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In this guide
You haven’t really seen St. Augustine until you’ve seen it from the water. I remember taking field trips to the Castle as a kid and learning how the fort was positioned to protect the city, all the while just wishing I was on one of the boats out on the water, looking back at me.
There are a lot of boats to choose from, and they aren’t all the same trip. Here’s how I’d sort them out, starting with the one I’d tell a friend to book.
Which boat tour should you pick?
| If you want | I’d book | Leaves from | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| A fun night with a drink | Black Raven Tropical Sunset Cruise | Downtown marina | 2 hours |
| Kids and pirates | Black Raven pirate show | Downtown marina | About 1.5 hours |
| The cheapest way on the water | Scenic Cruise | Downtown marina | 75 minutes |
| Dolphins | Adventure Boat Tours | Vilano Beach | About 1 hour |
| Bring your own drinks | Red Boat Tours BYOB sunset | Vilano Beach | About 1.5 hours |
| Real sails, drinks included | Fury sunset sail | Vilano Beach | About 1.75 hours |
Pay attention to where your boat leaves from. The downtown marina and Vilano Beach are a drive apart, and some tours leave from the Conch House area on Anastasia Island. Check your ticket before you head out. Prices below are what was listed when I checked, and they can change.
Sunset cruises
Black Raven Tropical Sunset Cruise
This is the one I’d book. It’s a two-hour Caribbean-themed sail around Matanzas Bay on a pirate ship, with music and a full bar. It’s the ultimate entertainment. I’ve met new friends on this boat that I still keep in touch with, and the music, the drinks and the crew were just fantastic. Tickets start around $42, and drinks and snacks are extra. It leaves from the Municipal Marina at 111 Avenida Menendez, which doesn’t have a parking lot, so give yourself 45 minutes to an hour to park. My parking guide will help.
Check the sunset cruise Paid link
Red Boat Tours BYOB sunset cruise
You bring your own drinks and snacks, and they supply the water. It runs about an hour and a half from the Vilano Beach Fishing Pier, starting around $42. It doesn’t run on some dates from mid-November to mid-January because of Nights of Lights, so check the calendar.
Fury’s sunset sail
If you want everything covered, this one includes beer, wine, champagne and margaritas, plus live music. It’s a catamaran out of Vilano Beach, about an hour and 45 minutes, from around $66. It’s the priciest of the three, and it can hold a big crowd, so it won’t feel like a private outing.
If you’ve got kids
The Black Raven also runs an interactive pirate show, with sword fighting lessons, face painting and pirate booty for the kids. There’s a separate 21-and-up version, so make sure you book the right one. It’s about an hour and a half from the downtown marina, starting around $45.
Dolphin and sightseeing tours
You’ve got a good shot at seeing dolphins around here, but nobody can promise them. Even if you don’t see any, it’s a great, relaxing time on the boat with the kids. We’ve seen them both times we’ve gone, and they even let us get a picture with our daughter behind the wheel!
Adventure Boat Tours runs a family-friendly history and dolphin tour from the Vilano pier, about an hour, from $44 for adults and $23 for kids.
If you want real sails instead, Fury also runs a dolphin and harbor sail from Vilano, about an hour and a half, from around $39. It includes beer, wine, soda and snacks, which makes it a good deal.
The budget pick is Scenic Cruise, a double-decker that leaves from downtown. It’s 75 minutes with narration, and adult tickets are listed at $28.50. It’s an easy ride, and it’s covered if the weather turns, so it works well if you’ve got grandparents along. You can book it through Viator, or directly with them.
Nights of Lights from the water
From late November through mid-January, the bayfront is lit up and the boats get busy. Nobody can stand in front of you out there, but it’s colder than you’d expect, so bring a jacket and book ahead. I cover the options in my Nights of Lights guide.
Want to fish or run your own boat?
Fishing charters run out of the marinas here, for both inshore and offshore trips, but there are a lot of old salty dog locals who will take you to their secret spots for kingfish, wahoo, mahi and even marlin. If you’d rather drive, you can rent a boat through sites like Boatsetter and GetMyBoat.
If you’re going out on your own, respect the water. Tidal currents run hard around the bridge and the inlet, and the inlet can get rough fast. Do your homework first. I’d even stop in to a local bait shop like Oldest City Bait & Tackle or Avid Angler to see what fish are running and how to approach the trip. Check the tides, and stay inside the inlet if you aren’t comfortable offshore.
Before you go
- Bring a layer. It’s cooler on the water than on land, especially after the sun goes down.
- Check the weather. Afternoon storms are common in the summer, so read your tour’s cancellation policy.
- Show up early. Some tours ask for 25 to 30 minutes, and parking downtown can take longer than that.
- Plan the rest of your stay. My where to stay guide covers downtown and the beach.