AURA YACHT CHARTERS | LUXURY MIAMI YACHT CHARTERS - Blog #Miami Beach

Star Island, Miami: What You’re Actually Looking At From the Water

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Leaving Downtown and heading toward South Beach, you pass a low green island ringed with seawalls, royal palms, and boat lifts holding tenders worth more than most houses. Guests always ask the same question about Star Island, usually within about ninety seconds of coming alongside it.

The honest answer to that question is further down. But the more interesting story is how the island got there in the first place, and why the water is the only real way to see it.

Star Island Was Built on Purpose

Star Island is one of Miami’s most recognizable man-made islands. Its story dates back to the early development of Miami Beach, when dredging projects transformed parts of Biscayne Bay into exclusive waterfront communities.

Work on Star Island began in 1917, and residential development followed soon afterward. More than a century later, the island has become famous for its impressive waterfront estates, tropical landscaping, private docks, and some of the most distinctive architecture visible from Biscayne Bay.

From the deck of a yacht, you can see how historic Miami style mixes with modern luxury homes — all with the Downtown Miami skyline in the background.

Can You Visit Star Island?

Star Island is primarily a private residential neighborhood, so it is not the kind of Miami destination where visitors arrive to spend the afternoon.

While the City of Miami Beach maintains Buoy Park on the island, there are no visitor marinas, public beaches, restaurants, or tourist facilities along the waterfront.

That is one reason seeing Star Island by yacht is such a popular Miami experience. Cruising along the island gives you a unique perspective of the waterfront estates, private docks, architecture, and Miami skyline while enjoying Biscayne Bay from the comfort of your own private charter.

About the “Whose House Is That?” Question

Here is our honest position, and it differs from what you will hear on a narrated sightseeing boat.

Celebrity homes are one of the things guests are most curious about when cruising Star Island. Because properties change ownership frequently, we prefer not to turn the experience into a list of potentially outdated names.

Instead, our captains can share what is reliably known about the island, its history, architecture, waterfront estates, and the surrounding Miami Beach islands while you enjoy the views from Biscayne Bay.

The one exception is history that is genuinely documented and long settled. Just west of Star Island, Palm Island — dredged a few years earlier, around 1918 — was where Al Capone lived and eventually died, at a house on Palm Avenue that has since been demolished. That one your captain will happily point out, because the record is clear and nobody's privacy is at stake.

Running the Star Island Loop

The standard route is a slow lap: out past the southern tip of Miami Beach, along Star Island's frontage, then on to Palm and Hibiscus Islands with the Downtown skyline sitting across the water behind them. Many captains run it so the houses stay on the same side of the boat throughout, which keeps everyone on one rail instead of crossing back and forth.

The slower pace is part of the experience

Boats travel at reduced speeds through parts of the Star Island and Biscayne Bay corridor according to posted boating regulations.

For guests, that slower pace is actually ideal. It gives you more time to enjoy the waterfront estates, take photos, relax on deck, and capture the Miami skyline without rushing past the scenery.

Your captain handles the applicable speed zones and navigation requirements while you enjoy the view.

Where it sits in your day

Star Island is usually part of a larger Biscayne Bay itinerary rather than a place where the yacht stops.

A typical route can combine Star Island with views of Palm Island, Hibiscus Island, the Miami skyline, and other popular areas of the bay before continuing to a suitable swimming or anchoring location.

Your Aura Yacht Charters captain can help shape the route around your charter time, weather, water conditions, current boating regulations, and what your group wants to experience.

Best Time of Day to Cruise Star Island

Late afternoon is one of our favorite times to cruise Star Island, especially if photos are important to you. The exact angle of the sun changes throughout the year, but later-day light can create beautiful warm tones across the waterfront homes and Miami skyline.

If you want to combine Star Island with golden-hour skyline views, consider planning this part of your route toward the later portion of your charter or booking a Miami sunset cruise.

Boating Around Star Island

Star Island sits in an active part of Biscayne Bay with marked channels, residential docks, speed zones, and regular boat traffic.

On an Aura Yacht Charters trip, your captain handles the navigation, applicable speed restrictions, anchoring rules, and changing marine conditions. That means your group can simply relax, enjoy the scenery, and make the most of your time on the water.

Routes and stopping locations may vary depending on weather, marine conditions, current regulations, and captain approval.

Star Island FAQs

Can you drive onto Star Island?

Star Island is primarily a controlled residential neighborhood rather than a sightseeing destination. While the City of Miami Beach maintains Buoy Park on the island, there are no visitor marinas, public beaches, restaurants, or typical tourist attractions along the waterfront. For yacht guests, seeing Star Island from Biscayne Bay is the most practical — and most scenic — way to experience it.

Can you anchor or stop at Star Island?

Not directly at the island. Star Island does not have public yacht dockage or a visitor marina. During a private charter, the yacht normally cruises along the waterfront before continuing to another part of Biscayne Bay for swimming, relaxing, or anchoring when conditions and regulations allow.

