The South Florida area attracts tens of millions of travelers each year, making it one of the most popular travel destinations in the country. However, most tourists miss out on taking advantage of the best way to explore the area: Miami yacht tours.
From the coast to the canals snaking through the region, traveling by boat is a great way to see Miami from a different perspective. And, contrary to what you might think, yachting doesn’t always require huge sums of money.
Listed below are five Miami excursions that involve yachts, boats, and other vessels. All the Miami excursions listed are options to consider on your next South Florida vacation.
Read on to learn more!
Miami Yacht Tours: 5 Miami Excursions
1. Miami Harbour and Key Biscayne Yacht Cruise
Many of the Miami yacht tours you look at will let you explore Miami Harbour and Key Biscayne.
Miami Harbour borders the downtown portion of the city and offers stunning views of the city’s skyscrapers next to bright turquoise water. Key Biscayne is a barrier island across from the city that’s home to a small town, a historic lighthouse, and sheltered mangroves and beaches. It serves as a home for migratory birds, sea turtles, and other animals.
Miami excursions through the harbor are a great way to explore the city.
Yachts, sailboats, speed boats, and catamarans are some of the many vessels that explore this area. Some of these boats are large and capable of hosting events and parties, whereas others are smaller and simply meant to transport you from Miami to a nearby place.
Regardless of the vessel you choose, exploring Miami Harbour and Key Biscayne is one of the things to do in Miami Florida.
2. Day Trips to Exuma Bahamas
One of the best Miami yacht tours you can do is a Miami to Bahamas day trip. While boats do travel to the Bahamas from South Florida, air travel is actually the ideal mode of transportation.
The ferries that depart Miami make their way to Bimini and Freeport – two beautiful islands, but locations that have become increasingly commercialized in recent years. Likewise, the voyage is also long, crowded, and uncomfortable.
Flying side steps all of these issues. When you travel with Bahamas Air Tours, you’ll fly in comfort and style in a private-class plane. Because of how efficient air travel is, you’ll also be able to reach the Exuma Cays. These 365 islands are stunningly beautiful but also comparatively remote. You won’t find the throngs of tourists found at Freeport hogging the beaches of islands in Exuma.
A Bahamas day trip lets you see sandbars and other incredible sites.
After you land at Staniel Cay, one of the Exuma islands that has a local airport, you’ll then switch over to a speedboat to explore the surrounding area. After your day of sightseeing concludes, you’ll then fly back to South Florida that same evening.
See The Exuma Pigs and Other Attractions
Miami yacht tours in the area around the city offer fun experiences. However, the sites you see don’t compare to those of Bahamas day trips by plane.
The Swimming Pigs are a highlight on a Miami to Bahamas day trip.
One of the highlights of the day tour are the Swimming Pigs on Big Major Cay. While many islands in the Bahamas have put pigs on beaches to attract tourists, the Exuma Pigs are the original pigs. On a Staniel Cay day tour, you’ll get to meet them and explore their tropical home.
Besides swimming with pigs Bahamas, travelers will also get to see six other attractions. From snorkeling at Thunderball Grotto to walking on sandbars at Pipe Creek, the experience is one you’ll never forget.
3. Yacht Day Trips in Palm Beach
North of Miami and Fort Lauderdale is Palm Beach. This small town is on a barrier island that’s separated from mainland Florida by a lagoon. It offers additional options for Miami yacht tours.
Palm Beach is home to some of the best Miami yacht tours.
Unlike Fort Lauderdale or Miami proper, Palm Beach is smaller and has a more exclusive feel. The town itself accommodates less than 10,000 residents, with the caveat being that many of them are rich and famous. Former president Donald Trump, for example, owns Mar-a-Lago. This sprawling complex is a historic landmark in Palm Beach.
Besides being home to many members of the 1%, Palm Beach also offers insight into Florida’s rich natural beauty. The town has a botanical garden, a marine wildlife sanctuary, and several other natural attractions.
Sightseeing cruises are one popular option for Miami yacht tours, offering insight into both the area’s natural beauty, as well as the homes and yachts of the ultra-wealthy that reside there. Likewise, morning and evening cruises are also popular, allowing you to get out on the water and enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset.
4. Private Yacht Charters From Nassau
Roughly 184 miles to the south of Miami, Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas and a popular travel hub. From Lynden Pindling International Airport to its bustling cruise port, the city welcomes millions of travelers from around the world each year.
If you’re looking for Miami yacht tours, Nassau has plenty of options. Besides housing its own public harbor, the area is also home to Atlantis Marina. This luxury harbor accommodates yachts and vessels of all sizes, with the capacity to host boats up to 250 feet. That makes visiting the harbor one of the best things to do in Miami Florida.
The Atlantis Marina is one of the best places to go yachting.
Travelers staying in South Florida can even charter a plane to Nassau before switching over to a boat at the harbor to explore the surrounding area. Whether you visit the nearby Nassau islands or make your way south to visit the Swimming Pigs, you can explore the Bahamas in the morning and afternoon and arrive back in Miami or Fort Lauderdale that same evening.
5. South Florida Water Taxis
One of the more affordable ways to explore South Florida by boat is the Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi. These unique Miami yacht tours make it easy to traverse the area by water while learning historical tidbits along the way.
To ride one of the water taxis, you’ll need to purchase a pass in advance. You can then hop on the respective taxi at any one of its several stops.
A water taxi is one of the many fun things to do in Miami Beach and South Florida.
What makes the water taxis one of the top things to do in Miami Beach is the historical insight you gain while on the vessel. As you travel, the boat captains point out notable landmarks around you, whether they be new highrise developments, historical attractions, or celebrity residences.
While on the boat, you can purchase a variety of beverages. Likewise, many of the stops are near eateries, making it easy to use the water taxi as a way to find a place at which to grab lunch.
Top Things to Do in Miami Beach: Yacht Tours and Miami Excursions
Because of its waterfront location, Miami yacht tours are one of the best ways to explore the Magic City. Whether you charter a luxury vessel and sail along the coast or hop on the affordable water taxi in Fort Lauderdale, you can count on beautiful views and a memorable experience.
While the city offers many amazing Miami excursions, don’t miss out on a Miami to Bahamas day trip. Once you arrive in the archipelago, you’ll switch over to a boat and visit the friendly Exuma Pigs, underwater caves, nurse sharks, and much more. You’ll then arrive back in Florida that same evening.
Sign up for day trips to Exuma Bahamas with Bahamas Air Tours today!
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