Raccoon Island Traveler Discussions, Reddit Threads & Honest Reviews

"Honestly one of the coolest hidden gems in Biscayne Bay! As a 10-year Miami resident, whenever out-of-town friends visit, I take them out to Sandspur/Beer Can Island. The water around the island is crystal clear and knee-deep. The raccoons wade right out to meet your kayak. Just keep your snacks latched in a hard cooler or they will raid it!"

"People ask if the raccoons are aggressive — not at all! They are super habituated to boaters and swim around the sandbar looking for natural tide pool food. The FWC monitors them regularly and runs oral vaccination drops, so they are healthy and rabies-free. Just wear booties for oyster shells on the beach."

"We had a 7-hour layover window between disembarking our cruise ship at PortMiami and our evening flight out of MIA. Booked a private boat charter out to Raccoon Island. Floating in warm turquoise bay water while watching raccoons along the pine trees was 100x better than sitting in an airport terminal!"

"Great shallow anchorage on the west side of Sandspur Island protected from easterly winds. Depth is 3 to 5 feet at high tide, dropping to 1.5 feet at low tide. Excellent bottom holding in soft sand. Perfect spot for anchoring pontoon boats or center consoles for a swim."

"The guides really make the experience shine. Captain Tony, Isabella, and CJ all get enthusiastic shoutouts. The kayak tour takes you right to adorable, friendly raccoons... Isabella even rescued a young kit that was being picked on by others, showing how much the guides care for the wildlife."

"We went out to Sandspur Island (aka Beer Can Island aka Raccoon Island). As a local, I felt like I was on a tropical island vacation! Immaculate boat, very friendly captain who also gave us a tour of Indian Creek billionaire estates."

"If you want something away from South Beach clubs, rent a tandem kayak at Oleta River State Park and paddle out to Raccoon Island. Takes 25 mins. The raccoons are super curious and the shade under the pine grove is perfect for a picnic!"

"Highly recommend taking water shoes! The beach sand is fine near the shoreline, but as you wade towards the mangroves there are oyster beds. Raccoons are very chill, just respect their space and enjoy the peaceful island setting."