The Florida Keys begin with a beautiful transition from mainland Florida into a world surrounded by water. The Upper Keys — stretching through Key Largo, Tavernier, Plantation Key, Islamorada and the surrounding islands — introduce visitors to the unmistakable character of island life.
Here, turquoise water is never far away. Boats line neighborhood canals, mangroves frame quiet shorelines, and the Overseas Highway connects communities that each have their own personality.
The Upper Keys are known for extraordinary diving and snorkeling, legendary sportfishing, waterfront dining and some of the most recognizable attractions in the Florida Keys. Yet beyond the places visitors come to see is a community people are proud to call home.
From Key Largo to Islamorada, the Upper Keys offer a wonderful combination of natural beauty, recreation, restaurants, resorts, local businesses and waterfront living.
Key Largo: The Gateway to the Keys
As the northernmost of the major Florida Keys, Key Largo is often the first taste of island life for travelers arriving from the mainland. It is perhaps best known for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the remarkable underwater world just offshore.
Diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and boating are part of everyday life here. Waterfront restaurants, marinas and resorts make Key Largo an easy place to settle into the Keys rhythm — preferably with a sunset somewhere on the day’s itinerary.
Islamorada: The Village of Islands
Continue south and the landscape opens into Islamorada, a community with deep connections to fishing, art and the water. Known around the world for sportfishing, Islamorada attracts anglers searching for everything from tarpon and bonefish to offshore species.
But fishing is only part of its story. Galleries, boutiques, waterfront restaurants, resorts and attractions give Islamorada a distinctive character — sophisticated enough for a beautiful getaway, yet unmistakably Keys.
“In the Upper Keys, the journey into island life begins long before you reach your destination.”
Snorkeling and diving the Upper Keys
The Upper Keys offer some of the most spectacular snorkeling and diving in the Florida Keys. Just offshore lies a colorful underwater world of coral reefs, tropical fish, sea turtles and marine life, surrounded by the clear blue waters that make this island chain so extraordinary.
Key Largo is especially celebrated for its easy access to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, where snorkelers can explore remarkable reef habitats beneath the surface. Farther south, the waters surrounding Islamorada offer even more opportunities to experience the natural beauty of the Keys from an entirely different perspective.
Whether joining a snorkeling excursion or heading out by boat, exploring beneath the water is one of the unforgettable experiences of the Upper Keys.
More Than a Destination
Between Key Largo and Islamorada are communities and islands worth slowing down to discover. Tavernier and Plantation Key offer local restaurants, marinas, neighborhoods and businesses alongside access to some of the Keys’ greatest natural attractions.
Spend a morning beneath the surface of the Atlantic, an afternoon exploring by boat, or simply follow the Overseas Highway and stop wherever something catches your attention. Some of the best Florida Keys experiences are the ones you never planned.
Whether you’re visiting for a weekend, returning year after year or considering making the islands home, the Upper Keys are an unforgettable introduction to life in the Florida Keys.
Explore. Discover. Stay awhile. This is where the Florida Keys begin.
