. Breath-taking. 3.3 Fishing in the Dry Tortugas. This site uses cookies. Does anyone know if it's worth it to show up REALLY early and wait in case you can get a spot from a no-show or cancellation? The plane flies low, so you can also see nurse sharks and sea turtles in the water (yes, the water is that clear! We hiked out on the beach peninsula area at the Dry Tortugas National Park and couldnt stop smiling. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. Whether swimming, sun bathing or just plain strolling, you will enjoy the crystal blue waters, swaying palm trees and soft, powdery sand of this island paradise. View our ADA Accessibility Policy. Dry Tortugas is made up of seven islands: Garden Key, Loggerhead Key, Bush Key, Long Key, Hospital Key, Middle Key, and East Key The word tortugas is Spanish for turtles, due to the large amount that inhabit the surrounding waters. [CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/97/1032023597.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-9fl4orvz7")); // ]]> Craig and I got up at 4:30am in the morning so we could get ready and drive an hour to get to Key West to be there by 6:30 so we could park and get to the terminal. Yankee Freedom, LLC is authori USA: (866) 575-5068. Drive, walk or ride your bicycle aboard one of our three ferries. Going by seaplane would be ideal. Yankee Freedom Dry tortugas national park ferry. You should dress warmly if you're doing a Hells Canyon jet boat anytime but summer, but dress in layers. The most popular way of getting to Dry Tortugas is the National Parks Service's ferry, the Yankee Freedom III. The boat leaves at about 2:45pm so you only have about 4 hours to explore. Some of the common and rare species you will encounter along the Florida Birding Trail at the Dry Tortugas National Park include: Roseate and Bridled Terns, Masked and Brown Boobies, Red-Necked Phalarope, Red-Footed Boobie, Double-Crested Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Frigate Birds, the Caribbean Short-Eared Owl, White-Tailed Tropicbird, Shiny Unfortunately, when we were there it was a little cooler and the water was really cloudy from all the storms. Camping in the Dry Tortugas National Park is definitely an experience of a lifetime! No other way to see that beautiful water! Cruise in spacious comfort to Fort Jefferson aboard the Official Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry - the Yankee Freedom. This product hasn't received any reviews yet. It's the stuff that bucket lists are made of. The Yankee Freedom provides daily ferry service from Key West, Florida to the Dry Tortugas. If you love civil war and military history this is a must. In this guide, we cover everything you need to know on how to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. If you love Key West snorkeling, then Dry Tortugas National Park offers some of the best snorkeling and skin diving in North America, just 70 miles from Key West and the Florida Keys. Key West Seaplane Charters Morning, Afternoon or Full Day Tours to the park on a seaplane The Yankee Freedom Ferry Take a high-speed catamaran for day and camping trips. Here is an overview of the best time to visit Dry Tortugas National Park for specific conditions: You'll experience the mildest weather in Dry Tortugas National Park in January, February, March, November, and December. While the Dry Tortugas is a special trip and the Fort is unique, I think you would find a small charter out to the backcountry or snorkeling at the reef on a boat like Floridays just as enjoyable in its own way. I`ve been dreaming to go there for a long time. If you are looking for activities to do in the Florida Keys that are north of Key West check out: Turtle Hospital and Dolphins Plus. You can rent a bareboat, or a captained boat, for a few hours or a few days. #truth, 11 East Coast National Parks You Want To Visit This Year, 29 Best Things To Do In Gulf Shores, Alabama. ; If you hold a National Parks Pass, show it at either check-in, and the entrance fee will be deducted or not charged with transportation costs.The pass must be shown in person with a valid ID. It gave us plenty of time to walk around the island and explore but when we had to leave we were not ready to go!! We had to capture it to share with you guys! There are two options for most people getting to Dry Tortugas which is located 70 miles from the coast of Key West, Florida. [CDATA[ (function(d, sc, u) { var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); })(document, 'script', '//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js'); // ]]> Disclosure: A HUGE thank you to Historic Tours of America for hosting us on our trip. Key West Seaplane Adventures provides snorkel gear and coolers with ice and water or soft drinks. The ferry departs at 8:00 am and it takes 2.5 hours to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. "One of the 10 great places to explore nooks and crevasses" USA Today, "One of the top 10 things to do in the Florida Keys" Islands Magazine, "One of the coolest things to do in Key West" Rachael Ray Magazine, {{current_weather.dt | momentjs( atts.date )}}. Midday, the ferry deposits a lot of people on the island, so it is more crowded during this time. It is the largest island in the Dry Tortugas and is supposed to have a lot of loggerhead sea turtles and also a Lighthouse. Yankee Freedom Ferry (includes the National Park Fee): More Information for Your Trip to Florida, Read all of our articles about Florida in our. With 4 young kids maybe not, since we are sure it gets really quiet on the island after the ferry leaves. Camping at the Dry Tortugas is very popular. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Not totally correct. 