Best Water Activities in Miami

The city of Miami is renowned for its paradisiacal beaches, with dreamy blue waters and golden sand. It is not surprising that water activities are its strong point. In addition, many of them allow you to get a close-up view of some of the natural beauty of this paradise, such as the coral reefs of the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

If you like paddle boarding, which everyone's been talking about lately, then this is the destination for you. But, if you prefer something different, there's plenty to do and see in Miami and there's plenty to choose from to have fun.

If you like scuba diving or snorkelling, you're sure to enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery. Coral reefs are underwater structures with a particular charm and unique beauty. When we talk about the one in Miami, we are talking about the third largest in the world.

The Pennekamp Coral Reef Park is very close to the city, barely an hour's drive away. There you can swim and even dive among the mangroves and corals to discover the wonderful and exotic marine life that takes refuge in this incredible ecosystem.

Even, if you have enough patience and a bit of luck, it is possible to have a sighting of dolphins, manatees and some sea turtles.

To enjoy it we recommend you to take a guided tour, where experts will take you to the most interesting points and provide you with interesting information about this fantastic place.

The Christ of the Abyss, one of the main attractions of Coral Reef State Park.

One of the main attractions of Coral Reef is the Christ of the Abyss. A statue of more than two and a half metres that stands at a depth of about 25 feet and that divers love to visit.

The statue is the third of its kind and depicts a Christ with outstretched arms, a copy of the one found in Genoa, Italy. Interestingly, according to their current location, both statues would be facing each other across the water.

Another of the aquatic disciplines that has been conquering spaces is flyboarding. This activity consists of balancing on a board that literally rises above the surface of the sea, using a powerful jet of water.

In Miami you can see a lot of this sport, which even the most famous people have decided to try out. The view from the heights makes this experience simply incredible, full of adrenaline and fun to the extreme.

In most of the beaches where they offer this service, they have an instructor who explains the details of what flyboarding is, as well as providing the support and advice needed to master it.

Most of those who have tried it for the first time say that it's all a matter of finding a balance point and that's it. Once you're ready, all that's left to do is get up to speed, soar and enjoy.

This is an ideal activity to do as a couple or with friends, as each jet ski has a capacity for two people. The Jet Sky is perfect to dive into an ocean of adrenaline and speed, while enjoying the breeze and the sun.

It's an excellent opportunity to soak up the Miami Bay scenery and see some of the local wildlife. It is always advisable to have an expert guide for any advice on the use of the vehicle and, above all, to get to know the most interesting points of the route.

One of the best places to kayak is in the Oleta River State Park.

The trip usually starts in the mangroves of the Biscayne, a quiet and relaxing ride to one of the deserted islands in the bay. Of course, there are plenty of spots to enjoy this sport in Miami.

Once you get to these stops, you can explore a bit and enjoy some time on the beach, in almost absolute solitude - like a real castaway!

You can rent a double kayak for as long as you like and take a full tour of the islands and enjoy the scenery of beautiful Miami. Rental prices depend on the number of hours.

The ideal is to take a trip of at least three hours, so that you can take the whole experience home with you.

Parasailing is an adrenaline-filled water activity that gives you a unique view of the city of Miami, from the two most privileged positions to enjoy it, the water and the air.

Needless to say, it is advisable to do it when the day is completely clear and the sun and the breeze create a perfect climate.

This aquatic activity consists of soaring above the sea, thanks to a parachute or parasail wing, which is propelled by tying yourself to a boat that travels along the coast at high speed.

It's a perfect activity to enjoy with friends or family, as these parachutes can carry up to three people at a time.

Once in the air, you can appreciate the view of the bay and also enjoy the sightings of marine fauna, such as turtles and dolphins.

If you don't want to sail your own boat, but like the idea of touring the coastline in one, you can hire a private tour for 2 to 6 people. The ride starts with a relaxed route until you reach your destination, where once you drop anchor the adrenaline starts.

The stop will be perfect to enjoy not only the view, but any water activities you wish. You can choose to go kayaking or paddle boarding, scuba diving or snorkelling.

