Make sure to dive or snorkel the San Pedro Wreck located a mile south of Indian Key Historic State Park. You can rent a bareboat, or a captained boat, for a few hours or a few days. Here you can get out and enjoy night life, restaurants, and specialty retail. Before dark, head back over to Garden Key to anchor for the evening. This charter requires a minimum of 3 nights. Most of the time we fished in 30-60 feet of water, but we also ran south past the reef to deeper water (300+ feet) in search of tuna, mahi, and wahoo. If you stay on your boat, you must anchor a nautical mile from the Fort Jefferson harbor light. tortugas dry This area is widespread with abundant reefs and mangroves to explore. Most of all, the Marquises is pure tranquility, rarely do you see another boat on this anchorage. But wait, no AC! This is a magical snorkel as the wreck hosts amazing corals and tropical fish. Ilander skirt lures were rigged with ballyhoo. This is a useful guide to help plan your trip to the Dry Tortugas or elsewhere in the Florida Keys. This charter takes about ten hours, one way by sail and eight hours in a motor yacht. tortugas charisma tortugas snorkel snorkeling Contact a Best On Key West representative by calling (877) 243-2378 or click the live chat button to right. However, unless you are sailing, you will need several days to make your way to the Dry Tortugas and back. fishing boat tortuga iv key west florida We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This park holds the distinction as the only underwater archaeological state park in the Florida Park Service. Most charter customers take in a sunset sail or motor cruise back to the marina to close out their day. The site was renamed the Dry Tortugas National Park in 1992. Such is the reality of acatamaranchartertrip with firm travel dates. The most popular activity on this charter is to sail or motor to the coral reef system (45-60 mins one way), grab a mooring ball, and snorkel. , where the Loggerhead Lighthouse warns mariners of the shallow shores. Day 8: Key West. tortugas dry With the prevailing trades blowing in our teeth and a long distance to cover, we had to motor much of the way back. We may be compensated if visitors choose to click on some of the links located throughout the content on this site. Our most popular bareboat charter is to the Dry Tortugas, however there are so many places to go in Key West; the possibilities are endless. Make sure to visit Indian Key on the way to Islamorada or take a quick sail over from your anchorage in Islamorada. Nothing is better than having your fresh catch on the grill or fry pan for dinner. tortugas sailing to St Croix and visiting the Spanish Virgin Islands, Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid on a Yacht Charter Trip, Top 5 Culebra Anchorages in the Spanish Virgin Islands. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are medically qualified and within any limits listed below in order to participate in this activity. After the challenge of dodging lobster trap buoys throughout the trip, lets just say I wont charter a boat like this in the future (unless of course its my only option). Day 8: Key West Eastward, another ten miles is Boca Grande, which, like the Marquesas, is inside the Key West National Wildlife refuge. On this day you will get familiar with Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas National Park rules and regulations. Prices were high, but its much cheaper than youd pay on a bareboat trip in theCaribbean. Popular activities that may be possible on an eight hour bareboat charter include: snorkeling, fishing, catching lobster (seasonal), sunset sail, dolphin encounters, and touring Key West, ocean side. This is one opportunity that few get a chance to do in their lifetimes! Just a short distance north east of Marathon is Duck Key were you will find one of the finest resorts in all the Florida Keys, called Hawks Cay Luxury Resort. tortugas bareboat If you make an early start and are making excellent time, you may be able to make it back to Key West. paps donnie tortugas dry There are many different reefs to choose from. Day 1: Marquesas Keys Exuma Fishing Tips: How to Catch More Fish in the Bahamas, Mostly anchoring, limited moorings available, Trickier navigation with shallow areas and hazards to avoid (such as lobster buoys! Little Palm Island offers some of the most amazing views of the ocean with breathtaking aqua blue water clarity. Day charters aboard catamarans are available for reef snorkeling and sunset cruises. The live music was already jamming. tortugas Be sure not to leave your dinghy on the beach where