Tigertail Beach
Tigertail Beach
4
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view










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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
2,283 reviews
Excellent
1,210
Very good
618
Average
274
Poor
94
Terrible
87
BLWynn
Durango, CO196 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Like to walk on the beach? Love to beachcomb? This is your spot. We walked here nearly every morning from the condo we rented and were never disappointed. The parking area is pretty large (if you drive here), but you must cross a lagoon to get to the ocean side, so wear your water shoes/sandals if you’re a bit squeamish about that sort of thing. The shelling at low tide is amazing. Lots of sand dollars, whelks, cockles, scallops, and other beauties just waiting for a space in your suitcase!
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Valerio T
36 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
Don't understand how people writes reviews. Not sure if they haven't seen nice beaches around the world or what. There is nothing special here. You got to pay 8 dollars for what? For a miserable parking place? Europeans don't waste time and money, we have beaches in EU thousands time nicer and free. Florida is totally insane:99% of the access to the sea are prohibited because private. Can you imagine that in EU? You have to pay even for the air you breathe...we should really do the same in EU and let American tourists pay for every step they do! Ridiculous!
Written April 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meanderalongwithme
12 contributions
Feb 2021 • Couples
Love this beach but it is a long walk to the water (around a lagoon) so be prepared. Some people walk through the lagoon - I wasn’t interested in that adventure. If you hit it right, you might see the Marco sand cow sculptures. Bring your shell bag!
Written February 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mar_clero
Miami, FL27 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We first knew about the beach by chance, when we got there we thought the walk was too long!!! But I can tell you it’s worth it. It was like walking in a dessert beach ... we found sand dollars, and lots of beautiful shells!! The wind, the sand, the waves, the sunset... very healing and relaxing
Written September 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nikmad1
Kansas City, MO24 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Beautiful beach, especially for shelling! We entered the lagoon by the watch tower And waded through the lagoon and mangroves(the entrance through the mangroves is a water path) to get to the beach. We enjoyed walking to the north side of the beach quite a ways...worth walk!! Bring something to put your shells in! May want to put items in water proof bags when crossing the lagoon
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Amanda M
896 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
We sought this place out today for my son who loves shelling. I have mixed thoughts on it.
Facts:
* $8 all day parking fee. There is a meter to pay in the way in and at the very end of the lot. So if you miss the one on the way in just hit up the other one
* the first beach you come in to is just the Lagoon. It is NOT the main attraction. You have 2 options to get to the main attraction. Either walk a VERY long way or cross the stinky lagoon in waist deep muck.
The good:
* this beach is picture perfect white sand
* lots of shells along the beach for the kids to “find” without much effort.
* water is a lovely turquoise like the Caribbean and warm to swim
The bad:
* it is a VERY long walk around if you choose not to cross the Lagoon.
* the lagoon is very smelly and mucky
* no restrooms on the beach so you should try to go before you start your trek
* no place to buy food/water so bring some with you.
* no shade anywhere so apply sunscreen OFTEN.
We opted to not cross the stinky Lagoon and walk around. We didn’t make it to the very tip because we were tired, sunburned and hungry. To the point where we turned around it was about a 45-60 minute walk.
My son ended up finding some neat shells in the surf and he also found some in the muck in the lagoon.
I wish the city would build a walk way across the Lagoon. We weren’t comfortable wading across.
Facts:
* $8 all day parking fee. There is a meter to pay in the way in and at the very end of the lot. So if you miss the one on the way in just hit up the other one
* the first beach you come in to is just the Lagoon. It is NOT the main attraction. You have 2 options to get to the main attraction. Either walk a VERY long way or cross the stinky lagoon in waist deep muck.
The good:
* this beach is picture perfect white sand
* lots of shells along the beach for the kids to “find” without much effort.
* water is a lovely turquoise like the Caribbean and warm to swim
The bad:
* it is a VERY long walk around if you choose not to cross the Lagoon.
* the lagoon is very smelly and mucky
* no restrooms on the beach so you should try to go before you start your trek
* no place to buy food/water so bring some with you.
* no shade anywhere so apply sunscreen OFTEN.
We opted to not cross the stinky Lagoon and walk around. We didn’t make it to the very tip because we were tired, sunburned and hungry. To the point where we turned around it was about a 45-60 minute walk.
My son ended up finding some neat shells in the surf and he also found some in the muck in the lagoon.
I wish the city would build a walk way across the Lagoon. We weren’t comfortable wading across.
Written April 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Amy G
17 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
We were staying at the JW Marriott when we met someone who suggested Tiger Tail Beach for the best shells around. Her suggestion was great! Go past the populated part of the beach and you will find sand dollars and fantastic unbroken shells of all kinds! If you like a LONG walk on the beach it is close to 2.5 miles one way from the Marriott. You can drive there and park in public parking then reduce the walk to closer to 1/2 to a mile to the best shells. It is worth the trip if you want some amazing shells & sand dollars!
