National Wildlife Refuge Week. Two of the Key West NWR islands have portions of their beaches closed to the public. Portions of Woman Key and Boca Grande Key are posted as closed for the sensitive habitat they contain. The remainder of the beaches, including those at the Marquesas Keys, are open during daylight hours for compatible, wildlife-oriented recreational uses such as wildlife observation, nature photography and environmental education. Camping is not allowed on refuge lands.
Access is by boat only, personal, rental or guided.
There are many commercial outfitters in Key West that offer trips to the refuge. One ecotour business has a permit to land on Woman Key. The waters around the islands and flats are prime locations for fishing, snorkeling, and wildife viewing. The coral reef is a prime snorkeling, diving and fishing area. People travel from all over the world to visit this area.