Child playing with dolphin in water, smiling brightly.

Wildlife Encounters

The Florida Keys are home to remarkable neighbors, from dolphins and sea turtles to butterflies, Key deer, and countless native and migrating birds. Here you can visit rehabilitation centers, aquariums, and sanctuaries that care for injured wildlife while offering visitors a chance to learn and connect. Hand-feed giant tarpon, watch butterflies drift by, or join a charter to spot marine life in the wild. We invite you to meet these creatures, fall in love with them as we have, and help us keep The Keys clean and healthy so our wildlife can thrive for generations.

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Destination
Category
Marathon

Dolphin Research Center

Non-profit marine center offering dolphin, sea lion, and educational experiences in the Florida Keys.

Weddings Max
140
Meetings Max
140

Marathon

Dolphin Connection

Interact with dolphins in their lagoon habitat and help support marine conservation.

The Lower Keys

Blue Hole Observation Platform

Visit the trail and observation deck at Blue Hole, a cenote-like pond that is the largest body of fresh water in the Florida Keys.

Marathon

The Turtle Hospital

The Turtle Hospital — hands-on sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation & education center in Marathon, Florida Keys.

Key Largo

Capt. Sterling's Everglades Tour

Captain Sterling's Everglades Eco-Tours offers personalized, small-group boat excursions through the Everglades National Park, Pennekamp Park, and Florida Bay, led by experienced guides passionate about wildlife conservation.

Key Largo

Mother Ocean Fund

Mother Ocean Fund – A Florida Keys-based nonprofit restoring coral reefs, rescuing marine life and training adaptive divers for aquatic therapy.

Islamorada

MOTE Islamorada Coral Nursery

Mote Marine Laboratory’s Florida Keys Research Campuses are dedicated to coral reef science and restoration.

Key West

Captain's Corner Dive Center and Boat Charters

Dive Key West’s stunning reefs and wrecks with expert guides at Captain’s Corner!

Key Largo

Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)

Explore ocean conservation with REEF's citizen science, education, and marine programs.

Key West

Key West Wildlife Center (24 hour rescues)

Rescue and rehabilitate native wildlife in Key West to protect nature.

The Lower Keys

WILD about DOLPHINS-Captain Sheri's

Wild About Dolphins — private eco-boat tours and wild dolphin encounters departing from Key West, Florida.

Key Largo

REEF Ocean Exploration Center for Marine Conservation

Explore the REEF Ocean Exploration Center: inspiring ocean discovery and conservation!

Meetings Max
136
Total Space
4000 sq ft
Largest Room
2000 sq ft

Key West

Monroe County Sheriff's Office Animal Farm

Keys Animal Farm is a non-profit sanctuary established in 1994, offering a permanent home to rescued animals in the Florida Keys.

Key Largo

Morning Star Sailing Charters

Morning Star Sailing Charters offers personalized sailing experiences in the Florida Keys, including captained and bareboat charters, sunset cruises, and snorkeling tours.

The Lower Keys

National Key Deer Refuge

National Key Deer Refuge protects the endangered Key deer and native ecosystems in the Lower Florida Keys — a sanctuary of nature you can explore via trails and observation points.