Then when you land in Key West check the wait list daily and check in at the on ground ticket booth daily as well. Cost: $644 per adult, $515.20 for children 12 and under National Park Fee: $15 (this is in addition to the seaplane ticket price) Grand Total: $659 Length of Time: 8 hours total; 40-minute flight each way and 6.5 hours on the island. 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 All rights reserved. How To Get Around Dry Tortugas National Park. We've done it twice, I loved it so much the first time I couldn't wait to do it again. Where should we stop to eat and what should we see on the drive to Key West? UNESCO Listed: Park Of The 1976 UNESCO Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve Today it is a stunning paradise to explore. Then all of a sudden this island pops up out of nowhere. We were blown away by the colors of the water with the contrast of the fort. Content from this Website may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced or used without written permission! They were so vibrant and beautiful. WOW! Listen to the sounds of the waves as you enjoy a meal from our Snack Bar, or if you choose have a cocktail in the Steamboat Lounge, as the . Dry Tortugas Ferry | Key West Ferry Boat to Dry Tortugas National Park. We rounded the corner and their were hundreds of them all over the beach. . Check-in time is at 7 am (6:30 am for campers). Going by ferry turns your visit into a full day experience and most of that will be spent on board the ferry. As a place filled with great beauty, solitude, and history, Dry Tortugas is one of the greatest weekend getaways in Florida. The Yankee Freedom provides daily ferry service from Key West, Florida to the Dry Tortugas. All prices are in USD. There was a snorkeling spot that we wanted to try, and we never got to it because we ran out of time. Great write up and pics. Entry to the national park costs $15 and this is included in the price of the Dry Tortugas National Park ferry. 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. Camping at Fort Jefferson is PRIMITIVE CAMPING! Book Now and Explore Uncharted Territory at the Dry Tortugas National Park! Q: Do you have a waiting list I can put my name on? 3.3 Fishing in the Dry Tortugas. 4. Copyright 2023 Yankee Freedom III, LLC. If you normally do take it you should really consider taking it before you get on. 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? 17 Exciting Things To Do In St. Augustine With Kids, 24 Amazing Tips for Universal Volcano Bay [Must Read! The way nature intended it to be. And I know our dogs would love to live there and swim in the ocean every night! When you travel by seaplane, you land in the waters just offshore from Garden Key. 21 Fun Things To Do In Port St Joe Florida, 17+ Fun Things To Do In Philadelphia With Kids [Plus 1 day Itinerary], Best Hikes In Canyonlands National Park [Maps Included], Get off the Beaten Path: Best National Parks for Families - No Back Home, Crazy Family Adventure Fiesta Key RV Resort in the Florida Keys - Crazy Family Adventure, RV Living With Kids - What We've Learned After 2 Years - Crazy Family Adventure, 29 Things To Do In Key West For A Certifiably Awesome Adventure, 29 Things To Do In Florida On The Ultimate Sunshine State Road Trip, florida beaches: 25 best family vacation destinations, Florida Keys: 3 State Parks & 1 Dreamy National Park You Can't Miss, Florida Keys with Kids: Things to do on a Florida Keys Family Vacation - Family Travel Blog - Travel with Kids, Visit Dry Tortugas National Park The Most Beautiful Place In The US, 15 Lesser Known U.S. National Parks - Family Vacation Ideas, The Ultimate Guide to Yosemite Resorts - Tenaya Lodge, National Parks: Your Guide To The Best Outdoor Adventure. and our From the minute I saw a picture of the Dry Tortugas, part of the National Park Service,I have wanted to go there! The half-day excursion for four hours from Seaplane Adventures costs between $250 and $400 per person, while the full-day excursion for eight hours costs between $515 and $650 per person. That is why I am considering this year to do the three night camping option. This secluded park is located about 70 miles from Key West, and it definitely deserves a spot as one of the best places to . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yankee Freedom, LLC is authori Come to the Florida Keys and visit Fort Jefferson today! Required fields are marked *. The snorkeling is actually better at the reef. Before departure each day we spray all mouthpieces and vest with the same solution and let them sit overnight. Dry Tortugas Charter Trips - Book Today! PRO TRAVEL TIP: The seaplane carries 10 people, and two seaplanes travel together. Breakfast Snack and Box Lunch (arrival day only), Beach walking, snorkel, swim, or just relax in the sun. more. Powered by Mai Theme, 12 Best Things To Do In Crystal River FL You Shouldnt Miss. Return Time 5:30. If you are coming just to go to the Dry Tortugas, then you should stay in Key West. Due to the no refunds cancellation policy of the ferry, it's pretty unusual for people to not show up for reservations. We visit Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas on the show. 