Dry Tortugas National Park Beach

Dry Tortugas National Park sits in the Gulf of Mexico close to Florida’s Key West and consists of seven islands surrounded by coral reefs. The main beaches are considered to be those on Garden Key, which is also home to Fort Jefferson, a nineteenth-century defensive position.

Loggerhead Key is best known for its visits by the turtles of the same name, while Loggerhead Reef is one of the region’s best dive spots since it is the location of a shipwreck dating back to the time of the fort. Bush Key is primarily of interest to bird lovers, being an important nesting site for seabirds including sooty terns.

The beaches of Dry Tortugas National Park are exactly what you would expect of a national park – pristine. It means there are few permanent facilities, but when you look at the pale colour of the sands and bright sparkle of the ocean that will disappear from your mind. It’s also worth noting that lifeguards do not patrol the beaches of Dry Tortugas National Park, and you therefore swim at your own risk.