Get yourself an amazing experience at Dry Tortugas! If you happen to be in the southern USA, specifically Florida – then this is a 'must-see'

Here is truly a genuine, adventurous gem! Right in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, a sail away from Key West – all the way down south of the USA, you’ll find: Dry Tortugas National Park!

The USA indeed hosts many adventures. One of the adventures I had long dreamed of experiencing was a road trip down through Florida, with a highway stretching out over The Keys.

In 2001, my dream came true. At that time, I had a Dutch boyfriend with whom I took the trip. We started in Orlando, Florida, where we rented a car and drove southward.

The journey down there was a fantastic adventure and truly, truly beautiful! The highway runs over a string of islands, connected by about 40 bridges – the last island in the series being Key West (the place where Ernest Hemingway lived).

From Key West, we were lured out to Dry Tortugas National Park, located a few hours’ sail southwest of Key West.

What is Dry Tortugas?

Dry Tortugas was discovered in 1513 by Ponce de Leon, who named the island after the many turtles that lived on the island. “Tortugas” means turtle in Spanish, and “dry” was added to indicate to sailors that they would not find fresh water on the island.

The island is surrounded by a dangerous reef, and in 1825, a lighthouse was built to safely guide sailors around it.

In 1846, Fort Jefferson was built for strategic reasons, which today stands merely as a historic icon for Dry Tortugas.

Dry Torturgas, Florida, USA
Lise Kryger, Dry Torturgas, Florida
Dry Torturgas   Florida

What can you do at Dry Torturgas?

What attracted me to Dry Tortugas was definitely the boat trip. The absolutely stunning white sandy beaches, and the Caribbean turquoise water.

We spent a few hours on the island, which, by the way, is not very large, walking around the historic fort and having lunch on the beach.

You can also visit the island for snorkeling and diving in the amazingly clear water with reefs and corals. Or you can observe many fascinating birds that pass through the area.

Additionally, you can camp out there – for more information, you can check out Key West Camping 

Beach On Dry Torturgas, Florida
The Fort On Dry Torturgas
Lise Kryger, Dry Torturgas, Florida

Facts about Dry Torturgas

Dry Tortugas is a national park in Florida, USA. It is located around the Dry Tortugas Islands west of the Florida Keys archipelago. Dry Tortugas is 261.8 km² in size.

Travel tips

  1. Bring swimwear, towels, and snorkeling gear.
  2. The boat trip can be a bit rough in windy weather. Just so you know.

Links to Dry Tortugas

-> Dry Torturgas National Park
-> Dry Torturgas – national park service
-> Key West Travelguide
-> History and nature at Dry Tortugras National Park

  Dry Torturgas, The Keys, Florida, USA

Top photo by photographer: Joop Heemskerk