Private Miami Boat Tour: Snorkeling Biscayne Bay, Star Island Views & Dolphin Spotting

Miami Beach•easy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

3.5–4 hours

Fitness Level

Comfortable standing and moving on a small boat; basic swimming helpful for snorkeling but not required if you stay aboard.

Overview

See Miami from the water on a private boat tour that blends snorkeling, Star Island sightseeing, and dolphin spotting in Biscayne Bay. Calm coves, celebrity islands, and close-to-nature moments make this the city’s most relaxed—and revealing—angle.

Private Miami Boat Tour: Snorkeling Biscayne Bay, Star Island Views & Dolphin Spotting

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Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

Biscayne Bay wakes up early. Mornings here move with the tide—glass-smooth water, a skyline sharpening in the sun, pelicans gliding like they own the air. On a private 22-foot boat, you slip off the dock and into Miami’s marine boulevard, where dolphins nose the channel edges and manatees graze the seagrass. The captain throttles up, the hull hums, and the city recedes while the bay invites you in.

Adventure Photos

Private Miami Boat Tour: Snorkeling Biscayne Bay, Star Island Views & Dolphin Spotting photo 1

Adventure Tips

Go early for calm water

Morning departures offer smoother seas, fewer boats, and clearer snorkeling visibility in Biscayne Bay.

Choose reef-safe sunscreen

Protect the bay’s seagrass and marine life by using mineral, reef-safe sunscreen and reapplying after swims.

Hydrate and shade up

Florida sun hits hard year-round—pack extra water, a hat, and a light sun shirt to stay comfortable.

Snorkel smart around wildlife

Keep distance from dolphins and manatees and follow the captain’s guidance when animals approach the boat.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Bottlenose dolphin
West Indian manatee

History

Many of Miami’s ‘man-made’ islands—including Star Island—were created during the 1920s boom by dredging Biscayne Bay; the Flagler Monument was erected in 1920 to honor railroad pioneer Henry Flagler.

Conservation

Obey slow-speed manatee zones, avoid running motors through seagrass beds, and use reef-safe sunscreen. Pack out all trash from Monument and Picnic Islands to keep the bay healthy.