Miami: Private Boat Tour Biscayne Bay & Skyline with Captain

What does Miami actually look like from the water?

You get a private boat with an experienced captain navigating Biscayne Bay from Coconut Grove, passing Celebrity Row, Fisher Island, and Downtown Miami's skyline. The 2-hour tour includes the full route. Shorter and longer options are available. Bring your own drinks or request champagne, use the floating mat if you want, and return to the same marina at a relaxed pace with music of your choice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour of Miami Bay

• Arrive 20 minutes before departure
• Depart from Coconut Grove marina
• Cruise along Biscayne Bay
• View Miami River and celebrity mansions
• See Miami Beach Coast and dolphins
• Pass Star Island and Fisher Island
• Explore Downtown Miami and Brickell buildings
• Visit Marine Stadium and anchor
• Relax on the boat
• Return via Brickell canals
• Enjoy relaxing music onboard
• Return to departure location

The experience

Coconut Grove is where you start, and the boat leaves from a marina with no river idling, which means you're out on Biscayne Bay faster than most tours manage. Your captain is USCG-licensed, and you can pick which one if you want. The route depends on how long you've booked: a 1-hour express skips the downtown run, but the 2-hour tour is the full thing, and it's the one the crew recommends if you want to actually see Miami instead of just glimpse it.

From the water, the city unfolds in a way the highways never show you. You pass Celebrity Row and Fisher Island, then the Miami River opens up, and suddenly you're looking at the financial district from Brickell: all those glass towers reflected in the canal. The skyline comes next, and then Biscayne Bay proper, where dolphins show up sometimes and the light hits the water differently than it does from land. The Marine Stadium is an option too. If the timing works, you anchor there and just sit with it for a while. On the way back, the captain takes it slow, the sound system plays whatever you want, and the whole thing has the feeling of someone's private afternoon rather than a scheduled tour.

You bring your own drinks and snacks, or champagne if that's the mood. There's a floating water mat if you want to get in, a cooler with ice, and the kind of space where you're not packed in with thirty other people. The boat itself is set up for this, not a party boat, not a fishing charter, just a clean private ride with someone who knows the water. Arrive 20 to 25 minutes early so the captain can brief you on the route and the day's conditions.

What’s included

Your tour includes a USCG-licensed captain of your choice, a cooler with ice, premium sound system for your own music, floating water mat, champagne when requested, and prime departure from Coconut Grove with no river idling so you spend more time cruising Biscayne Bay. You bring your own drinks and snacks, or request champagne in advance.

Options for this experience

3 options

Miami Express Tour, lasting 1 hourGuide in English or Spanish · 14 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 21:30Pay at the destination: $90 covers the captain and fuel surcharges, and this must be paid separately from the online booking on all private tours. Tour: Quick Ride, a short taste of boating in Miami designed for a brief trip on the water. BYOB: a complimentary bottle of champagne, cooler and ice are provided. Duration: 1 hour. Boat type: Monterrey M225, our luxurious 24' fleet with spacious seating and premium interiors for 8 people. Note: for the full experience, we recommend the 2-hour tour.

Miami Sightseeing Tour, lasting 2 hoursGuide in English or Spanish · 14 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 21:30Pay at the destination: $130 covers the captain and fuel surcharges, and this must be paid separately from the online booking on all private tours. Tour: Sightseeing Charter, a 2-hour trip along Miami's iconic coastline past landmarks such as Brickell and the Downtown skyline. Duration: 2 hours. BYOB: passengers may bring food, beverages and alcohol on board, and a complimentary bottle of champagne is offered. Private boat: our luxurious 24' Monterrey M225 fleet offers spacious seating and premium interiors for 8 people. Prime pickup location: we offer a pickup spot not departing from an old hangar in the river, guaranteeing no idling to the bay.

Miami Sandbar Tour, lasting 3 hoursGuide in English or Spanish · 8 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 17:30Pay at the destination: $170 covers the captain and fuel surcharges, and this must be paid separately from the online booking on all private tours. Tour: Sandbar Charter, a relaxing way to explore Miami's iconic coastline, one of the must-do experiences in Miami: the Sandbar (Nixon). Duration: 3 hours. BYOB: passengers may bring food, beverages and alcohol on board, and a complimentary bottle of champagne is offered. Private boat: we offer a prime pickup location, not departing from an old hangar in the river, guaranteeing no idling to the bay.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day14 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 21:30

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Departure and drop-off location is by Monty's at Coconut Grove.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 90

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problems

Operated by Boatmiamiboat -Boat rental tours in Miami-

Is this one for you?Book this if you want Miami's waterfront without the crowds or the fixed schedule of a group tour: the captain tailors the route to your time and interests, and you're never more than a handful of people on the water.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the Miami private boat tour?

Three options: 1 hour (express, no skyline), 2 hours (full tour with all stops), or 3 hours (sandbar only). The 2-hour tour is recommended for the complete experience.

What's included in the boat tour?

Cooler with ice, premium sound system, USCG-licensed captain, floating water mat, and champagne upon request. You bring your own drinks and snacks.

Where does the Miami boat tour depart from?

Coconut Grove marina. Arrive 20–25 minutes before departure.

Can you see dolphins on the tour?

Dolphins and seabirds appear sometimes during the Biscayne Bay cruise, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Can you pick your captain?

Yes, independent USCG-licensed captains are available for selection.

Is the boat tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes, minimum age is 3 years and above. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Can you play your own music on the boat?

Yes, the premium sound system lets you play your own music during the tour.

What if I want to add champagne?

Champagne is available upon request and included in the tour inclusions.