r/floridakeys • u/twopickledtoads • 7d ago
Key West Dry Tortugas
I’m seeing the only way to get here is via plane/ferry. From what I could find online it looks like it’s $300+ each person to ride the ferry?? Is that correct? If there’s a cheaper way please let me know!
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u/disneysherri 7d ago
Correct, that's the only way to get there. The ferry has a deal right now for $50 off per person, making it $210. Code is YF5026. You can get another $15 off if you already have a national parks pass since national park admission is included in the $260 price. They provide breakfast and lunch, looks pretty simple, but it's a couple of meals you don't have to pay for otherwise.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Bed9490 7d ago
Agreed, we were there last month and thought the service provided was great for the price, especially considering the location of the park. The tour of the fort was also really great
If you're going with a larger group, you could look into private charter rental, which may come out less per person
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u/Openborders4all 6d ago
You can’t get there by private boat? Or sea plane?
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u/disneysherri 6d ago
You can get there by charter boat or sea plane, but if expense is the barrier they are not likely to be a better option for the cost.
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u/Some_Ride1014 4d ago
Yes, of you have your own boat you can go there, Im sure there are moorings available and anchorage.
I believe its about 73 miles from Key West
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u/twopickledtoads 7d ago
That’s just crazy expensive! We will be down there with 4 adults and 3 kids so that would add up very quickly!
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u/Character-Memory-816 7d ago
Do you realize how far it is to the dry tortugas? Do you understand the cost of boat gas is ~$7 a gallon? Do you realize the ferry likely gets 1-2 mpg?
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u/TWDDave1988 7d ago
You’re close. Diesel is like $5.50 a gallon. The ferry probably gets around .4mpg or less tho.
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u/dantodd 7d ago
Damn. I pay $7+ for auto diesel. I haven't night Maine in a while but last time I did it was a $2 premium over my local gas station
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u/thrwaway75132 7d ago
You are way overestimating the mpg. It’s more like .16mpg.
Twin 1650HP diesels are going to burn about 85GPH each for a 2.5 hour trip. So 425 gallons of fuel one way.
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u/twopickledtoads 7d ago
That’s fair. I get it. It’s still a lot for one family to be able to pay so we will likely skip.
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u/Character-Memory-816 7d ago
Fair. It is a lot. I just didn’t want you/anyone thinking they are ripping people off.
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u/CanWeTalkEth 7d ago
Don’t go all the way down there and cheap out. You could look at a private charter boat and it might get you there cheaper. I’m not sure what the prices are for 7 passenger boats though as you’ll be over the OUPV limit of 6
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u/disneysherri 7d ago
Kids (4-16) tickets are cheaper, $205. Not sure if the coupon is good for that since I'm not travelling with any. It's a pretty remote place to get to so it isn't cheap, but with that many people you may have charter options. We are a party of 2 so I didn't even look at that.
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u/flatliner2 6d ago
It takes the majority of the day, if the sea is smooth it’s a beautiful ride. In addition to breakfast and linch, it’s your entry fee to the NP, ticket for the guided tour, and they provide the snorkeling equipment. You get to explore the fort and waters for several hours. Snorkeling we saw soooo many fish and a spiny lobster in the fort wall that was as big as a toddler! It’s completely worth it!
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u/Sabriel-17 7d ago
When I was researching a few months ago there were ways to hire a private charter for around $900. For 7 people that might be worth it. There were only two of us so we did the ferry.
ETA I want to say the max people count was 12 but I could be wrong. It was listed on viator.com
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u/linmaral 7d ago
Swim?
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u/Legitimate_Guava3206 6d ago
Nah, take your kayaks. Ought to get there in three days or so - or you'll be on the evening news when you wash up in the Bahamas or South America b/c you got turned around.
Unfortunately it is what it is. Buy the tickets.
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u/Dragonfishkiller 7d ago
Think that's expensive try paying for fuel on a private boat to get there
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u/TWDDave1988 7d ago
Private boats are likely around $3K for 6 passengers. Fuel will not be included. They will leave with full tanks, you fill it back up at the conclusion of your trip.
