Miami's Boating and Sailing Guide

Get offshore in Miami

Home to PortMiami, the world’s largest cruise ship port, and surrounded by Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami is a premier destination for boating and sailing. With tranquil seas and warm temps above and below the water year round, the aquamarine waters of this subtropical paradise are always a draw. Here’s your guide to getting offshore in Miami.

Coconut Grove Marina

Part of Coconut Grove’s picturesque panorama, Dinner Key Marina is the city’s largest wet slip marina at 582 berths with an additional 225 moorings just offshore. It’s the ideal place to book a fishing or sailing charter, or simply enjoy the views over a dockside meal at Monty’s Raw Bar.

Miami Beach Marina

At the southern tip of South Beach, Miami Beach Marina boasts 400 slips with everything from luxury yacht charters to dive boats. With Texas De Brazil and Monty’s Raw Bar onsite, it’s also a short walk to Smith & Wollensky steakhouse for stunning views of Fisher Island and cruise ships setting sail to the Atlantic.

Miamarina at Bayside

In the heart of Downtown Miami with 130 slips, Miamarina at Bayside is the embarkation point for a number of boat tours and charters. With Bayside Marketplace overlooking the marina, it’s a hub of activity in the city center.

Crandon Marina

Crandon Marina located on Key Biscayne has a dive boat operation and is striking distance to both artificial and natural reefs. It’s also a great spot for fishing charters or simply strolling the docks at sunset for beautiful views of the bay and the city skyline.

Bill Bird Marina

Bill Bird Marina in Haulover Park on North Miami Beach is situated on the Intracoastal Waterway allowing for access to a variety of bodies of water. It’s also surrounded by a golf course. Pelican Harbour Marina in North Bay Village in the Miami Shores area is also on the Intracoastal. As the name might imply, it’s a bird sanctuary on a 10-acre island complete with BBQs, picnic tables and sand volleyball courts.

South Dade Marinas

Other marinas throughout Miami include Matheson Hammock Marina in Coral Gables where boaters can enjoy the pristine nature of the hardwood hammock, swim in the atoll beach and even take sailing lessons. Herbert Hoover Marina at Homestead Bayfront Park and Black Point Marina in Cutler Bay on the southern stretch of Biscayne Bay is the gateway to the Florida Keys situated near coral reefs and the marine sanctuary.

Whether you want to learn to sail or simply charter a sailboat, Coconut Grove is prime time when it comes to sailing. Head to Coconut Grove Sailing Club for sailing lessons, boat charters, youth sailing and regattas.

Shake-A-Leg is Miami’s premier community boating center in Coconut Grove, offering everything from learn to sail courses to group charters aboard 20-foot keelboats. Over the last two decades, they are devoted to bringing sailing to the disabled and have served more than 10,000 children and adults, 25 percent of who have disabilities.

Miami’s premier sightseeing tours are aboard Island Queen Cruises where you can embark on a variety of trips from Miamarina, including Millionaire’s Row and Miami Skyline cruises.

For a high-octane adventure, step aboard Thriller Miami’s 42-foot vessels and zoom past sites like PortMiami, Star Island, Monument Island, Fisher Island and South Beach from Biscayne Bay to the open Atlantic Ocean, at speeds of up to 50 mph.

For a different kind of thrill, Ocean Force Adventures sets out from the Miami Beach Marina aboard six-passenger, high speed Zodiacs on a variety of tours from celebrity homes on Star Island to the historic Stiltsville homes on Biscayne Bay.

Tropical Sailing boasts a fleet of sailing and power catamarans docked at Miamarina with daily trips and watersports activities, ranging from snorkeling to sunset sailing.

If you’d rather be the captain of your own ship or you’d like to hire a captain for a private charter, many companies provide everything from fishing boats to mega yachts. Y Charter Miami offers a wide variety of luxury charters on their fleet of yachts with customizable itineraries. Tropical Boat Charters specialize in VIP experiences for a discerning clientele with charters embarking to the Keys and the Caribbean in addition to Miami’s waters.

Biscayne Lady Yacht Charters is a great option no matter how large your party size or budget with a wide range of sport yachts, motor yachts, party vessels and luxury sport fishing boats available. Their featured vessel is the 130-foot Venetian Lady accommodating up to 140 passengers and perfect for lunch or dinner cruises.

Of course, there’s perhaps no more exciting boating adventure than a Caribbean cruise from PortMiami. As the world’s largest cruise terminal, PortMiami is home to all of the major cruise lines and some of the largest cruise ships.

Just be sure to spend at least a day discovering Miami before or after your cruise to get the most out of your vacation.