but it’s not usually necessary.
- Getting Around: You will need a car to get from Miami to Homestead, which is where the visitor center is located. If you don’t want to rent a car, you can take a similar boat tour from Coconut Grove, which is accessible via rideshare and public transit.
- Packing Essentials: Sunglasses, light jacket or sweater, sneakers or flip flops, Dramamine (just in case), bug spray, sunblock (reef-safe if you’re getting in the water).
Read more: A trip to Biscayne National Park pairs nicely with a trip to Everglades National Park. Be sure to check out our Everglades National Park — 1 Day, Kid Friendly Itinerary for all the details on that park.
What is the Heritage Of Biscayne Cruise
When people talk about the “Biscayne boat tour,” they’re usually talking about this one: the Heritage of Biscayne Cruise from Homestead. (“Heritage” essentially means that they’re educational tours, led by a guide who shares stories and history about the area and the people who lived there.)
There are actually two different heritage boat tours of Biscayne National park. One departs from the marina near the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead and the other departs from Coconut Grove. The two boat roads are similar, but we are covering the Homestead cruise specifically in this post.
The Heritage Of Biscayne Cruise is operated by the Biscayne National Park Institute, which is a partner of the National Park Service and Florida National Parks Association.
The boat ride is scheduled for 3.5 hours and includes a 1-hour stop at one of the islands, typically Boca Chita. Each tour is lead by a naturalist, who explains many of the natural and historical highlights of the park. It is offered most everyday throughout the year (with a handful of exceptions), and usually twice a day.
Booking the Boat Tour
You can book tickets for the Heritage of Biscayne Cruise online in advance on the Biscayne National Park Institute’s website site here.
You don’t usually need to plan too far ahead, but tickets can sell out. Tickets book up the quickest during the summer, particularly on weekends. The morning tickets are typically the first to go. Booking a few weeks in advance is ideal, but you can often book the same or next day, too.
I have to say, tickets for this boat ride are not cheap. At the time of publication, tickets cost $83 each ($49 for children 5-12, free under 5.) However, Biscayne National Park Institute is a non-profit organization, so money from ticket sales supports preserving and protecting the park.
We booked the 9:30 AM cruise on a Sunday in January.
Arrival & Visitor Center
The cruise departs from the marina right behind the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. (If you’re driving, there is a free parking lot at the visitor center.)
The main visitor center building has two separate entrances on the second floor. One is for the visitor center, which includes the Ranger Station, informational exhibits and children’s area. There is a separate entrance for the park store, which has some merch and snacks. Check in for the boat ride is at the store side, which sometimes opens earlier than the full visitor center.
The bathrooms are on the lower level. Be sure to swing by those because there is only an “emergency” bathroom on the boat.
They tell you to check in for the boat 30 minutes before your departure. After you check in, you can pop into the visitor center or just grab a seat by the marina. We truly had the most perfect weather, so we just hung out outside.
You want to stay pretty close to the marina so you don’t miss boarding. About 5 minutes before our scheduled departure, they gathered everyone near the boat and did roll call. Shortly after, our guide led us onto the boat.
On Board Experience
I know nothing about boats, but the website states that this cruise is on a 40′ Power Catamaran. If you also know nothing about boats, it looked like this.
I was a little surprised by the size of the boat, actually. I thought there was no way we’d all fit comfortably on board, but alas, I was wrong. There was bench seating along both sides of the boat, along the center, and near the front. People were also allowed to sit in the middle of the front part of the boat after everyone boarded. (I’m not sure what that area is called, but it looked like this.)
After a short safety briefing, we headed out. We started out slow as we cruised alongside the jetty path. The guides used this time to start telling us about the region and history. They didn’t have a microphone, but we could easily hear the guide when we were moving slowly.
Then we picked up speed and headed toward the keys. We stayed bayside, and were never out in open ocean. That means its not as wavy, which usually reduces the chance of motion sickness. It was overall pretty smooth, but it definitely still had that bumpiness you get from a boat.