Written June 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
hugoweaving
Roswell, GA15 contributions
Apr 2021
Marco Island is really a great place, but this beach is skippable. For the $8 parking you have to walk a ton. You either have to walk on the trail over 1 mile to get to the beach. Or you have to walk through a creek with water up to your waist. Then you have to walk on a narrow path in the forest before getting to the beach. If you have kids, or elderly, or a lot of equipment, then forget it. Great beach once you're there, but not worth the issues.
Written April 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Claire C
London30 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Tigertail beach is a fantastic beach on Marco Island in Florida. There are numerous parking bays and from there you can either walk to the beach which takes approximately 15 minutes across a channel of water which is waste deep to the start of the beach. Although the beach is crowded near to the entry point if you walk for a few minutes you can find a quiet spot.
The beach is excellent for shell lovers and we found very interesting shells including a giant sand dollar.
The sea is safe to swim in but we found it quite cold being more used to Thailand and Greece, where the sea is relatively warm! However, more hardy types were certainly swimming fully in the sea. This is a fantastic part of the world and somewhere that we have returned to many times.
The beach is excellent for shell lovers and we found very interesting shells including a giant sand dollar.
The sea is safe to swim in but we found it quite cold being more used to Thailand and Greece, where the sea is relatively warm! However, more hardy types were certainly swimming fully in the sea. This is a fantastic part of the world and somewhere that we have returned to many times.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
tnk9581
Fond du Lac, WI126 contributions
Jan 2020
We went to Tigertail today. We are in our late 50’s and knew we didn’t want to wade the lagoon. We were told to drive all the way to the end parking lot (we got there early-9:30 on a cloudy Friday) and take the board walk from there. It was nice that they had a bathroom at that parking area. We didn’t think the walk was that bad. If you go to South Beach, you have to park and walk a bit too. We did have back pack beach chairs and tote bag, so we weren’t empty handed. We enjoyed our time here.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Can i use a motorized wheel chair on Tigertail beach, and if so, where would I rent one?
Stephen H
2 contributions
Youd have to go to south end of parking lot and ride on sand to get to the gulf beach. Theres a lagoon you have to cross to reach the gulf beach from main lot.
If you just want to stay at the lagoon you can motor down the boardwalk till it ends
Sandypostell
Riviera Beach, FL79 contributions
Are there showers available?
Sandypostell
Riviera Beach, FL79 contributions
Yes!
Beach wedding on Marco Island in May. Never Been. Our consultant suggested having the ceremony on TigerTail beach instead of South Beach. I'm Worried about the walk from parking - he said beach would be more private and beautiful ..any thoughts?
RulaNYC
New York City, NY64 contributions
You won't regret Tiger Tail. It's not that far a walk from parking lot. It's so cozy and visually so breathtaking because it's actually an estuary in parts. Soft sands. Go for it.
Jaclyn S
Frankenmuth, MI3 contributions
Are there umbrella and chair rentals?
kellydS9993BY
Las Vegas, NV16 contributions
I did not see any. You can rent kayaks and peddle boats however.
stosco
Maryland47 contributions
Not a question but a response, I just saw review posted on 12/12 and they had red tide and a bad experience and it’s unfortunate they were lied to. We were there all day on 12/7 and it was perfect, no signs of red tide. We did experience dry cough from possible red tide on the south side beach on 12/5 but it was good on 12/6. I think it must be the wind and the tide if it’s there or not(just my opinion)
Samantha A
60 contributions
Red tide is a naturally occurring event that is likely influenced by pollution and natural weather patterns. It has been effecting our beaches for over a year now, on and off, and we are all sad about it. Tigertail and all of our beaches are beautiful and there is great wildlife to be seen, but right now it is hit or miss. I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing for people to witness these events happening because hopefully it can inspire people to make changes in their daily lives to better protect the environment.
Tamara M
Plano, TX4 contributions
Hi, what about seaweed/grass? water is clear? thanks
Yankeebaseball
Charlottesville, VA823 contributions
It depends which part of the beach you go to. If you go to the small lagoon/inlet that is right there by parking and the snack bar and bathrooms, the water's a little murky. But if you walk across the lagoon or take the longer walk around it (10-15 minute hike) to the main Gulf beach, the water is beautiful. Very clean and very clear. One of the nicer beaches you'll see, even by Florida standards!
1111jet
Montreal, Canada
Peut on avoir un chien dans le parc ?
Maria Isabel M
Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile280 contributions
Hola, no lo se, pero hay parques especiales para perros
kathompson68
Plymouth, MA1 contribution
Are you able to drink alcohol on Marco and Naples beaches?
Wendy M
North Wales, PA336 contributions
I really don’t know. I haven’t seen any posts on the beach but the public beach most likely would say no Alcohol