Marathon Activities

Marathon is mainly a 10 mile-long island community that is located in the middle of the Florida Keys island chain. The islands of Marathon are very family orientated and are a great place to take a relaxing vacation. The city limits of Marathon consist of Key Vaca, Boot Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key, Grassy Key and Fat Deer Key. There are many other small islands that are interspersed within these larger islands that make up the Middle Keys. Because of its location right in the middle of the Florida Keys Marathon is a great place to stay in a relaxed environment and play throughout the rest of the Keys with Key Largo and Key West being approximately 1-hour drive away.

Marathon Water Sports

Marathon offers a variety of fun and exciting water sports, below are just a few.

Fishing

Most people that come to Marathon, like most that visit any area of the Florida Keys, are coming for the sun and fun of the beaches and waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. These warm waters attract many fish and the fishing here, like in Islamorada, is first-class. Marathon is host to world-class sport fishing charters that run out of Marathon and Duck Key. There are many fishing tournaments that attract fisherman from all over the world to these warm waters in the hopes of winning big prizes and catching big fish.

When you come to Marathon and the Florida Keys you are looking for incredible offshore fishing for big-hitting pelagic fish, fun reef and wreck fishing for fish like grouper, snapper, amberjack and other species, backcountry fishing for trophy fish like tarpon, permit, sharks, and bonefish. Some boats will even take daring anglers out for spear fishing, which is legal here. The captains and crew of these boats are both knowledgeable and professional and no matter your expertise will make your time a trip to remember.

Offshore and Reef Fishing Charters
Flats and Backcountry Fishing Charters
Light Tackle and Fly Fishing Charters
Party Boat Charters

Diving

The Florida Keys is famous for many beautiful coral reefs and shipwrecked vessels left on the seabed and Marathon has many great dive sites for all expertise. There are numerous dive shops and boats that outfit you for a day out. Use this guide to find the perfect boat to take you for some great diving and snorkeling.

Adolphus Busch: This artificially made reef was created when the 210-foot freighter was sunk in 100 feet of water in 1998. Advanced divers can explore the insides of this vessel as well via large holes used to sink it. Giant grouper of over 400 pounds have been known to make this site its home.
Coffins Patch: This popular dive and snorkel site is teeming with schools of fish and some of the largest brain coral in the Keys. Angelfish, grunts, snapper, Spanish and spiny lobsters, and a vast amount of other sea life are found in these waters. With depths as shallow as 10 feet this makes it a perfect snorkeling spot but because of the incredible variety of plant and animal life it is a wonderful dive site for all expertise and a great place for photography.
Sombrero Reef: Marked by the tallest lighthouse in the Florida Keys, the Sombrero Light Tower, this dive spot is one of the largest, most popular, and has the most colorful coral reefs in the Marathon area. There are so many different types of coral here attracting all kinds of sea life.
Thunderbolt: The Thunderbolt, actually named the USS Randolph, is a 188-foot military cable laying ship that was intentionally sunk to make this beautiful man made reef. Sitting in 115 feet of water perfectly upright it is a great dive to explore the ship, the colorful sponges and coral coating its surface and the plentiful abundance of fish that make this site home. This is an intermediate to advanced dive due to the depth and the trickiness of the currents.

There are plenty of other thrilling dive and snorkel sites that will suit all experience levels and are perfect for picture perfect photographs. Marathon and the surrounding islands have more to offer than just fishing and diving. Let us guide you to all of the wonderful activities and fun you can have here in Marathon and the Florida Keys.