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. The most popular way of getting to Dry Tortugas is the National Parks Service's ferry, the Yankee Freedom III. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. This high speed, state of the art catamaran is the perfect way to sail across the 70-mile run to the Dry Tortugas. So join us and take in the sights in a private rental boat from Boatsetter. The plane parks at a beach on Garden Key and this is where you get off. Privacy PolicyThis website meets WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA standards set by the ADA. We also found some older shells that were seriously gigantic. The most popular ways to get to Dry Tortugas National Park are the Yankee Freedom ferry and Key West Seaplane Adventures, but you can also get there using a permitted personal boat or a private charter. If you're early risers be there at boarding time by 7:30am & you'll know by 8am when they leave if there's any open spots. Better early then late and missing the boat! Then when you land in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? View our ADA Accessibility Policy. All opinions expressed are my own. I couldn't find much recent information on this so hoping someone on here might have some current info. Campers at Dry Tortugas National Park are allowed to bring kayaks, subject to certain restrictions and availability of transport space on board the Yankee Freedom ferry. The first floor was gorgeous with all of the arches. All rights reserved. The trip was about 2.5 hours each way. Top 10 list to #PlanLikeaParkRanger for a visit to Dry Tortugas National Park. People do sometimes miss (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Manage booking Connect Search MENU TICKETS Yankee Freedom - Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry 2068 reviews slideshow video Book this tour Overview Details Schedule Yankee Freedom III, LLC is authorized by the NPS and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. Dry Tortugas National Park is a must-see if you're visiting Key West. If you take the seaplane, not only do you get to Dry Tortugas National Park quickly, and have the chance to arrive before the ferry, but the flight is incredibly scenic. Flickr Matthew Dillon. Yankee Freedom III, LLC is authorized by the NPS and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. The Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry is called theYankee Freedomiii. There will be a signup sheet on a clipboard at the electric car rental desk under the Ferry Terminal. It is expensive at $200 per adult. Before we left we walked over to check out the tent camping area and the other beach area where people were snorkeling. Plus they were huge! I agree with everyone about the sea (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Provided by Touchpoints 4 Where to Stay when Visiting the Dry Tortugas. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. And while you're heading down there/back up, try to do the Everglades too! Next we headed to the top and walked around the edge of the fort and the views just kept getting better and better. They are not going to wait for you. 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!! Per CDC guidelines all our snorkels, masks, fins, and vests are dipped into a solution of water and Buckeye International SaniQ, washed with fresh water, and then hung on the rail to dry. However, that will be more $ than buying every seat on the seaplane. It's the stuff that bucket lists are made of. A: We have maintenance days scheduled throughout the year and a two week period for annual maintenance the last week of October and the first week of November. Every time we turned a corner or looked a different direction it was another amazing view. How Much Is A Ferry Ride To Dry Tortugas? ), underwater sand dunes, reefs, shipwrecks, and the keys. 3.1 Snorkeling in the Dry Tortugas. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112876149', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flights or plan poorly, but the odd are very poor. It is the largest island in the Dry Tortugas and is supposed to have a lot of loggerhead sea turtles and also a Lighthouse. The only ferry authorized to enter the water in Dry Tortugas National Park is the Yankee Freedom. Reservations on the ferry are limited and sell out 9-12 months in advance so please plan ahead! The (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? READ NEXT: Best Things to Do in Dry Tortugas National Park. It was worth every dollar! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112874403', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane. Plan a full day for your visit, and be prepared to spend the day in awe of the natural beauty of the park. Predominately open water, dotted with seven small islands, it's the very definition of secluded. Re: Dry Tortugas 1 year ago Save Options for Dry Tortugas National Park if ferry sold out, Re: Options for Dry Tortugas National Park if ferry sold out, Get answers to your questions about Key West, What are some good books to read during a trip to Key West. The Dry Tortugas are a group of small islands composed of coral reefs located in the Gulf of Mexico at the end of the Florida Keys, United States.