Information to Help You Prepare for Your Walking Tour in Key West!
*Please note- additional information specific to our Ghost and Haunted Legends Tour can be found at the end of this page.
How long are your tours?
Tours range from 2 to 3 hours depending on the tour and itinerary chosen. Private tours can be customized for longer itineraries up to 6 hours.
How much walking is involved? Are the tours fast-paced?
All of our tours involve walking. The Highlights and Stories tour is approximately 1.4 miles, the Historic Homes & History Tour is approximately .75 miles, and the Ghost & Legends tour is approximately .75 miles. However, all tours have frequent stops. Key West island is flat, and we walk at a very moderate pace. So, you should have a moderate level of fitness and be able to proceed at a moderate pace. Our tours are not recommended for people with impaired walking ability unless they are using a wheelchair or motorized scooter. Wheelchairs and motorized scooters can normally be easily accommodated. Our tours are strolls – not hikes!
What makes your tours the best?
Smaller groups (usually 10 or less on our tours), more experience, the best trained guides, and in many cases, exclusive access. We love what we do, we love Key West, and we love sharing our slightly eccentric island community with you! Our tours have won top awards in Key West, and our Historic Homes and Island History Tour has been ranked several times as one of the top 10 history tours in America (ranking by Tripadvisor/Viator).
Is advance purchase required?
Advance purchase is required and many of our tours sell out. To maximize your chances of getting the day and time you prefer, please book in advance. Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone at 305-809-6170 with a Visa, MasterCard. or American Express. Cash and/or walk-up traffic are not accepted.
Do you guarantee we will enjoy the tour?
Yes. We pride ourselves on providing an enjoyable experience. There are a lot of variables at play, so if by any chance you don’t have a good time, call or email us so we can make things better. We don’t want your money if you don’t have a good time, but you need to contact us directly. E-mail our team or call us at 305-809-6170
If a tour is sold out, can I get on a waiting list?
We offer a waiting list. Please email us at info@hiddenkeywest.com, or call us at 305-809-6170 to let us know what date you are interested in reserving if you do not see availability for the dates and times you desire.
What should I bring with me?
Please bring your confirmation (electronic form is fine) to give to your tour guide at the tour starting point. Remember, Key West can be very warm and humid- especially late April to mid October- please plan accordingly. Wear light, comfortable clothing and shoes. Sneakers are the best option. Hat, sunglasses, and sunblock are a must for daytime tours. Bring at least one bottle of water for yourself. Don’t forget your camera or your phone to take pictures and video. We provide disposable rain ponchos if it is raining, but you may also wish to bring an umbrella. Most of our tours end at a café or bar- so you may wish to bring some extra cash to purchase drinks or snacks at the end of the tour. Be sure to bring your adventurous spirit! And lastly, please bring a gratuity for your tour guide if she/he impresses you!
Are cameras allowed on the tour?
Of course! We highly recommend you take photos and video to cherish the memories of your tour. In fact, please share them on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram with our hashtags, or email them to us so we can share them too! Photos and video are especially important for capturing spirit activity not visible to the naked eye during our ghost and legends tours.
Where do we meet for the start of the tour?
The Highlights & Stories Tour meets at the southeast corner of Front Street and Greene Street on the sidewalk in front of the Mel Fisher Museum and directly opposite the Opal Key Resort sign.
The Historic Homes & History Tour meets at the southeast corner of Front Street and Greene Street on the sidewalk in front of the Mel Fisher Museum and directly opposite the Opal Key Resort sign.
The Ghost & Haunted Legends Tour meets at the southeast corner of Fleming Street and Whitehead Street by the Mile Marker 0 sign.
When should I arrive and what is your late policy?
