Plan Your Visit to Red Reef Park
Red Reef is Boca Raton's snorkeling beach, open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Parking costs $40 on weekdays and $55 on weekends unless you have a city beach permit, so plan the day to make the most of it.
Snorkelers
The snorkel trail runs along a rock jetty and 20 artificial reefs in 5 to 10 feet of water, a few yards from shore. Calm, clear mornings with little wind are best; skip it when the surf is up. Snorkel near the lifeguards with a buddy and a dive flag or bright float, and don't touch or stand on the reef.
A beach and picnic day
Lifeguards are on duty about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 6:30 p.m. in daylight saving time). The shady 3-acre hammock has 54 grills, picnic tables, a playground and an accessible boardwalk. Boca beach parks don't allow alcohol, pets, smoking, Styrofoam, drones, balloons or fires outside the grills.
Gumbo Limbo next door
Next door at 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center (free; donations welcome) has rescued sea turtles, outdoor aquariums, a hammock boardwalk and an observation tower. The center is open Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday noon to 4 p.m.; its trails open 7 a.m. to sunset.
Golfers
The 9-hole, par-32 executive course from 1957 runs from the Intracoastal to the dunes and suits juniors, beginners and a quick round; rates and tee times are on myboca.us.
Parking and payment
- Daily parking: $40 on weekdays, $55 on weekends and holidays; larger vehicles pay more.
- Free with a Boca Raton beach permit ($90 a year for residents).
- The gatehouse takes cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay only, no cash.
- Park open daily, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; rangers 561-393-7815.
With a one-day fee, arrive early and stay: snorkel in the calm morning, picnic at midday and visit Gumbo Limbo in the afternoon.