Big Dave Tours Key West From Miami Beach: 18-Hour Coach Trip With Optional Snorkel and Open Bar
Quick answer
The Big Dave Tours Key West trip starts from $18 for 18 hours, leaving South Beach at 6:30 AM with 4 hours of coach each way.
It is rated 4.1/5 from 19 reviews on GetYourGuide, and I'd book it only if the add-on prices still beat the other Key West days.
Big Dave Tours
Key West Boat Tour w/ Optional Snorkeling & Open Bar
4.1 (19) · from $18
The Big Dave Tours Key West trip is an 18-hour day from Miami Beach to Key West that begins at a South Beach bus stop at 6:30 AM and gives you an optional boat tour, snorkeling and an open bar. The advertised $18 is the cheapest combination on the calendar, and each extra is its own option.
The detail that changes the decision is how little of the day is spent on the water. The listing's blocks show 8 hours of coach, a 30-minute break, 2 hours of free time and 3 hours for the boat, snorkeling or sightseeing. The remaining 4.5 hours of the 18 are not itemised.
This page covers the meeting point, the timeline, what the options change, the season and sea state by month and how this trip compares with the other Key West days on my Miami boat tours list. For reef trips closer to home, see the snorkeling tours in Miami page. Other cities are on the harbouradvisor.com home page.
| Operator | Big Dave Tours (shown as the activity provider on GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Air-conditioned coach; wheelchair accessible; small-group option |
| Price | From $18 per person (struck-through $33); varies by options |
| Duration | 18 hours; itinerary blocks add up to 13.5 |
| Departure | 6:30 AM, Claremont Hotel stop, South Beach |
| Meeting point | Claremont Hotel bus stop on Google Maps |
| Route | South Beach, Overseas Highway, Key West boat leg, free time, back |
| Food and drink | Open bar only with that option; food not included |
| Languages | English and Spanish |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before the start |
| Rating | 4.1/5 from 19 reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Big Dave Tours Key West trip and how does the day run?
It is a coach day to the southern tip of Florida with a boat leg in the middle. You ride 4 hours south, spend about 5 hours in Key West and ride 4 hours back, and the boat, snorkel and bar are options you tick at booking.
| Block | Length | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Coach south | 4 hours | From Collins Avenue down the Overseas Highway |
| Break | 30 minutes | Rest stop on the way |
| Free time (optional) | 1 hour | Key West on your own, before the boat |
| Boat and sightseeing | 3 hours | Sightseeing, snorkeling, sailing; scuba is also listed |
| Free time | 1 hour | Key West on your own |
| Coach north | 4 hours | Back to Collins Avenue |
The Overseas Highway is 113 miles long and crosses 42 bridges, according to the Florida Keys tourism board. At 6:30 AM plus 18 hours, the trip ends around 12:30 AM, so confirm the return time before you book a hotel checkout or a flight.
Where is the meeting point and who gets picked up?
You meet at 6:30 AM at a stop outside the Claremont Hotel on Collins Avenue, South Beach. Claremont Hotel bus stop on Google Maps The listing's starting address is 1700 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, and the Maps link in the key facts table opens it.
The same listing also says hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Those two statements disagree, because a single bus stop is not a hotel pickup. I trust the structured meeting-point field, which names one stop, and I'd ask the operator whether your hotel is on a pickup route. See also the Southernmost Point and Duval Street on the map for your free time.
- Confirm the pickup point and time on your voucher.
- Be at the Claremont Hotel stop before 6:30 AM.
- Keep the guide's phone number handy in case the coach is late.
I could not verify a walking time from the nearest transit stop, so I have left it out. Use the Maps link to plan your own early-morning approach.
What do the options change, and what does the price become?
The $18 headline is for the base trip. Each extra is selected on the booking page and the listing does not state any add-on price, so the real cost can only be read from the calendar.
- Base trip: round-trip coach to Key West and free time; the headline price.
- Key West boat tour: included only if the option is selected.
- Snorkeling: marina fees, taxes and safety equipment, each tied to the snorkel option.
- Open bar: included only if that option is selected.
Because the listing says the price varies by date and group size, I would compute the cost per person with every option you want before you compare it with the $79 or $68 US2U listings. At 18 hours the base price works out at about $1 an hour, but that is a headline, not a like-for-like number.
What is included and what is not?
The base ticket covers round-trip transport to Key West. Food and tips are not included, and every water activity depends on the option you pick.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Round-trip transport to Key West | Included |
| Hotel pickup and drop-off | Listed as included, but see the meeting-point note |
| Boat tour | Only with that option |
| Snorkeling, marina fees, taxes, safety gear | Only with the snorkel option |
| Open bar | Only with that option |
| Food, tips | Not included |
The listing's itinerary lists scuba diving as a Key West activity while its includes list says nothing about dive gear. Treat scuba as unconfirmed.
How does it compare with the other Miami-to-Key-West tours?
Three Miami listings sell a Key West day, and this one is the cheapest at the headline and the longest on the clock.
| Tour | Price | Length | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Dave Tours Key West trip (this page) | from $18 | 18 hours | 4.1 (19) |
| US2U Key West snorkeling day trip | from $79 | 15 hours | 4.4 (52) |
| US2U Key West with dolphin watch | from $68 | 15-16 hours | 4.5 (556) |
The US2U trips start from $79 and $68 with hotel pickup stated clearly and a shorter day. The Big Dave listing is cheaper only before add-ons, and has 19 reviews against 556 for the dolphin option, so its rating is the least certain.