Our tours begin promptly at the scheduled starting time. We strongly encourage you to arrive at least 10 minutes before the tour’s designated start time. If you plan to drive and park your car, please be certain to allow extra time because parking can be difficult in Key West. The first portion of our tour is a meet and greet introduction for about 5 minutes or so – this allows for any latecomers. After that, the show must go on. If you are scheduled for a tour and know you are running behind schedule, please call us at 305-809-6170 to let us know before the tour begins so we can give you directions on where to meet us en-route. *Please note that refunds are not given for latecomers!
Can we book corporate events or private tours?
Of course! We can accommodate a variety of special requests (family reunions, date nights, birthday parties, out-of-town guests, corporate groups, grand openings, and more). We can also create customized tours based on the specific things that interest your group the most. Tours can be customized to include meals, snacks, drinks, bar visits, and a variety of other items. Please email us or call us at 305-809-6170 for more details.
Are gift certificates available?
Yes, gift certificates are available for all of our Tours and make a perfect gift for holidays, birthdays, honeymoon or any other occasion! To purchase or learn more about our gift certificates, please visit our Gift Certificates page or call us at: 305-809-6170
When is the best time to take the tour?
We highly recommend taking our tours at the beginning of your visit, especially if you’ve never been to Key West before. This will allow you to learn the lay of the land early, and you will be able to navigate Key West better. Our guides are happy to help with restaurant and shopping recommendations as well.
Are tour gratuities included in the tour price?
We do not include tour guide gratuities in the cost of our tours. If you enjoyed yourself, gratuities are greatly appreciated, although never mandatory, and happily accepted by your tour guide. The standard gratuity for a tour guide in the service industry is 15%-20% of the cost of the tour ticket(s).
Is alcohol served on the tours?
Alcohol is not provided by us on our public tours. Depending on our group, the weather, and other factors, we may stop along the way to allow guests a chance to purchase a drink (beer, water, wine, soda, etc.) or to use the restroom. Our tours typically end at a local café or bar where you can purchase alcohol or other beverages if you wish.
Are bathrooms available during the tour?
A couple of quick bathroom stops are usually available on all of our tours.
Are children allowed?
Because of the walking nature of our tours and often, the subject matter, we typically do not recommend the tours for young children. This is especially true for our ghost & legends tour which can be disturbing for young children. Our tours average 2 to 3 hours and involve a fair degree of standing and walking. Parents, who know their children best, should assess the situation individually. If you are under the age of 18, you must be accompanied by an adult.
Can I bring my dog?
We love dogs, but insurance and city ordinances won’t allow us to permit them on the tours. Also, there may be someone else on the tour that is allergic. Therefore, pets are not allowed on our tours. Naturally, service animals (as per the ADA guidelines) are always allowed.
Are the tours wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the tours are typically wheelchair accessible. Our guides will do everything possible to accommodate guests in wheelchairs.
Will I have a good experience taking a tour on my own?
We often host singles (both visitors and locals looking for something fun and different to do in Key West) on our Tours. We have found that most people who take our tours are adventurous and sociable, excited about trying new experiences, and open to meeting new people (or even making new friends)! We like to think of each tour group as its own family, exploring Key West and sharing fun moments together. If you are open to meeting new people and having a good time, then you should absolutely join us for a tour!
What do we do in case of bad weather?
Our tours are typically held rain or shine as long as conditions appear safe. We also provide ponchos in case of sudden weather changes if you do not have your own umbrella. However, we advise you to check the weather conditions for your tour date and dress/prepare appropriately and carry an umbrella. Please remember, we are in the sub-tropics and receive rain all year. If we cancel due to bad weather, you will receive a 100% refund. However, if you cancel due to the weather, there will be no refund.
What's the Cancellation Policy?
Customers will receive a full refund via their original method of payment if cancellation is made by you (and confirmed back by us) 24 hours or more prior to the starting time of the tour you booked. Any cancellation made by the customer within 24 hours of the tour start time will not be eligible for a refund. Naturally, customers will receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone at 305-809-6170 to cancel or to inquire about a possible cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price. Please note that private tours or corporate events are subject to different cancellation policies.
