Had a wonderful trip to Sombrero reef and lighthouse with Captain Candace and first mate Tanner. Both were knowledgeable of the area with attention to safety of both the guests and the environment. Captain Candace's docking skills rock! Perfect spot for snorkeling, saw a variety of fish amongst a large coral reef! Quite a relaxing morning on the water! A must see while visiting the area. read more

I would never stay there again Our room had termites and we couldn't sleep! Termites were all over the bed and wall!! We called service but they didn't help Also we made claim at front seat but they said " oh that's seasonal thing it might happen "???????? I just disappointed ! read more

Great experience snorkeling at the reef. Very professional captain. Friendly fun crew. Saw turtles!! Would use again. read more

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway - Sombrero lighthouse at sombrero reef. - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

We heard about Spirit Adventure Snorkeling at Captain Pip's from another couple the night before our trip. They came highly recommended for their professionalism and hospitality. We had a great trip with Capt. Sarah. Super easy and fun afternoon on the water. read more

Captain Pip's Hideaway hotel is a bit rustic, but it has all the basics! Super staff helped us with an overnight delivery from home... much appreciated! Our room was small, bamboo walls, but had all we needed for our one night stay. Not sure we'd opt for a long-term stay there, but it was comfortable! Many restaurants and breakfast spots nearby. read more

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The sunset cruise was one of the best! Captain Candace and first mate Hope we're the best! read more

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway - Great sunset - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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Context: We stayed here our family get away to the Florida Keys in 2025. Location - The hotel is right before you leave the island of Marathon in the keys. You are just a short walk/drive to the 7-Mile Bridge Lookout and Park which offers a nice walk on the bridge to see the ocean. There is a gas station across the street and a Starbucks and BBQ joint right next door. The best beach in the keys (in my opinion), Sombrero Beach, is less than ten minutes away by car. Building & Rooms - We stayed at the Great White Lodge and it was a good size apartment with a fully stocked kitchen, living room, dining nook, bedroom with a bathroom, and patio area. You were only a short walk away from their heated, jetted pool overlooking the marina. It was plenty of room for a family of five to spread out and relax. Amenities - There is a heated, jetted pool onsite that was nice to play in with the kids. It was unseasonably cold (low 50's) when we were visiting so the warm pool offered some comfort during the colder nights. Free water sports like kayaks and long boards were available but it was so windy and cold, we did not use them. The resort also offers some very good prices on their boating and fishing excursions if you are staying onsite or you can bring your own boat and rent a slip. Food - Food was not included in the stay but the main office carried a small amount of gifts and convenience items. Publix was just down the road so we made good use of them and just bought groceries and made our meals in the apartment's kitchen. Vibe - Pretty chill, middle-class marina resort with brightly colored buildings that all had their own unique style to them. Staff were friendly and welcoming. The BBQ joint offered mini golf and live entertainment but we were tired from traveling all day so just chilled inside and at the pool. No issues. Reality vs. Online - Online pictures that I saw on their website matched the quality and condition of the marina, building and rooms. Met my expectations. Price & Final Verdict - I got a great price for our apartment vs. just a hotel and the price was very competitive for being in the Florida Keys during vacation season. With all of the included amenities including a kitchen and water sports, extra space to spread out and their vicinity to Sombrero Beach - I will definitely return again. I enjoyed my stay. read more

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People are fun and friendly. The prices are very reasonable. The snorkeling at sombrero reef was absolutely fantastic. We've snorkeled many places and this was really great. read more

What a great company. Linda, Mark, and all other Captain Pips staff love boating and getting everything just right for the customer. They showed us amazing diving spots on the map and gave us thorough instructions on our boat which was easy to operate and comfortable. We WILL be back next year Lucas read more

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I have a hard time leaving negative reviews, but I feel this experience needs to be shared. On May 24, 2026, my daughter, a friend, and I booked a morning snorkeling trip. We had booked the day before and were told that if weather conditions were unsafe due to the wind, the trip would be canceled and we would be notified. When we arrived that morning, we were told the trip was still going ahead. As we headed out, Candice explained there would be a "splash zone" on the boat. Unfortunately, the conditions were much worse than expected -- the entire boat was getting soaked from rough waves and strong wind. The ride out was extremely intense, and honestly, I expected we might turn back. When we arrived at the snorkeling location, the waves were still crashing heavily, visibility was poor, the wind was strong, and it had even started raining. I was surprised the trip continued under those conditions. Since we had already paid, I decided to try snorkeling anyway, which ended up being a mistake. Within minutes, I was struggling badly in the water. The waves were rough, I was swallowing water, and I was fighting just to get back to the boat. My daughter actually had to help me back in. Once I was back onboard, the rough conditions made me extremely seasick, and I spent the rest of the excursion vomiting over the side of the boat. It was honestly awful. I do want to say that Candice, the captain, and Hope were all incredibly kind and helpful throughout the experience. I understand everyone is trying to make a living, and I appreciate how nice the staff was personally. However, I truly do not believe it was safe to be out there that day. What surprised me even more was that my husband was out fishing that same morning, and his captain told him there was "100% no way" snorkeling tours would go out in those conditions -- yet ours still did. Thankfully, this was not my first snorkeling experience, because if it had been, I probably never would have tried it again. read more

