Dry Tortugas National Park Day Trip by Catamaran from Key West

4.6 (533 reviews) 10 hours

out of 5

533 reviews

4.6

Fort Jefferson — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Day Trip to Dry Tortugas National Park on the Yankee Freedom III — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Explore beautiful tropical beaches on this full-day catamaran trip from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. The Dry Tortugas islands were discovered by Ponce De Leon in 1513; he sighted more than 100 sea turtles swimming in the seas surrounding the seven islands. Fort Jefferson, located on one of the islands, was initially designed to serve as a defense for the United States back in 1812. Today, you can relive the history of these islands and take in their beautiful scenery by voyaging on a luxury catamaran from Key West.

Nature and Wildlife Tours Snorkeling Bird Watching On the Water Swimming Seasonal Viator Plus Low Supplier Cancellation Rate

At a glance

Duration: 10 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 300 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Historic Tours Of America - Dry Tortugas

Ages: Infants (0–3 years) · Children (4–16 years) · Adults (17–61 years) · Seniors (62–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Narrated tour of Fort Jefferson available
Included: National Park Service Fee (USD15.00)
Included: Snorkeling equipment
Included: Breakfast and lunch
Included: Round-trip ferry service on the Yankee Freedom III

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Hotel pickup and drop-off

Itinerary

The Yankee Freedom III catamaran is powered by twin Caterpillar engines that give her a speed of over 30 miles per hour, making Yankee Freedom III Catamaran the fastest vessel of her size out of Key West. Also, below decks are two generators plus a multitude of machinery and equipment to operate the vessel in the safest, quietest, and most dependable manner possible. Yankee Freedom III passengers have the option of joining a 40-minute guided tour of the fort led by one of our expert naturalists. You’ll hear captivating stories about the fort, its remarkable history and its surroundings. As you explore the fort, imagine life here during the hectic 1860s. At its height nearly 2,000 people lived within this remote city on the sea... The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers faced many challenges during the fort’s lengthy construction. Shifting sands, storms, and harsh conditions were common obstacles. The remote location hampered the shipment of supplies and skilled workers, especially during the Civil War.

Stop 1
Yankee Freedom
Fort Jefferson
Tortugas Banks
Dry Tortugas National Park

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Ferry departs from the terminal.

End point

Ferry departs from the terminal.

Using your ticket

Redemption at 100 Grinnell St., Key West

You will receive a confirmation message through VIATOR from the Yankee Freedom. This message will provide you with necessary information regarding cancellation policy, check in times, etc. Please respond to that message with a valid email address and phone number in case the Yankee Freedom needs to reach out directly regarding the tour.

The Yankee Freedom is a ticketless company, so no tickets are needed at check in. Please bring a valid form of ID as well as your current National Park Pass, if you have one.

Check-in begins at 7:00am at the Ferry Terminal. Reservations will be held until 7:50am.

Cancellations / Changes

Due to the nature of this tour, there is a possibility that the tour may be cancelled after confirmation due to weather. In this event, you may reschedule to another available day OR receive a full refund.

Reservations are NON-REFUNDABLE once booked. Prices, policies, and restrictions are subject to change. Reservations are same day ONLY – you may not split legs of a day trip.

We cannot and do not guarantee specific weather, sea, wildlife, or visibility conditions on any trip.

Weather

The Yankee Freedom III is contractually obligated to the National Park Service to operate daily in any weather unless sea conditions may compromise safety. Rain, lightening, or any weather condition ashore is often localized and does not indicate conditions at sea or in the Dry Tortugas. If you are susceptible to motion sickness, we recommend taking Dramamine or other motion sickness remedies prior to departure. Dramamine is also available for sale on board the vessel.

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

If you cancel	You get back
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All adults must have a valid photo ID to get on the boat due to Coast Guard regulations. When booking, you must enter all guest names who will be going on the tour.
We suggest you bring the following: bathing suit, comfortable shoes, towels, sun protection (sunglasses, a hat, sun screen) and camera
Reservations are NON-REFUNDABLE once booked.