We are unable to delay the start of the tour if you are running late. We are not responsible for traffic related delays. We will attempt to rebook you on the next available tour if you wish. If unable to, then our cancellation policy above will take effect.
Where can I park?
We don’t suggest bringing a car into Old Town. If you do, there is metered parking or pay lots near most of our departure locations. Parking can be a few blocks away, so you need to allow extra time if you need to park your car. There is a small parking lot across Caroline Street next to Hank's Hair of the Dog and a parking garage at the Opal Key Resort near the starting poin of tour. There is also a parking lot at Mallory Square and several lots on Greene Street. However, Lyft, Uber, and taxi services are available in Key West and are the easiest way to get around.
Does the tour end at the same place we begin?
No, our tours do not end at the same place we begin. Please refer to the specific tour details of each tour to see starting and ending locations. This is another good reason to consider Uber, Lyft, or a taxi instead of bringing your own car.
What if my cruise ship is rerouted and no longer comes to Key West on the scheduled date of my tour?
We understand that there can be last-minute changes made to a cruise ship schedule and on occasion, a ship that is scheduled to dock in Key West might arrive at a different time/date than listed or in rare cases, bypass the port altogether due to weather, an onboard medical emergency, etc. We also understand that these changes are out of your control. In cases where we can reschedule you to join one of our tours on another tour day or at another time – we will. In cases in which this is not possible, we’ll issue you a gift certificate (with no expiration date) for the full value of your tickets that you’ll be able to use any time in the future. In special cases and when neither of these options is feasible, we’ll assess the possibility of issuing a refund.
Does the tour come in other languages?
At this time, we do not offer tours in any other languages except English.
Still have questions?
Email us at info@HiddenKeyWest.com or call us at 305-809-6170
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO OUR GHOST AND HAUNTED LEGENDS TOUR
Will we see ghosts?
There is a lot of spirit activity around the haunted locations that we visit. We encourage you to take pictures and video because much of the spirit activity will show up on your camera even if it is not visible to you at the time. We can’t guarantee that you’ll capture anything on film, but we do actively engage the spirits and sightings are common. Individuals report something almost every night.
Do we go to the cemetery?
We do not go into the cemetery, the cemetery closes at sunset. However, you are more than welcome to visit during the daytime when it is open.
Are your tours scary?
Our tour is intended to provide real and historically well-documented information on ghosts and hauntings in Key West. We are not a carnival or amusement park type of tour. We don’t dress in costumes or try to jump out of the bushes to scare you. However, this doesn’t mean that the tour can’t be scary. While not common, we have had several disturbing instances, and we have adjusted our tour to approach those locations differently. No one has ever been seriously injured on our tours. However, our guests often feel presences or sensations during the tour- this can range from unusual scents to the feeling of being touched.
What kinds of things do I experience on the hunt?
As noted above, guests may feel presences or sensations during the tour. We have had a couple of disturbing instances, but no one has been seriously injured on our tour. However, it is not uncommon to have guests feel like they have been physically touched in some way or to feel tingly. Most often, we feel cold chills, get very low readings on our gauges, and capture photos of orbs and other unexplained images on our cameras.
What kind of ghost seeking equipment do you use on the tour?
We often use EMF Detectors. The guide may also bring trigger objects. We encourage guests to download Ghost Radar or the M2 Ghost Hunter app on their phone to track spirits during the tour.
Do we go inside the haunted buildings?
Due to a couple of disturbing instances that have taken place on our ghost tours, we now refrain from going inside any of the haunted buildings on our tour except Captain Tony’s Saloon at the end of the tour. Keep in mind, most of the ghosts at our stops can be found outside.
Do I have to believe in ghosts?
We welcome skeptics and believers. Our tours mix in enough history with the hauntings to keep anyone entertained. Drunks and sourpusses are encouraged to stay home.