Fort Lauderdale Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

Fort Lauderdale’s central position on South Florida’s coast, its proximity to the Bahamas and its unrivalled marina infrastructure make it an ideal starting point for charters in every direction. The itineraries below cover different ground and can be combined for longer voyages.

Day Charter Routes from Fort Lauderdale

Intracoastal Waterway Cruise: Venice of America

Cruise Fort Lauderdale’s legendary waterways from the New River through downtown, past the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District and beneath the historic drawbridges. Continue north along the Intracoastal past Millionaire’s Row – a stretch of mega-mansions, private docks and gleaming yachts that rivals anything on the Côte d’Azur. Your crew serves lunch on the flybridge as you pass through the Hillsboro Inlet, with its 1907 lighthouse, and continue north to Deerfield Beach before turning back south along the oceanfront. Duration: 5–7 hours.

Fort Lauderdale to Miami Beach: The Coastal Run

Head south along the coast (or via the Intracoastal) to Miami Beach – roughly 30 nautical miles, a comfortable 1.5-hour cruise. Anchor off South Beach for a swim in the Art Deco district’s turquoise shallows, explore Star Island and the Venetian Islands, and return north along the Intracoastal at sunset. Your chef lays out a seafood lunch on the aft deck with the Miami skyline as the backdrop. Duration: 7–9 hours.

3-Day Fort Lauderdale Yacht Charter Itinerary: Bimini and the Bahamas

Day 1: Fort Lauderdale to Bimini

Board at Pier Sixty-Six or Bahia Mar by mid-morning. Cruise east across the Gulf Stream to Bimini – roughly 55 nautical miles, about three hours at cruising speed. Clear customs and anchor in the sheltered harbour. Afternoon snorkelling at Radio Beach’s reef, where nurse sharks and sea turtles drift over the sandy bottom. Evening on the aft deck with a Bahamian feast – cracked conch, grilled wahoo and a rum punch as the sun dips below the horizon.

Day 2: Bimini Exploration

A full day in Bimini’s extraordinary waters. Morning at the northern sandbars – ankle-deep turquoise shallows where your crew sets up a floating bar and water-toy playground. Try bonefishing on the flats (Bimini is legendary among fly fishers) or cruise to the Sapona wreck for a snorkel among coral-encrusted steel in 1.5 metres of water. Afternoon paddleboarding along South Bimini’s mangrove-fringed shoreline. Sundowners and dinner aboard as the unpolluted night sky fills with stars.

Day 3: Bimini to Fort Lauderdale

Depart at first light for the return crossing. Arrive on the Florida coast by mid-morning and cruise the Intracoastal from Hollywood north to Fort Lauderdale, passing the waterfront mansions and marina-lined canals at a leisurely pace. Your chef prepares a farewell brunch on the flybridge – smoked fish, tropical fruit, Cuban coffee and warm pastries. Arrive at the marina by early afternoon.

4-Day Fort Lauderdale Yacht Charter Itinerary: South to the Keys

Day 1: Fort Lauderdale to Key Largo

Cruise south along the coast (or via the Intracoastal and Biscayne Bay) to Key Largo – approximately 55 nautical miles, a comfortable 3-hour run. Anchor near John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and spend the afternoon snorkelling Grecian Rocks and the Christ of the Abyss statue. Dinner on the aft deck as the Keys’ legendary sunset turns the sky to fire.

Day 2: Key Largo to Islamorada

A short 20-nautical-mile cruise to Islamorada, the Sportfishing Capital of the World. Snorkel the Alligator Reef Lighthouse site, try flats fishing for bonefish and tarpon, or simply soak in the laid-back Keys atmosphere. Lunch at a waterside tiki bar or aboard your yacht. Anchor overnight in the lee of a quiet mangrove island.

Day 3: Islamorada to Marathon

Continue south along the island chain, cruising beneath the highway bridges. Stop at Bahia Honda Key for an afternoon on one of America’s finest beaches – powdery sand, crystalline water, not a high-rise in sight. Explore the photogenic ruins of the old Bahia Honda railroad bridge, built for Flagler’s Overseas Railroad in 1912.

Day 4: Bahia Honda to Looe Key and Return to Fort Lauderdale

Early-morning snorkelling at Looe Key – one of the most vibrant sections of the Florida Reef Tract, with elkhorn coral, goliath grouper and schools of grunts in 1.5–9 metres of water. Farewell lunch on the aft deck, then set course north for Fort Lauderdale, arriving by late evening.

Guests looking for a longer charter can combine the 3-day Bimini route with the 4-day Keys route, departing and returning from Fort Lauderdale for a 7-day voyage spanning the Bahamas and the Florida Keys.