Biscayne National Park Institute at Coconut Grove — Attraction in Miami

My partner and I were visiting Naples and decided to go book a tour through the Biscayne National Park Institute for a day trip to Miami! The Institute website was very detailed and there were a million activities to choose from. We knew we wanted to snorkel and there were so many options to choose from. We settled on doing the all day snorkel and island visit from Coconut Grove. If traveling from out of town I highly recommend leaving as early as possible as we hit some traffic once we got into Miami which made us a few minutes late to check-in. However, our tour guide Captain Jeff was amazing and helped us get our rental gear and sweat suits which I highly recommend if one does not have any snorkel gear or equipment. The wet-suits and equipment were very clean and nice to rent. This was my first time snorkeling and was a little nervous but Captain Jeff talked me through snorkeling and the best way to go about it. We had experienced snorkelers and swimmers on our boat and Captain Jeff was very knowledgeable and patient with me and taught me how to snorkel comfortably and safely. We first stopped at the Mangroves where Captain Jeff talked about the rich history behind the mangroves and how it had evolved throughout the decades. That was our first snorkeling site and it was a great site to start at as it was shallower and made learning how to snorkel easier and I got comfortable with the water pretty quickly. Our second site was the coral reef and it was also breathtaking, the water was a little deeper but I felt comfortable after snorkeling in the mangroves. There Captain Jeff talked about the corals and the beautiful creatures that inhabit it and even told us what to keep an eye out for as we explored the waters. Then we made it to our final site, the shipwreck. It was about a 10 minute ride to the shipwreck from the coral reefs and it was a very bumpy and rough ride as the waves were also kind of high. I got a little queezy once we got to the shipwreck site however felt much better once off the boat and into the waters. The shipwreck site was my favorite site and absolutely unbelievable, I’ve never see anything like that before! Captain Jeff again told us a little bit about the background of the site and what to keep an eye out while snorkeling. There was so much to see underneath and wish I had brought a underwater case for my phone to capture the beauty underneath! It was by far the best site we had visited!! After all the snorkeling we stopped at Boca Chita to eat lunch and relax. The island was gorgeous. However, as clean as the national park and the sites were kept, I was very disappointed in the bathrooms and how unkept, unsanitized, and dirty they were. I couldn’t get myself to use the bathroom there. On our way back Captain Jeff took us to see Siltsville which was also a cool site to see. The whole experience with Captain Jeff was incredible. As a first time snorkeler I was very nervous but I felt comfortable and safe the entire time. Captain Jeff was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the National Park and the whole experience was very unique! We were happy to have picked the all day snorkeling excursion as we wanted to maximize our time in the water to see everything. We didn’t feel like we were missing out by not doing the kayaking or paddling. We unfortunately didn’t have time to visit the visitor center and Key Biscayne but we will definitely be back to check it out the next time we are in Miami! We highly recommend visiting Biscayne National Park and if snorkeling isn’t your thing there are so many other options to experience the beauty...

The Snorkel & Paddle Eco Adventure was the perfect taste of Biscayne in a single day!

We opted to go with the Biscayne Institute (and, separately, their sister organization the Everglades Institute) because of the interesting experiences they offered, the fact that they donate money back into the parks, and the great reviews. They did not disappoint!!

We started our day at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center near Homestead. We got the chance to do the boardwalk and to check out the bulk of the visitor center. A few resident iguanas were hanging out in the trees.

After checking in at the Biscayne Institute office upstairs, we got a briefing + situated with rentals (we got a shorty wetsuit & flippers).

We met our captain, Stefanie, and fellow guests (5 of us total) and hopped aboard! The ride took about 30min to get to the pass by Boca Chita Key and another 10min to get to our snorkel spot.

The snorkeling was solid. The water was a bit chilly (65 degrees F), but the coral patches, the reef life and the blue water was gorgeous. Didn’t see anything big, but we saw plenty of fish, some interesting flatworms and sea snails, and a barracuda. The whole snorkeling portion took around 45min.

Afterwards, we cruised back to Boca Chita Key for a lunch hour. We ate our lunch on the beach, checking out Ospreys, a Broad Winged Hawk and a few herons. We took a post-lunch walk on the 1/4 mile hiking trail covering the southern rim of the island.

After lunch, we cruised along Elliot Key enroute to Jones Lagoon. We spotted some dolphins in the distance as we drove by.

We docked in the mangroves while our captain unloaded the paddleboards.

The paddleboarding was the best part of the whole experience. The waters in the mangroves were calm and clear. You could see a bunch of different species of fish in the waters, different species of birds nestled in the trees, and it was quiet except for the odd sounds of birds squawking in the distance.

The paddleboarding was leisurely at times and adventuresome at others. We paddled through narrow mangrove channels, which was fun & cool in it’s own right. At one point, we ended up in a big lagoon where we got to approach a wading bird rookery in the center of the lagoon. We saw a few species of heron, anhinga, and the famed Roseatte Spoonbill! They were absolutely gorgeous flying through the air.

After navigating through mangrove channels and tunnels, we wound up back at the boat. The ride back took around 35-40min, while Captain Stefanie talked more about the park history + local fauna.

I thought it was an absolutely perfect way to experience Biscayne—a dive in the water to check out the coral reefs, a walk along one of the keys, and an adventure through the mangroves. And the Biscayne Institute & Captain Stefanie did an incredible job catering the experience. Run don’t walk if you’re thinking about a day...

The trip was nothing like expected/advertised. I went on the Elliott Key Eco Adventure. TLDR: The guide was unprepared and uneducated on the history/natural elements of the park. He was definitely not a naturalist and there was no "interpretation" on our trip. There didn't seem to be a plan at all and we bounced between activities without getting to actually experience much of anything.

The whole story: We did go kayaking and snorkeling but we didn't get any information about what we were seeing, our guide didn't seem to know where to stop for snorkeling and the spot he did pick had almost nothing to see: "Kayak and snorkel along the mangrove coastline: Glide through crystal-clear waters as you paddle along the captivating mangrove coastline of Elliott Key. Immerse yourself in the diverse marine life beneath, snorkeling in the thriving underwater world that makes Biscayne National Park a true gem."

We didn't do any of this, potentially because our guide forgot to bring shoes...: "Nature walk on the Spite Highway: Embark on a fascinating nature walk through the lush Tropical Hardwood Hammock forest on the infamous Spite Highway. Discover the secrets of this unique ecosystem, home to an array of plant and animal species. Our knowledgeable guides will unveil the rich history and ecological significance of the area, ensuring you leave with a deeper appreciation for the wonders that surround you."

One of the things the trip points out is that it is led by a naturalist saying "Our tour guides, Naturalists, are continuous students of the natural world and provide interpretive, educational, and historical programs in South Florida’s National Parks. Each are trained by the National Park Service to ensure they are equipped with and can provide the most up to date information, research, and opportunities when connecting with guests." but our guide had no idea what he was doing. He didn't know any of the history or details about Elliott key. He just pointed to some signage that is on the island and said things like "One group of Indians, I don't remember their name, I could look it up if you want... was the largest here."

We also didn't stay on Elliott key the whole time. The guide seemed to bop around between activities without any plan of what to do or where to go. It was completely unorganized and...