Can a yacht dock at Star Island?

Not as a visitor. Every dock on Star Island is a private residential dock belonging to an estate owner — there are no commercial marinas, no transient slips, and no public dockage anywhere on the island. Tying up or beaching at a private seawall is not an option, invited guests of a resident aside. Charters cruise the perimeter and dock at a marina elsewhere on the bay.

Is Star Island the same as Millionaire's Row?

Not exactly. Millionaire's Row is a loose nickname for the run of waterfront mansions across several of these man-made islands, Star Island among them. Star Island is one specific island in that stretch.

How many houses are on Star Island?

Star Island has only a few dozen residential properties, which is part of what makes the island feel so exclusive. Many occupy large waterfront lots with private docks and open views across Biscayne Bay.

How long does the Star Island loop take?

A slow lap of Star, Palm and Hibiscus takes a fraction of a charter, which is why it is normally combined with a swim stop. Our guide to choosing a charter length covers how the pieces fit together.

See It From the Water

Star Island is a hundred-year-old piece of engineering that happens to be lined with extraordinary houses, and the bay gives you the only unrestricted view of it. Book a private daytime yacht charter and we will build the loop into your route — and tell you what we actually know about what you are looking at.

Our Services

Our yachts run private for up to 13 guests with a full crew; the boats are on our Miami charter fleet page. Questions about dates or group size? Call or text (786) 575-5200.

Monument Island: The Obelisk in the Middle of Biscayne Bay

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Cruise north from Downtown Miami toward the Venetian Causeway and you will pass a small round island with a stone spire rising out of the middle of it. Most people on the water have seen it a hundred times without ever learning what it is. That is Monument Island — and the obelisk at its center has been standing there for more than a century.

It is one of the calmer stops on Biscayne Bay: shallow water, soft sand, and a 360-degree view that takes in the Miami skyline, Miami Beach, and the causeways in between. If the sandbar scene is not your speed, this is the alternative. Here is what to know before you go.

What Is Monument Island?

Monument Island is a small man-made island in Biscayne Bay, created by dredging in the years around 1920. It goes by several names, which is the first thing that confuses people searching for it. You will see it listed as Flagler Memorial Island, Flagler Monument Island, or simply Monument Island. The City of Miami Beach, which owns and manages it, calls the park Monument Island. All the same place.

Unlike the neighboring Venetian Islands, Monument Island has changed considerably since it was first created. Hurricanes, erosion, and decades of exposure to Biscayne Bay have reshaped its shoreline, so the nearly circular island seen in early photographs looks noticeably different today.

Where Is Monument Island Located?

The island sits in Biscayne Bay between the MacArthur and Venetian Causeways, just west of South Beach. From Downtown Miami, Brickell, or Watson Island it is a short run — one of the quickest island stops you can add to a half-day charter without eating into your time on the water.

It is also right in the middle of the bay's busiest stretch. Channels and heavy boat traffic run on both sides, so approaches are made slowly and wakes are a constant factor. This is not a place to wander in casually.

The Obelisk: What You Are Actually Looking At

The monument honors Henry M. Flagler, the Standard Oil co-founder whose Florida East Coast Railway opened up the state's Atlantic coast and reached Miami in 1896. He is often called the father of modern Miami. Flagler died in 1913, and Miami Beach co-founder Carl G. Fisher commissioned the memorial in his honor, built by the John B. Orr Construction Company with sculptural work by H.P. Peterson and Ettore Pellegatta.

The City of Miami Beach dates the memorial to 1921 and lists the obelisk at 97 feet. Worth noting for the trivia buffs: other published sources put it at 110 feet and date it to 1920, so you will see conflicting numbers depending on where you look.

Around the base stand four 18-foot statues — two men and two women — representing education, industry, prosperity, and Flagler's pioneering spirit. Fisher's Alton Beach Realty Company deeded the island to the City of Miami Beach in 1939, and the city granted the memorial historic site status in 2002. The monument itself is gated to protect the statues from vandalism, so you can photograph it but not walk up and touch it.

Before You Go: Hours and Holiday Closures

This is the section most guides leave out, and it is the one that can change your day.

It is a park with hours

Monument Island is an official City of Miami Beach park, open daily from sunrise to sunset. These hours apply to visiting the island itself, but being able to go ashore during your charter will depend on conditions that day. The water around parts of the island can be shallow, so guests should always consult the captain before planning to anchor nearby or go ashore. The captain will determine whether access is appropriate based on water depth, tide, the yacht’s draft, boat traffic, weather, and any local restrictions in effect.

It can close on major holiday weekends

The City of Miami Beach has repeatedly closed Monument Island to boaters during major holiday weekends because of the amount of litter left behind after periods of heavy use. For Memorial Day weekend in 2026, the island closed at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 22 and reopened at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26. Similar closures have taken place during previous Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends.