the daily sea planes take off and land. As you depart the marina you will be turning to starboard. We took the dingy in at, yes, Dingy Beach (there is a sign, you cant miss it), and walked over to the boat pier to get ourpermit its free. Your boat is due back today at 10 a.m. Spend another day relaxing and enjoying the Dry Tortugas. voyage Long Key Bight makes a great anchorage for any wind other than a north easterly. I wrote more about what to expect in this post. Spectacularsunrises and sunsets, clear waters with tropical fish and birds, and this National Parkremind those out at sea why this quick trip to the most remote Key continues to bedelightful. The days are delightfully warm in Key West and the Florida Keys. Ask your charter company and they can help pair you with a skipper for theFlorida Keys. DISCLAIMER: Yacht Warriors provides this information for planning, information, and entertainment purposes. Enjoy an evening at the Fort as you have it all to yourself, walk to moat or relax on the yacht with breath taking views. Unfortunately, the next morning we learned that an engine water pump was failing and the inverter was busted. Watch dolphins as they jump and play with you while under way. The dinghy makes a great vessel for exploring the island chain and encountering dolphins. Most had taken fishing boats to the fort, enjoying the bountiful waters surrounding the National Park. OK, could be worse (I usually try and book the newestcatamaranpossible to avoid maintenance issues). The closest group of keys, 45 miles to the east, is the Marquesas, which are also unoccupied and offer excellent snorkeling locations. Tourists come for the day and even spend the night in the campground. If you enjoyed reading this story, Our professional and local staff is here to help. By subscribing you accept Boatsetter Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. It had been awhile since I had seen a few friends from growing up in California. On your second night find a protected anchorage in New Found Harbor. Todays goal is to reach the island by early afternoon, in time to complete the guided tour of Ft. Jefferson provided by the park ranger. then we'd love it if you would share it! Copyright 2022 - Fun In The Sun Yacht Charters. The best resource for that info is Garmin ActiveCaptain. seaplane tortugas Take a day trip over to Loggerhead Key. For more information please read our cancellation policy and terms and conditions page or call our staff with any questions regarding your ability to participate. The Lighthouse was built in 1858 and suffered hurricane damage in 1873 that required replacing the top nine feet of the structure. By later in the afternoon the ferry traffic and seaplane visitors will have gone, leaving the island occupied by only a few campers, the park ranger, and possibly a few other anchored boaters. Following theself-guided tour, we enjoyed learning about Fort Jefferson such as the construction, purpose, and famous prisoners including Dr. Mudd. Do some fishing, snorkel the pristine reef system, enjoy tanning on the beach, or just relax and embrace being stuck on a deserted island oasis for the day! Crewed chartersare available. Check out the Umamiburger or Mahi Tacos and pair with a cold beer from the attached Hanks Saloon. Fishing is also a popular activity on charters. *Current Parasailing price on Carnival of $89.99 vs $39.95 with us, Private charter on a spacious 50 foot motor yacht for up to 6 passengers, "Number of Nights" price includes the first 4 passengers, Call us to add 5th and 6th passengers (see restriction tab for pricing), Enjoy 3 full meals each day, prepared fresh, Visit variouseco systemsto snorkel, kayak,and paddleboard, Finish every day with an amazing sunset on the water. Sailing from Key West to Dry Tortugas: What to Expect? Blue Ocean Yacht Charters in Key West will set you off in a sail boat or power boat tailored to your expectations. The Florida Keys are the only place you can cruise within the continental United Stateswith Caribbean-like climate and conditions- and around this area, the farthest pointof all the keys is the Dry Tortugas, best accessed from Key West at a distance of 70nautical miles/80 land miles. You will not find any cell tours here, so enjoy a vacation away from your phone and distractions. Day 3: Fort Jefferson We brought our own gear and tackle. We enjoyed showers, a poolside happy hour, and of course some AC! Some other reasons: Being a guys trip and all, we took the fishing seriously!! You will find crystal clear water and breathtaking coral reefs. We enjoyed the pool, showers, and restaurant available to charterers