Just before you get to the Florida Keys you have to drive between Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. 95% of Biscayne National Park is underwater, so how do you enjoy it? You either get on the water or you admire it from shore. Kayaking in Biscayne National Park is both beautiful and if you’re doing a tour it’s wonderfully informational. There’s a lot to learn out here and it’s a great addition to a trip down to the Florida Keys.
We’ve got the full scoop on doing the guided kayak tours, launching your own watercraft (including SUPs) and renting kayaks at Biscayne National Park. It’s a fun spot and is a great place to cross off your Florida bucket list. If you have any questions about kayaking in Biscayne National Park or other places to paddle at the start of the Keys, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more to help you plan an awesome trip.
Highlights of Kayaking Biscayne National Park
Since 95% of Biscayne National Park is underwater, to really enjoy the park you either need to be diving, snorkeling, or paddling. Or I guess doing one of the boat tours. Kayaking at Biscayne NP really is beautiful and even though you can see Miami off in the distance you feel a world away.
When you’re planning a kayaking route it is not complicated, but if you’re not used to paddling in Florida, it may seem confusing. There are bays, islands, mangrove passages and boating channels. You need to familiarize yourself with where to paddle before heading out. And your kayaking routes will be the same if you plan on using a stand up paddleboard. The guided Biscayne National Park kayak tour through the Biscayne Institute is the best and safest way to explore the waterways of the park. Launching from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, the guided kayak tour of Biscayne NP is good for ages 8 and up, and for nearly any experience level of kayaker. I like that going out with a guide means you’re leaning on the safe side as you go out, because the weather and currents can change quickly, and it’s good to be out with somebody who is good at reading the skies and waves.
Guided kayaking is always a fun time for us, but when we’re paddling in the Florida Keys, the Everglades or Biscayne having a professional who’s very familiar with the more unique passageways is great. I’ve gotten lost kayaking in mangroves and the fear of getting stuck is real. And that’s why guides are awesome. If you’ve been kayaking at Geiger Key near Key West, then you know what I’m talking about with confusing passageways on the water. Biscayne National Park is similar, so you know, safety first, which means going with a guide for me.
Tips for Biscayne National Park Kayaking
Although the guided kayaking tours in Biscayne National Park don’t go far out into the Bay, sometimes the moving water can be challenging to paddle on. As you’re getting ready to go out with your guide (or if you’re going on your own) be sure that your paddling with somebody you’ll be able to have a cooperative paddling experience with. Working as a team can become very important if the weather changes. With that, if you’re visiting on your own and don’t have a kayaking buddy but you know you need that sort of support, be sure to let your guide know so that everyone is safe. And if you’re on a SUP, keen in mind that standing will often turn your body into a sail, so paddling against the wind can be a challenge.
One of the coolest things about kayaking in Biscayne National Park is the wildlife that you may encounter. From manatees and dolphins to iguanas swimming by, it’s a pretty unique sort of place to paddle. While there’s always the chance of encountering a crocodile while you’re here, it’s not nearly as likely as when you’re kayaking at Flamingo in Everglades National Park. Crocs are around, but very few and very far between. Either way, you need to be aware and alert for all types of wildlife and remember that wildlife is just that: wild.
If you encounter a manatee while you’re on your kayaking tour (or on your own) remember that it’s illegal to touch them. If you have a dolphin hanging out with you, you just need to chill and let them go about their business, not harass them. And iguanas… you don’t want to welcome them aboard with their long claws and their insane poop. Let the wildlife be and just enjoy it.
Being Prepared for Biscayne National Park
Sunblock, y’all. I know I’ve mentioned storms coming up quickly when you’re kayaking at Biscayne National Park, but also sometimes it’s just downright sunny and the sunlight bounces off the water with a vengeance. You should apply reef-safe sunblock before you start your kayaking tour, especially on your face. Wearing a broad brimmed hat is also important for sun protection.
Camera gear when you’re kayaking is such a subjective topic. When I’m kayaking at home with my own paddle craft and my dry-gear I tend to bring my big camera because I know I have space for it and I know how to manage it well. When I’m doing a kayaking tour in Biscayne National Park or anywhere else in the Florida Keys I’m always a little more cautious just because I don’t know how aggressively we’ll be paddling or what sort of splashing may come from the waves in the area. I often find that I’m satisfied with my camera phone in a good waterproof case when I’m on a tour. I know how to work with it amidst different paddling scenarios and I find that it’s more reliable than using a GoPro out on the water.
When you’re doing a kayaking tour in Biscayne National Park, the Biscayne Institute does require that you wear a PFD/life jacket, which they will provide. If you have your own kayaking PFD that you prefer, you’re welcome to bring it and if your guide approves it you can use it. Typically with guided paddles you’ll need to have a life jacket style PFD vs a life belt as one is easier to grab if you go overboard, but you can always ask.
Parking at Biscayne National Park
Getting to Biscayne National Park is easy, and it’s a free park (no admission fee). Plan to visit either before you head into the Florida Keys or as your first activity when you leave the Keys. You can also visit as a day trip from Miami. The road into Biscayne NP is funny, as it zigzags through farms until you area all of the sudden surrounded by a hardwood hammock and mangroves and you’re at the Visitor Center.
Parking for the kayaking tours is the same as the visitor center, and there a lot of parking. Whether you’re launching your own watercraft or doing a tour, the launch is easily accessible and fairly simple to get into your kayak.
Biscayne Institute Operating Information
To be sure you have the best experience doing one of the tours through the Biscayne Institute, here’s the operating information for your visit:
- Operating Dates/Season: year round, several trips per day, weather dependent
- Office phone number: 786-481-0453
- NPS Office number: 305-230-1144
- Company website: BiscayneNationalParkInstitute.org
- Tour check-in address: 9700 SW 328th St, Homestead, FL 33033
More Ways to Experience Florida National Parks
Yes, the Florida Keys have their own National Park: Dry Tortugas NP. Located way far off of Key West, this is one of the prettiest places in all of the Keys. It’s an adventure to get there but it’s worth it. Most visitors experience Dry Tortugas National Park as a day trip, but you can actually camp here too! We’ve got tip for ya…
I think the Everglades are really cool to explore, and with so much wildlife how can you pass them up. Everglades National Park is on the way to the Florida Keys, so it’s an easy addition. Whether you’re spending a few days exploring each of the districts of Everglade NP or you are just stopping into the Flamingo area (it’s the closest to the Keys), we’ve got lots of advice and ideas to have a great experience.
And you know there’s another National Park at the start of the Florida Keys: Biscayne National Park!!! While mostly known for boating and diving, Biscayne National Park is a beautiful place and is a great stop on the way to the Keys. You can experience Biscayne NP in a day and cross it off your National Parks list.
Lastly, there’s another often overlooked National Park Service area that is AMAZING. Big Cypress National Preserve shares a border with Everglades National Park and is a fascinating place to explore. Boardwalks through cypress swamps foot and paddling trails make this a really unique stop on the way to the Florida Keys.
Here are our suggestions for experiencing Florida’s National Parks:
I hope you’ll consider spending some time in Biscayne National Park. The wildlife here is awesome and is perfectly Florida. If you have any questions about visiting Biscayne or Everglades National Parks or need additional recommendations, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help plan awesome Florida Keys trips!
