6 Things to Do Near Sunny Marco Island, Florida

Two beautiful new waterfront homes on Marco Island, Florida, were just added to the Inspirato Collection: Calusa and Silver Palm. To jumpstart your inspiration for a Florida trip, we’ve rounded up six of our favorite activities to partake in amid the sandy shores and diverse wildlife of Marco Island and the surrounding area.

Kayak the Ten Thousand Islands


The Ten Thousand Islands
are composed of islands and mangrove islets that spread across the coast of southwest Florida, easily accessible from Marco Island. Choose from waterways varying in length and difficulty as you kayak your way through the lush subtropical wilderness. Keep on the lookout for local wildlife likel sea turtles and bald eagles, as well as sun-drenched, white-sand beaches that pop up as you paddle.

See Tigertail Beach and Sand Dollar Spit


Ranked highly on the list of southwest Florida beaches, Tigertail and Sand Dollar Spit are unique must-sees in Marco Island. Tigertail is split in two and offers an inner beach—a calm lagoon where swimming, paddleboarding, kayaks, and picnic areas are perfect for families. The main part of Tigertail, Sand Dollar Spit, is considered one of Marco Island’s prettiest beaches, with prime access to birdwatching.

Go fishing


Marco Island is a prime spot for year-round inshore and offshore sport fishing. The Gulf of Mexico and Ten Thousand Islands work as the perfect gateway to more serious fishing, with tarpon, snook, sea trout, and red fish all plentiful depending on the time of year. If you’re a deep-sea fishing enthusiast, take a private trip with an expert captain on prime offshore spots in the Gulf of Mexico.

Explore the Everglades


Marco Island is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the Florida Everglades—a subtropical and diverse wetland ecosystem that stretches across two million acers of central and south Florida. About a 40-minute drive from Marco Island, Everglades National Park offers ample opportunities to explore the breathtaking wetland reserve, with activities such as hiking along board walks that safely sink you deeper into the incredible ecosystem, spotting some incredible bird life—and maybe even alligators—along the way. Take an Everglades airboat tour and learn about the Native Americans who once lived in the area as you cruise through mangrove tunnels and over wet grasslands.

Rent a boat


Exploring the island on your own time is a huge perk of staying on Marco, where both of Inspirato’s homes have private docks—become the captain of your own southwest Florida excursion and rent a boat. Glide through the waters on a pontoon, discovering the nearby islands like Keeywaydin Island and Coconut Island. Treat your kids to a day of swimming, shelling, and fishing while keeping your eyes peeled for dolphins.

Visit Naples


A roughly 35-minute drive from Marco Island, Naples is one of Florida’s top vacation spots, attributed to its white-sand beaches and small-but-affluent feel. Walk on the famous Naples Pier to enjoy a sunset, grab a beer at the Naples Beach Brewery, and choose from a wide selection of tasty food trucks at Celebration Park.