Key West and Dry Tortugas

Welcome to the Florida Keys There might be two sunshine states in the U.S., but there’s a reason Hollywood uses Florida as a backdrop for so many films. Outside of overrun tourist destinations and muggy, landlocked towns of this peninsula lies the Florida Keys – a chain of islands notorious for crystal clear oceans, salty, cool breezes, and endless entertainment from dawn until dusk.

Your charter through the Keys begins at your designated airport in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, where ground transportation will greet you before whisking you away to become acquainted with your yacht and crew. Once guests have settled in, you can sit down to a private meal from your private 5-star chef or explore the city before taking off on your nautical adventure.

The Keys are a Caribbean party with an American flare. You can spend your days exploring bustling towns teeming with the finest amenities or breathtaking national parks, which are littered with white sand beaches and coral reefs. And then, once the sun goes down, you’ll find so will your inhibitions. Find out how the locals party and sip on a margarita as you dance until dawn steps away from the water. The Keys are Florida’s prized treasure – this is a place that leaves your spirit, as well as your skin, sun kissed with fun. Miami At the tip of southeast Florida, you’ll find the vibrant city of Miami. The Cuban community has a heavy influence at this 24/7 beach party, which is reflected in the cafes and cigar shops that line Calle Ocho in Little Havana. Florida’s picturesque Miami Beach, is home to dazzling white sands and has blossomed into a sophisticated community that’s always full of visitors. South Beach – a sultry retreat known for its chic culture – has been called the American Riviera and an Art Deco Playground, but it is also famed for its surfside hotels and cutting-edge nightlife. From the lavish hotels of Miami to the historic hideaways of Coral Gables to the seemingly endless shopping opportunities in sprawling malls and the quiet family-owned shops, this is the only way to begin your tropical getaway. Biscayne Bay Since it’s discovery in 1513 by Juan Ponce de Leon, Biscayne Bay has been known as the “bright, great bay.” The turquoise waters of this paradise have enticed explorers and adventurers, as well as attracted residents and tourists for centuries. Not only is it a commercial hub, it also offers boundless opportunities for recreation, education, and spiritual nourishment. Biscayne Bay – the largest estuary on the coast of southeast Florida –runs along the southern border of the Florida Everglades and Florida Bay. It is also home to Biscayne National Park, the largest marine park in the national park system, as well as numerous local parks. South Florida offers premier travel destinations and a wide array local cuisine, breathtaking scenery, watersports of all kinds, historical sites, shopping and much more. Key Largo Key Largo, the first and northernmost of the Florida Keys, is an hour’s drive from South Florida’s two major airports, and a world away. Known as one of the “diving capitals of the world,” this area thrives on eco-tourism and offers incredible dive and snorkel sites that will show you the best of Key Largo’s natural wonders. It is also home to tropical hardwoods, winding creeks, two state parks, a national park, and a national marine sanctuary. In Key Largo, you can explore some of the most fascinating botanical scenery in the state, visit an underwater hotel, and mingle with dolphins and birds in encounter programs and reha- bilitation centers. This is not a site to be missed! Islamorada Situated between the saltwater wilderness of Everglades National Park and the deep blue waters of the Florida Strait is Islam- orada (originally meaning: “Island Home”), which is made up of six islands: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and the offshore islands of Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key. Known as the “Village of Islands,” this is perhaps the world’s highest density of professional offshore charter boats and where backcountry sport fishing and saltwater fly-fishing were pioneered. Activities for the whole family include hand-feeding hungry tarpon at the docks of Robbie’s Marina, or catching a show featuring dolphins, sea lions, and parrots at Theater of the Sea marine mammal park. Marathon Marathon is a group of islands steeped in rich Florida history dating back to the Henry Flagler’s railroad days. The name itself originated from the railroad workers – who were worked hard night and day to complete the track – and began exclaiming, “This is getting to be a real Marathon.” The islands of Marathon is made up of a string of over a dozen keys. Marathon proudly boasts its claim to some of the best fishing in the world. Spectacular marine life, beautiful beaches, warm weather and local pride are some of the reasons visitors from all over the world choose to spend time in Marathon, the Heart of the Florida Keys. Key West Located closer to Cuba than to Miami, Key West is Florida’s irreverent southernmost subtropical paradise with unabashed ro- mantic appeal. You’ll feel at home the moment your yacht docks here. The motto of the area itself is like a loving embrace from the community: “ONE HUMAN FAMILY” – the official philosophy of the modern island community. Palm-lined streets with gingerbread mansions and tin-roofed conch houses were home to the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Frost, and Jimmy Buffett. The life force and culture mainly derives from Bahamian and Cuban heritage, which began with Bahamian wreckers, commercial fishermen, spongers, and Cuban cigar makers. In this city of fascinating contrasts, you could easily find yourself wanting to let go of mainland hassles permanently— and many have done so. Dry Tortugas

The Dry Tortugas are a national park about 68m (109km) west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. The park is the most isolated of the Florida Keys and it is one of the world’s most unique eco-attractions. Its crown jewel, the his- toric Fort Jefferson, was once used as a prison during the Civil War. At its height, nearly 2,000 soldiers, laborers, prisoners, and – in fewer numbers _ women and children lived within this remote city on the sea. Crowded onto the island were long walkways flanked by lush trees, impressive brick buildings, large wooden storehouses, and numerous tents.

Another major attraction here are some of the best underwater sights in Key West. The shallow waters of Dry Tor- tugas offer some of the best snorkeling and skin diving in North America. Whether swimming, sun bathing or just plain strolling, you will enjoy the crystal blue waters, swaying palm trees, and soft, powdery sand of some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in this island paradise.