Home to the United States’ only living coral barrier reef is the 120-mile stretch of Florida Keys. It’s considered America’s very own Caribbean Islands, and certainly a delight to explore via yacht charter. The island chain is located just south of Miami Beach, beginning southeast of the Florida peninsula and then gently arching to Key West, the farthest inhabited island to the west. It goes further westwards onto the minuscule Dry Tortugas, an uninhabited island that’s just a dot on the map.
The little archipelago is composed of an estimated 800 islands or keys and is fondly referred to as the ‘string of pearls’ or ‘jade necklace’. The keys have become increasingly popular over the decades with an increase in cruise ships and other similar tourism—it’s undeniably growing to be the next yacht destination hotspot. While each key in the string of pearls offers something exciting and vibrant ashore, it’s all the more a lavish experience to get away into the Florida Keys’ quieter areas by a charter yacht.
The islands are fairly easy to navigate with two possible routes to follow, depending on the level of adventure you seek: the sail could be as leisurely and scenic if you cruise along the shallow basins of Florida Bay, or it could be quite thrilling and adventurous if you sail along the open Atlantic waters. Either way, the Florida Keys offer an unrivaled yachting experience as you drop anchors in the many coral coves to snorkel or swim. A myriad of marine and botanical life is found in each key, and all offer impressive picturesque views.
Key Largo
The first of the fabulous Florida Keys you will come across is the self-proclaimed Dive Capital of the World, Key Largo. It’s home to the world’s largest artificial reef: the USS Spiegel Grove, a 510-foot wreck intentionally sank to become an artificial reef. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the United States’ first undersea park protecting vibrant reefs and teeming marine life, can also be found on the island. The ever-famous African Queen steamboat, an iconic vessel from the 1951 movie of the same name that starred Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn, is also a known tourist attraction that lures tourists year after year. Key Largo has grown to become a weekender retreat easily accessible from the mainland.
Key West
Sailing further down the jade necklace, the last one to cruise (at least along the nearby keys) is Key West. It’s the southernmost point of the keys highly-famed as a multi-purpose destination: there’s the lively nightlife, historic sites, exceptional watersports, beautiful beaches, and houses painted in tropical architecture, complete with white picket fences. The farthest key has a lot to boast especially since it’s home to the world’s third largest barrier coral reef, namely, the Florida Straits. The coral reef extends a hundred and fifty miles north towards Miami and seventy miles westwards toward the further Dry Tortugas. The island draws people from all over the United States with the full belief that they’ve landed in genuine paradise.
The Florida Keys give you a luxurious taste of Florida’s tropical side. It’s well-known to yacht charterers for the multiple scuba diving and snorkeling spots it offers. Really, it all boils down to a matter of choosing which key will steal your heart first. And if you’re not island-hopping, then kayaking, dolphin-watching, and fishing should still be memorable experiences for your visit to the keys. Additionally, a gastronomic experience of conch fritters from the various seafood restaurants, along with Rum Runner cocktails, await hungry sailors and sunseekers alike.
Aching to jump into Florida waters? Tell us where you want to go and allow Luxe Travel Concierge to take care of all the time-consuming vacation details. Our access to some of the most luxurious and comfortable superyachts will make your sailing experience one for the books. We value the journey as much as we do the destination. Our elite concierge services are dedicated to providing you a charter experience nothing short of absolute luxury and relaxation, with none of the hassle to get there.
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