Sailing Itineraries Florida Keys|Out-Islands|Party Charters

We strongly recommend that, if you are boating in Florida or the Bahamas, you or your skipper carry an official marine chart with the markers, nav aids and depths clearly indicated; these are shallow waters where going aground, dinting props and bending shafts are every-day occurrences. If you or your designated skipper do not have the navigation skills to read a chart accurately, or the local knowledge to operate a boat safely in these waters, please use a captain who is well experienced in these waters and has the necessary local knowledge. Don't always trust your GPS - electronic devices run out of batteries or can otherwise malfunction. Visit and browse our interactive maps to make up your own itinerary or view possible boarding locations in Florida or the Bahamas Islands or click on one of the sample Itineraries below:

Miami Half Day
Miami Full Day
Miami Long Weekend
Miami overnight to the Upper Keys
Miami to the Berry islands
Nassau to the Exumas
Georgetown and the Out Islands

Half Day Cruise in Miami ( 4 Hours)

Biscayne Bay Route:

1. If you are leaving from a marina North of Downtown, head South and under the Rickenbacker Causeway bridge. As you come out under the bridge, head South keeping Key Biscayne on your port side, use your chart to keep well away from the shoals on your left as you go by Key Biscayne. Check out President Nixon's House on Key Biscayne, (the one with the Flag and the Heliport) and his next door neighbor and friend, Bebe Rebozo's mansion. There is a slightly choppy anchorage (specially on weekends) in front of Nixon's house where you can stop for a picnic lunch if you have one with you. You can also use a dinghy, if you have one to take a short run to the sandbar at low tide which is fun. If you do not have a picnic with you you can always duck into No-Name Harbor just around the corner (check your chart and don't run right into the sand-bar) where there is a great Cuban Restaurant. It is possible to anchor here or tie up alongside the Restaurant.

2. From the Nixon place, you can look for the Biscayne Channel on your chart and follow the markers through the middle of Stiltsville. This is a Miami Landmark; built in the 1920's by rich Miamians as weekend party places, these houses on stilts and have defied many hurricanes, including the direct hit from Andrew. There are seven houses left, still privately owned and used as party venues by the rich and famous.

3. From Stiltsville, turn around and cross the Bay Westwards towards Dinner Key. When you get close to the Dinner Key Channel marker, follow the mainland coastline around towards the South, pass the old Vizcaya mansion, now a museum, that was built by the founder of the International Harvester machinery empire, then around and back to the Rickenbacker causeway and back to your marina.

Homes of the Rich and Famous Route:

1. Star Island is where many movie and singing stars and celebrities have their Miami homes. Most of the major party boats and day cruise captains will bring you here. Located close to Miami Beach, just North of Miami Beach Marina and South of Sunset Harbour marina, opposite the Flagler memorial, this island is called home by Gloria Estefan, Sylvester Stallone, Rosie O'Donnell and many others. The mansions are fabulous and the setting is gorgeous, definitely a must for visitors who are passing through our beautiful city.

2. West of Star Island there are two smaller islands, Hibiscus and Palm, the former originally owner by notorious gangster, Al Capone. These are now luxury waterfront homes with their own dockage facilities. Venetian causeway and Venetian isles are also a man-made paradise for millionaires and celebrities.

3. Fisher Island, just next to and Southeast of the Port of Miami, is a very expensive place to live, accessible only by ferry, and founded by the same Mr. Fisher of General Motors fame. He was one of the founders and original developers of Miami Beach. The structures are Miami Tuscan style with Oprah Winfrey being one of the many celebrity owners on this island.

4. The western shore of the Miami Beach peninsula also has it;s share of celebrity mansions with homes owned by JLo, Captain Burke of Windjammer Cruise fame, and many others.

Full Day on the water in Miami:

1. Follow the Biscayne Bay half day route above. Instead of cutting across towards Dinner Key after visiting Stiltsville, continue South about 15 miles from the southern tip of Key Biscayne to the Featherbed Banks. There are now two options: either stay close to Soldier Key and into Boca Chita harbor and spend a couple of hours hanging out there, OR go through the Featherbed Bank to Elliott Key. There is a clearly marked channel (part of the ICW) that takes you through the shallow banks and you then bear left towards Elliott after clearing the bank. You will now be in Biscayne National Park and there is a Park Ranger who hangs out on Elliott Key and patrols regularly. The water here is very shallow but very clear and it is ideal for snorkeling and swimming. PWC's are not allowed but you can go ashore in a dinghy and explore Elliott Key. Return to Miami in the evening.

Long Weekend on the water in Miami:

1. Do the half-day and full-day thing described above - but do not return the same day and anchor out at Elliott Key and overnight there.

