Miami → Florida Keys

A hundred and twenty miles of coral archipelago, stretching southwest from Key Largo to Key West. One of the most rewarding cruises within reach of Miami — and one of the least forgiving of a careless plan.

The Keys reward the boater who reads the water. Outside the marked channels the bottom rises to a few inches with no warning, bridge clearances swing from 65 feet to 6, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary covers virtually all of it. The route that works is an asymmetric horseshoe: out along Hawk Channel — the protected lane between the reef and the Keys, with reefs and offshore fishing — and back through the sheltered interior of Florida Bay. Two completely different landscapes in a single week, and a depth sounder running from dock to dock.

• A complete 7-day itinerary, Miami to Key West and back — legs, distances, run times and departure windows
• Hawk Channel vs. Florida Bay — when to use each route, and the wind quadrants to watch
• The eight critical bridges, with clearances, GPS positions and the three full-height passages that matter
• Marinas, mooring fields and the best protected anchorages — rates, depths and reservations
• Fuel strategy, fishing zones and licenses, FKNMS regulations, and the 10-point departure checklist