at theStock IslandYacht Club and Marina. However, when visiting the Dry Tortugas, you are required to make a stop at Garden Key. We can add a 5th and 6th passenger if you call our office. If you do have any fish aboard, radio the Park Rangers on Channel 16 to report your catch before entering the park boundaries. There will be plenty of time for fishing, snorkeling, and enjoying beaches before dinner, watching the stars come out, and then spending night one under the stars there.Day 2 - Garden Key is todays destination, we start out bright and early on this leg of the sail. We werent able to go too far offshore because of the ground we had to cover, so we had to settle for fish caught in the shallower depths. Take the dinghy to the island from the boat. Yes, Im spoiled. It is your responsibility to make sure you are aware of and understand all restrictions pertaining to this tour before booking online or over the phone. There is no chance to forget anything as you will go out on the same yacht for the ocean excursion as you stay on at the marina. Take the dinghy into the park and spend the day there kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, or relaxing. There was a massive thunderstorm complex to our north that put on quite the lightning show for hours and hours. Sailors have been visiting the Dry Tortugas for centuries, yet they are largely unaffected by mans passage. This is a minimum of five nights round trip with six nights or more recommended. It is time to start back to Key West today. Yes, you can and have the choice ofcamping ashore, on Garden Key or staying aboard your boat. This anchorage is often full and the water shallows quickly as you approach the boundaries. We offer half day private excursions, full day excursions, 24 hour excursions, and private multi-day yacht charters catered to your desires to various destinations. Youre also free to bring along your choice of adult beverages. Experience everything that you can in a half day with double the time to take in more activities. This package also includes chef prepared gourmet meals, coffee, tea, bottled waters, and soft drinks. The farthest Key to the west of Garden Key isLoggerhead Key, where the Loggerhead Lighthouse warns mariners of the shallow shores. One of the most popular attractions here is to interact and swim with the Dolphins. The Florida Keys is a natural destination for sun worshippers, divers, The area was proclaimed a National Park in 1935 as the Fort Jefferson National Monument, after the fort on Garden Key. Be advised there is not much information about anchorages (since there arent that many!). You can anchor anywhere around the island depending on the wind. Marquesas Key is a convenient anchorage for the Tortugas, since it providesprotection against the prevailing easterlies. Part of one of the former lighthouse keepers homes is still standing after it burned. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe or check out some of my other articles, like this one about sailing to St Croix and visiting the Spanish Virgin Islands. Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys can be found at: Latitude 2436.78 and Longitude 8123 .63. You may also findNavtours in a search, but they are a DYC partner, so you can choose to book through either (as of July 2022, its not clear if DYC and Navtours are still running their Key West operation). With aprivate boat rental from Boatsetter, you can rent a boat large enough to ply the waters of the Florida Straits and Gulf of Mexico and keep it for a day, two, or a few. Boat Rental Captain Success Story: Meet Captain Larry.

Sadly, nothing was caught that we wanted to make fish tacos out of. It was the perfect place to wind down and share sea stories from ourKey Westsailing chartertrip. Please make sure to bundle your linens, remove trash (trash containers are located at the beginning of the dock), top off the fuel tank and pump out, if you haven'. loggerhead Im sure he makes the anchorage his home he hung around under the boat during our entire visit. After swinging by the fuel dock in the afternoon at theStock IslandYacht Club and Marina, we decided to debark and find a hotel. The area was proclaimed a National Park in 1935 as the Fort Jefferson National Monument, after the fort on Garden Key. 50 mile journey over. The remaining 50 nautical miles to Fort Jefferson at Garden Key we would tackle the next day. Our flights didnt leave until the next evening, so it allowed us a refuge to hang out for the next 24 hours. Track your position carefully as there is a strong north/south current running through the area. If time allows, reaching