Small-Group Dry Tortugas Day Trip from Key West
- Price
- from $750/person
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Group size
- Per-seat booking
The Dry Tortugas is one of the most spectacular places in America — a remote national park 70 miles west of Key West, built around the massive 19th-century Fort Jefferson and surrounded by some of the clearest water and best snorkeling in the Keys. Most people make the trip on the big ferry, packed in with up to 175 other passengers and confined to a single island for a few hours.
Our small-group day trip is a different way to go. With just six guests aboard Colorado Blue, you'll reach Fort Jefferson and the places the ferry can't take you — Loggerhead Key's beach and lighthouse, the living coral at Little Africa, and the Windjammer shipwreck. Same legendary destination, a fraction of the crowd, and a far more personal day on the water.
Why Dry Tortugas?
Some places earn their bucket-list status. The Dry Tortugas is one of the hardest national parks in the country to reach — 70 miles out into open water — and that remoteness is exactly what makes it unforgettable. Here's what draws people this far:
A National Park Worth the Journey
For national park collectors, this is a big one — remote, dramatic, and capped by Fort Jefferson, a massive 19th-century fortress rising straight out of the sea. Standing inside those walls, 70 miles from anywhere, is something you don't forget.
A World-Class Birding Destination
The Dry Tortugas is one of the most remarkable birding spots in North America — one of the only places in the country to find Sooty Terns, Brown Noddies, Magnificent Frigatebirds, and Masked Boobies. On a small boat, we can ease close to the islands where the Boobies nest for a real look from the water, and you can walk near the nesting areas at the fort.
Some of the Best Snorkeling in the Keys
The water out here is about as clear as it gets — and with a small group, you snorkel the good stuff: Little Africa's living coral and the Windjammer shipwreck, spots the big ferry crowd never reaches.
Small Group vs. the Big Ferry
Most visitors reach the Dry Tortugas on the big ferry, and it's a solid option — comfortable, with breakfast, lunch, and a full bar. But it's a very different day than a small-group trip. Here's the honest difference:
The big ferry: carries up to 175 passengers, drops everyone on Garden Key, and keeps you there on a fixed schedule — you see Fort Jefferson and snorkel right off the island, and that's the day. It's also booked up fast, often months in advance.
Our small-group day trip: is just six guests aboard Colorado Blue. You visit Fort Jefferson and head where the ferry can't — Loggerhead Key, the living coral at Little Africa, and the Windjammer shipwreck. Far fewer people, more of the park, and a day that actually feels personal.
If the ferry's sold out, or you simply want to see the Dry Tortugas without the crowd, this is the way to do it.
The Journey Out
The run to the park takes about two hours across open water, and it's part of the adventure. Keep your eyes open — it's common to spot sea turtles, dolphins, and flying fish along the way, the occasional seaplane overhead, and if you're truly lucky, a whale shark. The two forward seats stay shaded the whole way out and back.
Fort Jefferson, Before the Crowds
We aim to reach Fort Jefferson early — ahead of the big ferry. That gives you time to explore the fort and the island while it's quiet, with hardly anyone around. By the time the ferry unloads its crowd, you've already had the place nearly to yourself.
Into the Water
From there, we head out to snorkel the clear water — Little Africa's living coral and the Windjammer shipwreck — and cruise to Loggerhead Key, the largest island out there, with its big beach and historic lighthouse. We can ease close to the bird islands for a look, too.
What's Included
Your seat on the small-group day trip covers a full day taken care of:
Lunch — a proper meal brought along, so you're set for the long day on the water.
The comforts of Colorado Blue — a real bathroom, freshwater shower, shaded forward seats for the run out and back, water and ice, and a smooth, fast ride.
Snorkel gear — masks, fins, and snorkels, ready to go.
National park entry — we handle the park fee, so there's nothing extra to pay at the gate.
Your captain's local knowledge — the routes, the spots, the timing, and the read on the day.
Weather & Safety
The Dry Tortugas sits 70 miles out in open ocean, with no protection from whatever the weather brings — so this trip is highly weather-dependent, for your comfort and safety. If the captain determines conditions aren't suitable for the run, you won't lose out. You'll be offered:
An All-Inclusive Local VIP Day — a full day of backcountry exploration and snorkeling around Key West aboard Colorado Blue, including our signature lunch, with the price difference refunded.
A Full Rain Check — a 100% credit toward a future Dry Tortugas trip (subject to availability).
We'd rather reschedule than run you 70 miles into conditions that won't do the park justice.
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