Newsflash: Key West is an island! Ok, hardly newsworthy. But many visitors like to come to our beautiful piece of rock and then spend all their time crawling around Duvall. That’s fun, but Key West is all about getting out on the water. Seeing dolphins, manatees, fish, and stuff. What are you waiting for? Here’s a look at six different types of Key West boat tours you could book today.
6 Key West Boat Tours to Get You Out On the Water
You might have noticed that all the top must-do Key West excursions involve getting on a boat. There is no shortage of different kinds of boat tours in Key West. Here’s a breakdown of the six most popular Key West boat tours.
Fishing Charters
People come from all over the world to fish in the Keys. While other seaside towns have great offshore fishing, Key West is unique in that there are multiple types of fishing you can do here. The trick with any fishing charter is to find the best. You can pick from private or shared fishing charters in Key West.
Deep-sea anglers will want to head offshore in a big charter boat for a half or full-day charter. Once out past the reef line, these boats will troll heavy tackle for big fish — marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna, and whatever else they might hook into. The Kraken? Maybe.
Flats fishermen will want to find someone with a skinny water skiff to take them into the backcountry. Here, they’ll stalk the shy and not-so-shy: bonefish, tarpon, snook, permit, and others.
In between the two, there are about a million variations of light and medium tackle fishing. Lots of charters take you out to try your luck bottom fishing along the reef line, wrecks, or mangrove creeks. Snapper, grouper, hogfish,
Snorkeling and Diving Trips
If you want to see the only living coral reef in the contiguous US, you’ll want one of the Key West boat tours that offer snorkeling, diving, or both.
Snorkel tours are geared toward beginners. They usually favor shallow reefs that have little current and good visibility. Be sure to check out my ultimate first-timer’s guide to Key West coral reef snorkeling.
Diving tours, on the other hand, tend to find deeper spots where the divers will have more room to play. While some of these may allow snorkelers to come along, they’re usually less than spectacular since the water will be deeper, and it will be harder to see anything. Diving charters are best left to certified divers, and snorkel charters are better if you don’t want to deal with all that gear.
Most snorkel and dive trips last 3–4 hours and hit up two spots. If you’re really into the reefs, it’s worth stopping and taking tours from a few islands on your way to Key West. Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, and Looe Key have excellent snorkeling and dive sites, too.
Sunset Sails
Finding the absolute best places to watch the sunset in Key West is the name of the game down here. For my money, I think that getting out on a boat is the tops. You get away from the crowds at Mallory Square, and you stand the best chance of getting a glimpse of the elusive Green Flash.
There are many flavors of sunset cruises in Key West. Several old-timey sailing schooners offer tours during the season, plus the more run-of-the-mill sailboats and power boats. You can charter any sort of small boat to take small groups out, from sailboats to catamarans to pontoon boats.
Sunset cruises may be champagne sails or BYOB — be sure to check before you book. Some are all-inclusive, and some are bare-bones.
Dinner Cruises
Several big boats leave Key West harbor every evening for buffet-style dinner cruises. It’s a great way to enjoy a meal at sea and catch the sunset. Be sure to read the reviews and understand what you’re getting. Some of these boats are “party boats,” where the vibe is more ‘spring break beach club’ than a classy dinner out. Some even have live music and space to dance, even. No matter which one you book, check what’s included in the bar and what costs extra!
Many people who have taken dinner cruises admit that it would have been better to take a nice sunset cruise and then find a nice restaurant for dinner afterward. Combining the two activities reduces your enjoyment of both.
Eco Tours
Eco-tours describe anything from group dolphin-watching cruises to quiet birdwatching and snorkeling trips. No one ever promises you’ll see wildlife on these trips, but most captains know where to go for the best chances. There’s a lot of wildlife in the waters surrounding Key West.
Some of the best eco-tours are done from kayak or paddleboard. To find a good one, you’ll want to head out of town towards some of the quieter Keys to the north. You want to be able to do your paddling away from town in the real backcountry.
Sandbar Trips
One way to get a little taste of everything the Key West boat tours can offer is to take a sandbar charter. Like fishing and snorkeling trips, you can go on crowded “headboats” or a private small boat. Either way, you’ll spend some time cruising around the islands. There’s a little bit of eco-tour since you’ll very likely see dolphins, birds, and maybe manatees or sharks.
Sandbars are our best beaches. Far away from town, these incredible sandbars in Key West are uncovered at low tide. They’re the perfect place to escape and relax like you’re on your own private island. But, on busy weekends, the party comes to you!
Can't Decide? Build Your Own and Do All the Best Key West Boat Tours
Before booking any of these Key West boat trips, be sure to check out my top tips for picking Florida Keys boat charters. One of the best ways to do it all is to book a private charter and tailor it to meet your needs. Want to do a little ecotouring, snorkeling, and sandbar hopping in one afternoon? We can do that! Call Captain Zak at Casual Monday, and I’ll hook you up.
