Key West Seaplane Adventures
Key West Seaplane Adventures
5
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
As the only air-service, we are by far the most exciting and convenient way to reach the Dry Tortugas, one of North America's most inaccessible National Parks. The Park lies in the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, 70 miles due west of Key West, FL. Low altitude sightseeing flight, great snorkeling, pristine beaches, tour Fort Jefferson & bird watching. Morning, Afternoon & full day tours.
Key West, Florida
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2023
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Key West Seaplane Adventures
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(79 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,228 reviews
Excellent
1,148
Very good
43
Average
6
Poor
7
Terrible
24
Erina H
Oslo, Norway275 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
I’ve been to Key West around 20 times but never visited the Dry Tortugas. We booked a half day trip through Kelly who was very friendly, service minded and swift - I received the confirmation email mere minutes after our phone conversation. Check-in was nice and quick, and we were provided with snorkeling gear and a small cooler with water/ soda.
(There is a 15 dollar extra charge per person for the National Park Fee).
Kris our pilot was safety oriented, friendly, professional and knowledgeable. He was a great tour guide who pointed out points of interest and told us about the animals, nature and history on our way there. It was done in a professional and comfortable manner without being too “cool” or “cheesy”.
The fort was amazing and it was mind boggling to think about the time, energy and effort that was put into that place! Unfortunately it was too cold and windy for a swim, so we didn’t get to try our snorkel equipment...so we figured we just have to come back!
It was a great experience and all the other passengers seemed very happy as well.
We highly recommend this company and we will be back with friends and family next time.
(There is a 15 dollar extra charge per person for the National Park Fee).
Kris our pilot was safety oriented, friendly, professional and knowledgeable. He was a great tour guide who pointed out points of interest and told us about the animals, nature and history on our way there. It was done in a professional and comfortable manner without being too “cool” or “cheesy”.
The fort was amazing and it was mind boggling to think about the time, energy and effort that was put into that place! Unfortunately it was too cold and windy for a swim, so we didn’t get to try our snorkel equipment...so we figured we just have to come back!
It was a great experience and all the other passengers seemed very happy as well.
We highly recommend this company and we will be back with friends and family next time.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda H
New York City, NY18 contributions
Apr 2021
Amazing Trip to Fort Jefferson with Key West Seaplane Adventures. We had Kris as our pilot and he was truly fantastic. Gave us all the intel on what we were passing over as we flew to the Fort. He even turned us a few times to make sure our group could see the dolphins swimming below us. He also helped us with figuring out a good place to post up while we were at the Fort. Such a fantastic adventure and so well worth the money. We had our two sons with us and they loved every minute. The cost is worth is vs. the 2.5 hours you would be on the ferry from Key West especially when it comes to the private guide we had in our pilot both going and coming from the Fort. Not to be missed and some of the best snorkeling we did while in Key West. Definitely pack some lunch to take with you if you opt for the full day tour. Make sure to take the seaplane trip - you won't regret it!
Written April 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amander11
Bradenton, FL50 contributions
Nov 2020
The seaplane tour to the Dry Tortugas was the most amazing experience! The flight was about 35 minutes and the pilot narrated during the trip. Fort Jefferson was so cool and the snorkeling was excellent. The only thing we'd do differently next time is to do a full day tour - the half day just wasn't enough time on the island to really take it all in! We'd definitely recommend the 2pm tour because the ferry was leaving the island when we were arriving, so the crowds were gone and we got to see the beautiful sunset on the way back to Key West.
Written December 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janice D
9 contributions
May 2021
Visiting Dry Tortugas has been on my bucket list for a while and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Despite some morning storms that passed through on Key West, the weather was PERFECT for the flight and sightseeing. Pictures just don't do this place justice, you must see for yourself!
Our pilot Kris was amazing! We could tell he's a very experienced pilot and we enjoyed great narration throughout the flight. He even circled the plane around again so passengers on the other side could see several pods of dolphins and manta rays.
There really is no comparison between a 2.5 hour ferry ride vs. a 40 minute seaplane ride. It was quick and easy, with outstanding aerial views.
Full Day or Half Day? If you are contemplating a full day DEFINITELY book the full day as we felt like we'd just arrived and it was already time to leave. Best advice is to book at least 6+ weeks in advance, especially during the busy season as spots fill up very quickly.
The whole experience was amazing, start to finish - reservations were easy and the office staff was very helpful with answering all of my questions beforehand. Take an Uber or Lyft if you can as parking can be a bit challenging.
5 stars!! Thanks for a great experience.
Our pilot Kris was amazing! We could tell he's a very experienced pilot and we enjoyed great narration throughout the flight. He even circled the plane around again so passengers on the other side could see several pods of dolphins and manta rays.
There really is no comparison between a 2.5 hour ferry ride vs. a 40 minute seaplane ride. It was quick and easy, with outstanding aerial views.
Full Day or Half Day? If you are contemplating a full day DEFINITELY book the full day as we felt like we'd just arrived and it was already time to leave. Best advice is to book at least 6+ weeks in advance, especially during the busy season as spots fill up very quickly.
The whole experience was amazing, start to finish - reservations were easy and the office staff was very helpful with answering all of my questions beforehand. Take an Uber or Lyft if you can as parking can be a bit challenging.
5 stars!! Thanks for a great experience.