Note: I personally get seasick on boats pretty easily. I decided to take a Dramamine before this one. I didn’t get sick at all and felt like this boat ride was pretty comfortable, but that could be the Dramamine talking.
We stopped at a few different spots along the keys, including Adams Key, Elliott Key and Sands Key. I believe the exact route varies. At each stop, the guides shared details about the area. Stories ranged from specific people and their impact on the area, to pirates and the wrecking industry, to the plants and animals that thrive in this ecosystem.
The stories were engaging and informative, but also told in short bursts. I never felt bored or like they were drowning on. I did feel like I learned quite a bit. We were traveling with a 4-year-old, who is not exactly known for sitting still or staying quiet. (IYKYK.) However, even they found the stories interesting. Or at least interesting enough to sit patiently through them.
Stop at Boca Chita Key
As much as I enjoyed the boat ride, I think the best part was the stop at Boca Chita. (The only stop where we actually got off the boat.) We had one hour on the island. It was enough time, but we did have to move fairly quickly to do it all.
The main attraction is a short (<1 mile) hiking trail that circles the island. It was really pretty, easy to find and well marked. The trail had a few small beaches, which were perfect for a kid without a swimsuit who just wanted to get their feet wet.)
Tip! The trail is buggy, so be sure to pack bug spray.
There’s a larger beach for swimming on the north end of the island. You could technically swim here during your visit, but it’d be a tight timeline. (Personally, that sounded like a lot of effort for a not-great beach, so we didn’t do that.)
There were a few historical buildings on the island, but the most impressive structure was definitely the lighthouse near the harbor. It’s undergoing construction, so we couldn’t go to the top during our visit, but sometimes that’s an option.
We took the 9:30 AM cruise, which meant that we were on Boca Chita right around lunchtime. Because we’re so on top of things*, we brought a picnic lunch. We sat in the grass by the lighthouse, ate a picnic of PBJs, Pringles and fruit snacks, and just had the best time.
*By “on top of things,” I mean that we bought a bunch of food for the Everglades the day before, and we couldn’t bring it on our flight the next day, so we brought it with us on the boat because I didn’t want it to go to waste.
It’s worth noting that the island has bathrooms, but no electricity, drinking water or stores.
Boca Chita Key was actually pretty crowded, mostly with local boaters. There were many boats in the harbor, all with groups of people grilling, lounging, and enjoying the sunshine. There’s also a small campground on the island, so there might have been a few extra people from that, too.
Return to Visitor Center
After our one hour on the island, it was time to head back to the visitor center. The guides had told most of their stories by now, so the journey back was mostly just enjoying the ride. (They did make us all share our favorite part of the day, though.)
They told us to look out for dolphins, which are common in the bay. We sat in the front of the boat for our return journey and kept our eyes peeled — we did indeed spot dolphins on two different occasions! They were really close but also really fast. I had some good views, but my 4-year-old had a hard time finding them before they were gone.
It was about a 30 minute trip back to the harbor, but then we took another small detour. Since we’d lucked into the dolphins, they figured they’d see if they could get us a manatee viewing, too. We popped into a nearby inlet and did indeed spot a manatee! (It was pretty far away though, so not nearly as cool as the dolphins.)
We made it back to the dock around 12:50, for a total experience time of just under the scheduled 3.5 hours.
Is the Heritage of Biscayne Cruise Worth Doing?
The short answer is that I had a great time, but I don’t think it’s the best way to truly experience the National Park.
I think there’s two ways to think about this experience. First, is reviewing the experience for what it was. The boat ride was pleasant (especially during our visit with perfect weather), I learned a lot, I loved hiking around Boca Chita, and I loved seeing dolphins. It’s also a great way to do the park with kids. So as far as an educational boat ride goes, it absolutely delivered and was worth what I paid for it.
