Biscayne National Park
- Address: 9700 SW 328 Street, Homestead
- Hours: Convoy Point, the park's headquarters and visitor center, is open daily 7am - 5:30pm. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is open 9am - 5pm. Underwater areas open 24 hours a day
- Admission: Free. There is a US$15 - US$30 fee for camping overnight on the Keys
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Nature & Wildlife,
Scuba Diving,
Swim & Snorkel,
Water Sports,
National Park,
Reef
One of the top scuba diving areas in the United States, Biscayne National Park covers 181,500 acres (73,450 hectares), 95 percent of which lies underwater. In fact, divers and snorkelers from all over the world come to explore its extensive reef system. Above water, you can explore the park’s small mainland mangrove shoreline and Keys by boat.
Biscayne National Park consists of 44 islands, but only a few of them are open to visitors. Long Elliot Key has picnicking, camping, and hiking among mangrove forests; tiny Adams Key has picnicking and equally tiny Boca Chita Key, once an exclusive haven for yachters, has the country’s second-largest lighthouse, picnicking, and camping.
As the Biscayne National Park is mostly underwater, the best way to truly experience it is with snorkel or scuba gear. For beneath its surface, an underwater world explodes with multicolored life, from vibrant angelfish and parrotfish to swaying sea fans and multi-shaded labyrinths of coral. If you prefer to stay dry, you can glimpse this life aquatic from a glass-bottom boat.
Latest Reviews
Review by Gabrielle H, United Kingdom, May 2013
Doing what: Miami Combo Tour: City Sightseeing, Biscayne Bay Cruise and Everglades Airboat Ride
Brilliant. Would definitely recommend the Everglades it's so much fun!
Review by Magdalena B C, May 2013
Doing what: Miami Combo Tour: City Sightseeing, Biscayne Bay Cruise and Everglades Airboat Ride
Great tour. Few comments: bus was ran down, rain was pouring but - guides were great, we saw Miami in nutshell! Had blast at Everglades.
The funniest thing was that 2 weeks after we were on this tour we got a call to get outside of the hotel as bus is waiting for us! we would love to join tour again, but long time returned home.
Review by Jennifer W, May 2013
Doing what: Miami Combo Tour: City Sightseeing, Biscayne Bay Cruise and Everglades Airboat Ride
You get a comprehensive bus tour of the major Miami areas (downtown, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach) with lots of information. Then you get a quick stop in Little Havana (we had 20 min). Of course we had to grab some food there. Had an excellent Cuban sandwich. Would have liked more time in Little Havana but we made the most of our 20 min (sandwich and potty break). After that we got a boat ride on Biscayne bay. The tour said yacht ride. Not a yacht. But it was a boat and it was a beautiful boat ride. Saw lots of celebrity homes on the bay. Then we got back on the bus for the trip to the Everglades. It poured once we got there (so bring ponchos unless you want to buy them there). The rain didn't stop us from having a blast. It started with an alligator show. We all got to see a teeny tiny alligator and then got to watch the trainer with a bigger alligator. After that, we got to go on an airboat ride that was one of the highlights of my trip. The rain was pelting us in the face because of the speed of the boat but it was still fun. The captain did turns and went fast and it was amazing. We saw 3 alligators and a snake or two. What an amazing part of the country!
Practical Info
To get to the park from Miami, take the Florida Turnpike to the Tallahassee Road exit. Turn left, then left again at North Canal Drive, and follow signs to the park. Another way to access is the park is by boat
For information, stop at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, at the park's main entrance, which has maps and shows a great introductory film overview of the park.