Written May 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tonya M
6 contributions
Jan 2021
This is the way to visit Dry Tortugas!! Chris was our pilot and did an exceptional job giving us history on the 40 minute flight from Key West out to the Fort. He also was great to point out shipwrecks, sharks, rays, dolphins, a jillion turtles, and even a Sawfish that were easily visible from the low-flying airplane! Fantastic experience! We recommend staying at least 3 or more hours at Dry Tortugas. We did the half day adventure and were lucky enough to tag along with the tour guide that come over on the Ferry. (Exceptional historical tour, btw! The guide was SO passionate about the history and the awe of how and why the fort operated!) However, when his tour was over, it was time to board the plane to head back to Key West. I would've liked to more time to be able to snorkel in the gorgeous water around the fort. Guess that means we have to return at some point!
Written February 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg T
28 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with them! Very professional, organized, and made our travel to/from Fort Jefferson a memorable time. For our full day trip, Leisha provided our family of four with a generous supply of soda and water in our cooler, and snorkeling gear was of good quality. Offices were clean and well kept. Be prompt! At a minimum arrive 30-40 minutes prior to departure for parking, check-in, and preparing to depart. Our pilot, Gary, was exceptional, being courteous and informative during our boarding, flight, and disembarking at Fort Jefferson. Recommend the full day trip to allow for exploring the expanse of the Fort, snorkeling, and walking the beautiful beaches. Arriving early allowed for a more private, tranquil atmosphere without the ferry crowds who come later. Worth the cost to avoid 5 hours on the ferry and the exceptional photos/videos you get from your flights!
Written December 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trip597356
West Chester, OH197 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
We were so disappointed that our seaplane trip to Dey Tortugas was cancelled. We originally had the full day trip… then it was shortened to a half day, and then cancelled outright due to weather. If I had known that the chance that the flight would be cancelled was so high, I would have booked a ferry ride ahead for later in the week in case the plane fell through. If you do book the seaplane I would definitely recommend booking the ferry as backup if you positively want to make sure you can get to Dry Tortugas the week of your trip.
Written March 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel S
Vienna, Austria21 contributions
Jan 2022 • Friends
Bad booking System - You can choose two option. If these are sold out, you get answered almost 24h hours later with alternative dates and time. I responsed 1 hour later and get 22 hours late a negative answer that everything is sold out
Written January 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clemsontoby
Gladstone, MO198 contributions
Jan 2020
What a great way to get to the Dry Tortuga's National Park. We could have spent less money and spent more time, but we wanted to fly before all the crowds arrived on the ferry. We took the first flight out and had almost all of our trip with only a few people in the park. When the ferry dumped off the 100 plus people on the park, they close the mulch bathrooms and the personality of the park changes. Take the seaplane. The flight was very smooth. We saw sharks, rays, and sea turtles.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ekrebs14
Saint Louis, MO39 contributions
Apr 2021 • Solo
This was AMAZING. The flight was absolutely stunning, I’ve never seen water colors like that from the sky. Saw loads of turtles, two dolphins, and shipwrecks from the plane. Did the full day despite the cost and not only did I think it was well worth it, I STILL didn’t think I had enough time on the island. (Spent about 2 hours snorkeling including swimming out to the coral heads, half an hour picnicking, probably two hours touring the fort and taking loads of photos, some time swimming, and I don’t know where else the time went but I wish I could have stayed longer). Water was gorgeous, fort was cool, and saw a turtle in the moat. 10/10 would recommend to anyone. If you’re debating paying for the seaplane or taking the ferry, stop debating and take the plane. If you’re only going to do a half day, I’d recommend the morning bc you get about an hour and a half on the island before the ferry shows up.
Written April 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny L
Powder Springs, GA58 contributions
For those who did a full day, what did you pack for lunch? Did you get takeout day before and put in cooler provided ?
Riwillcher
United States184 contributions
What time is better fir the half day tour, the am or pm?
WarrenWood
Saint Louis, MO30 contributions
We’ve taken both am and pm trips. AM is better from my perspective, you and a small group have the island to yourselves for ~ 2 hrs. Grab a place for your stuff (under trees, just west of campsites), put on gear and enjoy one the most beautiful snorkel places in the Caribbean!
Loustac
Jeddo, MI39 contributions
How far in advance do you recommend booking?
WarrenWood
Saint Louis, MO30 contributions
I generally make the seaplane reservation when I make the flight to Key West reservation. We’ve always wanted the first morning flight so I’ll reserve at least 3 months out. Two months might work but I wouldn’t risk it. Also, go in knowing the weather may cancel your seaplane trip and that’s just a risk to accept.
Majse74
Naestved, Denmark249 contributions
If the ferry isn´t running (they apparently have some blackout days early november) do we have the place to ourselves all day (with only other seaplane-people arriving)?
Do we need wetsuit for snorkeling early november? What´s the watertemp usually like?
Funky367
Barrington, RI
How much does the seaplane tour cost?
SeaplaneAdventures
Key West, FL3 contributions
Half Day - Adults $356.00, Children 12 years & under $284.40 & under 2 years Free
Full Day - Adults $625.00, Children 12 years & under $500.00 & under 2 years Free
Half days are a 4 hour round trip (45 minute sight-seeing flight each way, 2 1/2 hours island time) Departing 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00 noon and 2:00pm.
Full days are an 8 hour round trip (45 minutes each way, 6 1/2 hours island time) Depart 8:00am only.
Reservations are required. The National Park Service limits visitation and we regularly sell out up to 2 weeks in advance.
Key West Seaplane Adventures - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Key West Seaplane Adventures Information
Excellent Reviews | 1,148 |
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Very Good Reviews | 43 |
Key West Seaplane Adventures Photos | 1,753 |