On the flip side, I don’t necessarily feel like I got the full picture of what Biscayne National Park is all about. From the surface, you miss out on some of Biscayne National Park’s most impressive features, like the coral reefs and the underwater Maritime Heritage Trail.
I feel like I saw enough of Biscayne to check the box, but I don’t think I saw the best that it has to offer. So it depends what you want to get out of it.
If you’re looking for a nice, easy way to experience a little bit of Biscayne, get out on the water, see some wild life, and learn the history, then this boat ride is definitely worth doing. I you want to really see the best that Biscayne has to offer, you’re probably going to be disappointed and should head underwater.
Tips for the Heritage of Biscayne Cruise
- Pack a picnic or snacks. If you are taking the morning cruise, you’ll end up at Boca Chita right around lunch time. If you have kids or just know you’ll be hungry, pack a picnic, or at least snacks. There are no stores on the island, but the shop at the visitor center does have a few snack items if you want to stock up before you head out.
- Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet. The Junior Ranger program is offered at all the National Parks. Pick up a free booklet from the Ranger Station in the visitor center, complete the required pages, and earn a badge. The Biscayne booklet also covers Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Reserve. You can earn badges separately or complete all three to get a triple-park patch.
- Pack Dramamine. If you’re prone to motion sickness, take a Dramamine before you go. The boat stays in the bay, so if you’re just a little bit sensitive, you might be okay. I took one just in case, and felt great.
- Try to board early. The boat is open seating, so the first people to board have first dibs. The seats along the edge of the boat went first, then the middle, then the front. Choose your seat wisely! The outside seats are the best for seeing wildlife off the side of the boat. However, they’re not the most comfortable, because you’re constantly twisting your back to see anything. I actually believe that the center seats are the most comfortable to enjoy the view. The front seats are best if you want to spot dolphins.
- Pack a small bag. There’s not a ton of space on board, so pack a small bag with just the essentials. Essentials include bug spray, sunblock, sunglasses, and your snacks. I’d also suggest wearing a light jacket, even if it’s warm out, because the boat is pretty breezy. They warn that you might get wet, but a drawstring bag or tote should be fine in most cases.
- Use reef-safe sunblock. I you plan to spend any time in the water at Boca Chita, be sure to only use reef-safe sunblock. The nearby reefs are so fragile and facing a slew of environmental dangers, already. Control what you can and use only reef-safe sunblock.
- Walk the Jetty Trail. There is a short hiking trail along the jetty that leads out into the water. If you have some time before or after your boat ride, this is another great way to enjoy the fresh ocean air and maybe spot some wildlife.
Other Ways to See Biscayne National Park
The Heritage of Biscayne Cruise is the main boat tour through Biscayne, not it’s not the only way to get out on the water. Here are a few other popular experiences at Biscayne National Park.
- Snorkeling & Diving: The Maritime Heritage Trail at Biscayne is a unique, underwater trail that includes views of shipwrecks, coral, sponges, mangroves, and of course a variety of sea creatures. Check out this video from The Wildly Life for their personal experience snorkeling in Biscayne or this super helpful guide by Lor & Jor Explore.
- Paddle Boarding & Kayaking: Another way to see Biscayne from the surface but more up-close is to paddle. Tours on both stand-up paddle boards and kayaks are offered and lead you through the lagoons, giving you a unique view of the ecosystems plants and wildlife. I loved reading this recap by Head Along with Heart – she absolutely loved her excursion!
- Fishing: The only thing I know less about than boats is fishing. But if you’re into that sort of thing, you can indeed fish (responsibly!) at Biscayne National park with the proper license. You can read the official rules and regulations here and here’s a guide, which I believe is helpful for that.
- Private Boating & Sailing: The waters of Biscayne National Park are completely free to enter and are open to the public. If you have a boat or rent a boat, you can explore the bay and keys on your own. For travelers, this is a more expensive and complicated option, but if you are local or have friends that are local and have boats, it’s much more probable.
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