boca chita key

We decided to camp here over the weekend. The camping was a nightmare. Mosquitos were everywhere and there were teenagers yelling about drugs and sex until 4 am. The fishing was decent. Bring small hooks for blue runners and grunts. The view was amazing. The lighthouse happened to be open so we went up and got an amazing view.

Our family took this trip out to snorkel around outside of Boca Chita on some coral formations. The boat is open to the wind, with a roof over about 2/3 of it. The trip must be a about 30 minutes each way, though I did not time it. The crew is generally very good, being both humorous and informative. The snorkeling area has some very good coral formations, particularly the fan coral, and is really quite pretty. On the other hand, the fauna is not as extensive as at other reefs. Overall worth the time and money to go out.The boat operation while good, could do a few things a bit better. First, they might offer folks a wet suit top when there is much of a chance the folks will get cold. They should also tell the folks to take something warm out to the site as the trip back, after being in cool water for about an hour, can get very cold. They might think of having some hot and cold beverages (depending upon the temperature) for folks when they get done. In our case, some hot drink would have been appreciated. I can see on hot sunny days the trip back could be quite the opposite, and folks would be longing for a drink when they get back, so cold water would be good. Maybe they should add this to the "you should probably take ... with you." list.

The boat is not operated by the National Park Service but rather a company called Zerve. The boat leaves from the visitor center dock and the captain and his crew were great! They were very informative, funny, and safe. We especially liked Marty, who was our guide once the boat arrived to Boca Chita. He led us around the island and was full of fun facts about the plants, the island, and the area in general. He's a talker - and relates his tour to his own life as someone who grew up and played in the Biscayne area - made the tour that much better! Get out and enjoy your National Parks! And since this park is 95% water - do it on this boat tour! :)

My wife and I booked this trip for a Saturday, but it was canceled. I was happy it was canceled since the weather was unusually cold and there was a threat of rain. A word of advice--don't book the tour too far in advance. They are non-refundable and you cannot change the dates. I booked the tickets a week in advance and regretted it once I saw the weather forecast. We had to drive an hour from Miami to find out it was canceled. But the next weekend the weather was perfect. Boca Chita is a tiny key full of campers, but it is very pretty. We were given an hour to explore the island while the boat took the snorkelers to a nearby reef. There's a beautiful lighthouse where you get some amazing views. The water at the key is crystal clear and we saw a stingray and several tropical fish just from walking around. One part of the island has red and black mangroves along a beach full of shells. If you can do this on a beautiful day it is definitely worth a 3 hour tour.

We took the boat trip out to Boca Chita Key. It was nice until on the return trip the captain hit a channel marker post which went down the starboard side of the boat and destroyed a ladder used for snorkeling and scuba diving. We were moving at a fairly high speed at the time. It was a close call. Lucky he didn't hit it straight on. As far as I am concerned, that makes the whole trip a bummer. The captain said the sun was in his eyes. OK. You have to really question the overall safety of the boat operation when something like this happens. If you try to book this trip ask them what they have done as a result of this incident to assure safety of future operations.

Boca Chita key should be renamed Picnic Area Key because that’s all it is. Sure, there is the ocean all around, but I don’t know if I would pay to go out there again just to be around water. A fake lighthouse marks the key. The cruise itself wasn’t bad. The captain and assistants were nice and helpful. The same boat had both snorkelers and sightseers and I think the snorkelers had more fun.

My wife and I did both the lighthouse and snorkel tours. We didn't realize these tours were both on the same boat. The boat drops folks off at the lighthouse and then goes onto the snorkel sight. We almost lost our snorkel tour because the tour boat got in late. We enjoyed both tours but the same boat ride got boring quick. My recommendation is to check in for both tours for the 10 am boat ride, pack a lunch, pickup snorkel gear and pack your swimsuit. Do the lighthouse tour, eat a picnic lunch and chill at the island and change into your swimsuit and get on the 2nd boat tour and go snorkeling.

We went on the boat tour offered from the Biscayne National Park Visitor Center. There are two boat trips. The boat first goes to Boca Chita Key, drops off the Boca Chita visitors, and then goes out to the snorkeling site for a few hours, then returns to Boca Chita and then back to the Visitor Center. We chose to see Boca Chita. We toured the lighthouse, hiked around the island, then ate our picnic lunch we had brought with us. The picnic grounds are beautiful. There are restrooms and a small beach. The boat captain is outstanding, really informative and funny. There was light wind that day and several of the snorkelers told us on the way back they wished they had seen the island instead, as the snorkeling was not very good.

A great place to relax... get there on a boat... lots of mosquitos when I was there, but worthwhile visiting!!!

I'm so glad that I decided to make this the final stop of my Southern Florida National Park trip. The weather was perfect, it wasn't that crowded, and the views were spectacular! A rain storm came in the day prior so it was not good for any kind of snorkeling. My goal was to take the boat trip out to this island and explore what I could.The only way to get to Boca Chita Key is by boat. Either your own or by the National Park charter. The morning tour was already booked up with school children so I had to wait for the 1:30 trip out. Unfortunately, when I signed up, they did not have the minimum amount of people (12) signed up so they were not sure if it would go or not. Whew! Luckily, we did get enough people and off we went. Before we left, we got a briefing of the island and water from a park ranger who came with us. It was approximately a 30 minute ride out. The ride was smooth and the water the most gorgeous turquoise ever! The boat had seating inside and out. There was not a bad seat and you were free to move wherever you wanted during the ride. The actual island of Boca Chita Key is small but very well maintained. There are restrooms, picnic areas, the lighthouse, and the small beach areas covered with shells. We received a brief overview and history of the island by the park ranger. It was informative and worth it to listen too. Afterwards we were free to explore the rest of the island for about an hour and a half. It was a great day for photography and I loved it!There are signs stating that "what you bring in, you have to bring out". Unfortunately, there was some trash and litter that people decided to leave there. It wasn't bad or overwhelming but it was there. I thought it was sad that there are people who just have no respect for this beautiful place. Our boat captain was great. He had many stories and pointed out places and animal life along the way. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and a great way to spend an afternoon. The Visitor Center in Homestead was also a great place to start. There is a quick 10 minute movie and exhibits. The park rangers were informative and pleasant. There was a great little half mile trail along the water, clean restrooms, and picnic benches everywhere. Next door to the visitor center was a little shop where you can purchase food, drinks, souvenirs, and sign up for the boat ride out to Boca Chita.A beautiful visitor center and a great island! I highly recommend the boat trip out to Boca Chita Key. Biscayne National Park is awesome!

Awesome views and Florida history found here. Stop at the park for lunch and a sunset view

This key has a lovely cove for snorkeling; a nature trail through a hammock; grassy areas with picnic tables, grills, and palm trees; a non-functional light house that serves as a navigational aid and provides a nice view; and latrines. There is no running water on the key, but if you plan appropriately, it is a lovely place to get away to for a few hours relaxation, a day's picnic, or several days away from the hustle and bustle of the city.Those who simply want to explore the key for a few hours can take the boat tour from the Biscayne National Park Visitor's Center in Homestead for around $35/person for adults.

To get to Boca Chita you will need to buy a ticket at the concession stand. Its a 45 minute trip each way which leaves 1.5 hours to explore the island. Well worth if for another vantage point of the park.

We went snorkeling out of Key Biscayne National Park. Great crew and volunteer staff accompanied us. A three hour tour well worth it.

This is one of the hidden gems of South Florida. When we are not fishing or on a fishng charter we love to spend time docked on Boca Chita. We have pictures at http://www.miamifloridafishingcharters.comWe need more places like this.