These closures are announced individually and should not be assumed from one year to the next. If Monument Island is an important part of your holiday-weekend charter, check the latest City of Miami Beach announcements before departure, or ask us and we will confirm. There are plenty of alternatives on the bay, but it is better to know before leaving the dock.

Monument Island or Nixon Sandbar?

These are the two anchoring stops guests ask about most, and they suit very different days.

Monument Island is the quieter, more scenic option. Shallow shoreline, somewhere to actually go ashore, a landmark in your photos, and a short run from Downtown. Better for families, couples, photo-driven trips, and anyone who wants a stop rather than a scene.
Nixon Sandbar is the social one — a wide flat off Key Biscayne where boats raft up and the day turns into a floating neighborhood. Better for groups, celebrations, and people who want the full Miami sandbar experience.

If the second description sounds more like your group, our guide to Miami's best-known sandbar and how to time the tide covers that trip in detail. Plenty of charters fit both into one afternoon.

Best Time to Visit Monument Island

Weekday mornings are usually one of the best times to visit. Boat traffic is often lighter than on busy weekend afternoons, which can mean less wake and more room to anchor comfortably.

Weekends can bring more boats and a livelier atmosphere, which some guests enjoy and others prefer to avoid. Late afternoon can also be beautiful for photos, with lower sunlight on the monument and the Miami skyline in the background. Just remember the sunrise-to-sunset park hours if you plan to go ashore.

What to Bring

Treat it as a bring-everything stop. Our charters are BYOB and we supply coolers and ice, but the island itself offers nothing:

Plenty of drinking water
Sunscreen and a hat — there is limited shade ashore
Water shoes if you plan to wade in
A dry bag for phones and cameras
Trash bags — everything you bring leaves with you
Snacks, or catering arranged ahead of time

That last point is not a throwaway. The holiday closures happened specifically because of litter. The City of Miami Beach asks visitors to discard trash responsibly to limit the environmental impact on the bay, and keeping the island open depends on boaters actually doing it.

Anchoring, Swimimng, and Seagrass

Boats visiting Monument Island generally stop or anchor offshore, but getting close to the island is not always straightforward. Water around parts of the island can be shallow, and the available depth can vary depending on the tide and the yacht being used. If you would like to anchor near Monument Island or go ashore during your charter, always discuss it with your captain first. The captain will determine whether it is safe and appropriate.

Boating rules around the island are also evolving. In 2026, the City of Miami Beach advanced an ordinance to establish a designated public swimming area around Monument Island together with a motorized-vessel exclusion zone. Because implementation involves regulatory coordination and on-water markers, captains should follow the rules and signage in place at the time of the trip rather than relying on older descriptions of where boats can approach or anchor.

Seagrass is another reason to choose your anchoring spot carefully. When anchoring is permitted, use open sand rather than seagrass whenever possible. Propeller scars, vessel groundings, and other physical damage can seriously affect seagrass beds, and damaged areas may take years or even decades to recover.

On a crewed charter, navigating the approach and choosing a safe and legal anchoring location is the captain's responsibility. Conditions around Monument Island can change with tides, traffic, weather, and local regulations, so the final approach should always be based on what is happening on the water that day.

Adding Monument Island to Your Charter

Because it sits so close to Downtown, Monument Island works well as one stop among several rather than the whole trip. A common route runs out past the skyline, by Star Island and the Venetian Islands, and anchors at Monument for a swim and photos before heading back.

Three hours is enough if it is your only stop. Four to six gives you room to combine it with a sandbar or a longer cruise — we broke that down in our guide to picking the right charter length. Our yachts run private for up to 13 guests with a full crew, and you can see the boats on our Miami charter fleet page.

If golden hour on the water is what you are after, our Miami sunset cruise takes in the same stretch of bay from a different angle.

Monument Island FAQs

Can you drive to Monument Island?

No. Monument Island is reachable only from the water. There is no bridge, no road, and no parking on the island — the City of Miami Beach does not provide access.

Is Monument Island open to the public?

Yes. It is a City of Miami Beach park, open daily from sunrise to sunset, though the city closes it to boaters on some major holiday weekends.

How tall is the Flagler monument?

The City of Miami Beach lists the obelisk at 97 feet, surrounded by four 18-foot statues. Some other sources cite 110 feet, so published figures vary.

Can you go ashore on Monument Island?

Yes, during park hours. Boats anchor off the island and guests wade or dinghy in. The monument itself is gated, so you can photograph it but not enter the enclosure.

Are there bathrooms on Monument Island?

Plan as though there are none. Bring what you need and take your trash with you when you leave.

Plan Your Stop

Monument Island is the rare Miami landmark you can only reach by water, and it takes about as long to get to as it does to order a coffee in Brickell. Book a private daytime yacht charter and we will work it into your route.

Questions about dates, group size, or catering? Call or text (786) 575-5200, or read through our charter FAQs.