Miami and the surrounding area in six days

Why not head straight for a slice of paradise in South Florida? The journey begins in Miami. Key Largo is only an hour and a half's drive away. This is the first of the islands that make up the Keys. Here you can swim, dive to discover Florida's Great Barrier Reef at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park or admire an underwater replica of Christ of the Abyss.

Here are two lesser-known activities to add to your itinerary:

The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Centre

We're off to visit our feathered friends who have been injured. The birds end up in this care centre, whose aim is to release them back into the wild, but also to provide shelter for those who cannot be reintegrated. Visitors learn about the centre's work and how to coexist peacefully with the birds. A self-guided tour offers a long walk through the aviaries.

A canal cruise aboard the African Queen

TheAfrican Queen is the boat used in the 1951 film The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. The boat was built from riveted sheet metal in 1912 in the UK for use in Africa on the Victoria Nile and Lake Albert, where the film was shot in 1950. Originally named the Livingstone, it was built for the British East Africa Railway and used from 1912 to 1968. It spent most of its first 50 years operating in the waters of the River Ruki in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo, transporting hunters, mercenaries and goods. She was renovated in 2012, including the installation of a steel inner frame and a new boiler. It is now back in service as a tourist vessel. It departs from Marina Del Mar and follows the canal to Port Largo.

Where to stay ?

⭐ River Wilderness Waterfront Cabins

River Wilderness Waterfront Cabins, located in Everglades Town, is a self-catering accommodation with views of Lake Placid and an outdoor pool. The bungalows are comfortable, clean and spacious. We love the splendid sunset view **, the canoes available and the restaurants and shop** just across the road. If you're lucky, you might even see the alligators splashing about.

Everglades National Park is home to a fragile ecosystem protected as an International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll be immersed in a complete wilderness, where it's advisable to take a picnic, plenty of water, sun cream and insect repellent.

Gumbo Limbo Trail

The comfort of the Florida sun can be found on the Gumbo Limbo Trail, a pleasant loop hike through tropical forests. Along the way, you can admire lush Everglades vegetation, ferns and royal palms, and the eponymous gumbo limbo tree, nicknamed the Tourist Tree for its peeling, reddish bark. The trek is easy and suitable for children and the elderly. Allow 1? hours for the walk. For more information, click here

Shark Valley Visitor Centre

The Shark Valley Visitor Centre is renowned as one of the best places for wildlife watching. The Tram Road is an excellent option for exploring the area and spotting turtles, birds and alligators. You can take this tour on foot, by bike or by tram. Halfway along the route, you'll find an observation tower offering 360-degree views of the surrounding area.

After a dip in the Everglades wilderness, we head to the Key Colony, around 2 hours away.

Where to stay ?

⭐ Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Marathon Florida Keys

The Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Marathon Florida Keys hotel is less than 2 km from Key Colony Beach. The hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and a bar-grill. Snorkelling is also available.

Located in the Middle Keys, the town of Marathon is known as an excellent family destination thanks to its white sandy beaches and its many fun and educational marine life activities. At the northern end of Marathon Key is the Dolphin Research Center, where visitors can interact with dolphins, sea lions and other marine animals. Further south on the island is the Turtle Hospital, a rehabilitation centre for injured sea turtles. In short, you can relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Sombrero beach in Marathon

This beautiful stretch of beach is the perfect place to relax. The soft sand is perfect for swimming and volleyball. The main attraction is watching the sea turtles in their natural habitat. Sombrero Beach is a turtle nesting beach. From April to October, it is not unusual for Loggerhead turtles to come at night to lay their eggs. During the active turtle nesting season, the city restricts human activity near nesting sites. Turtle nesting areas generally represent less than 10% of the available beach. The rest of the beach remains open for visitors to enjoy.

The turtle hospital

Nestling in the heart of the Florida Keys, The Turtle Hospital rescues, rehabilitates and protects injured and sick sea turtles. Since 1986, the centre has been raising awareness of the dangers facing sea turtles. Staff conduct research into turtle health and return healed, injured turtles to their natural habitat. Some turtles cannot live in the wild due to surgery or permanent disabilities, so the hospital keeps its permanent residents. To take a tour and see the turtles, book in advance as slots are limited.

