Certainly, the attractive white sands of Marco Island beach are one of the major reasons for visiting or taking up residence on this beautiful Southwestern Florida paradise. While our Marco Island beach condominium has its own private and secluded beach for guests, there are other popular public beaches on the island as well.
Tigertail Beach
Providing the best and easiest public access on the island, Tigertail Beach measures about 31 acres and offers a variety of things to see and do. More than 200 parking spaces accommodate visitors (fee applies) and there are 5 boardwalks at Tigertail as well as a playground for little ones and several sand volleyball courts for active visitors. Concessions rent beach equipment and sell food and drink to visitors. Picnic areas with grills are also available as are public restrooms. There’s even an onsite butterfly garden and nature lovers say it’s a great place for birding, so bring your binoculars! Visitors can also wade across the lagoon to Sand Dollar Island, once the sandbar for Tigertail Beach but now somewhat of a barrier island in the making, according to the Collier County Parks and Recreation Department, which manages the beach. The most popular Marco Island beach, Tigertail is open from 8 a.m. until sundown.
South Beach
Not as popular as Tigertail, this Marco Island beach is accessible via a path beside the Apollo Condominium. This is the southernmost beach on the west coast of Florida accessible without a boat. Parking is across the street in a pay-and-park lot and visitors must then walk about half-a-block to the beach. (A resident permit is required to use the resident parking lot.) Though it is very pretty and quieter than Tigertail, there are no facilities or amenities here. Open from 8 am until sunset.
Main Residents’ Beach
As the name suggests, this Marco Island beach is for residents only and a resident permit is required for entry. Showers, restrooms, vending machines, and a kids play area are located on this beach as well as a number of chickee huts (thatched-roof structures) with tables and benches. Open between 8 a.m. and sundown.
Map of Marco Island Beaches
View Marco Island Beaches in a larger map
photo credit: emerille
