Marquesas Keys

The Marquesas Keys are a small, uninhabited cluster of islands and sandbars off the coast of southern Florida, lying roughly 20 miles (about 32 km) west of Key West. They form an atoll-like group notable for shallow lagoons, sand flats, and marine habitat.

The area is valued for fishing, snorkeling, and wildlife viewing within a largely undeveloped setting; there are no built visitor facilities and day trips are by private boat or charter. The islands are managed as part of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge and are important for seabirds, juvenile fish, and seagrass ecosystems.

Historically the keys have been used by fishermen and visited for recreation; contemporary management emphasizes habitat protection within the refuge framework. Recreational use is seasonal and subject to federal wildlife regulations.

The Marquesas Keys sit in the Gulf of Mexico west of Key West, forming a remote reef and sandbar complex separated from the inhabited Florida Keys by open water.

• Protection: Located within the Key West National Wildlife Refuge and subject to refuge regulations protecting wildlife and habitats.
• Access: Reachable only by private boat or charter; there are no visitor facilities on the islands.

What to See #

• Central lagoon: A shallow, atoll-like central lagoon accessed through narrow channels; supports seagrass beds and mangrove fringe and is the primary habitat for fish and juvenile marine species.
• Sand and mudflats: Extensive sand and mudflats that are exposed at low tide and used by shorebirds and foraging fish, with low-lying keys and sandbars surrounding the lagoon.