| Region | United States Of America |
|---|---|
| Duration | 9 days |
| Tour Operator | Intrepid Travel |
Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Key West & Finishing: Key West
Welcome to Key West, the southernmost city in continental USA. Located in the Florida Keys – a coral cay archipelago extending southwest from Florida’s south-eastern tip – Key West attracts an eclectic mix of residents and visitors: artists, writers, yatchies, retirees, holidaying families and partying students. More than 1700 islands make up the archipelago, the majority of which are part of National, State or Marine parks. Key West is in fact closer to Cuba than it is Miami! Arrive in Key West for a 3pm start. It's definitely worth adding on an extra day or two here if you have the time. Or, if you've got a little longer still, perhaps consider adding on our Key West & Dry Tortugas Sailing Expedition [SSSF]. This trip includes a stop in the Marquesas Keys as well as the Dry Tortugas, the most remote National Park in the USA. Tonight we spend moored in Key West. After a trip briefing and visit to the supermarket, we'll take an orientation walk around Key West before sitting down to an early dinner. Duval Street is well known for its music scene and nightlife. Be sure to check out both before heading back to the marina for an early departure tomorrow.
Day 2-4 - Starting: Florida Keys & Finishing: Florida Keys
One of the benefits of sailing is that each day is unique. While we do have a destination to reach, if the weather changes or a detour takes the group’s fancy, the trip itinerary is flexible. Your skipper will make the final call regarding the route you take (according to safety and berth availability), but over the next couple of days you should visit the following sites: Looe Key Part of the National Marine Sanctuary, Looe Key is a U-shaped groove and spur reef that was named after the British ship HMS Looe that ran aground here in 1744. The seas here are generally calm and the visibility excellent, creating prime snorkelling conditions for novice and experienced snorkelers alike. Home to reef sharks, rays, moray eels and more than 150 species of fish (yellow-tails, angelfish, parrot-fish, barracudas and sergeant majors) plus approximately 50-odd species of coral (staghorn, elkhorn, star, brain, and fire corals), this is one of the Keys’ best reefs to snorkel. Big Pine Key As one of the largest islands in the Keys, Big Pine Key hosts a resident population of over 5,000 and the Keys’ largest population of Key Deer – a endangered sub-species of deer that can be found nowhere else on earth. Smaller than their mainland deer cousins and possessing little fear of man, Key Deer can regularly be spotted trotting along Big Pine Key’s streets or swimming between its islands. Another highlight attraction of Big Pine Key is the Blue Hole in the National Key Deer Refuge. Formerly a rock quarry used for nearby road fills, the site is now a freshwater pool that attracts wildlife such as birds, iguanas, snakes, alligators and Key Deer. Bahia Honda Voted as one of the US’s best beaches, Bahia Honda is a popular stop-off along the Florida Keys. The offshore islands make for fantastic snorkelling and, as the island is home to the Bahia Honda State Park, marine life here is plentiful. Bahia Honda is also home to the Miami Blue butterfly, a critically endangered butterfly that was thought to be extinct when Hurricane Andrew tore through its habitat in 1992 (a number were again spotted in Bahia Honda State Park in 1999). In Bahia Honda you will also be able to see the remnants of the old Bahia Honda Rail Bridge. This rail bridge was part of the Overseas Railway that linked Bahia Honda with Spanish Harbor Key. It was partially destroyed in 1935, then converted to the Overseas Highway in 1938. A new bridge was built in 1980, but you can still see much of the original structure (with the exception of 2 truss spans that were removed to allow larger boats to pass underneath). There is a small kiosk on Bahia Honda, where you can purchase refreshments, take part in water activities and access Wi-Fi. Marathon One of the larger towns to be found along the Keys, Marathon, with its deep-sea reefs, is a well-known sport-fishing destination. A number of shipwrecks are located off the coast, as well as a protected section of the Florida Barrier Reef – the only living coral reef in the United States. There is a large aquarium in Marathon and also a number of activities involving swimming and feeding marine life. Please note that, due to concerns about captive animal welfare, Intrepid does not include visits to aquariums on its trips, nor advocate them. As an alternative, you might like to consider visiting the local Turtle Hospital, an initiative set up to rehabilitate injured sea turtles and return them safely to the wild. Islamorada Islamorada was named after the schooner, Island Home, which brought the early settlers to the region. More recently, this island grouping (Islamorada is actually six islands) has become known by its literal translation: Purple Island. The islands are known for being a top sport-fishing destination, and although our fishing will be a far more relaxed activity, you could be lucky enough to snare a Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Pompano, Mackerel or Wahoo. Plantation Key An island inhabited by Native Americans some 1,000 years before Europeans arrived. During the 19th century, immigrants from the Bahamas began arriving to establish coconut and pineapple plantations, though this industry came to an abrupt halt when the Florida East Coast Railway began shipping pineapples from Cuba at a fraction of the price. These days you can still spot a few prehistoric Indian sites and mounds dotted around the island.
Day 5 - Starting: Key Largo & Finishing: Key Largo
Today your Florida Keys Sailing Adventure comes to an end in Key Largo, the northernmost island in the Florida Keys. With the Everglades National Park to its west and continental USA’s only living coral reef fringing its east, Key Largo is a hotspot for diving, sport-fishing, bird watching and kayaking. The destination was also made famous by a film of the same name, which starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and each year Key Largo hosts the Humphrey Bogart Film Festival. Got a bit of extra time after your journey’s end? Why not head out for a dive with Christ of the Abyss in the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary.
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