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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Islamorada

Dolphin Life Hospital

Hands-on dolphin encounters, research, and education in an immersive marine setting.

Key Largo

Dolphins Plus Bayside

Swim with dolphins and experience unforgettable marine encounters in Key Largo.

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.

Key Largo

MOTE Key Largo Coral Nursery

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

Key West

Key West Aquarium

Explore Key West Aquarium's vibrant marine life and interactive touch tanks!