Is the Big Dave Tours Key West trip worth it against other Miami-to-Key-West tours?
For a budget traveller who wants Key West once and will add one option, yes, if the final price stays well under the $68 and $79 alternatives. For anyone who values sleep or a short day, no.
The rating is 4.1 and the three sub-scores are 5.0 for the guide, 3.9 for transportation and 4.4 for value. Guides are praised; transport is the weak spot, and the 45-minute late coach fits that.
42 bridges carry the 113-mile Overseas Highway, the road this coach drives each way.
When is the best time of year to go?
The calmest sea is in August, at an average daily maximum wave of 1.9 ft in 2025, but it is also hot and wet. The driest months are February and March, with 2 rain days each.
| Month | Avg daily high | Rain days (1 mm+) | Avg daily max wave | What it means for the boat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70 °F | 6 | 4.0 ft | Coolest month; a layer on deck |
| Feb | 75 °F | 2 | 3.8 ft | One of the driest months |
| Mar | 75 °F | 2 | 4.0 ft | One of the driest months |
| Apr | 78 °F | 6 | 4.9 ft | Highest waves of the year; choppier crossing |
| May | 82 °F | 3 | 3.0 ft | Warm, calm, few rain days |
| Jun | 84 °F | 14 | 3.2 ft | Wet season starts; showers common |
| Jul | 86 °F | 16 | 2.8 ft | Hot; calm seas, frequent showers |
| Aug | 87 °F | 15 | 1.9 ft | Calmest seas; hottest |
| Sep | 85 °F | 20 | 2.0 ft | Most rain days, peak hurricane risk |
| Oct | 83 °F | 20 | 3.4 ft | Most rain days; hurricane season to Nov 30 |
| Nov | 77 °F | 6 | 3.8 ft | Drier again; waves rise |
| Dec | 76 °F | 5 | 3.4 ft | Mild; waves moderate |
This table is for Key West, from the Open-Meteo archive and Marine APIs, and the wave figure is a modelled one-year average, not a forecast. The National Hurricane Center dates the hurricane season as June 1 to November 30, peaking on September 10.
What do passengers say?
Reviews are mostly positive, with one clear outlier. Of the eight written or rated reviews I could read, five gave five stars, one four, one three and one a single star.
- Guides: the strongest theme; reviewers name individual guides and call them kind, informative and quick to solve problems.
- Snorkeling: two reviewers call the reef worth the trip.
- Transport: one reviewer reports a coach 45 minutes late.
- Boat crew: the single-star review says the guide was great but the boat staff, from a separate boat company, were indifferent to a non-English speaker.
- Value: one reviewer calls it very good value for money.
The 1-star review is one voice, but the boat leg is where the coach operator hands over to another company, which is where I'd expect problems to show up.
Who should skip it?
Skip it if you cannot manage an 18-hour day, need predictable pickup or want a quick reef trip near Miami.
- Travellers wanting a shorter day: the US2U snorkeling day trip is 15 hours.
- Non-native English speakers wanting boat commentary: one reviewer found it hard to follow.
- Anyone who wants a local evening on the bay: try the Aqua Party Boat sunset cruise.
How do you book the Big Dave Tours Key West trip?
Book the 18-hour Big Dave Tours Key West trip from $18 per person, then add the boat, snorkel or open bar option you want, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Big Dave Tours Key West trip?
The ticket starts at $18 per person on GetYourGuide, checked 2026-10-17, shown against a struck-through $33. The listing says the final price varies with date, group and availability, and the boat, snorkel and open bar are selectable options, so the total depends on what you tick.
Where does the Big Dave Tours bus leave from?
It leaves at 6:30 AM from a Collins Avenue stop outside the Claremont Hotel in South Beach, at 1700 Collins Avenue. The listing also says hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which contradicts a single stop, so confirm your pickup after booking.
How long is the trip?
The listing gives 18 hours. Its blocks (4 hours by coach each way, a 30-minute break, 1 hour of free time before and after, 3 hours of boat time) add up to 13.5 hours, so allow for a very long day.
Is the open bar included?
Only if you select that option. The listing says the open bar, the Key West boat tour, and the snorkeling, marina fees, taxes and safety equipment are each included only if that option is selected.
Is food included?
No. The listing says food and tips are not included.
Is the trip wheelchair accessible?
The listing marks it as wheelchair accessible and also offers a small-group option. Confirm the boat boarding arrangements with the operator.
What languages are the guides?
English and Spanish, per the listing. One reviewer on the boat says crew spoke fast and in jargon to a non-native English speaker.
What can I see snorkeling in Key West?
The listing names parrotfish, damselfish, barracuda, loggerhead sea turtles and yellowtail snapper, with no guarantee of any of them. It also describes the reef as the biggest living coral ecosystem on the US mainland.
Is scuba diving included?
Not clearly. The itinerary lists scuba diving among the Key West activities, but the includes list mentions only snorkeling and safety equipment, so ask the operator before you plan to dive.
Can I cancel?
Yes, free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. You can reserve now and pay later.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 409768 (checked 2026-10-17); Florida Keys & Key West tourism board (Overseas Highway length and bridges); NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (reef); NOAA National Hurricane Center (season dates); National Weather Service Miami (marine forecasts); Open-Meteo archive and Marine APIs (Key West climate and waves, 2025); GetYourGuide listings 61929 and 25044 for the comparison.
