Florida Keys Bike Vacation

• Cycle through Everglades National Park on a 15-mile paved biking path (no cars allowed), enjoying the quiet beauty of the sawgrass prairies of this UNESCO World Heritage Area
• Experience one of the “Five Great Tailwind Rides” of the world (Bicycling Magazine), as we head towards Key West on the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, a multi-use paved path that skips across dozens of islands and sails over the water
• Stay at three gorgeous waterfront resorts featuring heated outdoor pools & Jacuzzi’s, spa treatments, tiki bars, hammocks, beach cafés, yoga on the beach, and water-sports rentals
• Delicious outdoor meals at tiki huts & cafés set in the fine white sand (think palm trees, warm ocean breezes, and tiki torches)
• Private guided kayak eco-tour through John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first undersea park in the U.S.

• Guided tour of the non-profit Turtle Hospital, the only veterinary hospital in the world for rehabilitating injured sea turtles, and returning them to the wild
• Private guided tour of the non-profit Dolphin Research Center (swimming with the dolphins is extra)
• Great wildlife, including manatees, alligators, large wading birds, giant tarpon fish, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, iguanas, loggerhead sea turtles, manta rays, and roosters
• Two exciting days in Key West, the eclectic town that Ernest Hemmingway described as “the best place I’ve ever been anytime, anywhere.”
• Memorable sailing trip aboard a 60-foot schooner, along with bottomless cocktails
• Enjoy perfect cycling weather (January has temps in the high 70s)

• 6 days of bike riding, boat trips, ecotours, and other activities
• 5 nights of lodging overlooking the water
• 10 meals, catering to all dietary needs
• Free use of our bikes, plus a helmet, rear rack bag for your personal items, rear safety light + triangle, water bottle, and T-shirt. E-bikes available
• Superior level of support throughout your stay (each trip comes with two 15-passenger vans and three professional bike tour guides)
• Ride with GPS navigation (using your own phone) or paper route notes
• Exclusive GBT activities, including a guided kayak ecotour through the mangroves and an afternoon sail aboard 60-foot yacht
• Admission to Everglades National Park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Dolphin Research Center, and Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital
• Complimentary transportation back to Miami at end of tour (in our vans)
• Full access to our online photo gallery with photos/videos from your trip
• Small group size of 15-20 people (or organize your own private trip)

We offer a full scope of activities for cyclists and non-cyclists alike. You could spend the whole day trying out all the activities offered by our lodges, or just relax by the pool, take in a massage, and then wander over to their beachside tiki bar. We’ll take you on several exciting ecotours, including visits to the non-profit Dolphin Research Center and the Turtle Hospital (for rehabilitating injured loggerhead sea turtles). Out on the water we’ll treat you to a sunset sailing excursion on a 65 ft schooner, along with a guided kayak trip through the mangrove mazes of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

While many folks explore the Everglades on foot, by airboat or kayak, we’ve opted for a totally unique bike ride on a car-free paved trail. Our ride takes us through a freshwater ecosystem of sawgrass prarie and tree islands, with ample opportunities to observe turtles, wading birds, and the occasional alligator. Prized for its biodiversity, the Everglades is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, right up there with the Grand Canyon and Stonehenge.

Admire the unspoiled and pristine beaches from your bicycle, or get off your bike and do some power lounging on some of America’s Top Beaches, or even better, jump in with both feet and get wet! The clear warm waters beckon you to explore the 3rd largest coral reef in the world, revealing a Technicolor explosion of tropical fish and calming coral gardens. Take an optional glass-bottomed boat tour of the reef, or float gently on the surface (snorkeling) as you watch the snappers, parrotfish, starfish, tarpon, and schools of silversides swim among colorful corals and sponges. Other optional water-based adventures include parasailing, stand-up paddle boarding, and swimming-with-the-dolphins.

Our Florida Keys Bike Tour will offer you an atmosphere of sheer indulgence. We have chosen three special properties beside the azure water for which the area is famous:

• Reefhouse Resort in Key Largo
• Courtyard Marathon in Marathon
• Southernmost Beach Resort in Key West

If you’re looking for some down time, our hotels feature palm-fringed beaches, pools, hammocks, tiki bars, spa treatments, massages, and beachside yoga. Your meals on tour will be events to be remembered. Warm ocean breezes, exotic Caribbean-style drinks, tables & chairs on fine white sand, tiki torches all around… what could be better! This is your chance to try a warm conch fritter, followed by a fresh sea-to-table main course. And to top it off, nothing but Key Lime pie will do.

The majority of our bike rides will be along the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, a multi-use paved path along the 106-mile corridor between Key Largo to Key West. The trail closely parallels U.S. Highway 1, which has been federally recognized as a National Scenic highway and an All-American Road. And even better, you can expect a tailwind most of the week! In fact Bicycling magazine has rated this route as one of the “Five Great Tailwind Rides” of the world.