2. The following morning, pick up the ICW channel again and head South towards Pumpkin Key and continue South on the ICW und the Card Sound Bridge, following the marked channel to Jewfish Creek bridge that opens on request. On the other side of the bridge, you will find Gilbert's which is a great restaurant, and a good anchorage for the second night.

3. If the weather permits, you can retrace your steps back to Pumpkin Key and cut through Angelfish creek to the "outside" (Hawk Channel) and return to Miami via Hawk Channel and into the Port of Miami following the channel markers. If the weather does not permit this, simply retrace your steps back past Elliott Key and Biscayne Bay and back to Miami on the "inside".

From Miami to the Upper Florida Keys
(Nice relaxing 7 Days; about 160 nautical miles)

1. DAY ONE. Leave Miami, using the ICW route South and cross Biscayne Bay heading for the Feather Bank channel; anchor at Elliot Key (part of the National Park system); relax at Elliott Key swimming, snorkeling, exploring the Park or just hanging out. Fishing persons will love Sands Cut on an incoming tide.

2.DAY TWO. Proceed South, continuing the ICW route through the Cutter Bank channel to Pumpkin Key, cross over to the ocean side of the Keys chain through Angelfish Creek. Go south on Hawk Channel to Marina del Mar on Key Largo or anchor on the lee side of Rodriguez Key.

3. DAY THREE. Relax in Key Largo, there's a lot to do here from diving or snorkeling in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, swimming or hanging out the two pools in the Marina, and dining out at one of the great restaurants on Key Largo.

4. DAY FOUR. Head South on Hawk Channel to Snake Creek, and cross back over to Florida Bay on the inside of the Keys chain. (The Snake Creek Bridge will open on demand.) Follow the ICW markers North East and then South East to Cowpens Bay where you can either anchor or tie up at Islamorada Municipal Marina. There is a great new swimming pool at this marina and the flats fishing is superb on Florida Bay.

5. DAY FIVE. Tear your self away from Islamorada and back to Snake Creek, under the bridge and through to the Hawk Channel side and go South to the Channel Five bridge. Actually you can go down on the inside as well and you wind up at the same place. Anchor in Long Key Bight or proceed further South to Duck Key where you can pull into Hawks Key resort and Marina. Here you are a hop-skip and a jump away from Marathon, in the Middle Keys. There is fine dining , three good marine stores and several shipyards. (hopefully you won't need one..!!)

6. DAY SIX. Time to turn back; we suggest you take the scenic route and go back on the inside. You should be able to reach Pumpkin Key or even Elliott Key in one whole well traveled day. You can overnight in either place. If you don't quite make it, anchor anywhere nice along the way (outside the channel please..!!)

7. DAY SEVEN. Take your time getting back across Biscayne Bay , check out Stiltsville where rich Miami residents still play on long weekends, and ogle Nixon's Key Biscayne residence, spend the night at No Name Harbour and roll back into Miami the following day.

SUMMER ONLY

From Miami to The Bahamas
(Quite a lot of sailing in 7 Days, about 250 Nautical Miles)

1. DAY ONE. Leave Miami and cross the Gulf Stream, heading East for Gun Key. Overnight at Honeymoon Harbour on the North end of Gun Key or go through the cut and anchor behind Gun Key on the North East side or tie up at Cat Key Marina. OR continue East across the Banks and overnight anywhere on the Banks outside of the main channel route.

2. DAY TWO. Get up early and head East towards the North East channel Marker and move off the Banks into deeper water and head for Chub Cay, the southernmost Cay in the Berry Islands. Anchor close in to Chub or tie up at Chub Key Marina.

3. DAY THREE. Continue East gradually turning North past Bird Cay and then Whale Cay and up past Bond Cay to Little Harbour Cay. There is a good anchorage on the inside of Little Harbour Cay. This is diving, snorkeling and fishing paradise; The water is crystal clear and unbelievable.

4. DAY FOUR. If you decided against spending the rest of your life in Little Harbour, you can continue Northwards past Holmes Cay and Great Harbour Cay, you are actually going to spend the next overnight at Great Harbour but on the other side of the island and the only way to get there is by using a rather circuitous route around Great and Little Stirrup Cays. Anchor or tie up at Great Harbour Marina.

5. DAY FIVE. Spend the day on Great Harbour Cay, diving or snorkeling or simply hanging out.

6. DAY SIX. Great Harbour Key to Bimini.

7. DAY SEVEN. Spend the day in Bimini taking in all of Hemingway's old haunts, go Bill-fishing with the pros and have a couple at the Compleat Angler when you get back. Return to Miami the following day.

