Things To Do Near Islamorada in Florida Keys
Known as the Sport-Fishing Capital of the World, Islamorada is where backcountry sport fishing and saltwater fly fishing were pioneered. It's where legendary fishing guides Jimmy Albright, Cecil Keith and Stu Apte plied their trade.
Islamorada's unique location, lying between Florida Bay (the "backcountry") and Atlantic Ocean (aka the "front side"), provides an unrivaled diversity of fishing opportunities. The Gulf Stream flows past the islands from 10 to 20 miles offshore, bringing seasonal visitors like sailfish and marlin, kingfish and wahoo, dolphin and tuna close enough to shore to be targeted by small-boat anglers.
For human visitors, Islamorada boasts perhaps the greatest density of professional offshore charter boats with tournament-grade captains in the world.
Scuba divers and snorkelers flock to the village to explore the extraordinary reef line and patch reefs that hold huge numbers of tropical fish, sponges, soft and hard corals, and crustaceans. Davis, Conch, Alligator and Pickles reefs, Crocker Wall and the Aquarium and Fish Bowl offer divers and snorkelers of every skill level safe and easy viewing of Islamorada's diversity of marine life.
The intentionally scuttled 287-foot Eagle is Islamorada's premiere artificial reef. The wreck sits on a 105-foot-deep sandy bottom but can be enjoyed and explored at depths of 60 to 70 feet. In the San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve, divers and snorkelers can see the wreck site of one of the 1733 Spanish treasure fleet galleons at depths of 15 to 20 feet.
On land, travelers can step inside a coral reef to see 20,000 years of reef development at the Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geological Site. A short ride by boat, Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site is home to a virgin hardwood hammock untouched by modern development, and the original Matheson home.
The Islamorada area also features eco-tours, water sports equipment rentals, tennis facilities, bicycle trails, historic hikes, beautiful vistas of both the Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay, opportunities to swim with dolphins and stingrays, and a typically quirky Keys recreational activity: feeding the tarpon off the docks at Robbie's Marina, mile marker (MM) 77.5 bayside.
Islamorada's unique location, lying between Florida Bay (the "backcountry") and Atlantic Ocean (aka the "front side"), provides an unrivaled diversity of fishing opportunities. The Gulf Stream flows past the islands from 10 to 20 miles offshore, bringing seasonal visitors like sailfish and marlin, kingfish and wahoo, dolphin and tuna close enough to shore to be targeted by small-boat anglers.
For human visitors, Islamorada boasts perhaps the greatest density of professional offshore charter boats with tournament-grade captains in the world.
Scuba divers and snorkelers flock to the village to explore the extraordinary reef line and patch reefs that hold huge numbers of tropical fish, sponges, soft and hard corals, and crustaceans. Davis, Conch, Alligator and Pickles reefs, Crocker Wall and the Aquarium and Fish Bowl offer divers and snorkelers of every skill level safe and easy viewing of Islamorada's diversity of marine life.
The intentionally scuttled 287-foot Eagle is Islamorada's premiere artificial reef. The wreck sits on a 105-foot-deep sandy bottom but can be enjoyed and explored at depths of 60 to 70 feet. In the San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve, divers and snorkelers can see the wreck site of one of the 1733 Spanish treasure fleet galleons at depths of 15 to 20 feet.
On land, travelers can step inside a coral reef to see 20,000 years of reef development at the Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geological Site. A short ride by boat, Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site is home to a virgin hardwood hammock untouched by modern development, and the original Matheson home.
The Islamorada area also features eco-tours, water sports equipment rentals, tennis facilities, bicycle trails, historic hikes, beautiful vistas of both the Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay, opportunities to swim with dolphins and stingrays, and a typically quirky Keys recreational activity: feeding the tarpon off the docks at Robbie's Marina, mile marker (MM) 77.5 bayside.
Theater of the Sea
84721 Overseas Highway
World's 2nd oldest marine park; dolphins, sea lions, parrots...
Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geologic Site
Overseas Highway Mile Marker 84.9
South of the Snake Creek drawbridge
Thirty acres of hammock, above ground corals, near Islamorada...
Anne's Beach
Mile Marker 73.5
Lower Matecumbe
Beach and free municipal park in Islamorada along US1...
Rain Barrel Art & Craft Gallery
MM 86.7 Bayside
86700 Overseas Highway
New home to the giant lobster sculpture, 'Betsy,' an eclectic mix of local artisans with everything from oils, watercolors, pottery to sculpture. All Keys-ey. They are open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m...
Florida Keys Dive Center
90451 Old Highway
PADI 5-star IDC Facility. Dive and snorkel the upper Keys' best reefs, wrecks, walls and Pennekamp Park on two 46-foot charter boats...
Keys Boat
Boat rentals for fishing, diving, snorkeling, lobster hunting, swimming or just plain vacationing!...
More Top Lists
Popular Places
Neighborhoods
