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 camping is for those who need more than just four and a half hours at Americas’ remotest National Park.  The ecology of The Dry Tortugas is so diverse and rich with exciting examples of marine flora and fauna, anyone who is even just remotely interested in marine life, birding, or both, will want to consider Dry Tortugas camping.

You can spend one night, two or three nights and you can bring a kayak if you want, for an extra fee.  The way it works: you book a seat on a Dry Tortugas charter, and pay extra fee for a kayak if you’re taking one.  Dry Tortugas National Park charges $3 per person per night for camping.  Tell your charter company that you’re camping and they will tell you special instructions for boarding, etc.

The campsites at Dry Tortugas are located outside the fort’s walls, near the beaches in a shaded area (see picture).  Most of the sites have a picnic table and a grill.  You are not allowed to take propane fuel on the boat, so it’s recommended that you use charcoal for cooking.

Remember, this is basically wilderness camping.  You have to bring in everything you’ll need for your Dry Tortugas camping experience.  Your basic needs: food, shelter, water and medication, etc are your responsibility.  There are salt water flush toilets, but no fresh water for showers.  You are limited on the amount of gear you can take.

So enjoy the reef, the snorkeling, the birds, and everything else you’re bound to discover on your Dry Tortugas camping adventure!

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.