Florida isn’t called “The Sunshine State” for nothing. Even though it rains here too, there are plenty of sunny days and a constant touch of Caribbean atmosphere.
This tour is perfect for anyone who wants to unplug for a while with their feet in the sand, yet still craves adventure – local favourites and authentic experiences included.
You’ll arrive in Fort Myers – a larger city located on the Gulf of Mexico, known as the gateway to the region’s wonderful islands: Estero, Sanibel, and Captiva Island.
After picking up your car hire, it’s a short 45-minute drive to Sanibel Island, where you can recover from your long journey with views of palm trees and turquoise seas. Here, your days are best spent relaxing or exploring the nearby islands. If you’re fascinated by seashells, a visit to Bowman’s Beach is a must – it’s a true paradise for shell collectors.
You can also visit the famous J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife National Refuge, established in 1945 to protect the area’s unique ecosystem. Here, you’ll find mangrove forests that are home to a wealth of bird species – including the elegant pink Roseate Spoonbill. You can also add on a boat trip to the well-known island of Cabbage Key, where you can enjoy lunch at the historic Dollar Bill Bar. The walls and ceilings here are covered in dollar bills signed by celebrities such as Jimmy Buffett, John F. Kennedy Jr., Ernest Hemingway, Katharine Hepburn, and Julia Roberts.
From Sanibel, your adventure continues to the famous Florida Keys – America’s answer to the Caribbean. Along the way, you’ll stop for an exhilarating airboat ride through the Everglades, where you might even spot an alligator or two!
The Florida Keys offer leisurely days with ample opportunity to experience local life and explore the continental USA’s only living coral reef, stretching from Biscayne Bay north of Key Largo almost all the way down to Key West.
Your first stay is on the largest of The Keys – Key Largo – where you can look forward to lazy days in beautiful surroundings at one of the island’s beachfront resorts. Here you can enjoy everything from paddleboarding and fishing to kayaking and fantastic snorkelling opportunities. Or perhaps you’d simply prefer to relax beneath a palm tree – that’s perfectly possible too.
Following the stunning Overseas Highway with its 42 bridges, your adventure continues to the southernmost point of the continental USA – Key West. Here, a perpetual holiday atmosphere reigns under the swaying palms, with lively bars featuring live music and charming streets lined with pastel-coloured historic houses and freely roaming roosters. You can visit Hemingway’s House, the Little White House, and feel the laid-back pace of life slow even further.
We’ve made sure you’ll get to experience the famous coral reef on a glass-bottom boat trip, rounded off in classic Key West style with one of the world’s most iconic sunsets – best enjoyed with a glass of bubbles in hand.
Your tour ends in the vibrant city of Miami, where there’s time for shopping, sampling Cuban cuisine, admiring the elegant art deco buildings and, of course, enjoying a few more days on the beach.