Eco-Tourism

Key Largo, A Window on the Everglades

Visit an ecotour outfitter in Key Largo and chances are you'll be looking out the window at the environmentally fascinating place where freshwater from the Everglades mixes with the saltwater of Florida Bay. Key Largo is unique among the Keys in that it abuts Everglades National Park along its southeastern-most border.

Dusenberry Creek and its many winding tributaries are a popular spot for full or half-day kayaking and canoe trips. Old-growth mangrove trees form a jungle canopy overhead as you make your way through the tiny creeks. If you're lucky, you will see a manatee, which are regular visitors, especially during the winter months.

Those who prefer the feel of sea kayaking can explore the more marine environment of Key Largo's Atlantic shore, an area of shallow sea grass flats and patch corals. Sea kayakers should also explore the waters of Florida Bay, where large sea turtles and 100-pound tarpon are common sights.

Some Key Largo outfitters also offer extended kayak and canoe trips for those who enjoy wilderness camping. They will arrange 7-day paddling trips from Flamingo, a national park outpost where the Everglades meet the sea, to Everglades City on Florida's west coast.

For those who do not kayak or canoe, there are also tour boat operators who are happy to introduce you to the wildlife and wilderness. You can even arrange an air-boat ride through the grassy interior of the Everglades, which is less than an hour's drive away.

If endangered toothy beasts are your thing, you can also arrange a visit to Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a tidal lake that is a nesting area for crocodiles. Visitors can view the crocks from a distance that is safe for you and the crocks.

There is also plenty to do in Key Largo on days when it's too windy to venture onto the water, or you just need to spend a few hours on dry land. Key Largo's 5-acre Wild Bird Center has a display of native and migratory birds that have been nursed back to health but can't be released into the wild. Wooden walkways also take visitors over samplings of Key Largo's varied habitat. You will learn that six inches of elevation make a huge difference in the types of plants and animals one finds in the Keys.

As you'll discover, Key Largo has a little something for everyone who is interested in ecotours.