3.4 Camping on Garden Key. Q: Do you have a waiting list I can put my name on? drinks on board. It was quite the experience and the ride. View our ADA Accessibility Policy. If you can, try to do Dry Tortugas but that's a whole day while you're down there. Save. Click for Privacy Policy / Disclosure Policy. A ferry ride to Dry Tortugas National Park An optional guided tour of historic Fort Jefferson Complimentary breakfast and picnic lunch Sanitized snorkeling gear Plenty of free time for swimming, snorkeling, bird spotting, photography, and exploring the island . A sign-up sheet will be available at 6:30am. The seven tiny islands of Dry Tortugas are a vital layover for migrating birds traveling between South America and the United States making a staple in the Great Florida Birding Trail. I think I remember reading that they changed their cancellation policy so this tends to happen less often nowadays. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can also go on a 45 minute narrated tour of the fort. They do not transport campers to the island. But eventually we could see the island. Thankfully the National Park limits visitors to 175 people, so there is only one ferry. 4 Where to Stay when Visiting the Dry Tortugas. On the day we were here, Yankee Freedom must have been using a different boat, since this is not their typical boat they use to go to the Dry Tortugas. Yankee Freedom, LLC is authori August: High of 92 F and a low of 79 F. September: High of 90 F and a low of 77 F. October: High of 85 F and a low of 75 F. November: High of 79 F and a low of 70 F. October and November have comfortable temperatures, but peak hurricane season tends to last through November, so it's still not a great time to visit. For most visitors, particularly those on a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, the sites at Garden Key are the most accessible. Undoubtedly the most exciting way to get out to The Dry Tortugas, traveling by seaplane is also the fastest way to get there and gives you the most time on the island. We are still following CDC recommended safety guidelines, including: Yankee Freedom passengers have the option of joining a 40-minute guided tour of the fort led by one of our expert naturalists. ed by the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. guided tour of the fort. Q: Can I cancel my reservations and get a refund? Top 10 list to #PlanLikeaParkRanger for a visit to Dry Tortugas National Park. We went in the fort first then quickly realized we didnt want to be inside but instead wanted to be out by the beautiful beach and water so we headed to the beach. Sit back, relax and enjoy the view. You have to go to the ferry in the morning when they open at 7AM and there is a wait list. Snorkeling and Diving Before we left we walked over to check out the tent camping area and the other beach area where people were snorkeling. There's also some fresh fruit, orange juice, and delicious bagelsfresh from the oven. Breakfast Lunch. Camping at Fort Jefferson is PRIMITIVE CAMPING! Entry to the national park costs $15 and this is included in the price of the Dry Tortugas National Park ferry. Key West. 4. Private charter boat is your other option. For day trips, adults should pay $190 while children will be charged $135 The cost was about $165 per person ($15 cheaper with a National Park Pass). If you want more info. capacity 175 passangers Check-in time is at 7 am (6:30 am for campers). Dry Tortugas National Park is located 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, and is accessible by boat and seaplane only. There will be cancelations but how many it is not clear this far out. Read all of our articles about Florida in our Florida Travel Guide and the United States in our United States Travel Guide. I don't know what their availability is in April but I just recently booked for May and they have quite a few openings. Half Day Seaplane + National Park Fee: $386 Yankee Freedom Ferry (includes the National Park Fee): $200 Price Difference: $186. Showing up at 7:30 is not likely to work. Yeah, there is definite sticker shock, but it was so worth it! The Dry Tortugas are home to some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Florida. The huge majority of the 65,000 people who visit each year come on the 150-passenger Yankee Freedom Ferry, and despite the $190/person cost, this is the most affordable method of travel. I just checked the seaplane's web page and ithe entrance fee is now $15.00 pp payable only in cash. We use cookies to give you the best experience. The Yankee Freedom Ferry operates daily from Key West to Dry Tortugas-departing Key West at 8:00 AM and returning at 3:00 PM. But if you are visiting the Florida Keys for longer, we recommend Fiesta RV Resort, Sunshine Key RV Resort, Pelican RV Resort & Marina, and Hawks Cay Hotel and Resort. Content from this Website may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced or used without written permission! The shallow waters (5-15 feet) make snorkeling at the Dry Tortugas fun for everyone. Dry Tortugas National Park is only accessible by boat or by seaplane. Plan a full day for your visit, and be prepared to spend the day in awe of the natural beauty of the park. more. It was worth every dollar! They are located 70 miles west of Key West. It was crazy! Predominately open water, dotted with seven small islands, it's the very definition of secluded. There are a handful of maintenance workers and park rangers that actually live inthe fort at the Dry Tortugas. 3 Things to do at Dry Tortugas National Park. If not do the walking tour at Fort Zach to get a sample of that type of history. We really enjoyed our time in the Dry Tortugas and wished we had more than two and a half hours. //