And if you really want to float on a mat and relax for a while, that's also your choice - it's up to you! There are plenty of Miami tours to choose from.

Speed along Miami's coastline in an adrenaline-fuelled experience. A different way to appreciate the views of the bay and learn interesting facts and stories about the major tourist attractions of the area, offered by the guides of these Speed Boat tours.

The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes, with one of the most popular routes departing from Bayside and going all the way to Miami Beach. Feel like a character from your favourite series, and enjoy the wind and the sea, at full throttle.

You've probably heard it more than once, because it's one of the most popular water sports.

Paddleboarding tests your balance and physical endurance, while you enjoy the crystal blue waters and the delightful sea breeze. Where? Almost anywhere, including Miami Beach.

While paddleboarding, it's possible to see the land and its wildlife from a different perspective. In Miami, with its mangroves and houses close to the shore, this view becomes a real treat.

Don't miss out on this marine world

If the location is right, you can also observe the marine life, which is calmly passing by under your board. Virginia Key in Miami is just such a place, where you can get up close and personal with, for example, gentle manatees in their natural habitat.

These creatures are one of the icons of the State of Florida and are one of the many species protected as endangered. For this reason, many foundations and programmes are dedicated to caring for them.

Being able to see them and learn more about manatees is a great opportunity and a way to help these marine mammals to prevail.

An activity with a unique charm that offers an experience like few others. In Miami you can decide to sail your own boat, taking a four-hour course, which includes two hours of practice.

Another modality offers an intensive one-hour course, to enjoy and take home the basic knowledge of sailing. Now, if you're feeling adventurous enough, you can take the 15-minute express class and charter a catamaran for half a day to cruise the waters like a real captain.

From then on you'll find yourself immersed in Miami's beautiful scenery, just one of the many experiences on offer, and be sure to take in the flora and fauna!

Windsurfing is a water activity that simply cannot be missed. In Miami you will find options for short courses that allow you to learn the basics of this discipline in order to enjoy all it has to offer.

This discipline offers both the physical demands of a good water sport, as well as the chance to relax and enjoy the view, the weather and the sea breeze, cooling off from the summer heat. Did you know that windsurfing was born in the United States?

Once you're in Miami, a trip to the Everglades National Park is a must. It's a unique opportunity to see the mighty alligators up close and personal, roaming around like the masters of the swamp.

The Everglades offers a unique natural landscape, with a particular beauty and an exotic fauna that includes birds, rodents, reptiles and insects, as well as deer and, of course, alligators.

So many wonders together have made it a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, another reason to put it on your list of places of interest.

You can take a little tour of the Everglades and go on a boat tour, the kind with the huge fan on it, and look very picturesque.

On board, you'll have the opportunity to get a deeper insight into the ecosystem.

The Alligators

The alligator is a type of freshwater reptile, which usually measures between 4 and 6 metres, although they are rarely spotted this big. Miami is one of the places where we can find populations of this species, which in other times was hunted and driven to almost disappear.

However, in this community it is more than common to find them wandering around and even going into the gardens of houses and public places. They rarely attack humans, but they should still be respected and given their space when encountered.

So if you come across an alligator, take out your mobile phone, take a good photo and leave without disturbing it.

Now that we know what are some of the best water activities to do in Miami, we just need to know what time of the year we can enjoy them best. Of course, the best weather is found on sunny days, and although they say that the sun always shines in this city, it is true that some months can be more enjoyable.

So we start by recommending summer, which despite being a very hot climate, guarantees that the beaches are delightful. Plus, there's plenty to do in Miami in summer. And sunny weather is practically guaranteed.

On the other hand, if you don't want to deal with such high temperatures, you can always visit Miami in the spring, in the months of March and April, when the weather is warm enough, but without the temperatures getting too high. In the evenings it drops a little to close the day with a refreshing breeze.

Additionally, it is very unlikely to encounter a cold front during these months, and rainfall is rare. So beach days and water sports are guaranteed.