Things to do in Islamorada, Florida Keys

Islamorada sits in the middle of the Florida Keys, between Mile Marker 90.0 and Mile Marker 72.6 on US 1. The Village names five inhabited islands: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and Tea Table Key. It says the village is no more than one mile wide at its widest point, so nearly everything to do here is on, in or beside the water. We grouped this page by what you want to do, and every item carries a fee, an hour or a rule from the organization that publishes it, checked on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

• The Village says Islamorada sits in the middle of the Florida Keys, between Mile Marker 90.0 and Mile Marker 72.6 on U.S. Highway 1. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters
• The Village names five inhabited islands: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and Tea Table Key. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters
• The Village says Islamorada is no more than one mile wide at its widest point, with an average elevation of about five feet above sea level. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters

Three tools for the usual questions

Is snook open on your dates, or is a festival on? The season and date checker answers for any date. Want a beach with a kayak launch, or a park that allows leashed dogs? The shore-access finder sorts every public spot by activity. Building a day? The day planner puts your stops in mile-marker order from the Hurricane Monument at MM 81.5.

On the water

• The sandbar. Boaters gather on a sandbar near Whale Harbor. We found no Village, FWC or Sanctuary rule written for the sandbar itself; the one nearby rule the Village publishes is a Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone in the Whale Harbor Wheel Ditch. Everything that is sourced is on our sandbar page.
• Feed the tarpon at Robbie’s. Robbie’s of Islamorada, 77522 Overseas Hwy at MM 77.5 bayside, charges $2.50 per person for the tarpon dock and $5 per bucket of fish. The dock is open daily 7 am to 9 pm. Robbie’s says Robbie and his wife Mona started feeding a tarpon called Scarface in 1976.
• Swim at a Village beach. Anne’s Beach, MM 73.5 oceanside, is open sunrise to sunset, and the Village says it has little to no wave action and a shallow swimming area. Library Beach Park, MM 81.5 bayside, is open 8 am to sunset. Details and fees are on our beaches and parks page.

• We did not find a Village, FWC or Sanctuary page with rules specific to the popular Islamorada sandbar near Whale Harbor (such as alcohol or anchoring rules) when we checked on October 21, 2026. The Village's published rules cover the Whale Harbor Wheel Ditch slow-speed zone and the Port Antigua and White Marlin Beach swim area. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Ordinance No. 22-05 (vessel restricted areas)
• Ordinance 22-05 establishes a Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone in the Whale Harbor Wheel Ditch, mangrove fringe to mangrove fringe. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Ordinance No. 22-05 (vessel restricted areas)
• Robbie's of Islamorada lists its address as 77522 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036, at Mile Marker 77.5 bayside. Robbie's of Islamorada: home page
• Robbie's posts tarpon feeding admission at $2.50 per person and $5 per bucket of fish; the tarpon dock is open daily 7 am to 9 pm. Robbie's of Islamorada: Feed the Tarpon
• Robbie's says it has been part of Islamorada since 1976 and that Robbie and his wife Mona started feeding a tarpon called Scarface in 1976. Robbie's of Islamorada: Feed the Tarpon
• The Village says Anne's Beach has little to no wave action and a shallow swimming area; no open flame or grill and no fishing. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Parks & Beaches
• The Village lists Library Beach Park at MM 81.5 bayside, open 8 am to sunset, with a small beach, playground and pavilion; no dogs, no motor boats or PWC, no fishing. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Parks & Beaches

Robbie’s does not say whether the tarpon are at the dock every month of the year, so ask before you drive down for them.

• Robbie's posts tarpon feeding prices and dock hours but does not say whether tarpon are present every month of the year. Robbie's of Islamorada: Feed the Tarpon

Fishing

The Village says Islamorada is “known by many as the sportfishing capital of the world” and has perhaps the world’s highest density of professional offshore charter boats. A visitor who casts a line needs an FWC license: non-resident saltwater licenses are $17 for 3 days, $30 for 7 days and $47 for a year, but anglers on a for-hire charter with a valid charter license are exempt. Snook in the Keys follows FWC’s Southwest region rules, closed December 1 to the end of February and May 1 to September 30. Every season date is on our fishing page.