From Nassau to The Exumas
(Nice relaxing 7 Days, about 160 Nautical Miles)

1. DAY ONE. Leave Nassau Harbour by the East entrance, pass the Porgee rock and head SE across the White and Yellow Banks, watching for coral heads, towards Allan Cay; this is about a 35 NM run and be sure to arrive at Allan Cay with the sun still up - as a matter of fact, plan to arrive everywhere in the Bahamas in the early afternoon. It's very shallow and you are running on Visual here..!! Overnight between Allan's Cay and Leaf Cay, there's a strong current here so learn to put out two anchors in the Bahamian style. You will find some interesting friends on Allan's Cay, the place is a protected Iguana habitat and there are literally hundreds of large Iguanas everywhere. Great place and very protected.

2. DAY TWO. Leave Allan's Cay and retrace your steps to the Western side of the islands standing off about 5 miles from the chain to allow for shoals. Head South East to wards Norman Cay, head into the anchorage and overnight here at Anchor. If you prefer a Marina, there's a great one on Highbourne Cay, the cay with the Batelco tower on it. On Norman check out the wreck of a old drug-running airplane shot down by the authorities. It sits in about 3 feet of water, have your picture taken in the cockpit..!!

3. DAY THREE. Norman Cay to Hawksbill Cay, one of the most attractive cays in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. It is uninhabited and has several beautiful beaches on the Western side. You can anchor here.

4. DAY FOUR. Up anchor and head for Compass Cay with its bold white cliffs and sweeping beach on the South end. There is a Marina here that is quite comfortable and you can also anchor off Fowl Cay.

5. DAY FIVE. Head SE towards Staniel Cay; there is a Marina and Yacht Club here with re-fueling facilities and a well renowned bar..!!; but you can also pick up a mooring off the Club Thunderball. This is where the James Bond movie, Thunderball, was filmed; the diving is quite spectacular.

6. DAY SIX. Time to head back, and since you are going to try and do in two days what took you five, you cannot spend all that time swimming and snorkeling. So head back to Highbourne Cay to overnight.

7. DAY SEVEN. Pick up speed here and head across the Banks to Porgee Rock and tuck your self into West Bottom Harbour on Rose Island for the night. It's about an hour to Nassau Harbour from here.

Tracking Columbus - The Bahamas Out-Islands from San Salvador to Crooked Island.
(Fly into Georgetown in the Bahamas - Longish sail, lots of Blue Water, hold on to your hat and bring a copy of Columbus' log-book or "Diario" with you)

1. DAY ONE. Leave Georgetown early by the Southern Entrance and head East towards the tip of Cape Sta. Maria, then on past Conception Island until you reach San Salvador. Anchor off Cockburn Town, on the lee side of the island or tie up at Riding Rock Marina which now has 7 slips. We believe the controlling depth to enter the harbour is now 6.5 feet at low water. The anchorage is not that great so if you can get into the marina so much the better. There is a range to guide you in. Arrive early.

2. DAY TWO. Spend the day here. On San Salvador you can check out all the important Columbian stops such as the simple white cross that marks Columbus' landing place and the impressive monument on the other side of the island. Spend the day here, the sheer historical significance is awesome.

3. DAY THREE. Leave early and head South West to Rum Cay, this island was originally named Santa Maria de la Concepcion by Columbus and was his second stop in the "Indies". Be careful entering the reef, it's pretty shallow, but there are usually some white markers. You can stay at Sumner Point Marina or simply anchor out behind the reef, go ashore in the dinghy and have a few beers at Toby's Bar or Kay's. Not much going on here except for some excellent diving on the wreck of the HMS Conqueror and about 60 wonderful Bahamian people to chat with.

4. DAY FOUR. Leave early and head South West to Clarencetown on Long Island, Long Island was named Fernandina by Columbus although he bypassed this harbour on his way down, it's definitely worth a visit. You can either tie up at at the Flying Fish Marina or anchor out in the lee of Strachan Cay. Be careful going in and out of this harbour in a blow. Just as a note of interest, when Columbus left Rum Cay, he headed basically West to Cape Santa Maria and around the Cape to Calabash Bay where he anchored. You can rent a small car or moped in Clarencetown and visit this area including Stella Maris Resort and Marina . There are two magnificent old churches in Clarencetown, these are St. Paul's Anglican Church and St. Peter's Catholic Church, both designed by Father Jerome an architect and religious figure well known and respected in the Bahamas.

5. DAY FIVE. Leave early and head East to Bird Rock on Crooked Island. (Columbus named this island Isabela, after the Queen of Spain). Head South down the lee shore of Crooked Island to French Wells where the Admiral anchored, traded and ate a few "Hutias" the original rodent-like fauna of the Bahamas. Anchor in the lee of Gun Point and if you're a fisherman, DO go after the fattest bone fish and the meanest Tarpon.

6.DAY SIX. Leave extra early, head North back towards Long island and Cape Sta. Maria. go around the Cape and anchor in Calabash Bay. This was Columbus' third stop after San Salvador and Rum Key. Relax on your last day before heading back to George town.

7. DAY SEVEN. Head due West towards Georgetown and enter the harbour using the Southern Entrance.