Report on Everglades National Park Marina in Flamingo, West Florida
Flamingo Marina is part of the Cape Sable Everglades National Park Service and is located in Flamingo, FL. However, because of the reported severe shoaling in the entrance channel, this facility is not recommended by the SSECN. The report below comes to us from the AGLCA Forum and is a bit more positive than SSECN’s last report in January of 2014, /?p=131878. The contact number for the Marina is 239-695-3101. If you have navigated the entrance channel recently, please send us a report on depths found there.
At the bottom of Florida is the 1.5 million sq/mi Everglades National Park. Many people anchor at the Shark River on their way from Marco (and points North) and the Keys. The Park has a marina at Flamingo that would make a good alternative. There was not any current information about the marina, rather than rely on “Looper Folklore”, on 27 January 2015 I drove to Flamingo and spoke to “Flamingo Rick” the marina manager.
The channel from the west coast is well marked and has a minimum of 6′ of water. Rick says there is a 45′ boat that comes in about every other week without a problem. The largest boat was a 70′. As always, stay between
the markers. When you come into the marina, the basin is on the Port Side. You will find gators sunning themselves on the Starboard side bank.
There are 32 slips in the marina. Water depth is min of 5.5 at mean low tide (there is a 3′ tide swing). 5 of the slips are wall ties, there are 6 floating docks that will hold a 30-40′ boat. There is also a T head that would hold a 40′ cat. Each slip has one 30amp marine outlet, and one 20amp house outlet and water.
Diesel fuel was $4.05 and gas was $5.15 the day I was there.
Cost is $2/ft/night, that includes electric, a pump out and water.
There are cold showers at $3 each. Solar showers at $2 each are 1/4 mile away at the camp ground. No laundry.
There is a pretty well stocked store with small boat parts, food, beer, fishing gear, etc. For being in a remote location they had pretty decent prices. (Beer was only $1 more a 12 pack than what I pay in Tavernier.)
A cafe is on site, open from 11-7 November – April. It’s the normal burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc.
There are guide tours of the “backwater” and Florida Bay areas at $30 per person for a 90 minute tour.
There is a canal from the Marina into Coot Bay. You will need to portage your dink / kayak / canoe past the dam (“The Plug”) to get into the Canal.
Since the park is pretty flat you can bike around. Note that the park is huge, it’s a 30 mile ride from Flamingo to the main gate. Based on the trailers in the parking lot the big usage is to launch / retrieve boats that fish in the Bay.
“Flamingo Rick”‘s personal cell phone is 239-595-9927. Due to some level of infighting between the NPS and the Marina, marina staff does not answer the NPS land line. Cell coverage is very spotty, only ATT seemed to work.
This is a place that I would stay at. It’s clean, has OK facilities, good location to see part of the park.
Foster and Susan
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Flamingo Marina
Comments from Cruisers (2)
Great place to visit by boat. Little buggy during certain seasons. Flamingo was hit hard by Hurricane Wilma.
Albert J K III
Every time we’ve been there the showers are hot, not cold, at the Marina store. I’m not sure there is a working pumpout on the Florida Bay side – check that out before going if you will need one. If you stay on the wall
side, there are restrooms at the visitor’s center that are open all night (no showers). You didn’t mention channel depth in the entrance channel. Unless it’s been dredged in the past year, it can be 4 ft at low tide where it bends to the east. Stay on the green side at that point. You also didn’t mention the programs that are available, especially “in season” (Christmas week and after). here is a morning birdwalk, an afternoon
“hands-on” program and an evening illustrated talk. There are also canoe trips (free, all equipment provided), auto tours to other parts of the park, and nature walks. The park rangers can’t transport visitors in park vehicles, but we have always been able to catch a ride with campers to the canoe trips and auto tours.
We have enjoyed stays of a week or more, leaving when the programs start repeating. Bring mosquito repellent if you plan to walk or bike the trails. In the winter, the open areas don’t have much of a mosquito problem. A bike is a real plus for getting around; they can be rented at the store.
Jean Thomason