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Biscayne National Park
Concession is under new management!
The New! Biscayne National Park Concession!
We offer two adventures everyday when we meet minimum
guest levels! Scehuled departures at 10:00am and 1:30pm everyday, be here one hour early. We offer The Boca Chita Lighthouse Adventure daily.
WE ONLY OFFER SNORKEL, SCUBA, AND GLASS BOTTOM BOAT TOURS WHEN THE
WEATHER AND GUEST REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.
Please come to the park! Movie theatre,
kayaks, paddle boats, food, we have plenty for you to do!
Glass Bottom Boat - Ranger Led Island Trips -
Snorkel Biscayne Bay - Snorkel The Outer Open Water Coral Reefs -
Scuba - Kayaks - Canoes - Two and Four Place Paddle Boats
Hello Locals! Don't own a boat but want to
go to Elliott Key or Boca Chita for the day? Then allow us to
shuttle you to one of our beautiful islands for the day. We
will transport you, your family, your friends, and your gear
to one of our beautiful Biscayne National Park Islands (personal
items and coolers only - other equipment with additional pricing).
Call us for additional information.
Our new reservation system is now ready for you!
Full refunds if weather or mechanical issues arise! In
addition, you can change your scheduled time as much as you want up
to 24 hours before departure time!
New Kayaks and Canoes available daily seven days per week - Yes we are open on all holidays for
your convenience!
We will be offering many new adventures shortly! From daily round trips to the World Famous Boca Chita
and Elliott Key Islands to Reef Diving, Snorkeling, and many other
exciting opportunities; so much is coming in the very near future!
Stand by for the New Biscayne National Park Concession Adventures!
Our Sister Concession in Everglades National Park
is: www.AirboatUSA.com
Airboatusa.com airboat rides and eco tours
operate in the Everglades
National Park Expansion Lands Only! AirBoatUSA.com provides a
professional safari deep into the ecosystems of Everglades National
Park! If you want the best of both worlds, then, allow us to give you a
full day of excitement! Enjoy Biscayne National Park, Everglades
National Park, and see nature at her best.
Biscayne National Park provides a wealth of
opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts. If you are looking for an
active adventure, try snorkeling, diving, canoeing or kayaking. If
you have a few days, you can camp out on a subtropical island, or
hike the length of Elliott Key. Does something a bit more relaxing
sound good? How about a short stroll on the Jetty Trail, a picnic by
the water, or a snooze in a rocking chair on the front porch of the
Visitor Center?
For all its diversity, though, there are a few
things you can't do in the park. Since most of the park is covered
by water, you will need a boat to get most places. If you don't have
a boat, the park's concessioner offers guided boat trips. There is
only one mile of paved roadway in the park, so there are no driving
tours or bicycle paths, though a network of bike trails leading to
the park is currently in the planning stages.
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 Guided
glass bottom boat tours, snorkeling trips and scuba diving
trips are all great ways to experience Biscayne. All trips
are subject to passenger minimums, and may not operate in
poor weather. Be sure to call and confirm your trip before
departing home.
Visiting the reefs and islands of
Biscayne National Park are a highlight of any visit. Windy
conditions, common during winter months, will allow you to
explore the Florida Keys on foot with less annoyance from
insects, while calm conditions afford an opportunity to see
the spectacular world of the coral reef. Sea turtles,
dolphins, and colorful fish are just a few of the surprises
you might encounter on this three-hour boat tour.
Reservations are recommended. For prices refer to the reservation box at the top. A park ranger accompanies trips with 8 or more
passengers.
Snorkeling Trip
Call for schedule availability or just place a reservation
in our system and an agent will call you back within 24 hrs.
One of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of the park is
by snorkeling in Biscayne Bay, or on the living coral reefs
offshore. Reservations are recommended. For prices refer to the reservation box at the top A brief orientation,
conducted by a park ranger, begins 30 minutes before
departure.
Island Excursion -
Biscayne National Park protects the true
beginning of the Florida Keys, and this trip affords a great
opportunity to learn about some of the many people who
shaped the area into what it is today. A highlight of the
trip is a visit to historic Boca Chita Key to climb the
beautiful little lighthouse built by Mark Honeywell in the
1930s. Reservations are recommended. For prices refer to the reservation box at the top. A park ranger accompanies trips with 8 or more
passengers.
Scuba Diving Charters or when in season only
Certified divers can discover the wonder and beauty of South
Florida's living coral reefs on a two-tank dive trip. A
current certification card is required. For prices refer to the reservation box at the top. We can fill your tanks
for you as well, but all other equipment must be supplied
by the diver or rented.
