Key Largo in 3 days

Gateway to the Florida Keys and America's diving capital. Best time to visit: November-April. Average daily budget: $160 to $400 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: North Key Largo, Gatehouse communities and quiet bays, close to the mainland.

Morning: Snorkel John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. America's first undersea park, with boats to Molasses Reef and the Christ statue.

Afternoon: Explore North Key Largo, Gatehouse communities and quiet bays, close to the mainland.

Evening: Christ of the Abyss. The famous submerged bronze statue in 25 feet of clear water.

Eat: Conch fritters and a rum runner at a tiki bar

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Pennekamp / Mile Marker 102-106, The state park heart of the diving scene, most boat ramps.

Morning: Kayak the mangrove creeks. Glassy tunnels off Buttonwood Sound, manatees possible in winter.

Afternoon: Explore Pennekamp / Mile Marker 102-106, The state park heart of the diving scene, most boat ramps.

Evening: Feed the tarpon at Robbie's (Islamorada). Giant silver fish leaping for hand-fed bait, a Keys rite of passage.

Eat: Yellowtail snapper, caught that morning, at a marina restaurant

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Tavernier, Laid-back southern end, great marinas and the bird sanctuary.

Morning: Wild Bird Sanctuary in Tavernier, free with rescued pelicans. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Tavernier, Laid-back southern end, great marinas and the bird sanctuary.

Evening: African Queen, the actual 1951 film boat, offers canal cruises. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Key lime pie, the real tart kind, anywhere on the strip

Hidden gems

Wild Bird Sanctuary in Tavernier, free with rescued pelicans
African Queen, the actual 1951 film boat, offers canal cruises
Dagny Johnson Hammock Botanical State Park's quiet trails
Sunset from the Caribbean Club, the Bogart film location

Getting around

You need a car: the Overseas Highway (US-1) is the only road, and everything is measured in mile markers. Key Largo is 60 miles and about 75 minutes from Miami airport, longer on Friday afternoons. Boats handle the real sightseeing, so book charters in advance. The free on-demand Freebee electric carts cover some areas.

Safety

Crime is low, but the environment demands respect. Never touch or stand on coral, use reef-safe sunscreen, and watch for the dive flags that mark snorkelers. Boat wakes and manatee zones are heavily enforced. Summer thunderstorms build fast, and June-November is hurricane season, so keep plans flexible and insurance current.

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