There’s nothing like seeing Key West turtles! If you’re coming to paradise for a vacation, you might be curious about your odds of actually seeing turtles in Key West. In reality, sightings are relatively rare. You also need to know about local laws and precautions when interacting with Key West sea turtles. Let’s talk about the basics before revealing where to see sea turtles in Key West.
There’s more to see than just your average green sea turtle here! Key West is actually home to five of the world’s seven sea turtle species. They are the hawksbill sea turtles, green sea turtles, loggerhead turtles, leatherback sea turtles, and Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles.
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All sea turtle species in Key West are considered vulnerable species, endangered species, or critically endangered species. That means that they are under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. It is illegal to disturb a Key West sea turtle in any way! Never pick up a sea turtle in Key West. Anyone caught disrupting an active turtle nesting site faces prosecution with fines and jail time. The only way to enjoy Key West sea turtles outside of an aquarium is to simply quietly admire them from a distance.
Why are sea turtle sightings so rare in Key West? Sea turtles spend most of their time underwater. Female sea turtles only come ashore when it’s time to lay eggs. Keep reading to see where your chances of spotting Key West turtles are highest.
When To See Sea Turtles In Key West?
First, let’s start with when you’re most likely to see Key West sea turtles. Turtles in Key West are most active during the nesting/hatching season that runs from the later part of summer through fall. You might even be lucky enough to witness sea turtle nesting activity as baby hatchlings climb into the sand.
Baby sea turtles generally only come out at night when daytime predators are asleep. Nesting season throughout the rest of the Florida Keys follows a similar timeline.
Where To See Sea Turtles In Key West?
The answer is simple – Sea turtles can be found at every snorkeling spot in Key West. The truth is that you could technically spot a sea turtle swimming along whenever you snorkel in Key West.
Sea turtles have a habit of living near coral reefs. For adult sea turtles, reefs provide food and shelter. Young sea turtles find that the intricacies of reef structures help to keep them concealed from predators.
Some sea turtle species like reefs more than others. Green sea turtles especially like to nibble on the seagrass that is so abundant in reefs. Meanwhile, hawksbill sea turtles are drawn to the sponges that are often found on the outskirts of reefs.
To increase your chances of seeing sea turtles, here are some recommended spots to visit:
1) Sandbars Around Key West
Here’s a little trick for boosting your odds of seeing sea turtles in Key West. One little-known fact about Key West is that its magnificent sandbars attract sea turtles. Thick seagrass beds make sandbars feeding grounds for turtles and other wildlife species. In fact, it’s not uncommon to spot rays, dolphins, and many exotic species of fish while exploring Key West’s sandbars. How do you get there?
Key West Boat Trips is the #1 provider of Key West sandbar tours. Our beautiful boats are waiting to take your group on the water to reach dreamy, surreal seascapes. Pick your trip from a long list of options that includes:
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Key West sunset sandbar cruises
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Mangrove safari at the Mud Key Sanctuary
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Sandbar hopping at sandbars of your choice. See Snipe Point, Mud Keys, and Jewish Basin sandbars!
Our guests splash in ankle-deep water and snap incredible photos. Select trips also include large inflatable floats and iced coolers with bottled water and soda. There’s no experience like coming upon sea turtles in their natural habitat on a journey miles away from real life!
Don’t miss your chance to experience a sandbar cruise with friends or family. Book your spot with Key West Boat Trips today!
2) Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is widely considered one of the best spots to sea turtles in Key West. According to wildlife experts, it’s also the most active sea turtle nesting site in the Florida Keys. It’s possible to spot hawksbill sea turtles, green turtles, and the rest of the turtle species found in Key West here.
Getting to Dry Tortugas takes a bit of a commitment. This is actually a remote national park that’s located 70 miles off of Key West’s west coast. You can get here by taking a private boat or using the Dry Tortugas ferry. It takes about two hours to get here after boarding at Key West’s ferry terminal.
Dry Tortugas National Park is considered one of North America’s best snorkeling spots. Snorkelers in the clear water often spot sea turtles swimming alongside them! Nature lovers also come for opportunities to see starfish, sea sponges, lobsters, and many varieties of tropical fish in the tides around them.
3) Smathers Beach
Smathers Beach is a public beach in Key West where people sometimes spot sea turtles. If you happen to come during nesting season, keep an eye out to ensure that your beach fun isn’t disrupting conservation efforts.
The little hatchlings that emerge from the dunes here can be seen waddling through the sand towards the Atlantic Ocean.
4) The Turtle Hospital In Marathon
This is truly an extraordinary place. The Turtle Hospital is a place that rehabilitates displaced or injured sea turtles. Since 1986, the Turtle Hospital has focused its sea turtle conservation efforts on:
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Rehabbing injured sea turtles to release them back to their natural habitat.
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Providing a permanent home for sea turtles that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has judged to be non-releasable animals. As a guest, you should prepare to have your heart warmed by a handsome hawksbill sea turtle or green sea turtle with permanent residency!
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Educating the public on sea turtles.
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Collaborating with state universities on Key West turtle research.
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Advocating for environmental legislation to make oceans and beaches safe for sea turtles.
Many of the sea turtles found by rescuers suffer from shell damage caused by boat collisions. Others have entanglement injuries caused by floating trash or fishing gear. The hospital is open for group tours that help raise awareness about threats to sea turtles and support sea turtle conservation efforts.
Getting to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon takes about an hour from Key West. The drive alone is stunningly beautiful. Plan for your tour to last 60 to 90 minutes. Cost for entry is $30.00 for adults, $15.00 for children between ages 4 and 12, and free for kids under age 4.
5) Key West Aquarium
If you want to be guaranteed to see turtles in Key West, the one place you can count on is the Key West Aquarium. While seeing exhibits at this highly rated aquarium may not be as magical as spotting majestic sea turtles in the wild, there’s so much to learn here!
In fact, it’s recommended that you visit the Key West Aquarium even if you are lucky enough to see a sea turtle swimming in the ocean or crawling through the sand. As you explore the sea turtles Key West exhibit, you’ll learn all about the leatherback sea turtle, green sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, and other sea turtles of the Florida Keys.
Can You Really See Sea Turtles In Key West?
While there’s no guarantee that you’ll see wild sea turtles in Key West, spotting both wild and rescued sea turtles here is very possible. The importance of respecting nature when visiting Key West cannot be overstated. Spend time reading up on the Endangered Species Act to make sure you truly understand what’s expected of you when visiting sea turtle zones. You should assume that sea turtles could close by whenever you’re trekking through the sand or diving in the reef during nesting season.
As an esteemed and experienced local tour agency, Key West Boat Trips prioritizes the safety of endangered species during all of our excursions. Our guides know how to navigate sandbars without putting wildlife at risk. That’s why we’re able to operate boat tours during nesting season.
Experience the magic of Key West’s sandbars and book your tour with Key West Boat Trips today!
