Florida Travel Facts for Yachts

Fact File for Florida

The “Yachting Capital of the World”, South Florida is a sophisticated and tantalizing charter destination. Cruising around Fort Lauderdale, Miami and the Florida Keys, you will be surrounded by beauty and glamour. The only part of the continental United States to have a tropical climate, this sunny destination serves as winter home to many of the continent’s sun-seekers.

COORDINATES: 26º80N, 80º09W (Fort Lauderdale)

LANGUAGE: English, Spanish widely spoken

CAPITAL: Miami (region's biggest city)

WEATHER: Temperature averages between 18C-32C (65F-90F) throughout the year. Hurricane season occurs between June and November and during the summer there are gentle, offshore breezes that become steady and brisk in the winter.

BEST TIME TO CHARTER: December-April

AIRPORTS: The region's main airports are in Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Miami (MIA) and Key West (EYW).

CURRENCY: USD; major credit cards widely accepted and ATMs available throughout the region.

ELECTRICITY: 110 V, 60 Hz

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

1 Jan - New Year's Day
3rd Mon in Jan - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
Last Mon in May - Memorial Day
4 Jul - Independence Day
1st Mon in Sept - Labor Day
11 Nov - Veterans' Day
4th Thurs in Nov - Thanksgiving
25 Dec - Christmas Day

MAIN PORTS AND MARINAS:

Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Fort Lauderdale;
Miami Beach Marina;
Conch Republic;
Key Largo;
Islamorada

RECOMMENDED BEACHES:

Sombrero Beach, Boot Key;
Virginia Key, Key Biscayne;
Beaches of Sunny Isles Beach

CULTURAL: Florida has a distinctly unique flavor compared to other states. Because of its location, it is a huge melting pot and international crossroad to the USA. Florida shares history, culture and food, among other things, with the Hispanic, especially Cuban and Puerto Rican.