• The Village says Islamorada is "known by many as the sportfishing capital of the world" and that it has perhaps the world's highest density of professional offshore charter boats. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters
• FWC lists non-resident saltwater fishing licenses at $47.00 annual, $17.00 for 3 days and $30.00 for 7 days. FWC: Recreational Saltwater Licenses & Permits
• FWC exempts anglers saltwater fishing from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, party boat) with a valid charter license. FWC: Do I need a license or permit?
• In the Southwest region FWC closes snook harvest December 1 to the end of February and May 1 to September 30, with a 28 to 33 inch slot and 1 fish per person per day. FWC: Snook recreational regulations

The reef

The Village describes the Keys as protected by the third largest barrier reef in the world. NOAA says Alligator Reef lies about four and a half miles east of Indian Key under a black and white lighthouse visible from land, that parts of it are only 8 feet deep, and that 632 fish species were known there as of 2020. It is a Sanctuary Preservation Area: no fishing, no touching coral, and in 2027, NOAA says, no anchoring of any kind. The San Pedro shipwreck preserve, closer in, is free. See our snorkeling and diving page.

• The Village describes the Keys as protected by the third largest barrier reef in the world and the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. Islamorada, Village of Islands: Why Islamorada Matters
• NOAA says Alligator Reef lies about four and a half miles east of Indian Key, marked by an iconic black and white lighthouse visible from land in the Upper Keys; the SPA is 0.32 square miles. NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Alligator Reef SPA
• NOAA says 632 fish species were known from Alligator Reef as of 2020, and some parts of the reef lie at a depth of only 8 feet. NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Alligator Reef SPA
• NOAA says that in 2027, anchoring of any kind will be prohibited in SPAs except Hen and Chickens, Cheeca Rocks, Newfound Harbor Key, Eastern Dry Rocks, Rock Key and Sand Key. NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Sanctuary Preservation Areas
• San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park is open 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year, with no fee. Florida State Parks: San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park

The islands by kayak

• Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park: boat or kayak only, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday, $2.50 per person plus a $2 tour fee. A ferry runs from Robbie’s Marina on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. The park’s own pages disagree on whether ranger tours run, so call 305-664-2540.
• Indian Key Historic State Park: completely closed since April 2026 for the dock rebuild, with no reopening date posted.
• Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve: a free, ADA-accessible floating kayak launch at MM 81.2 bayside, open 8 am to 5 pm, through a short mangrove tunnel to Little Basin.

• Florida State Parks says Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Hours & Fees
• Lignumvitae Key charges a $2.50 per person visitor fee and a $2 per person tour fee. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Hours & Fees
• Florida State Parks says Florida Keys Boat Rentals at Robbie's Marina runs a ferry to Lignumvitae Key on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m., 305-664-5533. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
• Florida State Parks gives two different answers on Lignumvitae Key tours: the Hours & Fees page lists ranger-led tours Friday to Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., while the main page says ranger-guided tours are currently unavailable. Call 305-664-2540 before you go. Florida State Parks: Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
• Florida State Parks posts: "Effective April 2026: Indian Key Historic State Park is completely closed to the public while contractors rebuild the Park's dock. The project is slated to take up to six months." Florida State Parks: Indian Key Historic State Park

More on both islands is on our Indian Key and Lignumvitae page.

History, museums and a marine park

• History of Diving Museum: 82990 Overseas Hwy (MM 83), bayside, open daily 10 am to 5 pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Adults $15, children 6 to 11 $7. Its free “Immerse Yourself!” talk is the third Wednesday of each month at 7 pm.
• Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park: MM 84.9, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, $2.50 per person. You walk beside 8-foot-high walls of an old railroad quarry.
• The Hurricane Monument: the Florida Keys Memorial, on the National Register at US 1 at Mile Marker 81.5. Its story is on our history page.
• Florida Keys History & Discovery Center: 82100 Overseas Hwy on the Islander Resort property, Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., general admission $15.00.
• Theater of the Sea: 84721 Overseas Hwy at MM 84.5 oceanside, open 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., general admission $49.95 for ages 11 and up and $32.95 for ages 3 to 10, with free parking.

