Loggerhead Key(Dry Tortugas)

Located on the island city of Key West, Loggerhead Key is an uninhabited and the largest island among the group of islands that are part of Dry Tortugas National Park. Loggerhead Key has a very long, wide, and white sand beach situated in front of the Gulf of Mexico. Named after loggerhead sea turtles, Loggerhead Key is home to many plants, birds, and animals including Geiger trees, coconut palms, cactus, white buttonwood trees, bay cedar, brown pelicans, sea turtles, and rhesus macaque monkeys. The Little Africa coral reef is situated at Loggerhead Key making it a perfect destination for many water sports activities including swimming, snorkeling, diving, sailing, paddleboarding, and watching tropical fish, spiny lobster, and game fish. Loggerhead Key is west of the island of Garden Key – an incredible camping spot and northeast of Windjammer Wreck – a popular dive site. 

Loggerhead Key offers a couple of amenities including trails, shipwreck sites, and a historic lighthouse. 

There are many fun activities at Loggerhead Key including swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, sailing, fishing, birdwatching, wildlife watching, and paddleboarding. Please note that Loggerhead Key is open to the public for day use only and you will need to return to your camp at Garden Key by night. 

Loggerhead Key can be accessed by taking a three-mile-long ride using a private canoe or kayak from the island of Garden Key – it is mandatory that you file for a boat permit on Garden Key for your private kayak or canoe before visiting Loggerhead Key. Visitors can reach Garden Key by taking a ferry from Key West Harbor. 

If you are looking for attractions near Loggerhead Key, you can take a ferry from Garden Key to Key West Harbor and then drive 15 minutes to Key West Aquarium, the oldest aquarium in Florida that is home to exhibits on alligators, Atlantic shore fish, jellyfish, sharks, sea turtles, and a touch tank. The Hemingway Home and Museum is a very popular tourist attraction in Key West – it features the works from the life of American writer Ernest Hemingway and his large population of Hemingway cats. The incredible waterfront square Mallory Square is filled with tourists and is known for its restaurants, shops, and night festivals. Another great attraction is Duval Street’s Sunset Pier that is a part of the lively Duval Street and is a great spot for photography and picnicking. 

If you get hungry, you can take a ferry from Garden Key to Key West Harbor to find many restaurants within an eight-minute drive.  The upscale vegetarian-friendly fine dining restaurant Bel Mare serves scallops, pork belly, burritos, beets, shrimps, and wines. If you like French cuisine, Banana Café is known for its crepes, comfortable atmosphere, and artsy walls. Another good restaurant near is the Latin American restaurant Paradise Restaurant featuring handmade cocktails and traditional dishes from various countries including Peru, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Loggerhead Key, you can take a ferry from Garden Key to Key West Harbor and then drive 10 minutes. The 4-Star Marquesa Hotel is a Victorian-era hotel with two pools, a bar, and a restaurant. Opal Key Resort & Marine is a seaside 4-Star pet-friendly hotel offering a pool, poolside bar, open-air bar, spa, restaurant with water views, gym, and diving, fishing, and snorkeling tours. The 3-Star Hampton Inn Key West has a pool, poolside bar, and an open-air restaurant. If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel, the 2-Star NYAH Key West features three pools and diving, fishing, snorkeling, and windsurfing tours.