Key Largo on your yacht charter will pay off. This is an unforgettable tour and highly recommended. Thats a lot of babies, so go slow when motoring about the waters of the Dry Tortugas; they are teeming with sea creatures of every type. Boot Key Harbor in Marathon offers plenty of anchorages and marinas. In the winter months we are not able to get to the first anchorage before dark so its best to plan on embarking first thing the following morning. Day 7: Key West tortugas bareboat Day 4 - During3 night trips, this is the day we make the sail back to Key West. Experience the beautiful landscape of numerous Keys (islands), breathtaking sunsets on the crystal clear, bright, blue, ocean. So, plan on eight to ten hours to Garden Key and back, which will give you time to look around while you are there. Your first possible overnight anchorage on this route is about a 3 hour sail or 2 hours by a motor yacht. Day 1 - 9am or earlier is ideal for this departure. Before going ashore, I dove on the anchor and was visited by the largest barracuda Ive ever seen. To prove it we are matching all online pricing on the tours we offer. Day 2: Garden Key We looked at a couple nearby destinations, such as Miami, the Bahamas, or the Caribbean. Loggerhead Key is also home to the largest population of loggerhead turtles globally; thus, its name and about 15,000 babies hatch here every year. If you stay on your boat, you must anchor a nautical mile from the Fort Jefferson harbor light. Better to go and sweat than not go at all. You can enjoy spectacular sunsets here over the Marquesas Keys. Check in with DYC went smoothly and it was a luxury to have a well-established food delivery program available through Instacart. Many overnight anchorages are surrounded by crystal clear bright blue water and beautiful wildlife. The anchorage at Loggerhead is east of the island just off the light in the center. There are no stores or marinas along the way, so take your time provisioning appropriately. He named the island Tortuga, which is Spanish for tortoise, because of the enormous sea turtles that inhabited the islands and waters of the area. Next time we return, well make sure we have more time for adventuring and exploration in the park, including Loggerhead Key. Depart the Marquesas in the morning and continue your westerly course, staying south of the Quicksands, Halfmoon and Rebecca Shoals. Our company specializes in making your private yacht charter a forever memory. During the4 night trips, well explore other scenic islands like Boca Grande or Woman Key within the Key West National Wildlife Refuge for our last day of excitement, snorkeling, fishing, beach combing, and of course your final amazing night under the stars.Day 5 - We depart on our sail to Key West. The 24 hour charter is pure tranquility and peace. Nothing is more rewarding than to disconnect and share time with family and friends on a Key West yacht charter to The Dry Tortugas. Turtle sightings are common in the spring time by many anchorages. If you choose this anchorage, expect to swing with the changing tide, so make sure you get that anchor set well. The Dry Tortugas is a designated preserve, and the marine life here is protected, and spearfishing and lobstering are prohibited. Learn about a famous doctor that was imprisoned for plotting President Lincolns assignation and then later discovering a cure for Malaria while there and later pardoned by the President for his efforts. There is so much to see and do on this yacht charter. We were careful to avoid the fate ofErnest Hemingwaywho was marooned at Fort Jefferson for 17 days when a tropical storm moved through! Carefully follow the day markers out through the channel. We spent the night at anchor outside ofStock Islandto soak in as much breeze as possible. Our goal for today is to reach the Marquesas Keys, which will also be where our first night is spent. On this charter we recommend you take in a snorkel on the beautiful Looe Key Reef located close to Little Palm Island. Seventy miles distant and away from the sound of people, tourists have been visiting this group of islands since 1513, when Ponce de Leon named them. