Photo:
Acroterion / CC BY-SA 4.0
Biscayne is a national park you experience mostly from the water. 95% of its 173,000 acres lie beneath Biscayne Bay, protecting living coral reefs, clear turquoise shallows, mangrove shoreline and the northernmost Florida Keys. Just south of Miami yet a world away, it is a place for snorkelers, paddlers and boaters to explore one of the richest marine ecosystems in the country.
Four ecosystems meet here: the shoreline mangrove forest, the shallow warm waters of Biscayne Bay, the coral limestone keys, and the coral reefs offshore. The reefs and seagrass shelter tropical fish, spiny lobster, sea turtles and manatees, the mangroves are a nursery for marine life, and the bay’s clear water hides the Maritime Heritage Trail of historic shipwrecks.
The dry season, roughly December through April, brings the calmest, clearest water, the best snorkeling visibility and the most comfortable temperatures. Summer is hot, humid and stormy, with daily thunderstorms and the Atlantic hurricane season running June through November. Water conditions govern everything, so watch the marine forecast whenever you plan to go out.
The mainland hub is Convoy Point near Homestead, home to the visitor center and boat tours. Because the park is almost all water, you explore it by concessioner boat tour, private vessel or kayak. There is very little to do on foot beyond the visitor-center grounds and a short shoreline trail. Camping is on the islands, reached only by boat.
Snorkeling and diving the reefs and shipwrecks are the marquee activities, run through the park’s concessioner. Paddlers explore the mangrove creeks and bay, boaters visit Boca Chita and Elliott Key, and glass-bottom or sightseeing tours introduce the underwater world to non-swimmers. Wildlife watching turns up manatees, sea turtles, dolphins and abundant birdlife.
Sun and heat are constant, so carry water, sun protection and shade. On the water, be ready for open-water conditions, strong currents and fast-building thunderstorms with lightning. Carry a VHF radio, life jackets and a float plan, and only snorkel within your ability. During hurricane season, watch tropical forecasts closely and give the reef and wildlife respectful distance.
There is no entrance fee, but boat tours and island camping are concessioner-run and should be booked ahead, and you must bring all fresh water and supplies. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current tour schedules, marine conditions and reservations with the National Park Service and concessioner before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
