Is the boat tour private?

Yes. Every tour is private to your group. We don't sell seats or combine parties. Call or text (954) 299-5455 to reserve a boat.

How long is a Delray Beach boat tour?

Most tours run 3 to 4 hours. That covers the Intracoastal estates and a Lake Boca sandbar stop. Sunset cruises run 2 to 3 hours. Full-day trips run 6 to 8 hours.

Do you offer boat tours on weekends and holidays?

Yes. We run seven days a week, including holidays, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Weekend dates in season book out early. The last Sunday in April is Boca Bash, an unsanctioned party that fills Lake Boca with thousands of boats. Most of our guests pick another day.

Can we swim or snorkel during the tour?

Yes. Snorkel gear and tubing are available. The Lake Boca sandbar is the most popular swim stop. Tell the captain when you want to get in and he'll plan the route around it.

Can we bring food and drinks?

Yes. Bring your own food and drinks, alcohol included. Dogs and other pets are welcome too.

Do you pick up in Boca Raton?

Yes. All tours board at Waterstone Resort & Marina in Boca Raton. Boca Raton boat choices are on our Boca Raton boat rental page.

Will we have to wait at drawbridges?

Sometimes, briefly. The Atlantic Avenue and Linton Boulevard bridges open on fixed schedules, and the water around each bridge is a slow-speed zone. Smaller boats pass under without an opening. Your captain plans the route around the schedule so waits are short.

Yes. Fishing is allowed on any boat. Rods and tackle can be added, so tell us when you book.

When is manatee season?

Manatee season runs November 15 to March 31. Slow-speed zones go into effect around the Intracoastal bridges in south Palm Beach County, so tours in those months run at a slower pace near Delray and Boca. It's also your best chance to see one.

Private Boat Tours in Delray Beach

Delray Beach boat tours with Delray Beach Boat Rentals are private. Your group gets the whole boat and a USCG-licensed captain who plans the route with you. No ticket line, no shared deck, no fixed two-hour loop.

Tours run from Delray Beach and Boca Raton, and guests board at Waterstone Resort & Marina in Boca Raton. From the dock, the Intracoastal runs north past the estates of Gulf Stream and south to the Lake Boca sandbar. Most tours run 3 to 4 hours. Sunset cruises and 6 to 8 hour trips are available too.

Call or text (954) 299-5455 to book. We answer 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, seven days a week. You can also book online with Instant Book.

What a Private Boat Tour in Delray Beach Includes

A private boat tour is a captained charter built around seeing the area from the water. The captain drives, handles the bridges and the no-wake zones, and points out what you're passing. You decide where to stop.

Every tour includes:

A USCG-licensed captain, plus a crew member on boats 36 feet and larger
Fuel
Life jackets for every guest
Snorkel gear and tubing on request
A route you plan with the captain before you leave the dock

Boats run from 22 feet to 122 feet across our South Florida fleet. Most of our boats carry 10 to 13 guests. The 26-foot tour boat carries 18. Select yachts carry a Seabob water scooter.

intracoastal-waterway-florida-delray-beach

Intracoastal Estate Cruise

Head north from Delray past the waterfront homes of Gulf Stream, or south past Highland Beach toward Boca Raton. The Atlantic Avenue bridge, Veterans Park, and the Delray waterfront restaurants sit right on the route. Five drawbridges cross this stretch of the Intracoastal in about six miles. Atlantic Avenue opens on the quarter and three-quarter hour, and Linton Boulevard on the hour and half hour. Your captain times the route so you're not idling at a bridge. This is the tour most first-time visitors book.

Lake Boca Sandbar Trip

Twenty minutes south of Delray, the Intracoastal opens into Lake Boca. The sandbar near the Boca Inlet sits in waist-deep water, and on weekends it's the social center of the coast. Anchor, swim, float, and watch the boats come through the inlet. Details are on our sandbar boat trip page.

_A sunset at the Jupiter Sandbar in HDR.

Sunset Cruise

A 2 to 3 hour cruise timed to end as the sun drops behind the mainland. The Intracoastal stays calm at dusk, so this is the easiest trip for guests who don't love open water. See the Delray Beach sunset cruise page.

Snorkeling Boat Trip

Snorkel gear comes on every boat. Your captain picks a spot based on the day's visibility and current. Tell us you want to snorkel when you book so we match you with the right boat.

Dock and Dine Cruise

Cruise to a waterfront restaurant, tie up, eat, and cruise back. Delray's Intracoastal restaurants near the Atlantic Avenue bridge are the closest stops. Lake Boca has options too. The captain picks a dock that fits your boat.

Hillsboro Inlet and Boynton Inlet

Longer tours can run south past the Boca Inlet to the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, or north to the Boynton Inlet. Both make good turnaround points on a 6 to 8 hour day.

Why Book a Boat Tour With Us

Delray has two kinds of boat tours. There's the public narrated cruise from Veterans Park, with first-come seating and a crowd. And there are private charters, most of them booked through apps where you're trusting a stranger's boat.

Delray Beach Boat Rentals is the third option. Every boat in our fleet is company-owned and captained by our own USCG-licensed captain. You book directly with us, not through a marketplace. The boat you see on our boats page is the boat that shows up. There's no separate captain fee at the dock and no surprise departure point change the morning of your trip.

Where Our Tours Go

Delray Beach, including the Atlantic Avenue waterfront, Veterans Park, and the Intracoastal north to Gulf Stream
Boca Raton, including Lake Boca, the Boca Inlet, and the sandbar
Highland Beach and Boynton Beach by water
South to the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse on longer trips

Staying at a hotel on Atlantic Avenue or along A1A? Waterstone Resort & Marina is a short drive south. We'll send directions when you book.

Boat Tour Pricing

Private boat tours start at $690. Yachts start at $2,999. The price depends on boat size and trip length. Fuel and captain are included. Gratuity for the crew is extra. Ask us for a quote with your date, group size, and route.

We take all major credit cards, debit cards, ACH, and wire transfer. Our cancellation policy covers weather and rescheduling.

Private Delray Beach Boat Tours and Sightseeing Cruises