• The History of Diving Museum is at 82990 Overseas Hwy (MM 83), Islamorada, FL 33036, phone 305-664-9737, on the bayside of US 1. History of Diving Museum: Location & Hours
• The museum and store are open daily 10 am to 5 pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. History of Diving Museum: Location & Hours
• The museum lists admission at $15 adults, $13 seniors 62+, $7 children 6 to 11, free for children 5 and under, $12 US veterans and $11 college students with ID; US active military are free. History of Diving Museum: Ticket Information
• The museum hosts its free "Immerse Yourself!" presentation the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7 pm, in person and on Zoom, with extended hours and last admission sold at 6:45 pm. History of Diving Museum: home page
• Florida State Parks says Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Florida State Parks: Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Hours & Fees
• Admission to Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is $2.50 per person. Florida State Parks: Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Hours & Fees
• Florida State Parks says the Key Largo limestone here was sold to the Florida East Coast Railroad to build Flagler's Overseas Railroad, and the quarry produced decorative Keystone until the 1960s. Visitors walk along 8-foot-high quarry walls. Florida State Parks: Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
• The National Park Service lists the Florida Keys Memorial in the National Register of Historic Places under reference number 95000238, located at US 1 at Mile Marker 81.5 in Islamorada. National Park Service NPGallery: Florida Keys Memorial (NRIS 95000238)
• Theater of the Sea lists its address as 84721 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036, phone 305-664-2431, at MM 84.5 oceanside. Theater of the Sea: Show Schedule & Map
• Theater of the Sea lists park hours of 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the last set of shows starts at 2:00 and the last program at 4:25. Parking is free. Theater of the Sea: Show Schedule & Map
• Theater of the Sea lists general admission at $49.95 ages 11+, $32.95 ages 3 to 10, and free for ages 2 and under. Theater of the Sea: home page

Food

FWC’s stone crab season opened October 15 and runs to May 1, so claws are in season through the winter. A few places with posted hours: Islamorada Fish Company, 81532 Overseas Hwy at MM 81.5 bayside, closed Tuesday and Wednesday; the Hungry Tarpon at Robbie’s, 6:30 am to 9:00 pm daily; Midway Cafe at 80499 Overseas Hwy, 7:00 am to 2:00 pm daily; and Lorelei at MM 82 bayside, 7 am to 10 pm every day. The full list is on our restaurants page.

• FWC lists the state waters stone crab season as open October 15 to May 1, closed on May 2. FWC: Stone Crab recreational regulations
• Robbie's lists its hours as 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, with the Hungry Tarpon restaurant open 6:30 am to 9:00 pm. Robbie's of Islamorada: home page

Sunsets and evenings

The bayside restaurants face Florida Bay. Marker 88, at 88000 Overseas Highway on Plantation Key, says it has served guests since 1967; The Beach Cafe at Morada Bay, MM 81.6 bayside, is open daily 11am to 10pm. After dark, the Morada Way Art Walk runs every third Thursday, 6 to 9pm, which puts the next two on November 19 and December 17, 2026. The Chamber’s 22nd Islamorada Holiday Fest is Friday, December 4, 2026, 4 to 10 p.m. at Founders Park. Every date is on our events page.

• The Morada Way Arts & Cultural District says its Art Walk is every third Thursday of the month, 6 to 9pm, on Morada Way in Islamorada, and has run since 2011. Morada Way Arts & Cultural District: Art Walk Information
• The Morada Way Arts & Cultural District says its Art Walk is every third Thursday, but its upcoming events page still shows older dates (October 17, November 21 and December 19). The third Thursdays for late 2026 are November 19 and December 17, which the Chamber calendar matches. Morada Way Arts & Cultural District: Upcoming Events
• The Chamber says the 22nd Annual Islamorada Holiday Fest is Friday, December 4, 2026, 4 to 10 p.m. on the Great Lawn at Founders Park, with the Holiday Parade at 7:30 p.m. Islamorada Chamber of Commerce: Holiday Fest 2026

Things to do FAQ

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: Village of Islamorada (official site)