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. If you want to learn more about how we fish, check out our sailboat fishing guide. After checking the long-range weather models routinely onTropical Tidbits, it looked like we had a clear weather window so we went for it. There are only two bareboat charter Key West operators (that Im aware of) FloridaYacht Charters (recently joined a partnership with The Moorings) and DreamYacht Charter. , you can rent a boat large enough to ply the waters of the Florida Straits and Gulf of Mexico and keep it for a day, two, or a few. Anchorage is allowed in the area with sand and rubble bottom, and be clear of any channels where boats will travel. Depending on the weather, the anchorage can be extremelycrowded or nearly vacant. We appreciate your support! Reservations may be required so call ahead. You can learn how to sail or drive the yacht. Dolphin and other wildlife shows happen here seven days a week. Take in the famous Little Palm Island Resort for adults only. Found a better price online? The high-speed ferry Yankee Freedom also leaves Key West daily at 8:00am to bring you to the Dry Tortugas. However, south of Key West, at the end of the Florida Keys, is the Dry Tortugas. It is three miles west of Garden Key and is open for day use only. You can also look into apowercatamaranoption if you have some boat know-how. The Dry Tortugas are the last seven coral islands that flow westward from the Florida Keys into the Gulf of Mexico. Except there are fewer loggerhead turtles there now than when Ponce de Leon plied these waters searching for bounty and new lands. The main attraction at Garden Key is the richly historical Fort Jefferson, the largest all-masonry fort in the United States, which stands incomplete due to interruptions by theCivil War. Plot your course past the Yellow "O" marker and leave the Red "2" (south and east of Garden Key) to starboard. You can fish while moving or at anchor. On this day, learn about this historic landmark and the influences it has had in the past. Cross Southeast Channel using the Green "3" (between Bush and Hospital Key) as your landmark, leaving it to port turn toward the Red "2" and Green "3" (just north of Garden Key). We thought it was coming closer at times, but thankfully it stayed away. Youll be back by 5:00pm. Given the late departure, we spent our first night anchored off Boca Grande. However, the islands are actually in international waters, as the Continental United States ends at South Beach, Key West. I was also hoping to see some of the goliath groupers during the day, but they only showed up after dark. You most likely will have your anchorage all to yourselves. Watch the depths carefully as you are approaching the islands. Garbos, made famous by the Diners Drive in and Dives, was a welcome respite from the heat. Everyone speaks of the Florida Keys and its beaches and coral reefs, which are easy to access. We jammed some sailing tunes and got underway. Visual bottom navigation is crucial for thisjourney! A round trip bareboat charter from Key West to The Dry Tortugas National Park and Ft Jefferson is an unforgettable vacation experience. This day typically lasts about four hours from the time you leave the marina to the time you get back and may include fueling time. There is so much to see and do on a yacht charter. It was helpful to understand the cruising grounds and key landmarks. We were jealous of their fresh catches! While on Garden Key, you can take time to see Fort Jefferson and learn a bit about the islands history. All you need to do is pay your entrance fee ($15/per person). If you have more time, heading to Key Biscayne in Miami would make your next unforgettable yacht charter anchorage. Can you still take a similar trip inKey West? Only one boat was available through DYC that fit our size requirements a 2018 Bali 4.3 with a flybridge. Can private boats go to the Dry Tortugas? Thanks for reading my post about a Key West bareboat charter to the Dry Tortugas and making it all the way to the end! tortugas dry An electric lamp was installed in 1931, but it did not become automated until 1988. Sail or motor cruise to many different private locations. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Yacht Warriors is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It is three miles west of Garden Key and is open for day use only. Relax, unwind, decompress with no sounds other than the wildlife around you. An unforgettable experience for up to 6 passengers, 5th and 6th passengers are additional (see restriction tab for details) call to add the last 2 passengers for 6 passenger charters. The dinghy makes a great vessel for exploring remote areas and encountering dolphins if you see them on your anchorage. Unfortunately, I came up empty handed on the spiny lobster this time. You can snorkel many reefs located close to Marathon. Because with a boat of your own, you can explore at your leisure, come, and go as you wish. Hang out on the yachts spacious deck watching the stars light up the sky light and sea life light up the ocean beneath you.