You haven’t truly experienced Key West until you’ve experienced a Key West sandbar party! While many people know Key West as the land of Hemingway, Key Lime Pie, and rum, it’s actually the sandbars in Key West that will take your breath away! In fact, sandbars in Key West are generally part of local wildlife protection areas. That’s why people who make excursions to Mud Keys and other Key West sandbar spots often come back with pictures of soaring birds and majestic turtles.
In the Florida Keys, sandbars are the best beaches. A sandbar beach is a rare spot that shows off nature’s majesty like no other place. Unlike ordinary shore beaches, sandbar beaches are like “little islands” that emerge from the open water. While many are situated along channels, they feel quite isolated. The big perk is that Key West sandbars let you wade or swim in ultra-shallow waters that feel like tropical pools! Yes, you’re going to want to bring a swimsuit on this excursion because the fact of the matter is that the warm, tub-like waters that surround the sandbars of Florida will be too tempting to resist once you dock.
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Sandbar hopping through backcountry waters in the Florida Keys is the best way to experience breathtaking views in spots that only sea turtles know about. Of course, you may be wondering about the best way to see all of Key West’s sandbars. These tips show you exactly how to get your crew cruising during your upcoming Key West trip!
The Easy Way To Enjoy A Key West Sandbar Party: Book A Cruise
This tip is the most important for enjoying local sandbars. Key West visitors often choose sandbar hopping on private charters to see the most without devoting hours to planning visits to different Key West sandbars. Key West Boat Trips is the premier provider of Key West sandbar tours and sandbar charters. Our two signature Key West sandbar tours are the Mud Key Mangrove Safari Tour and the Sandbar Tour For Large Groups. Various tour highlights include:
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Snorkeling
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Birdwatching opportunities
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Time to get in the water or explore on land
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Large inflatable floats
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Ice cooler with bottled water and sodas
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BYO food and alcoholic beverages
As the operator of the best small-group boat fleet in Key West, we provide relaxing and fun adventures under the guidance of experienced captains. Rest assured that our team will be here to help you plan every detail of your adventure. Our guests routinely snap extremely rare and beautiful photos that you simply would never be able to get in more popular tourist areas around Key West.
Don’t let the opportunity to savor a sandbar getaway with your friends or family slip away! Book your custom sandbar cruise with us today!
1) Mud Keys And Snipe Point
Located in the warm turquoise waters between Waltz Key Basin and Jewfish Basin in the waters 15 miles off of Key West, Mud Keyes is a secluded spot composed of several islands. Getting here involves a fun journey through scenic mangrove trails! This is an incredible spot for groups that want to get away from crowded beaches to enjoy seclusion and nature! Considered a bird sanctuary, the Mud Key Wildlife Management Area is a favorite place for spotting white herons, ospreys, and frigatebirds.
Like all of the sandbars on this list, this one comes with some rules. Many sandbar areas belong to protected parks. That means that humans need to be very careful about coming into contact with local wildlife. While photos are permitted, it’s important to avoid direct contact with animals. The fragile ecosystems of the sandbars rely on nesting populations to thrive. You should also be sure to bring back anything that you remove from the boat to prevent harm to wildlife.
Experience the thrill of adventure and excitement with a boat trip through the backcountry. Create unforgettable memories by booking your Mud Keys Mangrove Safari with us today!
Snipe Point is a beloved Key West sandbar beach found at the tip of a remote chain of islands called the Snipe Keys. While you’ll be just 10 miles northeast of Key West, you’ll feel worlds away from civilization because this hidden gem is only accessible by boat.
Getting here involves a winding route through the shallow channels of the Key West backcountry. Snipes Point Sandbar is an incredible place for putting on some snorkeling gear to enjoy shallow, crystal-clear water. Book an unforgettable afternoon on this amazing sandbar!
2) Jewfish Basin Sandbar
Situated between two tidal channels, the Jewfish Basin Sandbar glistens from the shimmering water to welcome visitors by boat! Due to the way this sandbar feels like it is deserted in the middle of the ocean, it creates a truly surreal experience. You will feel as though you are walking on water as you take in views of an open skyline peppered with birds!
This sandbar is relatively secluded and less crowded compared to other popular tourist spots. It provides a peaceful and tranquil environment where you can unwind and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Jewfish Basin Sandbar is an excellent spot for various water activities. You can go swimming, snorkeling, or simply float in the calm waters. It’s also a great place for kayaking, paddleboarding, and even fishing.
3) Woman Key Sandbar
A 40-minute ride to the westernmost tip of the Florida Keys brings you to a beautiful spot known as Woman Key. Located inside the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, Woman Key is renowned for its shallow-water flats bordering a beach area with an extensive dune system.
While this island is beautiful, it’s not just the landscape that makes Woman Key pure magic! People are fascinated with this Key West sandbar because its beach and dunes serve as nesting areas for loggerhead sea turtles. In addition, shorebirds and wading birds also nest along the shore, and sand spits on the sandbar.
4) Boca Chica Sandbar
Boca Chica Sandbar is considered the closest sandbar to Key West, Boca Chica Sandbar is a great spot for a relaxing beach stroll in seclusion. While there’s not much going on on this sandbar in terms of vegetation, the gentle off shore breeze that comes in feels downright healing!
Of course, people do often show up at Boca Chica Sandbar for some fishing, swimming, or jet-skiing adventures.
5) Boca Grande Key
Discover the untouched beauty of Boca Grande Key, an uninhabited island nestled in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, just 15 miles west of Key West. This incredible natural beach is ideal for families, with its shallow waters reaching only five feet deep.
Considered a best-kept secret among people who have taken more than a few sandbar trips, Boca Grande is larger than other keys. Another distinction is that this is almost a 100% mangrove island. Yes, you’ll even see trees sprouting from the shallow water! One more fun detail is that Boca Grande has one of the best sandy beaches for finding shells.
See All The Best Sandbars In Key West: Book Your Boat Tour
Getting to a Key West sandbar on your own can be tough unless you’re a local with your own private boat. Fortunately, Key West Boat Trips offers Key West sandbar tours that depart from Key West Harbor daily. All you have to do is show up with your group to enjoy an experience that you will treasure for the rest of your life.
From Mud Keys sandbars to secluded mangrove islands, our sandbar charters bring you to places that most tourists never get to see. Our friendly team and experienced captains will help you find the perfect private boat and pricing to accommodate your group size.
You can even pick custom excursions and activities to enjoy while zipping between Key West sandbars. Don’t miss out on the chance to book your unforgettable sandbar tours today!