Private sandbar cruise Islamorada: 3-hour charter with captain

Thirty minutes through Whale Harbor Channel to your own anchored spot in the shallows.

A private 3-hour boat charter from Angler House Marina in Islamorada takes you to the sandbar with a licensed captain steering the route. You cruise through Whale Harbor Channel watching for dolphins and manatees, anchor in shallow water for swimming and floating, then return past the Shell Keys and historic Lignumvitae Key. The boat includes a cooler with fresh ice and water, onboard bathroom, Bluetooth speaker, noodles and frisbees, and a PFD for everyone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cruise to Islamorada Sandbar and back

• Depart from Angler House Marina
• Cruise through Whale Harbor Channel
• Watch for dolphins, manatees, and turtles
• Anchor at Islamorada Sandbar
• Swim, float, and relax at sandbar
• Cruise past Shell Keys and lobster traps
• View historic Lignumvitae Key
• Return to Angler House Marina

The experience

The boat leaves Angler House Marina on the Gulf of Mexico side and heads into Whale Harbor Channel for a 30-minute scenic run. This is where you watch for dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, tropical birds and the colorful fish moving through the shallows. The captain knows where they tend to gather and when the light is best for spotting them.

Once at the sandbar, the captain anchors in the spot that works best for the day's conditions, usually shallow enough to stand or float without effort. You swim, wade, drift on noodles, toss a frisbee, or sit in the sun-drenched water for as long as you want. The boat stays anchored nearby with the cooler stocked, the bathroom available, and the Bluetooth speaker playing whatever you bring on your phone.

The return cruise takes a different route past the Shell Keys, where you'll see the classic wooden lobster traps still in use, and then Lignumvitae Key: the highest natural point in all the Florida Keys, a small island with a history that shows in its shape and the trees that grow there. The whole trip is three hours from the time you leave the dock.

What’s included

• Licensed captain steering the route.
• PFD for everyone.
• cooler stocked with fresh ice, cups and water.
• large Lily Pad float.
• onboard bathroom.
• Bluetooth speaker for your music.
• noodles and frisbees for the water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

Book up to2h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by NAUTICAL TIKI CRUISES UPPER KEYS

Is this one for you?This is a private charter, so your group has the boat and captain to yourselves. It suits anyone who wants to set the pace and the playlist without sharing the sandbar with other passengers. The captain handles navigation and anchoring while you decide whether to swim, float, or stay dry on deck.

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Top questions

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 24 h before the start.

What's the water like at the Islamorada sandbar?

The sandbar sits in shallow, clear water where you can stand, float or swim without depth beneath you. It's the kind of spot where you can see straight down and the sun hits the bottom. The captain anchors in the calmest section for the day.

Will we see dolphins and manatees on this cruise?

Dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and tropical birds move through Whale Harbor Channel regularly, especially during the 30-minute run out to the sandbar. The captain watches for them and knows the areas where they're most likely to appear, though sightings are never guaranteed.

Is this a private charter or a shared boat?

This is a private charter, which means your group has the boat and the captain to yourselves for the full three hours: no other passengers joining you.

What happens if someone in our group can't swim?

Everyone gets a PFD (personal flotation device), and the sandbar water is shallow enough to stand in. You can float, wade, or stay on the boat: the captain anchors close enough that you're never far from the shallows or the deck.

What's included on the boat?

The charter includes a licensed captain, PFD for everyone, a cooler stocked with fresh ice and water, an onboard bathroom, a Bluetooth speaker so you can play your own music, noodles and frisbees for the water, and a large Lily Pad float.

Can we bring our own food and drinks?

You can bring your own beverages and snacks. The cooler is there for you to use. Bring sunscreen and a towel. The boat provides the PFD and water.