Florida’s Caribbean is Pure Beach Paradise Just 70 Miles From Key West

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

You can’t accidentally stumble upon Dry Tortugas. It takes effort to reach these seven islands 70 miles past Key West. Specifically, you can only go there by boat or seaplane.

But that’s why they’re still perfect: pristine reefs, empty beaches, and a massive Civil War fort that once housed Dr. Mudd still look almost exactly like they did 150 years ago.

Here are some of the best things about this remote Florida beauty.

The water clarity will make you question reality

Nothing beats the water clarity here. You can see 100+ feet down on a calm day.

Even if you’ve never snorkeled before, you’ll see more marine life in an hour here than a week elsewhere. The park sits on the least disturbed reef system in the Florida Keys, with shallow 5-15 foot depths perfect for snorkeling.

Nobody will photobomb your beach pics here

The beaches on Garden Key stay nearly empty even in peak season. You get that Caribbean paradise vibe without the Caribbean crowds.

The National Park Service has thoughtfully scattered picnic tables around, so you can munch your sandwich with million-dollar views.

Just pack in everything you need—there’s no convenience store, no snack bar, no nothing. Which is actually what makes it so peaceful and charming.

Birdwatchers will love the spring migration

If you’re into birds, time your visit for April when the migration hits full swing.

The park records show 299 different species here, and on a single spring day, you might spot dozens of varieties as exhausted migrants crash-land after their Gulf crossing.

The sooty terns arrive by the thousands to nest on Bush Key, creating a spectacular (and loud) colony.

The park also hosts the only U.S. mainland breeding colonies of masked boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, brown noddies, and sooty terns.

The night sky looks unreal

Camping here delivers the most insane stargazing east of the Mississippi. Zero light pollution means the stars pop like someone cranked up the contrast.

The Milky Way doesn’t just appear—it dominates the entire sky. You’ll spot satellites cruising overhead every few minutes.

During spring months, you can even catch the Southern Cross constellation peeking above the horizon, something impossible to see almost anywhere else in the mainland U.S.

Marine life act like they’ve never seen humans before

The park’s protected status means fishing is prohibited in much of the area, creating a refuge where marine life thrives undisturbed.

As a result, the marine life here behaves differently than at heavily visited reefs.

Parrotfish don’t dart away when you approach. Lobsters wave their antennae from under ledges instead of hiding deep. Vibrant purple sea fans sway in the current alongside rose-colored anemones.

You might even encounter the endangered American crocodile that somehow made its way out here—one of the most unexpected residents of this remote outpost.

There’s so much history in this paradise

True story: After John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln, a doctor named Samuel Mudd set Booth’s broken leg. That earned Mudd a life sentence at Fort Jefferson.

During a yellow fever outbreak, Mudd saved countless lives at the fort, eventually earning a presidential pardon.

As for the fort, it housed Union deserters, Confederate prisoners, and four convicted conspirators in Lincoln’s assassination.

African Americans worked here as enslaved laborers (about 17% of Key West’s enslaved population between 1847-1860), Union soldiers, freedmen, and prisoners.

And that’s just the tip of Dry Tortugas’ historical iceberg.

You’ll join an exclusive club of just 63,000 annual visitors

While Yellowstone and Yosemite get trampled by millions each year, Dry Tortugas averages just 63,000 visitors annually. That’s fewer people than attend a single NFL game.

The difficulty of access keeps the crowds away. You’ll either spend 2.5 hours on the Yankee Freedom ferry (bring Dramamine) or splurge on a 30-minute seaplane flight that’ll have you gasping at the view the entire time.

You’ll need photo ID for the ferry, which often sells out weeks ahead. The seaplane gives you aerial views of shipwrecks, sea turtles, and maybe even dolphins visible through the crystal water, and it’s worth every penny of the premium price.

You can swim among centuries of shipwrecks

They don’t call it the “ship trap” for nothing.

Over 250 documented vessels met their demise in these waters, thanks to shallow reefs, unpredictable currents, and hurricane fury.

The most accessible wreck is the Windjammer (originally named Avanti), a 261-foot steel sailing ship that hit Loggerhead Reef in 1907. The wreck sits in just 10-25 feet of water, with some pieces breaking the surface at low tide.

Experienced divers can explore deeper wrecks including German U-boats and battleships.

Your phone addiction will go cold turkey here

No cell service. No Wi-Fi. Nothing. Your smartphone becomes just a camera.

This enforced digital detox might cause withdrawal symptoms for the first few hours, but then something magical happens—you start actually experiencing the place rather than documenting it.

Park rangers who live at Fort Jefferson for extended periods describe a unique peace that comes from the isolation.

You’ll have plenty of time to curate those photos when you get back to Key West, but for now, enjoy the freedom from notification pings.

Paddling a kayak reveals secret spots the ferry crowds miss

Hauling your kayak on the ferry takes some coordination (call ahead to confirm space), but unlocks exclusive access to areas most visitors never see.

Paddle to the restricted research areas on the northern and western portions of the park where marine life receives complete protection.

Discover Little Africa Reef, named because from above, the coral formation mimics the shape of the African continent.

Navigate through crystal-clear shallows where you can spot turtles, rays, and nurse sharks resting on sandy patches between vibrant coral heads. The kayak silence lets you approach wildlife without scaring it away.

Robert Louis Stevenson and Ernest Hemingway made these islands famous in literature

The mysterious Dry Tortugas have sparked the imagination of famous writers over the years. Robert Louis Stevenson mentioned them in “Treasure Island,” writing about “dreadful stories” of “hanging, and walking the plank, and storms at sea, and the Dry Tortugas.”

Ernest Hemingway visited the islands in the 1930s while living in Key West. The remote location, stories about pirates, and the impressive fort made perfect settings for adventure tales.

In 2021, the Dry Tortugas National Park appeared in a popular TV series, bringing these historic islands back into the spotlight.