If you want the full Key West experience, boating should absolutely be on your bucket list! Offering access to a living coral barrier reef teeming with marine life, the waters off the Florida Keys are peppered with fishing boats, pontoon boats, kayak rentals, and private charters on any given day.

As the southernmost point in the continental United States, Key West serves as your gateway to the tropics. The area offers some of the world's best conditions for snorkeling and sea kayaking! If you're new to boating, Key West's water culture might feel overwhelming at first.

Here's what you need to know about packing and planning your water adventure!

1) Set Sail With A Guide For The Most Enjoyable And Relaxing Option

While some people rent boats or equipment for self-guided excursions in the Key West area, there's no need to feel pressured to navigate the tides alone if you're inexperienced. Key West Paddle offers Key West's #1 night kayaking adventures and sandbar cruises! Simply sit back and relax when you book one of these popular options:

Night Kayaking In Key West - Set off on a guided tour through mangrove tunnels in an LED-lit glass-bottom kayak. During this magical experience, our guests see nocturnal marine wildlife and tropical fish while gliding over moonlight water with an experienced guide. Single and double kayaks are available.
Key West Sandbar Trip - Cruise through backcountry waters and mangrove islands to reach remote sandbars located within a national marine sanctuary. Depending on weather conditions, stops can include Mud Keys, Jewish Basin, and Snipe Point.

Kick back and relax with Key West Paddle as our experienced captains take care of every detail. Our excursions are perfect for families, couples, and group vacations. Book kayaking or boating in Key West with the #1 choice in the Florida Keys!

2) Know What To Pack For Key West Boating

Boat rentals don't always come with all the equipment you need to set sail. Even boat and kayak rentals that do include things like life jackets and snorkel equipment won't come with items for personal needs.

Here's your boating Key West essentials checklist:

Reef-safe sunscreen of at least SPF 50. Don't forget lip balm to protect your lips from drying out in the sun.
Polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes from glare on the water.
Reusable water bottle(s) to help you stay hydrated.
A dry bag to safely store your phone, hotel key, wallet, and anything else you need to carry.
Wide-brimmed hat for added sun protection on your face and head.
Towels, swimsuits, water goggles, and water shoes.
If you'll be using a boat rental without a captain, make sure you're familiar with the location of the fire extinguisher, backfire flame control, extra fuel, tool kit, sound-producing devices, and any distress signals.

If you're going out on your own, always stay in communication with someone on shore. Let someone back home know your intended route, departure time, and anticipated arrival time before you set sail. Even if you're experienced with boating back home, South Florida's waters can present unique challenges.

Good To Know: Sales of sunscreens containing octinoxate and oxybenzone are banned in Key West because the chemicals harm the diverse marine life within the national marine sanctuary. While these sunscreens may be sold where you live, you should avoid bringing them to Key West.

3) Get The Appropriate Fishing License To Avoid Breaking The Law

First, we recommend becoming familiar with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's official rules for recreational saltwater licenses and permits. If you're planning to do saltwater fishing from a shore, bridge, or boat, a Florida saltwater fishing license is generally required.

Non-resident fishing licenses can be obtained online at www.myfwc.com or by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356). Many local bait shops also disperse licenses. When you fish on a chartered boat in Key West, the captain’s license covers you, so you can relax and enjoy the experience without worrying about permits. Most fishing charters set off from the lively Key West Historic Seaport, a hub of activity and the perfect starting point for your adventure.

Good to Know: The most common fish species in Key West are mangrove snappers, yellowtail snappers, red grouper, Atlantic tarpon, bonefish, spotted sea trout, and spotted mackerel. While April, May, June, and July are considered the best months for fishing in Key West by many, it's a year-round sport.

4) Make Key West Boating Competitive - Fishing Tournaments

Key West hosts several fun, high-profile fishing tournaments that benefit charities each year. If you're visiting in June, consider attending or competing in the popular Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament. This tournament attracts dolphin-fish (mahi-mahi) anglers from around the country competing for up to $10,000 in prize money.

Taking place in July, the annual Key West Marlin Tournament puts $50,000 in cash prizes up for grabs. This popular tournament coincides with the annual Hemingway Days Celebration. Entry is limited to the first 75 boats to register.

Pro Tip: If you're looking for the opposite of fishing with the crowds in a competition, slip away to Boca Grande Key for excellent tarpon and bonefish fishing in clear, shallow waters.

5) Exploring Dry Tortugas National Park By Boat

Located 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a 100-square-mile, seven-island park that is composed almost entirely of open water. Buffered by coral reefs teeming with marine life, the park is not accessible by road.

That means that visitors must rely on boat rentals, ferry rides, or seaplane charters. Here's everything there is to explore at this island park:

After arrival, kayak rentals allow visitors to paddle to Garden Key, Bush Key, Long Key, and Loggerhead Key.
Touring historic Fort Jefferson on Garden Key is an unforgettable experience that brings visitors back in time to explore a coastal military fortress composed of more than 16 million bricks.
Nature lovers can search for five different species of sea turtles in the wild! Dry Tortugas is home to loggerhead, green, leatherback, Kemp's ridley, and hawksbill turtles. While it's fine to take photos from a distance, island visitors should not disrupt or interact with turtles in any way!
Taking a sunset cruise to an island within the park is an unforgettable experience! Once the sun sets, visitors who have booked camping passes can enjoy a secluded, natural camping experience under the stars.
Dry Tortugas is considered a world-class diving and snorkeling spot. Explore coral reefs exploding with the colors of hundreds of species of reef fish native to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.

Alternative: For those seeking "closer" coral reefs in the Florida Keys, Sand Key Reef within the Sand Key Sanctuary Preservation Area is located just 7 miles from Key West. Like Dry Tortugas, Sand Key offers great snorkeling and diving spots that are accessible with boat rentals.

Don't Let Anything Stop You From Boating In Key West

You don't need to own a private island or have your own boat to explore the coral reefs and amazing sandbars of Key West. In fact, you don't even have to learn how to navigate a boat rental. While there are many ways to do boating in Key West, no option is as satisfying as after-dark kayak tours and open-water sandbar boat tours with us. We offer the most convenient and affordable way to check Key West boating off your vacation bucket list!

Key West Paddle guests experience the magic of floating on the tropical waters of the Florida Keys under the stars! As you glide through mangrove tunnels and spot bright tropical fish busily swimming beneath your kayak, you'll see why boating in Key West after dark is best. Of course, our sandbar adventures are great for daytime and sunset excursions that allow you to wade in warm, shallow tides while snapping once-in-a-lifetime photos.

Bring your time in the Florida Keys to the next level. Ask more about guided boat rentals from Key West Paddle today!