St Augustine Tiki Boat Cruise: BYOB on Matanzas Bay

Drift past the Castillo and Bridge of Lions with a drink in hand

A 90-minute shared cruise aboard a floating tiki boat through St. Augustine's historic waterways, including the Intracoastal Waterway, Matanzas Bay, and Hospital Creek. You bring your own beverages while the boat supplies a cooler, ice, and a Bluetooth sound system. A live guide points out the Castillo de San Marcos, Bridge of Lions, and wildlife including dolphins, blue herons, ospreys, manatees, and sea turtles.

Step-by-step itinerary

Floating tiki boat cruise tour

• Board private tiki boat
• Cruise Intracoastal Waterway
• View Castillo de San Marcos
• Pass Bridge of Lions
• Explore Hospital Creek backwaters
• Watch for dolphins and wildlife
• Enjoy BYOB with cooler and ice

The experience

The boat departs for a route that threads through three connected waterways around St. Augustine. You'll pass the Castillo de San Marcos, the 17th-century Spanish stone fortress built between 1672 and 1695 to defend the city from pirates, and the Bridge of Lions, the 1927 drawbridge with its two marble Medici lion statues guarding the entrance. Hospital Creek, a narrower backwater, runs between the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and the Big Cross of the Mission Nombre de Dios, where the wildlife sightings tend to concentrate.

The tiki boat itself is the whole point: a floating bar where you set the mood. Bring whatever you want to drink, and the boat provides a Yeti cooler stocked with ice and water, plus a Bluetooth sound system to play your own music or let the guide's playlist carry the afternoon. The laid-back setup works for small groups, couples, and friends marking a celebration, and the 90 minutes on the water is long enough to catch the light changing across the historic skyline without eating up your whole day in St. Augustine.

Watch for dolphins, blue herons, ospreys, manatees, and sea turtles as you cruise. The guide will point out when they appear. The boat is wheelchair accessible, and the route is suitable for all fitness levels, so the main constraint is the weather and the tides.

What’s included

• Your trip includes a live guide in English.
• a Yeti cooler stocked with ice and water.
• and a Bluetooth sound system to play music during the cruise.

Information

Lasts 1h 30m, runs every day except Saturday at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30, from US$ 86 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 6 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDepartures at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

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

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (6 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (under 3)

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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Cruisin Tikis St. Augustine

Is this one for you?This is a shared cruise, so you'll be on the boat with other small groups and couples rather than alone. It's the format that keeps the price low and the vibe social, perfect if you want to meet other travelers or celebrate with friends without renting a private charter.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 17 years); Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (under 3).

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 wildlife can I actually expect to see on the St. Augustine tiki boat cruise?

Dolphins, blue herons, ospreys, manatees, and sea turtles all inhabit these waterways. Sightings are most common in Hospital Creek and around Matanzas Bay, though what you see depends on the time of day and season.

Can I bring my own drinks on the tiki boat?

Yes, BYOB is welcome. The boat provides a Yeti cooler stocked with ice and water, so you can keep your beverages cold for the full 90 minutes.

What is the Castillo de San Marcos and why does it matter?

The Castillo de San Marcos is a 17th-century Spanish stone fortress built between 1672 and 1695 to protect St. Augustine from pirates and rival European powers. Made of coquina, a shell-based limestone that absorbs cannon fire instead of shattering, it's the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. and a National Monument you'll pass on the water.

How long is the cruise and what's included?

The cruise runs 90 minutes and includes a live English-speaking guide, a Yeti cooler with ice and water, and a Bluetooth sound system. You bring your own beverages.

Is the tiki boat accessible for people with mobility needs?

Yes, the boat is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.