Discovering Florida's most beautiful islands

The Sarasota Keys are a group of barrier islands that protect the coast around Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. The most northerly is Anna Maria Island, quietly residential with its colourful holiday homes and, above all, its immense white sandy beaches.

We're still on the west coast of Florida, but a little further south. From Cape Coral, a bridge links up with little Sanibel Island, a lush green island partly protected by the JN 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge. It's a haven for those who love unspoilt environments, far from the excesses of some Florida resorts. Devastated by a hurricane in 2022, the island is gradually returning to normal activity.

At the tip of the Keys archipelago in South Florida, Key West remains a classic to discover. To get there, the Overseas Highway is a magnificent sight in itself, winding from island to island across bridges of impressive length. In Key West, the archipelago's capital, the atmosphere is relaxed, festive and welcoming. Definitely a place apart in Florida.

A remote island in the Keys archipelago, there's a good chance you won't pay any attention to Little Palm Island as you drive along the legendary Overseas Highway. It's not so bad if you haven't booked a room: Little Palm Island is a Seychelles-style island hotel, with entirely private access, and one of the most luxurious (and expensive!) resorts in the whole of Florida.

For those who find Miami Beach too noisy and crowded, there is an island refuge very close to Miami: Key Biscayne. Connected to the city by a bridge, it has all the tourist infrastructure you'd expect, including top hotels and restaurants, but in a quieter, more confidential version. Add to that superb beaches, snorkelling spots, kayak trips and a breathtaking view of the Miami skyline, and you've got an island that's well worth a visit.

In the Panhandle region of north-west Florida, this barrier island forms a thin barrier beach renowned for the incomparable beauty of its beaches. The sand is fine, the shellfish plentiful and the urbanisation limited, especially in the St George Island State Park, the ideal playground for swimming in translucent water, snorkelling to observe turtles and other underwater life, kayaking or paddle-boarding...

South of the very chic and opulent seaside resort of Naples, Marco Island, the largest and by far the most built-up of the Ten Thousand Islands, has retained the same character traits as its neighbour. But it's also the ideal starting point for exploring, from the sea, this magnificent wild archipelago, made up of countless islets bordering the Everglades National Park and its mangroves. An exceptional site and location!