Daily boat tours from Coconut Grove’s Dinner Key offer access to one of South Florida’s most inaccessible natural treasures.
On a recent Saturday morning, 23 people including a captain, a naturalist and a dozen pale tourists set sail on board the Stingray from Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove to explore Boca Chita Key in Biscayne National Park.
The boat was underway – the destination set – when the day’s sightseeing plans were interrupted by a surprise visitor.
Splashes were heard. Heads spun.
“Holy crap!” cried out a 10-year-old kid from Ohio. “Look, there’s a dolphin!”
Soon, a second dolphin appeared and everyone on board crowded the rail. Later, these national park visitors would see a shark, a lighthouse, and an iconic piece of Miami’s colorful past.
The Biscayne National Park Institute offers daily boat tours of Biscayne National Park from the park’s visitor center in Homestead and – since December 2021 – from Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove.
The Dinner Key tours were added to increase access to Biscayne National Park, which is 95% under water. Nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs can book a sightseeing trip, a kayak tour or a snorkeling adventure in the park. The institute offers six trips in all from Coconut Grove.
(Editor’s note: Spotlight readers can use the code Spotlight20 from June 3 to 12 to receive a discount on Dinner Key trips departing on or before October 31, 2024.)
The Stingray leaves the dock at Dinner Key once a day, seven days a week, on the Boca Chita Key Heritage Cruise ($83 adults; $49 children). It is one of the best ways to experience the diverse marine life and rich history of Biscayne National Park.
An hour into the trip, the boat slows to a stop to observe the astounding views of Miami, Key Largo, Homestead, and Key Biscayne, which all fill the horizon at once.
The second stop is Boca Chita Key, known for its picturesque views and 65-foot lighthouse, built in 1938. Passengers can disembark here for an hour to explore the island by themselves, enjoy the views and take a swim.
“The fact that it feels like a tropical paradise has taken (the park) a step away from your average national park,” states naturalist Daniel “D.W.” Wynne. “You can fish, explore and feel far away from everything.”
In the late 1930s, Boca Chita was owned by industrialist Mark C. Honeywell who, together with his wife, developed the island as a vacation retreat for themselves and their wealthy friends. The key became part of the park in 1968.
The lighthouse has a particularly bizarre history. According to one popular story, the lighthouse was shut down hours after its first lighting because the Honeywells didn’t have permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to operate it.
After leaving Boca Chita, the Stingray visits the cluster of stilt houses off the coast of Key Biscayne known as Stiltsville. Stiltsville has a history dating back to 1933, when “Crawfish” Eddie Walker built a shack on stilts. Others followed suit, and Stiltsville soon became a popular spot for parties and gatherings.
Over the years, hurricanes and fires have devastated the iconic shacks. Of the original 27 structures, only six remain (a seventh house, the Leshaw House, was destroyed by fire in January 2021).
The Stingray winds slowly through some of the original houses, while the boat’s naturalist explains Stiltsville’s colorful history. Passengers snap photos.
“Having our Coconut Grove location helps us meet our mission of increasing access to Biscayne National Park,” said Claudia Murga, program coordinator for the institute.
More details on the tours can be found on the institute’s official website. A video article describing the tour can be found online courtesy of Caplin News.
FIU students Kimberly Peters and Anna Trinidad wrote this story as part of a cooperative agreement between FIU’s Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media and the Spotlight.