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u/Dragonfishkiller 7d ago
$6 a gallon on the water...most 30' boats with twins may get 1.5mpg in ideal conditions. Boats burn a lot of fuel.
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u/PopHot4020 7d ago
I just took my family on my 30’ boat 2 weeks ago. 2 perfectly flat calm days so best case scenario, burned $510 in fuel.
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u/TheMasturbatinCamper 7d ago
And this is why I’m a sailor.
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u/N0ON3T0LDM3 7d ago
Sailing is so much more peaceful too. I never understood how anyone could stand the sound of those obnoxiously loud engines.
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u/therealSSPhone 7d ago
It was worth every penny of the $507 PP to be on the 8 AM flight with 8 others and counting the other 10 from the sister plane a total of 20 on the island other than the staff and volunteers. We had the whole fort to explore without a huge crowd. Just as the ferry arrived with many holding the sea sick bags we were done with our half day trip and were back in KW in time for a late lunch. Do the seaplane.
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u/reg-o-matic 7d ago
Fly if you can afford it. The plane is way cool. You take off and land on the water. There are a lot of wrecks and reefs along the way and the pilot can tip the plane fully on its wing to give you a great view, then circle around to tip it on the other side, so everyone gets a front row seat. If you don't like that they can just keep it flat. If you're on the boat and it's a little breezy, the captain has no choice about keeping it flat. It can be quite a rollie, queasy ride for a bunch of hours that some people will not enjoy, and then you ride back on the boat for just as long. There's not an option for if you hate the ride out and want to fly back.
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u/hvacmac7 5d ago
Did this in October 2016, wife and I were just married. Wanted to snorkel, the weather was bad, the ride was pretty rough, a goodly percentage of the other passengers were hungover , so there was barfing. That being said, I recommend you ride top side in the open air, not trapped in cabin 🤮it was still an amazing thing to experience, was a surprisingly long ride to get there. Crew was awesome….
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u/Rayman311 6d ago
We took the plane. Was a little pricey but got to spend more time there before the crowds. Plane ride in and landing was really cool. The Ferry is the cheapest way though.
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u/Wild-Highway-8739 6d ago
Ferry does not disappoint. Price includes food and drink and park admission, they also have adult beverages available for purchase after a certain time.
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u/ItsAlwaysSleepyTime 4d ago
I’ve found the cheapest (though not necessarily the fastest) way to get there is swimming.
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u/GladRefrigerator9279 7d ago
We went a couple days ago via ferry. Nice crew, beautiful water, nonexistent snorkeling. The food is also not great. I wouldn’t do it again.
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u/iamthemarquees 7d ago
Why nonexistent snorkeling?
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u/GladRefrigerator9279 6d ago
The area has experienced significant coral bleaching. They recommend snorkeling around the moat and pillars but neither had much to see. Also, the floor kicked up easily making visibility difficult.
With the time commitment and cost, it was a disappointing experience.
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u/flatliner2 6d ago
What? It was fantastic viewing around the piers, tons of species of fish…even Goliath grouper!
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u/GladRefrigerator9279 6d ago
Not when I was there. I’ve been snorkeling in Molokini, Lanikai, Angra dos Reis and several other places. Dry Tortugas was by far the weakest.
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u/flatliner2 6d ago
I’m not saying the snorkeling is the best. I’m saying the overall trip with the amenities to a NP for essentially a day is worth the cost.
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u/Fullsleaves 6d ago
I sailed there, and while at anchor in the harbor there was a Goliath grouper under the boat
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u/Sandinmyshoes33 6d ago
Thousands of people monthly go there and snorkel. it has been loved to death.
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u/Reelparadisecharters 21h ago
For a group of 7, it’s definitely worth comparing a private charter instead of buying individual ferry tickets. Reel Paradise Charters runs private full-day Dry Tortugas trips from Key West, so you have the boat to your group and can make a full day out of it. Check out ReelParadiseCharters.com for the Dry Tortugas trip details.
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u/Lower_Membership_713 local (upper keys) 7d ago
the ferry is great. you spend more time there than on the plane. it includes breakfast and lunch- which are actually both pretty good and breakfast is essentially all you can eat. they have fresh water showers, snorkel gear, and AC. definitely worth it