Florida Keys Destination · Boca Grande Key
An empty beach, an adjacent sandbar, protected sea turtle nesting habitat. The kind of destination you can only reach by private boat. A full-day trip from Stock Island that usually pairs with a Marquesas Keys stop.
Why Boca Grande is on a different list
The backcountry sandbars are 8-10 miles from Key West. Boca Grande is 12 miles in the opposite direction — west, into the open Gulf, on the approach to the Marquesas. Different trip, different reward.
Boca Grande Key is uninhabited and largely undeveloped. On a typical day you'll have hundreds of yards of beach to yourselves. The kind of empty that exists only on islands you can't drive to.
Protected loggerhead and green turtle nesting habitat in season (May-October). We respect refuge closures of the nesting beaches. Outside the nesting season, the full island beach is open.
Boca Grande is on the way to the Marquesas Keys atoll. A full-day charter can hit Boca Grande for morning, then anchor at the Marquesas for afternoon. ~7-8 hours total, two destinations.
A full-day expedition
From our dock at the Perry Hotel & Marina, Boca Grande Key is about 90 minutes of running west across the open water. The run itself is part of the trip — you watch Key West disappear behind you and the horizon open up. On calm days the water glasses out and you can see baitfish flashing below the hull.
Anchor in the lee of the island. Wade ashore (the beach drops off slowly — easy walk). Walk the open sand. Snorkel the patch reef just offshore on the south side. Eat lunch under the bimini. Some groups bring kites, frisbees, paddleboards — the beach is open enough that it all works.
From roughly May through October the beach is loggerhead and green turtle nesting habitat. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service closes portions of the beach during peak nesting. We respect closures — Captain Dustin checks the current refuge map before the trip and we anchor only where allowed. Outside nesting season the entire beach is open.
The Marquesas Keys are about 13 miles further west — the only natural atoll in the Western Hemisphere. Boca Grande for the beach in the morning makes a natural pairing with the atoll lap in the afternoon for full-day trips.
How Six Fins gets you to Boca Grande
Boca Grande is a full-day-only destination. Both formats launch from our Perry Hotel & Marina dock on Stock Island.
Boca Grande only. Long beach walk, picnic lunch, snorkel the patch reef offshore. 6 to 8 hours. From $1,395.
See private charter →Boca Grande FAQ
Boca Grande Key is an uninhabited island about 11–12 miles west of Key West, on the approach toward the Marquesas Keys.
It is reachable only by private boat. The draw is the combination of empty beach, adjacent sandbar, clear shallow water, and the feeling of being far beyond the standard Key West sandbar circuit.
No. Boca Grande Key and Boca Chica Sandbar are completely different places.
Boca Chica is southeast of Key West near the Navy air station. Boca Grande is west of Key West, on the way toward the Marquesas. If a guest asks for “Boca,” Six Fins will clarify which destination they mean before planning the charter.
Boca Grande is best treated as a full-day-style destination. The run west crosses more open water than the closer backcountry sandbars, and the beach deserves enough time once you arrive.
A 6-hour charter can work for a Boca Grande-focused day. An 8-hour day gives more breathing room. If your group wants Boca Grande plus the Marquesas, plan on the 10-hour Boca Grande + Marquesas format.
Often, yes, but refuge and nesting rules matter. Boca Grande has protected sea turtle nesting habitat, especially during roughly May through October.
The captain will respect posted closures and current refuge guidance. If part of the beach is closed, the charter can still focus on the permitted anchorage, sandbar, water, and boat-based beach experience.
Yes, when conditions allow. Boca Grande has patch reef areas just offshore, and snorkel gear is available for private charters.
Visibility changes with wind, tide, and sea state. If snorkeling is the main goal, tell Six Fins when booking so the captain can advise whether Boca Grande, Marquesas, Sand Key, or a dedicated snorkel charter is the better fit.
A private Boca Grande charter starts at $1,395 for 6 hours or $1,795 for 8 hours. A combined Boca Grande + Marquesas day runs as a 10-hour charter from $3,065.
Pricing is per boat, not per person. Captain, fuel, and onboard gear are included according to the charter setup.
For older kids and boat-comfortable families, yes. Boca Grande can be memorable because the beach is wide, the water is shallow, and the destination feels remote.
For younger children or guests who do not want a longer run, Jewfish Basin, Snipes Keys, Woman Key, or Sand Key may be easier first choices.
The westward run can be affected by wind and open-water conditions. If Six Fins or the captain determines Boca Grande is unsafe or not suitable, guests may be rescheduled or offered a better-protected destination according to the applicable booking policy.
The goal is the best private charter day, not forcing Boca Grande when the water says no.
Tell us your date and group size. We'll match it to weather and pair it with the Marquesas if conditions cooperate.
Or email info@sixfinscharter.com with your date and group size.