Located off the southern coast of Florida, the Florida Keys are a coral cay archipelago which forms the southernmost part of the continental United States. The Florida Keys are famous for its wonderful opportunities for sportfishing, boating, scuba diving, snorkelling, and its bounty of fresh seafood. Of course, one of the big draws of the Keys is the tropical island vibes, including the seemingly endless offering of sun, sea and sand. Looking to explore more? Here are 7 of the best beaches in the Florida Keys.
1. Bahia Honda Beach – Big Pine Key
Bahia Honda State Park is located south of Seven Mile Bridge at mile marker 37, just 12 miles south of Marathon. This secluded white-sand park has three beaches and offers some of the best beachcombing and snorkelling in Florida. Sink into the soft sand and let the soft lapping waves relax you, or grab your snorkel, fins, and head underwater. In the wonderfully warm and clear waters, you’ll spot sponges, soft corals, and a variety of marine species, such as lobsters.
2. Dry Tortugas & Fort Jefferson – Garden Key
Dry Tortugas National Park is situated 108km west of Key West. It is here where you’ll find Fort Jefferson, a huge, unfinished coastal fortress that dates back to 1846. Located on Garden Key, this is one of the largest 19th-century forts in the United States. The watery paradise of Dry Tortugas National Park is only accessible by boat or seaplane. However, marine life and coral reefs thrive because of this remoteness. Dry Tortugas National Park tops the list if you’re looking for the best places to go snorkelling in the Florida Keys. Its remoteness also means that you’ll have the beach to yourself, well, you’ll be able to find a secluded spot, that’s for sure. Enjoy strolling the sandy shoreline, sunbathing, swimming, and paradise island bliss.
3. Fort Zachary Taylor – Key West
The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is home to a Civil War-era fort and a stunning soft sand beach fringed by palm trees. This is the southernmost beach in the United States and just a stone’s throw from Barbados and Cuba. So, you’re basically on a Caribbean holiday. The beach is at the southern end of the park and is a great place for picnicking, swimming, snorkelling, paddling and fishing.
4. Higgs Beach – Key West
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park is located on the Atlantic Ocean in Key West. It is ideal if you like to do activities whilst on the beach. For instance, there are volleyball and tennis courts, safe waters for swimming and snorkelling and a bike path. Located in the Old Town, this is a very laid-back beach that doesn’t often get crowded. It also has a long wooden pier which is perfect for strolling and gazing out at the ocean. Higgs Beach has some of the best off-the-beach snorkelling in Key West.
5. Calusa Beach – Big Pine Key
Calusa Beach is within the Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key. The beach is adjacent to the Bahia Honda Bridge and is a popular spot for kayaking, swimming and snorkelling. Calusa Beach is a postcard-perfect setting with palm trees and white sand that gently slopes into warm azure blue waters.
6. Sombrero Beach – Marathon
Sombrero Beach is a beautiful park and a sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean. With picnic pavilions, volleyball courts, restrooms and showers, it is an ideal spot for spending the whole day at the beach. Sombrero Beach is a turtle nesting beach, and from April through October, Loggerhead Turtles come onto the beach at night to lay their eggs.
7. Anne’s Beach – Islamorada
Anne’s Beach is located at Lower Matecumbe Key and is dedicated to local environmentalist Anne Eaton. The water at this beach is very calm; therefore, it’s ideal for families as there is a shallow swimming area great for young children and dogs. Anne’s Beach also has a lovely boardwalk and covered picnic tables, so it is a serene place to come for lunch and a stroll.