Water Sports: Marathon has beautiful beaches and offers many activities. Rental of jet skis and wave runners, windsurfing and kite boards and paddleboards are available throughout the islands. Other more adventurous activities can be found like parasailing as well.
Kayak Rentals and Tours: Marathon is a number of islands located right in the middle of the Florida Keys. There are many guided kayak tours for all levels of experience. Try a relaxing kayak tour that takes you through the quiet backwaters mangroves to see the raw natural beauty of this rare habitat. Perhaps you would rather go on an island tour and relax on pristine white sandy beaches while snorkeling in the crystal clear water. What ever you wish to do there is a kayak tour that will meet your requirements for fun, adventure and/or relaxation.
Eco Tours: Nature is all around you when you come to the Florida Keys and here in Marathon there are many choices to get you close to nature. Guided walking, bicycle, kayak and canoe, and boat tours will explore the islands, waterways, mangroves, and all of the wildlife and sea life that this beautiful paradise has to offer.
Sailing and Yachting rent from the many different sailing vessels and yachts for a wonderful day trip on the crystal clear waters of Marathon. For the more adventurous spend a week or more on the water exploring the all of the islands of the Florida Keys, fishing, diving and just relaxing.
Arial Tours: enjoy a unique experience bird's eye view of the crystal clear water, pristine beaches and beautiful reefs of the Florida Keys. It is simply the best way to appreciate the beauty of Marathon and the Florida Keys.

Unlike its neighbor Islamorada, Marathon has numerous public parks most of which are accessible by automobile. Many of these beaches have white sandy natural beaches perfect for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and seashell searching. Some of these parks also offer other activities like ball fields, shuffleboard and bocce ball, playgrounds for the kids, skateboard parks for the teens and picnic areas for the entire family.

Crane Point Museum, Nature Center and Historic Site: This tropical oasis is a must see for everyone that visits Marathon and the Florida Keys. Located right in the middle of Marathon the 63 acre property offers its visitors an educational glimpse into the past in the museum, incredible views of the flora and fauna of the islands while walking the many nature trails and up-close and personal interaction with some of the animals and birds of the area. Crane Point is a wonderful place that is perfect for all ages. It will entertain and educate and is a great place to see the true beauty of the Florida Keys.
Coco Plum Beach: a natural beach on the Atlantic Ocean is a nice relaxing place to come relax in the sun. Coco Plum Beach is a turtle-nesting beach so it may be closed during some of the year when the turtles are laying eggs and when the eggs are hatching. The beach has nice restroom facilities and a covered pavilion for picnicking.
Sombrero Beach: A beautiful clean park and beach located on the Atlantic Ocean. It has a white sandy beach, beach volleyball courts and a playground for the kids. Perfect for picnicking Sombrero Beach has nice shade, large pavilions and barbeque pits. This location also has restrooms, showers and free parking.
Curry Hammock State Park: This state park offers a 28-site campground for those that want to get up close to nature. A 1200 foot sandy beach is perfect for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. There are guided walking and kayak tours that can be arranged and the shallow flats are a wonderful place to catch a permit or bonefish. There is plenty to do at this park for the entire family. This is just a glimpse of the parks and beaches located here in Marathon.

Marathon is the perfect place to come for a family vacation. There are so many different activities to do year round for all ages.

The Turtle Hospital: Opened in 1986 the Turtle Hospital rehabilitates injured sea turtles and returns them to their natural habitat. This is a place that everyone in the whole family will love. Come and learn all about the turtles, their habitat and how the hospital is able to help and rehabilitate them. This educational guided tour gives a behind the scenes look at what goes on here at the hospital and at the end of the tour you can feed the turtles residing and recuperating there.
Dolphin Research Center: Come and play with the dolphins and sea lions here at the DRC. General admission will give you a day of learning all about these amazing marine mammals. There are many programs available where you can interact with the dolphins here. Become a dolphin trainer for the day or a researcher for a day for the ultimate experiences. There are also programs to play with the dolphins and even paint with them. It truly is a day that no one will ever forget.
Pigeon Key Visitor Center and Gift Shop: For those who are more interested in the history of the Florida Keys and the construction of the old Flagler Railroad Bridge that really opened the island of the Florida Keys to the world. This beautiful little island just south of Marathon is a wonderful place to come to learn about what was called Flagler's Folly but has become Flagler's Legend. The island also has a beautiful beach to relax on. Great for the whole family, Pigeon Key is a great way to step back in time and see how it used to be.
Art Galleries, Theatre and other Cultural Events: Marathon has many events throughout the year that offers something for everyone. There are cultural festivals, food festivals and activities for the whole family. Along with the number of festivals Marathon has some wonderful galleries and theatres that feature local art, artists and culture.