Miami: Guided Small Group Boat Tour + Iconic Stiltsville

Join us on an intimate, guided small-group boat tour, perfect for up to six passengers. Departing from Miami Beach Marina in the heart of South Beach, our journey begins with a sweeping view of Miami from the clear waters of Biscayne Bay. Your experience begins with your expert local guide sharing the stories of Flagler, Collins, and Fisher, the visionary leaders and developers of the 19th century who transformed Miami from swamplands into the world-class city it is today. These stories are sprinkled throughout your tour as we visit key areas in the development of this magic city by the sea. As we cruise past multi-million-dollar waterfront mansions on Star Island, you'll hear how this small island went from a swampy sandbar to a favorite of business titans and celebrities like Gloria Estefan and Shaquille O'Niel. We visit exclusive Fisher Island where you’ll learn how Carl Fisher traded the island to the Vanderbilt family for a luxury yacht in the 1940s and see firsthand how the island has become a favorite winter residence for global billionaires. We then pass by Port of Miami, known as the Cruise Capital of the World, getting an up-close view of the massive Panamax cargo ships unloading their cargo loads. Heading into the heart of the city skyline, we'll be surrounded by towering skyscrapers along the Miami River, where Native Americans once lived more than 8000 years ago. We continue past Brickell Avenue, a backdrop for numerous film and TV scenes including Miami Vice, Dexter, and CSI Miami. Further south into the more remote parts of the bay, we approach Biscayne National Park, the largest underwater park in the US. It is here you want to keep an eye out for marine life such as wild dolphins, manatees, and a variety of sea birds. The highlight of our park visit is an exclusive look at the unique and historic Stiltsville houses, standing proudly above the waters about 1.5 miles from any shoreline. Built between 1928 and 1965, these colorful shacks were once used as speakeasies during the Prohibition era and private clubs for celebrities, sports stars, and politicians. Don't miss the small Space Invader mosaics placed on two of the houses by the famous French street artist Invader, attracting fans from all over the world. Along the southern tip of Key Biscayne, we'll take in the historic Cape Florida lighthouse, the first structure ever built in Miami and the site of a ferocious battle between the US Navy and Native American tribes. As we cruise into the waterfront neighborhoods of this barrier island, you'll see stunning private homes and mansions along the shores, including President Richard Nixon’s Winter Whitehouse and the Scarface House, where many scenes from that movie were filmed. As we return to the dock, prepare to be awed by one of the most majestic views of Miami’s skyline from this southern part of the bay, you'll enjoy a panoramic view of the skyline that includes Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and South Beach.