Key Largo is the very first island you reach when driving along the Overseas Highway 1 to the Florida Keys from the southern tip of Florida.

Key Largo Island is the largest of the Florida Keys islands and is located at the northern end of the archipelago. It stretches lengthwise for approximately 28 miles before connecting to the neighboring island of Plantation Key, with the separation between them being almost imperceptible due to their close proximity.

Besides the namesake town of Key Largo, the island is also home to the town of Tavernier at its southern end. Arriving on Key Largo marks the first stop for travelers on a long journey to Key West, the island at the farthest tip of the Florida Keys, as well as a prime destination for exploring the coral reefs through scuba diving.

Very quickly, the scene is set with the first outlets selling scuba diving equipment and accessories lining the road, their Alpha flags signaling their presence from afar. All the key players in the scuba diving world are gathered in Key Largo, with dive club boats docked at marina piers, offering direct access to the sea through the canals.

Key Largo island is bordered to the east by a coral reef that includes the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater park created in the United States. This marine park makes Key Largo a prime destination for exploring the underwater world, both for snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact, Key Largo proudly claims to be the world capital of scuba diving !

Its coral reef and the protected waters of the marine park make Key Largo's dive sites a sanctuary for a wide variety of fish species that will amaze you from the very first few meters underwater. On your way to the dive site, you'll have the chance to admire the many beautiful villas with private docks and boats lining the canals leading to the Atlantic ocean !

The marine park is home to the famous Christ of the Abyss statue, located at a depth of 23 to 26 feet. The dive sites are highly varied, including the largest artificial reef, the USS Spiegel Grove, a 510-foot-long wreck !

Like much of the Florida Keys, Key Largo island is bordered to the west, on the Gulf of Mexico side, by mangroves and beaches are rare: often artificial, those developed by hotels are private !

The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park offers access to two public beaches with Far Beach being the most popular and Cannon Beach, named after 17th-century cannons, giving it a historic character ! Further south in Tavernier, you'll find a beach that is part of Harry Harris Park.

Several options are available depending on your plans during your stay in Key Largo. If you choose to make scuba diving your main activity, then the Holiday Inn is perfect for you !

If your plan is more about relaxing in the sun and touring the surrounding islands of the Florida Keys, then the Holiday Inn is still a good option as it has a pool. However, you can also choose the Reefhouse Resort & Marina and Bakers Cay Resort, both of which have private white sand beaches overlooking the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

After leaving Miami heading south and passing through Florida City, the last gas stations remind you to refuel before the long drive through the Everglades National Park. An endless stretch of highway then unfolds before you, with the only escape being the first island of the Florida Keys, Key Largo. Nature has reclaimed this protected area, where the mangroves are omnipresent. Finally, the sea appears on the horizon, along with the first bridges leading to the island of Key Largo.

• The mile markers are the essential landmarks for navigating along the Overseas Highway 1. They start with MM127 in Florida City on the mainland and end with MM0 at Key West.
• You arrive in Key Largo shortly after MM107 and leave the island at MM91 located in Tavernier when you cross the Creek Bridge to reach the island of Islamorada.