PO Box 6208, Key West, FL 33041
Phone: 305-242-7700
Fax: 305-242-7711
Open All Year
Overview. In 1513, Ponce de Leon first came upon a group of islands about 70 miles west of Key West. Plentiful turtles refilled his larder, but the islands held no fresh water, so he named them the "Las Tortugas," which means "turtles" in Spanish. Today the largest of these coral reef and sand islands almost resembles a turtle because the enormous six-sided Fort Jefferson ruins sit atop it. In the early nineteenth century, the United States decided to fortify the Gulf of Mexico approach to the Mississippi River. In 1846, construction was begun on the country's largest coastal fortification. Though it was never finished, it did serve as a Union military prison for captured deserters during the Civil War. Abandoned in 1874, it briefly became a coaling station, from which the ill-fated USS Maine departed. Designated a wildlife refuge in 1908 to preserve a sooty tern rookery, the area has since grown more valuable as a relatively undisturbed sanctuary. Blue-green shallow waters just cover coral reefs teeming with underwater life. Loggerhead, hawksbill, and green sea turtles frequent this 100-square-mile area, whose recent 1992 designation as a national park provides for even more protection of marine resources. Visitors take advantage of the well-preserved marine life by snorkeling around Garden Key and fishing for dinner off the dock. These seven islands and their surrounding waters attest to the continuing efforts of the park service to preserve both natural, recreational, and historical resources for future generations. What to see and do. Getting to the remote Tortugas takes some planning. Several commercial ferry and float plane companies service the islands. Call the park for appropriate phone numbers. You may also take your own boat. Pick up nautical charts, indispensable for safe boating in the tricky coral reef waters, at marinas. Moorings are available, but talk to a park ranger about details. Once on the island, head for the visitor center, which is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM daily. Rangers lead programs throughout the year, so check about schedules. If you'd like to camp at the primitive campsite, stake out your place right away, for there are only ten sites, and they're first-come, first-served. At the center, look through the exhibits and watch a slide show on the island's varied history. Then take the self-guided tour through the fort ruins. You'll see several prison chambers on the lower levels, then head up to the second floor. The archways are particularly attractive. From the roof, you may see brown pelicans or frigate birds as you scan the distant horizon. Perhaps the most interesting fort feature is the moat. Walk along the moat walls, peering into the clear water to glimpse jellyfish, lobster, and starfish. Don't miss a chance to snorkel in the shallow waters of the north and northwest sides of the fort. Even if you don't have equipment, you can borrow some from the visitor center. Often the commercial transportation services will offer it for free or loan it for a small fee. Schools of small, jewel-like fish surround you, only to scatter when a larger predator fish slips by. If you're lucky, a turtle may loom in the distance. Snorkeling may be the best way to appreciate the park's underwater treasures. On the surface, anglers enjoy excellent saltwater sportfishing in the waters surrounding the seven keys. Between the coaling stations, you can drop a line in from the shore or docks. Grills in the picnic area await your catch. Campers should be aware that there are no supplies of any kind on the island. All equipment, water, and food must be packed in and out. If you'd like a longer stay, consider boating to Loggerhead Key, where you'll find a lighthouse built in 1856. Several more distant coral reefs offer great scuba diving. If you visit between March and September, you'll witness the spectacle of 100,000 sooty terns nesting on Bush Key. Landings are prohibited, but the key is easily visible with binoculars from the fort.
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