Unforgettable views and beaches, a pleasant outdoor climate and a great setting for various water sports make Key Largo an ideal destination for everyone and especially for those who want to experience the sea in a big way. The first jewel of the Florida Keys in Monroe County, the town presents itself as a quiet, friendly place with excellent accommodations, good food, and a certain joie de vivre.
The name of this very long island (it stretches for almost 30 miles) comes from the Spanish “Cayo Largo”. Key Largo is considered the diving capital of the world as here the absolute protagonist is the Florida Reef, the incredible coral reef that attracts hundreds of scuba divers, snorkeling enthusiasts, kayaking, parasailing, and sport fishing enthusiasts who find something right up their street in the waters of Key Largo.
As if this were not enough, those who have chosen Florida as a destination for ecotourism, in addition to visiting these beautiful natural areas, can also take advantage of the proximity of another Florida gem, the Everglades Park: about 37 miles taking about 50 minutes travel time separate us from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center, the southernmost in the park.
Let’s discover the best things to do in Key Largo!
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How to Get from Miami to Key Largo
To visit the Keys and the other surroundings of the great city of Florida, we always recommend renting a car in Miami so you can be completely autonomous and easily reach more out of the way stop-off points. However, if this doesn’t appeal to you, you will have no problem reaching Key Largo by Greyhound buses.
Using Miami Airport as a reference point, it will take about 1.5 hours (traffic permitting) by car along the Ronald Reagan Turnpike and the US-1 S (60 miles of road) to get to Key Largo, the northernmost and largest of the many islands that make up the Florida Keys archipelago. Of course, it goes without saying that you should continue along the road and visit Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West itself, not to mention the natural wonder of Bahia Honda State Park.
The last part of the itinerary is noteworthy: once out of the southern suburbs of Miami, at the height of Florida City, we take the spectacular bridge between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the legendary Overseas Highway which on its way south has Key West as its terminus. Crossed by this road, Key Largo develops in length and width both to the west and to the east, with side streets where there are residential areas with large green spaces.
Things to see in Key Largo and what to do
Virtually all of Key Largo’s activities are related to the sea, exploring tropical nature, and coral reefs.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Our exploration of Key Largo begins with the island’s most famous nature park: the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (102601 Overseas Hwy.), named after the Miami publisher whose efforts also helped make the Everglades officially a protected area. Founded in 1963, it was the first underwater park in the United States, although water-related activities here take place both underwater and on the surface. The fascinating coral formations and abundant tropical vegetation formed by mangrove swamps rich in marine and bird life make this a local must-see.
Tours to see the reef
If you want to see the reef, you must remember that it is absolutely forbidden to touch the coral. Here’s how you can do it:
- you can join one of the Snorkel Tours at the following times: 9 am, 12 pm, 1:45 pm, and 3 pm. The cost of the tour ($29.95 for adults, $24.95 under 18s) includes a wetsuit, but masks, fins, and anything else must be rented separately on site. The Snorkel Tour is also the only way to see the Christ of the Abyss, a statue of Christ in the depths of the sea.
- if you are experienced in diving and have a certificate, you can join one of the Scuba Diving tours departing from the marina at 9 am and 1:30 pm. In this case too, those who have not brought their own equipment can rent it on site. The cost is $55 per person.
For those who don’t like diving, a tour on the Glass Bottom Boat is also available. As the name implies, you’ll be dry on a boat equipped with a transparent bottom, ideal for seeing the park’s rich seabed (Molasses Reef). The 1.5/2 hour tours leave near the Visitor Center, at 9:15 am, 12:15 pm, and 3:15 pm. The tour price is $24 per person ($17 for children under 12). Please note that you cannot see the Christ of the Abyss with this boat.
As an alternative to this tour, you can rent boats and speedboats from the harbor concessionaires.
What else to do in the park
Kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts can rent boats and paddle along designated routes through the mangroves. Those who enjoy fishing should know that it can only be done in certain areas of the park with a saltwater license and there is a ban on taking tropical fish.
At the Environmental Education & Visitor Center, you can learn a lot about the coral ecosystem and the surrounding nature through programs created periodically for visitors and guided walking tours. In the Visitor Center building, you can see a large aquarium, while in the theater you appreciate videos and exhibits about the marine environment and the nature of the place.
Wi-fi is free in the Concession Building and the Drive Shop Building. Fancy a nice picnic? In the park, there are special areas for this and also barbecue grills, but it is forbidden to light fires.
Other water activities
The bottom glass boat run by the Pennekamp licensee is not the only one available in Key Largo: a good alternative is the Key Largo Princess Glass Bottom Boat (99701 Overseas Hwy). Daily 2-hour tours allow you to see the underwater beauty of Key Largo’s reefs. Drinks and snacks are available on board for a fee. The cost is $32 for adults and $18.50 for children.
For those who don’t want to miss anything on this island, they can schedule a tour on the African Queen (Overseas Hwy Mile Marker 100, at the Holiday Inn hotel). This is the boat that became famous in the film of the same name shot in 1951, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. The boat, built in England in 1912 and used in Africa as a means of transport for the East Africa British Co., is now used for daily cruises (45 minutes in the canal and then tours in the Atlantic), dinners, and private events. After the boat experience, many guests stop to watch the film again.
For diving enthusiasts, we recommend encounters with marine life in the wreck of the Spiegel Grove and the wreck of the USCG Duane, reported as two of the best sites for diving, including guided diving. The two agencies to contact are Rainbow Reef (100800 Overseas Hwy) and Horizon Dives (105800 Overseas Hwy). Be careful to choose days without strong currents that would complicate visibility.
