The original inhabitants of the southeastern parts of present-day Florida, including Miami, were the Tequesta. Different people altogether. As the maps are drawn, Florida is considered the northern border of the Caribbean, not geographically a part of the region itself.

Geographically and politically, Miami is not considered part of the Caribbean; it is a city in the state of Florida in the United States, located on the North American continent. The Caribbean consists of the islands and surrounding coasts of the Caribbean Sea, which is situated south and southeast of Miami. However, from a cultural and economic perspective, Miami is often referred to as the "Capital of the Caribbean" due to its massive Caribbean diaspora, with hundreds of thousands of residents from Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. The city is the primary "Gateway" to the Caribbean for trade, finance, and tourism, and the Port of Miami is the starting point for more Caribbean cruises than any other port in the world. While you will find the same tropical climate, turquoise waters, and cultural influences in Miami as you would in Nassau or San Juan, the city remains firmly part of the U.S. domestic market and legal system, meaning travelers from the U.S. do not need a passport to visit "Caribbean-influenced" Miami.