Boat Trip - Key West

Question

Hi,

We will be visiting key west with our 3 young kids at the end of August. Just wanted anyone’s advice on boat trips from key west. I see a lot of them are afternoon which might be too hot for us, or party boats on a night. Has anyone done an early evening boat trip suitable for kids with fun things like dolphin watching and sand bar snorkelling? Thanks

Answer

Good question — yes, there are several early evening or late-day boat trips out of Key West that are fairly family-friendly and involve dolphin watching, snorkeling, and even sandbar stops. For your 3 young kids, you’ll want to pick tours that aren’t too “party”-oriented and that have shaded or calm water time.

Here are some boat trip options to consider, along with pros and tips:

Sunset Watersports — Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Combo (evening)
This company offers a 3-hour trip for dolphin watching + snorkeling. There is a later trip option that includes a sunset cruise on the way back in. The tour departs around 3 PM (seasonally) and runs into the early evening. It’s very kid-friendly (“kids go free” for young children per their site). They provide snorkel gear and instruction.
Honest Eco Tours — Sunset Sail + Reef Snorkel & Sandbar
This is a 4–4.5 hour catamaran tour that includes sailing, guided reef snorkeling, and a stop at a sandbar. It’s very family-friendly and is explicitly designed for small groups and calm exploration. Because it’s a sailing catamaran, there’s plenty of deck space, and it’s a good balance of relaxing and active.
Dolphin Safari Charters — Private or Small-Group Dolphin & Snorkel Tour
If you want a more personalized trip (especially helpful with very young kids), Dolphin Safari Charters runs small-group tours (max 6 guests) that include dolphin watching, reef snorkeling, and even visits to sandbars on their private charters. Their “Dolphin & Snorkeling” combo is designed to be safe and enjoyable for families. For a really relaxed pace, you could book one of their private sandbar charters so you can tailor how long you want to hang out and when.

Things to Think About / Tips for Traveling with Young Kids

Late August will be hot and sunny — even in the early evening, bring reef-safe sunscreen, hats, and plenty of water.
On snorkeling portions, confirm with the tour company that they have life vests / float devices for small children; many of these “eco” or family tours provide them. For example, Honest Eco provides guided snorkeling, which helps with kids.
Because you’re traveling with little ones, a smaller boat or private charter may be more comfortable than a big party boat — this gives your family control over pace, stops, and shade (Dolphin Safari is a great pick here).
Bring a towel, swimsuit, and change of clothes — many of these tours do a snorkeling stop plus sandbar time, so you’ll want dry clothes for the trip back.
Reserve early — these family-friendly and eco tours (especially small-group ones) can fill up, especially in high season.

My Recommendation

Given that you have 3 young kids, I lean strongly toward:

The Dolphin Safari Charters private or small-group tour — for flexibility, shade, and a calm environment.
The Honest Eco Sunset Sail + Snorkel & Sandbar — for a mellow, truly “Key West” experience with sailing, sandbar time, and snorkeling that isn’t too rushed.

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