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 Although
Biscayne National Park is part of a
federal agency, fishing and other
harvesting activities are largely governed
by state law. This somewhat unusual
situation was written directly into the
park's enabling legislation, the law that
created the park and its predecessor,
Biscayne National Monument. Recreational
Saltwater Fishing License required!
A valid Florida State
Recreational Saltwater Fishing License is
required to fish in Biscayne National Park.
You do not need a
license if you are:
- Any child under 16
years of age.
- Any resident who is
a member of the United States Armed
Forces and not stationed in this state,
when home on leave for 30 days or less,
upon submission of orders.
- Any person fishing
who has been accepted as a client for
developmental disabilities services by
the Children and Family Services,
provided the department furnishes proof
thereof.
- Any resident fishing
in saltwater from land or from a
structure fixed to the land.
- Any person fishing
from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter,
party boat) that has a valid vessel
license.
- Any person fishing
from a vessel, the operator of which has
a valid vessel license issued in the
name of the operator of the vessel.
- Any person who holds
a valid saltwater products license (SPL).
- Any person fishing
for recreational purposes from a pier
that has been issued a valid pier
saltwater fishing license.
- Any resident fishing
for a saltwater species in fresh water
from land or from a structure fixed to
land.
- Any resident fishing
for mullet in fresh water who has a
valid Florida freshwater fishing
license.
- Any resident 65
years of age or older who has in her or
his possession proof of age and
residency. A no-cost license under this
paragraph may be obtained from any tax
collector's office upon proof of age and
residency and must be in the possession
of the resident during hunting,
freshwater fishing, and saltwater
fishing activities.
- Any employee of the
commission who takes freshwater fish,
saltwater fish, or game as part of
employment with the commission, or any
other person authorized by commission
permit to take freshwater fish,
saltwater fish, or game for scientific
or educational purposes.
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 Canoeing
and kayaking are great ways
to explore the park's
mangrove-fringed shorelines
and shallow bay waters. More
experienced kayakers may
enjoy crossing Biscayne
Bay's 7-mile expanse to camp
at Elliott Key or Boca Chita
Key. Using the islands as a
base camp will allow
exploration of the lagoons,
creeks and channels south of
Caesar Creek. Many of these
places are far to shallow
for any type of motorized
vessel, so canoeists and
kayakers are likely to have
these places all to
themselves.
Shallow Jones Lagoon is a
great place to see sharks,
rays, upside-down jellies,
huge schools of fish and
large wading birds.
Hurricane Creek, named for
the fact that old-timers
would tie their boats here
during big storms, offers
excellent snorkeling beneath
mangrove roots to
observe sea squirts, crabs,
anemones and other marine
life. Rocky ledges and giant
sponges provide hiding
places for spiny lobster,
though this area is within
the Biscayne Bay-Card Sound
Lobster Sanctuary, and
harvest is prohibited all
year.
Visitors
with canoes or kayaks of
their own can launch
them for free at the Dante
Fascell Visitor Center.
Leaving a vehicle in the
parking lot overnight is
permitted when camping on
one of the park's islands,
but stop into the Visitor
Center to fill out a free
parking permit. The park's
concessioner can sometimes
provide transport to Elliott
Key for campers and their
canoes and kayaks, allowing
exploration of the islands
and creeks without the
potentially daunting
crossing of Biscayne Bay.
We now
offer a wide range of kayaks
for rent and or purchase.
Canoes and kayaks on a
first-come, first-served
basis, unless you put a
reservation into the system.
You can now put a
reservation in our new
system and secure your
rental with a Charge Card. These
rental vessels must stay
within sight of Convoy
Point. There are some
small creeks and channels
just north of Convoy Point
that provide habitat for
large and small fish, and
many visitors catch a
glimpse of an American
crocodile or manatee in
these areas. For prices refer to the reservation box at the top. We now have two place
kayaks as well as the new
Quadra that carries
mom, dad, and the children
- children under 5 years old
(limit two) are no charge! Call
305-230-1100 for further
information.
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Please place a reservation into our new system. We offer 100%
refunds due to weather and or mechanical issues. We will also
allow you to change your reservation up to twenty four hours before
scheduled departure and or rental time. Accommodating our
customers is paramount in our service to customer offering.
We will continue to update this site daily during our product
development period.
Our Goal is to always serve the public in the most professional manner possible.
You, our very special guest, are exactly the ingredients to a successful product line!
We Make It Happen!
Gary Matthews
New General Manager
Biscayne National Park Concession
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