Florida Keys Information

Location and size
The Florida Keys are a chain of over 200 coral islands with a total length of over 290 km. They lie off the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Inhabitants
According to transporthint.com, Key West has around 25,000 inhabitants, Key Largo almost 11,000, Islamorada 7,000 and Marathon around 10,000 people.

Arriving by Air
Key West Airport (EYW) is accessible by regular scheduled flights from various American cities. Connections are possible via Miami (American Eagle / American Airlines), Atlanta (Express Jet / Delta) and Charlotte (US Airways), as well as with United and Jet Express from various Florida airports. Marathon Airport (MTH) is located 110 miles south of Miami and is currently only served by a variety of charter flights. Rental cars are available at both airports, as are taxis and shuttle buses.

by car from Miami
To avoid Miami’s city traffic, take the I-95, I-75 or FL-836 to the Florida Turnpike and head south to the Overseas Highway (170 miles, about 3.5 hours driving time). It should be noted, however, that the route over the Turnpike is subject to a toll. The toll is only collected electronically, which is why the usual rental car providers have various solutions on offer (e.g. the “Sunpass”). An alternative route to Key Largo is the Card Sound Road. The Greyhound Key Shuttle operates between the Florida Keys, Miami International Airport and Key West Airport.

by sea
Another option is to rent a boat. All channels are well marked. There are numerous marinas and berths are always available. There is also a daily passenger ferry to Key West from Fort Myers (year-round) and Marco Island (December through April only) .

Climate
Key West is one of the sunniest and warmest parts of the United States year-round. Even in winter, the average temperatures are between 24° and 27° C. The weather is perfect almost every day with mostly very short, small rain showers (especially in the afternoons in summer). The Florida Keys are in the subtropical climate zone. Due to its proximity to the Gulf Stream and the Gulf of Mexico, the Keys have a mild tropical oceanic climate where the average temperature difference between summer and winter rarely exceeds 10 degrees.

Average temperatures in Key West, Florida in °C
Month	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max	24	24	26	28	30	31	32	32	31	29	27	25
Min	18	19	21	22	25	26	26	26	26	24	22	19

Active in the Florida Keys

Diving
The 180-mile-long island chain of the Florida Keys is home to America’s only living coral reef. About five miles off the coast of the Florida Keys, teeming with colorful schools of fish and other aquatic creatures, this makes for a dive trip that will last a lifetime. Thanks to the nearby Gulf Stream, for which the coral reef serves as a “resting place”, the well-preserved coral reef is widely known for its immense abundance of fish and its varied underwater world.

The US government created the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary a few decades ago to preserve this unique marine habitat. In addition, there are now numerous exciting shipwrecks all along the Keys, such as the USS Spiegel Grove or the Vandenberg, which were deliberately sunk to offer new challenges for divers, but also to relieve the natural reef.

Fishing
According to the International Game Fish Association, the Florida Keys has more world record catches than any other fishing destination in the world. VUSA Tip: Rent a charter yacht with a guide for the best fishing experience. Not only do the captains in the Keys have the best local knowledge and full equipment, they also already have the necessary state fishing licenses for all visitors. Not only deep-sea fishing on the Atlantic side, but also fishing on the Gulf side in the shallow waters of the backcountry called “flats” attracts many anglers from all over the world.

Health and Wellness Vacations
There are many places in the Florida Keys where you can have a life-changing experience with health and wellness therapies. Virtually every area of ​​the Keys offers rejuvenation, massage, yoga classes, or alternative healing treatments for every vacationer to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit.

Cultural Offerings
The Florida Keys & Key West also offer visitors a diverse cultural offering. The “creative community” is lively and diverse. Many of the dance performances in the Keys bring together amateur and professional actors and dancers, children and adults, and visitors alike.

The Florida Keys is home to the non-profit independent film association, screening contemporary, foreign and alternative films in digital and 35mm formats. Galleries, music, theatre, literature are other fields of activity for the municipal creative community.

All along the Keys, festivals of all kinds take place throughout the year. From the Humphrey Bogart Film Festival in Key Largo to the Seafood Festival in Marathon and the Fantasy Festival in Key West – there’s a lot of celebration going on. You should always pay attention to such events when planning your trip, as the hotels in the Keys can be fully booked very quickly.

Swim with dolphins ( learn more ), boat trips, eco-tours, golf, shopping, sightseeing, the Keys have something for everyone.