From Key Largo Watersport (13 Seagate Blvd.) you can rent boats, kayaks, boards and you can take guided boat tours. Those who enjoy fishing have several options including day or half-day fishing, night fishing, and shark fishing. Grecian Rocks is also a special place for snorkeling: access to the area is by boat only, but it’s worth it for an experience to remember.
The beaches of Key Largo
Key Largo’s two beaches are both located within the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, so there is a fee.
- Cannon Beach: so named for the presence of cannons dating back to the 17th century, it is considered the best place to practice snorkeling. At swimming distance, you can reach a wreck, a replica of the Spanish ship that used those cannons. The beach is wide and sandy, and ample parking is immediately adjacent.
- Far Beach, John Pennekamp’s other beautiful beach, is ideal for swimming or walking in the shallow water and relaxing in the shade of palm trees; in fact, there is more shade here than at Cannon Beach. The beach is small and surrounded by tropical vegetation, making it very similar to a natural swimming pool. Parking is adjacent.
Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
A little farther north is Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park (905 County Rd.), a state park named in honor of a local environmental activist. This long green strip is home to more than 80 protected species of animals and plants (of particular note are wild cottonwoods and mahogany mistletoe, a type of Florida mistletoe).
Most of the trails are paved; the walks, self-guided or in the company of rangers, offer great opportunities for observation, study and high-level photography. You can also opt for bike rides or you can relax by having a nice picnic. The park is accessible year-round from sunrise to sunset and admission is $2.
Events and festivals
Some city events can make your stay in Key Largo even more enjoyable.
- In January, the Key Largo Uncorked Food & Wine Festival takes place in several locations. During the festival, you can taste fine food and wines from around the world, meet professional chefs, watch cooking demonstrations and listen to live music. Some Key Largo artists donate their artwork to the festival. The event also takes place in Islamorada, about 25 minutes from Key West.
- The Key Largo Original Music Festival (104450 Overseas Hwy.) is a major event in the month of May that draws music lovers and more; it gathers together American singer-songwriters and bands who perform on various stages with their pop, rock, blues, jazz and country styles. The next two events we highlight take place in October.
- At the Playa Resort & Spa (974500 Overseas Hwy.), there is the Humphrey Bogart Film Festival, which pays homage to the famous actor. The festival features films by the actor, a panel discussion, a cocktail reception, and memorabilia from the actor and his family.
- On Columbus Day weekend there is an event called Downtown Key Largo Songfest. In addition to listening to good music, you can hear the artists telling the story behind their songs. The event ranges from jazz to blues, from pop to country and rock & roll.
Places to eat in Key Largo
Here are a few recommendations for those who want to try the area’s restaurants.
A quaint spot with a casual, family-friendly style and low prices is Sharkey’s Pub & Galley Restaurant (522 Caribbean Dr.), open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an air-conditioned dining room and patio near the waterfront. Menu items include tasty omelets, coconut-fried shrimp, tacos, chicken salad, and smoked burger. Try the pub’s drinks.
A paradise on the waterfront, an oasis with an ocean view: Skipper’s Dockside (528 Caribbean Dr.) recognizable from the outside by the shape of an old icebox. Key lime Pie, originally from Florida, is excellent, as are the herb-roasted or marinated chicken and tacos. The restaurant offers happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with beer, wine, and music.
Shipwreck’s Bar & Grill (45 Garden Cove Dr.) is a “keys-style” restaurant located on the waterfront with indoor and outdoor spaces. Live music is played on weekends. Affordable menu items include mozzarella sticks with tomato sauce, coconut shrimp, barbeque sandwiches, Caesar salad, and chicken or fish baskets.
On Florida Bay, we suggest Sundowners (103900 Overseas Hwy) for lunch and dinner. From the window in the dining room, you can enjoy a splendid panorama, or you can sit on the veranda and the tropical patio. There are various offers on the menu: tropical chicken salad, grilled shrimp and snapper, sandwiches with tartar sauce and cheese, and smoked fish, but the essential thing is to leave room for one of the desserts: chocolate cake, peanut butter cake, and fried Key lime ice cream.
For a dive into Key Largo’s history, there’s a bar that’s a local icon, the Caribbean Club (104080 Overseas Hwy), founded in 1938. It should be visited not only because the movie African Queen was filmed there, but because in this day and age it’s a bar that offers spectacular sunsets, lively events, game nights, and live music.
Places to stay in Key Largo
Some of the accommodations in Key Largo:
- Playa Largo Resort & Spa (97450 Overseas Hwy) is a hotel surrounded by lush vegetation. The rooms and suites, each with their own special features, enjoy spectacular views. The hotel has a spa, fitness center, banquet and conference room, boat ramp, marina, volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts.
- Coconut Bay Resort (97770 Overseas Hwy.) is the “dream come true” of a Key Largo elementary school teacher. Directly overlooking Florida Bay, the property features 21 rooms and cottages in a lush garden with orchids, hibiscus, bougainvillea, and fruit trees. Rooms are bright and designed for guest comfort; there’s also a pool and private beach. Each morning Peg, the owner, makes coffee and scones.
- At Kona Kai Resort & Gallery (97802 Overseas Hwy.) the pleasant rooms and suites are located in a structure in a garden setting. Each is decorated differently. The hotel has a private beach with soft sand, free parking, and wi-fi.
- Facing the coast we can point out Hampton Inn Key Largo (102400 Overseas Hwy.) with comfortable rooms equipped with free wi-fi, mini-fridges and microwaves. There’s also an outdoor pool, business center, and fitness center. The hotel has a beautiful tropical garden.
