Touchdown in Miami in the afternoon and collect your car, before making your way your way to Miami’s South Beach.

Miami is an international city, rich with a multi-ethnic culture which is reflected in the cuisine and architecture. Miami’s South Beach is a particularly stunning and often intoxicatingly beautiful place. Warm breezes, swaying palm trees, and the sound of the waves washing ashore act as a backdrop for pastel-coloured, Art Deco buildings.

Miami International Airport > South Beach > 11 miles

Gale South Beach or similar

Over the next two days you are at free to explore this cosmopolitan city at your leisure. You may choose to begin the day with a walk along Ocean Drive and the Miami Beach Boardwalk, or even cross the sands for a dip in the ocean.

Then you could head to Wynwood Walls, Miami’s outdoor street art museum. Stroll through the Wynwood Walls complex to see colorful murals and graffiti art by local and international artists.

You could choose to grab lunch at a Cuban bakery or café in Little Havana. Enjoy traditional Cuban pastries like pastelitos and a café con leche while soaking in the lively atmosphere. Then visit Domino Park to watch locals play dominoes and browse the shops selling Cuban cigars and souvenirs.

In the evenings, you can watch the sunset from a beachfront bar or rooftop lounge while sipping cocktails and listening to live music. For dinner, indulge in fresh seafood at a waterfront restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay or the Miami River. Try local specialties like stone crab claws, ceviche, or grilled fish prepared with Caribbean flavors.

Optional Experience – Miami Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
This Miami Sightseeing Tour has been specially designed to show the best Miami has to offer. Enjoy it all from the comfort of the open-top buses; hop off wherever you like, then hop back on to continue your journey. You will see all the most interesting and attractive areas: South Beach, Downtown Miami, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Little Havana and more.

Gale South Beach or similar

Leave Miami behind and head towards the tropical paradise that is Key West, at the far end of the Florida Keys. You will travel through the Florida Keys by way of the Overseas Highway, with its stunning sea views, via 42 bridges to the southernmost city of the continental United States.

After checking in to your hotel, take a walk along Duval Street to enjoy the festive atmosphere and sample a local favourite food, conch fritters. No visit to Key West is complete without taking part in the Sunset celebration at Mallory Square; performers, vendors and artists line the water’s edge to bid the daylight farewell.

Miami > Key West | 168 miles

Parrot Key Hotel & Villas or similar

Whilst you are exploring Key West over the next two days, be sure to take a tour of Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum, where the famous author lived and wrote during the 1930s. Explore the beautifully preserved house and gardens, home to descendants of Hemingway’s beloved six-toed cats. Nearby you can also snap a photo at the Southernmost Point Buoy, a colorful landmark marking the southernmost point in the continental United States, just 90 miles from Cuba.

You may like to immerse yourself in the tropical beauty of the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Wander through lush gardens filled with exotic plants and hundreds of colorful butterflies fluttering freely around you, alternatively you may prefer to climb to the top of the Key West Lighthouse for panoramic views of the island and surrounding waters.

From Key West you can catch the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park, the historic site of a fort, that now stands guard over a pristine beach and nature reserve.

In the evenings you will want to explore Duval Street, Key West’s main thoroughfare, lined with shops, restaurants, bars, and historic sites. Take a leisurely stroll along the street, browse the unique boutiques and galleries, and soak up the lively atmosphere.

Parrot Key Hotel & Villas or similar

Return along the Overseas Highway and back on the mainland. Leave the Florida Keys behind and venture across the Everglades National Park towards the Gulf Coast.

On the way across the Everglades you may like to explore the park’s unique ecosystem by taking an airboat tour, going on a guided nature walk, or stop at one of the many signed trails to cross boardwalks whilst looking out for local wildlife such as turtles and alligators.

Once you reach the warm waters of the Gulf Coast, head south again to the beaches and marinas of Marco Island.

Key West > Marco Island | 232 miles

Marco Island is known for its sandy beaches and seashells, so you may like to start your mornings on South Marco Beach, where you can take a leisurely stroll along the shoreline, collect seashells, and soak up the early sun, while enjoying views of the Gulf of Mexico.

You could choose to spend the day at Tigertail Beach, known for its soft white sands, clear turquoise waters, and abundant wildlife. As well as enjoying swimming, sunbathing, and birdwatching, you can choose to rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore the surrounding mangrove-lined channels.

You may like to take a boat or kayak excursion to Keewaydin Island, an uninhabited barrier island accessible only by water. You can explore the secluded beaches, go shell collecting, and enjoy picnicking in this pristine natural setting. You will want to keep an eye out for dolphins, manatees, and shorebirds along the way.

In the evenings we recommend taking a sunset cruise around the surrounding waterways on a luxury yacht. You can enjoy dinner onboard as the sun sets overs the Gulf of Mexico.

If you have time, you may like to take advantage of the retail opportunities in Marco Walk Plaza and The Esplanade, to pick-up some Florida souvenirs. Then make your way back to Miami International Airport in time to return your rental car and check-in for your return flight.

Marco Island > Miami International Airport | 130 miles