A private yacht trip to Egmont Key

An Egmont Key boat tour is a trip to an island at the mouth of Tampa Bay, a few miles out from the beaches, that you reach only by boat. A private yacht gives you a way there that is yours alone: your group, a licensed captain, crew and fuel included, and a day arranged around what the water allows. This rental and charter page explains what to expect and, just as important, what we do not promise.

Planning the day

The office confirms whether Egmont Key fits your day and which boat suits it, and confirms your meeting point before the day, with your captain setting the likely plan. On the morning, the plan adjusts for wind and tide.

What an Egmont Key boat tour shows you

Egmont Key is a state park and a national wildlife refuge, which is why access is managed with care. It is a narrow island, with a long beach on one side and the old military history of the place on the other. Some parts are open to visitors, and some are set aside for wildlife and kept closed.

The lighthouse and Fort Dade

The Egmont Key lighthouse is the first thing guests spot as the island comes up on the horizon. Beyond it lie the brick ruins of Fort Dade, a coastal fort built at the end of the 1800s to guard the entrance to the bay. Even from the water the island looks like a place with a past.

Gopher tortoises and the refuge areas

The island is home to gopher tortoises, shorebirds and nesting species. This is why the refuge areas are off limits and why we ask guests to respect the boundaries the captain describes. You will see the wildlife best from the boat or from the places where visitors are welcome, and never by wandering into closed sections.

Anchoring off, never a promise of landing

The captain decides where the boat anchors, and chooses the spot, based on weather, current and the rules of the park. Whether guests step ashore is the captain's call on the day. We do not promise a landing, because the conditions on the Gulf side can change quickly. What we do promise is a calm, private day on the water with a clear view of the island.

Combining it with other places

Egmont Key sits easily alongside the rest of the coast. Many groups pair it with St. Pete Beach and Shell Key, or with the water around Tierra Verde and Fort De Soto. Anna Maria Island lies across the channel to the south; see our Anna Maria Island boat charter page for how far that is.

Food and drinks

Bring your own drinks if you like. A chef and catering can be arranged through the office if you want a meal on board, with a quote of their own.

Ask us about your date

Tell us the date and the size of your group, and we suggest a yacht. Send an enquiry and tell us what you would like to see.