Key West Seaplane Adventures

Key West Seaplane Adventures is a small-plane tour from Key West International Airport to Garden Key, the island home of Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park. The flight takes about 40 minutes each way. Pick it if you want the crossing to be part of the trip: the narrated ride and water landing are part of the experience, and the half-day option makes this a much shorter visit than the full day. The plane costs more than the ferry, so the payoff is the flight and a faster arrival, not the cheapest ticket.

Each passenger gets a window seat and headset for the pilot's narration. The route heads west across the Keys, with callouts for the shallow Flats, the Marquesas, Quicksands and two shipwrecks, the Patricia and the Arbutus. The Arbutus mast still rises above the water, a useful landmark to pick out from the air. Near Garden Key, the plane circles Fort Jefferson and makes a low pass before landing on the water. Keep your camera ready for that approach. Turtles, dolphins and sharks are possible to spot below, but sightings aren't guaranteed.

The seaplane base is on the General Aviation side of the airport, by Signature Flight Support, rather than the airline terminal. Check in at least 30 minutes before the flight. Use the airport's Short Term Parking lot; the operator says there is no seaplane customer parking at the hangar. Follow the directions in your booking so you arrive at the right airport entrance.

The half-day trip takes just under four hours, with at least 2.5 hours on Garden Key. The full-day trip takes just under eight hours and gives you at least 6.5 hours there. Choose the longer option if you want more time for Fort Jefferson, the beach and snorkeling. Masks, snorkels, fins and flotation vests are supplied, along with a cooler with ice and bottled water or soft drinks. There is no food on Garden Key and the tour does not provide meals, so bring lunch for a full day or snacks for a half day; bring your own towel and swimwear too.

Offshore weather or aircraft maintenance can cancel a flight. Keep your plans flexible if this is your main way to reach the park; a same-day replacement may not work with your schedule.