What to Bring on the Raccoon Island Miami Tour

Packing for the Raccoon Island Miami tour is not complicated, but a few items make the difference between a comfortable day and a slightly soggy, sunburnt one. This is a 4-hour outing that mixes an open-water cruise, a mangrove-island walk, and a shallow sandbar swim — so you want sun protection, things you do not mind getting wet, and a little cash. Here is the complete list, plus what is not allowed onboard so nothing gets left at the gate.

The Essentials

These are the items you should not leave home without:

Bottled water is provided, so you do not need to pack drinking water. Wear something you do not mind getting wet — the island walk and the shallow sandbar both involve wading.

Sun Protection Comes First

Four hours on Biscayne Bay means sustained exposure, and Miami sun is intense — especially in the hotter months when the open deck offers only partial shade. A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are non-negotiable. Apply sunscreen before you board and reapply after the sandbar swim, since water and towelling strip it off.

If you want to be considerate of the bay’s ecosystem, choose a reef-safe sunscreen — formulas whose active ingredient is a mineral such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, rather than chemical filters. Raccoon Island sits in a mangrove environment that supports a lot of marine life, and mineral sunscreen is the gentler choice for those waters.

Footwear: Why Water Shoes Matter

The tour’s own recommended-items list specifically calls out water shoes, and there is a good reason. Mangrove islands rarely have clean sandy edges — roots reach into the shallows and the bottom can have shell or small rocks mixed with the sand. Water shoes protect your feet on the guided island walk and at the sandbar, and they handle the wet-then-dry-then-wet rhythm of the day far better than flip-flops, which float away, or bare feet, which do not.

Note that high-heeled shoes are not allowed onboard — a non-issue for most, but worth knowing if you are heading straight out afterward.

Cash for the Crew Gratuity

One thing first-timers miss: gratuity for the crew is not included in your ticket price. A standard tip of about $10 per person is customary and appreciated, and it is requested in cash. Card readers are unreliable on the water, so bring physical cash — and a little extra if you plan to buy drinks or snacks onboard.

Optional Upgrades — Decide at Booking, Not on the Day

You do not pack these, but knowing about them helps you plan. At checkout you can add:

• Unlimited Drink Package — beer, hard seltzers, white wine, rosé, soft drinks, and water
• Island Picnic Lunch — a choice of ham sandwich, turkey sandwich, veggie wrap, or caprese salad, served with chips and a soda
• VIP Package — the drink package and the picnic lunch together

Advance reservation is recommended for all upgrades, so decide when you book rather than hoping to add them at the marina. If you skip the lunch upgrade, a few personal snacks are fine to bring.

What You Cannot Bring Onboard

To save you a problem at the Pier 3 gate, here is what is not allowed:

• No outside drinks — water only; all other drinks are bought onboard or come with the drink package
• No red wine — even if you bring your own drinks within the rules
• No glass objects and no coolers
• No high-heeled shoes
• No pets
• No weapons or sharp objects, and no oversize luggage
• No smoking

Outside food in modest amounts is fine; outside drinks are not. When in doubt, travel light — you want your hands free for the island walk and the swim.

What to Wear

Dress for a day that moves between cruising, walking, and wading. Wear your swimwear under light, quick-drying clothes — a swimsuit with a T-shirt, rash guard, or cover-up over it — rather than heavy cotton that stays damp once it gets wet. A long-sleeve sun shirt or rash guard is worth considering in the hotter months: it cuts sun exposure on the open deck without you having to reapply sunscreen constantly.

For your feet, water shoes or secure sport sandals are ideal, since you will be on and off the boat and walking the island. Skip anything you cannot afford to lose overboard — and remember high heels are not permitted onboard. Bring a light layer for the cruise legs too: even in summer, the breeze on a moving boat can feel cool, and in winter the early-morning departure can be genuinely brisk on the water.

Bringing Kids

The tour is family-friendly, and packing for children follows the same logic with a little extra care. Make sure kids have well-fitting water shoes, a hat, and plenty of sunscreen applied before boarding. A change of dry clothes for the trip back keeps a tired child comfortable, and a few familiar snacks help during the cruise legs. The boat has shaded seating and an onboard restroom, so the practical side of a family day is well covered — you mainly need to manage sun and the wet-to-dry cycle.

A Quick Pre-Departure Checklist

Before you leave for the Venetian Marina, run through this:

1. Swimwear on or packed, plus a towel
2. Sunscreen applied; hat and sunglasses on
3. Water shoes — not flip-flops
4. Photo ID if you might drink
5. ~$10 cash per person for gratuity, plus extra for onboard purchases
6. Camera or phone charged
7. Waiver ready to complete — every guest must sign before boarding
8. Leave behind: glass, coolers, outside drinks, heels, pets

Ready to Book?

Pack smart and the Raccoon Island Miami tour is an easy, comfortable day on Biscayne Bay. Once your list is sorted, check availability and book the Raccoon Island Miami tour — 4 hours of wildlife, sandbar swimming, and Miami’s most exclusive coastline, from $79 per person.