Dry Tortugas Park

At Dry Tortugas Park, enjoy snorkeling, history, and birdwatching as you explore this amazing bird and marine sactuary.  Dry Tortugas Park stretches across seven islands 70 miles out to sea from Key West.  It also includes the surrounding waters, and protects the marine life that lives within it boundaries.

Garden Key, one of the seven islands of Dry Tortugas, contains Fort Jefferson.  This historic fort from the mid-1800s is the largest coastal fort in the United States.  Once used as a military prison, it’s now home to birds who are protected by the sanctuary status of Dry Tortugas Park.

The origin of the name of Dry Tortugas Park comes from none other than Ponce de Leon.  Tortugas is Spanish for turtles. There are still lots of sea turtles at Dry Tortugas Park, but centuries ago, before they were hunted by humans, there were even more.

You’ll have the chance to see Sea Turtles if you visit Dry Tortugas Park, and that’s just the beginning.  Go snorkeling and see a whole new world of marine life including colorful tropical fish.  Also look for porpoise, flying fish, and depending on what time of year, sooty terns who come to the park to nest during the Summer months.  During the rest of the year you can spot frigate birds and pelicans.

Whether you plan on doing some birdwatching, snorkeling, touring historic Fort Jefferson, or just relaxing on the beach, a trip out to Dry Tortugas Park is an unforgettable experience!

Dry Tortugas Ferry

Catch a Dry Tortugas Ferry out of Key West’s Historic Seaport and discover America’s most remote National Park.  Dry Tortugas National Park is seven remote islands, with a Civil War-era fort, nesting birds, and lots of snorkeling opportunities.  There are few choices with the Dry Tortugas Ferry: you can take a smaller faster boat and be at the Park in two hours.  Or you can take a larger boat with Park-approved naturalist guide and the ride is two and half hours.

The larger boat, called Yankee Freedom, is pictured here, in the morning as people are boarding.  You will travel in comfort: there are three bathrooms, indoor tables and benches, a galley from which you can purchase soft drinks and snacks on the way out and on the way back, and friendly crew who will answer your questions.

The Yankee Freedom also has a naturalist who travels with the group and gives a 40-minute talk which is fascinating.  She will also identify any marine life, birds, or anything else you spot, both on the Dry Tortugas ferry and while you’re in the Park.

The smaller boat that takes visitors out to Dry Tortugas National Park is a catamaran.  Like the larger Dry Tortugas Ferry, they serve breakfast on the boat, as well as lunch at the Park.  On the catamaran, operated by Sunny Days, you can also read the daily newspaper, or brochures about the Park and Fort Jefferson.  After arriving at the park, this Dry Tortugas Ferry waits for four and a half hours before departing for Key West.  Plenty of time to explore!

Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is several islands, but if you make the trip out there, you’ll be exploring Garden Key.  Garden Key is the location of Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era coastal fort that is today part of the Dry Tortugas National Park.  Park Rangers have an office here, and they maintain the grounds as well as protect the sanctuary.

Fort Jefferson is a wonderful bit of preserved history, and as you can see from the picture visitors are allowed to explore the fort, including walking on the upper parts of the outer wall.  This is a view from the wall looking across the interior of the fort and to the seas beyond.  The upper wall is accessible by original  circular steps built into the fort by the toiling army soldiers who constructed Fort Jefferson in the mid-1800s under incredible conditions.  They suffered disease and extreme heat under US Army orders and many died.

Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the country’s most remote parks.  The fort was used as a military prison and you can just imagine the conditions for the prisoners and even the guards.  In the days when the fort was built, there was no way to get fresh water for the soldiers.  Actually, that’s still true:  all water must be brought in.  Visitors who visit Dry Tortugas Park with a charter company will have plenty of water and soft drinks provided by the crew on their boat although it is still a fantastic place for Florida holiday packages for the entire family or groups.