Florida Bay backcountry
The bay side of the island is protected from the open Atlantic by the Keys themselves — calmer, clearer, with far more shallow sand patches than any exposed beach ever gets.
Key West Sandbar Charter · Perry Hotel & Marina
The hidden Key West sandbars only the captain knows.
Most sandbar charters out of Key West run the same two or three spots — the ones on every tourist map, packed with party boats by 11 a.m. We don't run those. Our USCG-licensed captain runs a private boat to the local sandbars off the radar, picked that morning for the wind and the tide.
USCG-licensed captain
Private boat — your group only
Up to 6 guests
From $1,195
First time? Start here
What's a sandbar, exactly?
A sandbar is a shallow patch of white-sand seafloor that rises almost to the surface of the ocean, surrounded on every side by deeper turquoise water. The bar itself is usually knee- to waist-deep — sometimes ankle-deep at low tide — with a soft, bright bottom you can walk on barefoot. No current, no waves once you're anchored, no rocks or coral to dodge.
The way it works: we cruise out, the captain reads the depth, drops anchor in the deeper water at the edge, and you hop off the swim platform straight into shin-deep saltwater. Some people stand around with a cold drink. Some swim laps off the deep edge. Some float, picnic, take photos, or sprawl on a noodle. There's no schedule once we're there.
It's the closest thing to a private beach you'll find in Key West — except the beach is a mile offshore, the water is clearer than any city beach, and you're not sharing it with anyone but your group and the captain.
Why Key West
Why Key West's sandbars are different.
A lot of places have sandbars. Florida has them up and down both coasts. The reason Key West is the place to do this comes down to three things working together.
Wind options, every day
East wind? Run to the bars on the west side. South wind? A different protected bar becomes the best one. A local captain knows which sandbar is glass-flat for that morning's forecast.
The bottom is alive
Walking the bar, you'll see starfish, sand dollars, conch trails, the occasional stingray, and bait schools flickering in the shallows. Not just a swimming pool — a working slice of reef at knee-deep range.
The Six Fins approach
A private boat, a local captain, and the bar that's best today.
The reason this works is the captain. USCG-licensed, grew up running these waters. We don't publish a fixed sandbar — we publish the captain, the boat, and a four-hour window. He picks the bar that morning based on wind, tide, and how many other boats are already at the obvious ones.
The flagship trip is called the Secret Local Sandbar Escape — private, four hours, up to six guests, from Perry Hotel & Marina. It's our most-booked boat charter and the one we'd recommend if you've never done this before.
A day on the bar
What a Key West sandbar charter actually looks like.
A standard four-hour Secret Local Sandbar Escape, hour by hour. Yours will flex with the weather.
10:00
Meet
Perry Hotel & Marina
Park free at the Perry, walk to the dock, meet the captain. Quick safety brief and we shove off. No line, no kiosk — just your group and the boat.
10:30
Cruise out
The slow cruise out
25–40 minutes depending on the day's sandbar. Captain takes it easy — this is when you spot dolphins, sea turtles, and the occasional tarpon working a tide line.
11:00
Anchor up
Anchor up. You're on the bar.
Captain drops anchor in the deep edge so the boat swings free. You step off the swim platform into knee-deep water. The next two-plus hours are yours.
11–1:30
On the bar
Swim. Wade. Picnic. Float. Repeat.
Swim laps off the deep edge. Walk the bar looking for sand dollars. Eat the sandwiches you brought. Open a cold seltzer. Take the photo your friends won't believe is real.
1:30
Head back
Pull anchor, slow cruise back
Towels and a fresh-water rinse waiting. Relaxed cruise back, sometimes a different route through the mangrove channels if the tide's right. Back at the dock by 2 p.m.
Pack light
What to bring. What's already on the boat.
Half the fun is how little you need to think about. Sunscreen and a swimsuit and you're 90% there.
🍱 What to bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Sunglasses on a strap
- A hat — sun bounces off the sand
- Swimsuit, worn under your clothes
- Food and drinks of your choice
- A small dry bag for your phone
✅ Already on board
- USCG-approved life jackets, all sizes
- Cold water and ice in a stocked cooler
- Towels and freshwater rinse
- Swim ladder off the back
- Pool floats and noodles for the bar
- Bluetooth speaker — bring your playlist
- Marine head (bathroom) on board
Pricing
Flat-rate private charters. Up to six guests.
Pricing is per boat, not per person. All trips include captain, fuel, and gear.
Charter
Duration
Best for
Price
Secret Local Sandbar Escape
4 hours
The flagship trip — one sandbar, plenty of time
$1,195
Half-Day Sandbar Charter
5 hours
Add a longer cruise or a second-spot option
$1,495
Full-Day Sandbar Charter
8 hours
Multiple bars, picnic on the boat, snorkel detour
$2,195
Prices include captain, fuel, ice, water, life jackets, and on-board gear. Gratuity not included. Want to add snorkeling? See the Custom Combo Charter or Private Snorkel Adventure.
Sandbar questions, answered
Before you book.
What's a sandbar?
A shallow patch of seafloor that rises close to the surface — usually knee- to waist-deep — surrounded by deeper turquoise water. In Key West the bottom is bright white sand and the bars sit far enough offshore that you can only reach them by boat. You anchor up, hop off the swim platform, and stand or float in the middle of the ocean.
Where are the best Key West sandbars?
The mainstream ones — like the bar off Marvin Key — are crowded with party boats on weekends. The good ones are tucked into the Florida Bay backcountry: shifting sand patches a local captain knows by depth, tide, and wind. We rotate between several depending on conditions, which is why we don't publish coordinates.
Can I bring kids on a sandbar charter?
Yes — sandbars are the kid-friendliest thing you can do on the water here. Shallow enough to stand in, soft sand bottom (no rocks, urchins, or coral), no waves once anchored. Any age welcome. We carry USCG-approved life jackets in all sizes.
What should I bring on a sandbar charter?
Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a towel, a swimsuit. Bring whatever food and drinks you want — alcohol fine, just keep it sensible. We provide cold water, ice, life jackets, floats, swim ladder, an on-board restroom, and a Bluetooth speaker.
What's the best time of year for a sandbar charter?
Year-round — water temps stay between 72°F and 87°F. November–May has the calmest, clearest water and lightest crowds. June–October is warmer with the occasional pop-up shower. Wind direction matters more than season; we shift which sandbar we go to based on the day's forecast.
How long is a Key West sandbar charter?
The flagship Secret Local Sandbar Escape is four hours — the sweet spot for a slow cruise out, a long stretch on the bar, and a relaxed cruise back. We also offer five-hour half-day and eight-hour full-day options.
Is the water safe to swim in at the sandbars?
Yes. Knee- to waist-deep over soft white sand, no current, no waves once anchored. No sharp rocks or fire coral on the bars we use. You'll see bait fish, the occasional stingray (shuffle your feet), and sometimes a sea turtle in the deeper water nearby.
Do you serve food and drinks on board?
We provide cold water, ice, and a stocked cooler — food and drinks are yours to bring. Most groups pack a small picnic. If you'd rather not pack, tell us when you book and we'll handle a simple spread for an add-on fee. Champagne for special occasions welcome.
How is this different from a snorkel or sunset trip?
A sandbar charter is the “just float and relax” option — no fins, no schedule. A snorkel trip is more active and reef-focused. To combine both, look at the Custom Combo Charter.
Named Key West sandbars
Know where you want to go?
We run private charters to all of these. Some are half-day; a few are full-day expeditions. Each page has distances, what to expect, and pricing.
South of Key West
Sand Key
1853 lighthouse, shallow reef, sandbar at low tide. 7 miles south.
Details → Backcountry NESnipes Keys
Locals-only crescent sandbar. Crystal-clear, almost always empty.
Details → Backcountry NorthJewfish Basin
The biggest backcountry sandbar. Room for groups to spread out.
Details → BackcountryMud Keys
Mangrove island cluster between Jewfish and Snipes. Birding, channels, quiet.
Details → Refuge WestWoman Key
Uninhabited refuge island. Snorkel-grade water, pairs with Man Key.
Details → Refuge WestMan Key
Sister to Woman Key. Quieter, fewer boats, same clear water.
Details → Lower KeysMarvin Key
The locals' weekend sandbar off Sugarloaf. Full-day, big crescent.
Details → West · Full DayBoca Grande
Uninhabited island on the Marquesas approach. Sea turtles, empty beach.
Details → Expedition · 25 Miles WestMarquesas Keys
The only natural atoll in the Western Hemisphere. Pristine inside the ring.
Details →Pick a day. We'll pick the sandbar.
Same private boat, same USCG-licensed local captain — with the best bar for that day's wind already in mind by the time we shove off. Four hours, up to six guests, from Perry Hotel & Marina.
Prefer to write first? info@sixfinscharter.com · Or text (305) 906-2880.