Bahia Honda State Park

Nestling in the heart of the Keys, Bahia Honda State Park offers 212 hectares of white sand beaches, lagoons and forests. You can enjoy the park's pristine surroundings via its trails or marina. If you're a keen swimmer, pick up snorkelling gear from the on-site hire shop and explore the waters renowned for having some of the finest reefs on the coast. After a dip, don't hesitate to stop off at the park's visitor centre for more details on the local ecosystem and ocean wildlife. Allow 3 hours for the walk.

We then continue the drive (1h20) down to the tip of the United States, towards the Keys West, the last destination in the Keys.

Where to stay?

⭐ Parrot Key Hotel & Villas

The Parrot Key Hotel & Villas is just minutes from Key West's Old Town. Rather relaxed, the hotel offers a lovely outdoor pool, rooms decorated in a sleek modern style, a relaxation area and activities.

The southernmost point of the continental United States is the city of Key West, a charming island of colourful architecture, free roosters and eccentric residents. You can explore this little tropical paradise by land and sea. Once in Key West, you'll need to find somewhere to park your car, as it won't be needed during this stopover. Most points of interest, such as the colourful and charming houses, can be discovered on foot or by bike.

Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

At the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, take a stroll through the conservatory with its beautiful collection of over 50 species of butterfly, dozens of birds and exotic plants. You can admire hundreds of butterflies flying free in this tropical paradise, complete with waterfalls and tropical plants. Don't miss the permanent exhibition, Wings of Imagination, with its works of art directly inspired by butterflies.

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Follow in the footsteps of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway by visiting his home. Hemingway wrote some of his greatest works here, including the classics "The Snows of Kilimanjaro", "To Have or Not to Have" and "The Green Hills of Africa". Originally built in 1851 in the Spanish colonial style, the house stands 5 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest sites on the whole island. Descendants of Hemingway's famous polydactyl cats (with legs of six or more toes) still roam the estate. Take a stroll through the tropical garden, or into his study where he typed the first drafts of his short stories and novels.

Mallory Square

Take a stroll through Mallory Square, a lively square of souvenir shops and seaside restaurants. Situated near the cruise ship port, the square is bathed in the orange-pink glow of the suns et against the backdrop of the Gulf horizon. Thousands of visitors gather here to enjoy the spectacle, browse the art exhibitions lining the ocean promenade and eat street food.

Fort Zachary Taylor

A blend of history and leisure, Zachary Taylor is based on a military fort dating back to the Civil War. Construction began in 1845 and took almost 20 years. The fort played an important role in a network of military garrisons along the south-east coast. Inactive since the 1940s, the fort boasts the largest collection of Civil War cannons in the country.

The trip to the Keys ends here, but the journey continues towards Miami (a 3-hour drive from Key West).

Where to stay?

⭐Mandarin Oriental

The Mandarin Oriental in Miami is located on the island of Brickell Key and offers incredible views of the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay. Here, luxury is the order of the day, right down to the rooms, its facilities and services (spa, gym, swimming pool).

Miami in 24 hours is possible. Here's a trip from morning to night without wasting time with the tourist traps:

Coconut Grove

A unique little enclave in Miami, Coconut Grove is lined with local cafés, bohemian bungalows, independent bookstores, restaurants and hotels that are a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Established in 1825, Coconut Grove is Miami's oldest neighbourhood. Known for its pleasant shady walks, the Grove has plenty of charm, with a background of history and culture in a relatively small area along Biscayne Bay.

Miami History Museum

Heading towards the city centre, the Miami Museum of History offers a variety of exhibitions from pre-Columbian times to the present day. The permanent collection highlights the city of Miami and Florida in the form of art or documentation.

Bayside Marketplace

If you're feeling peckish, head to Bayside Marketplace. This is a large outdoor shopping centre with over 150 shops, cafés and restaurants in downtown Miami. Bayfront Park is nearby, where you can see the bronze statue dedicated to the only woman to found a city in the United States, Julia DeForest Tuttle.

Afternoon: Beaches, water sports and Brickell

It would be a shame not to take advantage of the turquoise waters during your stay in Miami. On a sunny day, hire a jet ski and cruise around Biscayne Bay. If the water doesn't tempt you, try parasailing. For the less adventurous, a one-hour boat trip around the bay is the perfect way to relax.

Brickell district

The Brickell district is also well worth a visit, especially in the evening, for its rooftop bars such as Sugar or Area31, where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset.