Sample Itinerary: Dry Tortugas – One Week*

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Sample Itinerary: Dry Tortugas – One Week* Day 1 – Depart out of Marathon in the evening and sail to the Dry Tortugas. (107 NM) It will take anywhere from 12 to 16 hours to make this passage. You should try to arrive in day light hours so that your approach is easier. Day 2 – Arrive at the island group known as the Dry Tortugas. This is the most isolated and least visited national park in the United States. You should plan to spend two nights here but if the weather deteriorates be flexible enough to cut it short and head back to Key West. There are no services out on these islands so you should plan to be self sufficient while in this remote area. Day 3 – Go ashore on Garden Key and tour Fort Jefferson National Monument. This was originally built in the mid 1800’s as a military fort to be used by Union forces during the Civil War. The fort was converted to a prison whose most famous inmate was Dr. Mudd of Lincoln’s time. Day 4 – Snorkel the reefs surrounding the islands. Go ashore on Loggerhead Key and/or Hospital Key for a cookout, just be sure to clean up well and leave as little of a footprint as possible. Bush Key offers great bird watching from your yacht. Bush Key is a bird sanctuary and landing is prohibited. Day 5 – Depart the Dry Tortugas early in the morning and sail to the uninhabited island group of the Marquesas. (44 NM) Be careful of Rebecca Shoal on the way and arrive before dark. Enjoy the quite and solitude that this island group offers. Calm waters and a nice sandy beach provide wonderful swimming and relaxation. Day 6 – Depart the Marquesas and sail to Key West. (26NM) Stop along the way for some fantastic snorkeling by mooring to the dive buoys on the reef. Spend the night at Key West Bight Marina or anchor out in Man of War Harbor. Enjoy the nightlife and take in all that this “end of the road” destination has to offer. Day 7 – Depart Key West and sail to Bahia Honda for your last night out on the hook. (33NM) One of the best anchorage’s in the Florida Keys. Drop your hook near the Old Keys Trestle Railroad Bridge and enjoy the calm natural harbor at Bahia Honda State Park. Day 8 – Depart Bahia Honda and sail back to Marathon. (12NM) Arrive early enough to unload, clean the boat and be on your way by 12:00 Noon. *Lower Florida Keys/Dry Tortugas Fun In The Sun can Pre-Position any vessel in our fleet (Depending on availability) anywhere in the Florida Keys for an additional fee. Please refer to our additional price list. We also offer one way itineraries and drop-offs in the Lower Keys. Lower Keys and Dry Tortugas 7 Day Itineraries are assuming pre-positioning and/or drop-offs. .

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Long-Range Interpretive Plan, Dry Tortugas National Park
LONG-RANGE INTERPRETIVE PLAN Dry Tortugas National Park 2003 Cover Photograph: Aerial view of Fort Jefferson on Garden Key (fore- ground) and Bush Key (background). COMPREHENSIVE INTERPRETIVE PLAN Dry Tortugas National Park 2003 LONG-RANGE INTERPRETIVE PLAN Dry Tortugas National Park 2003 Prepared by: Department of Interpretive Planning Harpers Ferry Design Center and the Interpretive Staff of Dry Tortugas National Park and Everglades National Park INTRODUCTION About 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, lies a string of seven islands called the Dry Tortugas. These sand and coral reef islands, or keys, along with 100 square miles of shallow waters and shoals that surround them, make up Dry Tortugas National Park. Here, clear views of water and sky extend to the horizon, broken only by an occasional island. Below and above the horizon line are natural and historical treasures that continue to beckon and amaze those visitors who venture here. Warm, clear, shallow, and well-lit waters around these tropical islands provide ideal conditions for coral reefs. Tiny, primitive animals called polyps live in colonies under these waters and form skeletons from cal- cium carbonate which, over centuries, create coral reefs. These reef ecosystems support a wealth of marine life such as sea anemones, sea fans, lobsters, and many other animal and plant species. Throughout these fragile habitats, colorful fishes swim, feed, court, and thrive. Sea turtles−−once so numerous they inspired Spanish explorer Ponce de León to name these islands “Las Tortugas” in 1513−−still live in these waters. Loggerhead and Green sea turtles crawl onto sand beaches here to lay hundreds of eggs.
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