We took a sunset cruise with Captain Pip's. Captain Candice and First Mate Cory were a joy to go out with. They were friendly, attentive and informative. We enjoyed refreshments and a champagne toast at sunset. This was a very relaxing and memorable ride read more

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I would definitely rent from this place again. We got a pretty large 25 foot boat perfect for fishing had adequate sunshade easy to drive able to go pretty much anywhere in it. The people that work there were very nice and patient with us. They have a really cute gift shop with lots of nice stuff in it bought a commemorate mug for my dad. I would definitely rent from this place again if we come down to the Florida Keys. read more

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Had an absolutely magical time with Captain Patrick and first mate Jesse, they were super funny and very knowledgeable about the ocean and boating. We got to Sombrero lighthouse and the water was gorgeous, the color was stunning. The crew made sure we had everything we needed before departure and everyone felt super comfortable. Upon arriving, we jumped in and had the time of our lives. We saw so much including moray eels, stingrays, tons of gorgeous coral, tons of beautiful fish, a nurse shark, and even saw a sea turtle. It was probably one of the best snorkeling excursions I've been on even in comparison to the Caribbean. I highly recommend going and would absolutely recommend checking the wind prior because if you find a day where the water is glass, like we did today, you won't be disappointed. The crew was awesome, the trip was fantastic. Book now!! read more

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Tanner (first mate) and Candace (Captain) were fantastic. It was such a fun time. Both were knowledgeable of the area and very interactive with everyone. read more

We had a wonderful stay at Captain pips. The room was clean face the water. It was very close to the pool. We stayed in the selfish suite.. I would highly recommend staying here if you like the old school Florida field. The front desk ladies were exceptionally nice and accommodating. There are many activities included like kayaks, snorkeling, and free bikes as well to ride around Marathon. Porky's is literally right next-door within walking distance and they have a great happy hour and there's plenty of fishing charters and jet skis to do for rental rentals or half days, etc... I would go back again on my next adventure in the keys.. read more

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We did two snorkeling adventures during our Florida Keys vacation. The first, and best, was through Captain Pips Marina! The people, the location, the equipment, and numerous small and helpful details offered by Captain Pips really made our adventure with them stand out... It was a magical experience! Thank you Captain Pips~Spirit read more

It's a motel but they also offer various water tours. We arrived too late to take the snorkel tour so check out the schedule in advance, if you're interested. Our room was colorful, spacious, and charming. It came with a full-sized refrigerator which is a great perk. The walls were thin so fair warning. It's located just before you reach the 7 Mile Bridge, if you are heading south. read more

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway - Clean room, funky decor. - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

Our family had a great experience on the sunset snorkeling cruise. The weather was perfect and Captain Cathy and Cory made the trip even better. They are very knowledgeable of the area, marine life, and the customizing the snorkeling gear for a great fit. Highly recommend! read more

What a great place to stay. The rooms are clean and stocked with everything you could need. Cooler, towels, refrigerator,utensils, in my option they have thought of everything to make your stay enjoyable. It's not a mainstream hotel but a cottage type place. I will definitely be back. Owners and staff are wonderful read more

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Took a Snorkel tour out to Sombero Reef, the water was clear, slightly choppy but the fish were colorful and plentiful. Great experience for the family and kids. Beer, Wine Sodas...anything you need they are there to help make it a 5 star event. Jessie and Candice are crowd pleasers for sure....10/10 read more

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Great snorkel tour. You can stick with the instructors more if you are less comfortable with snorkeling, or go off on your own to explore. Nice boat and quality equipment too. Our deckhand and captain, Jesse and Candace, were super helpful and very friendly. They did an awesome job making the experience fun, safe, and generally worthwhile. The whole thing was also a super good deal with the boat, equipment, drinks and snacks, for around 65 bucks. I'd highly recommend these guys and would certainly try them again. read more

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We're having a wonderful day this place is so clean and well kept up and the staff are just wonderful very friendly

We enjoyed a short vacation in Marathon and stayed at Captain Pips. Excellent "Island vibe" all around and we were blessed with hot and sunny weather for our entire 5 days. The rooms are clean and spacious with air conditioning as well as fans running 24/7 Snorkeling and sunset cruises available and highly recommended; Captain Patrick and First Mate Jesse will make sure that you enjoy every minute, Captain Patrick also operates the jet ski rentals and whatever you do don't miss out on that! Everyone that we encountered was super friendly and helpful We'll definitely be visiting again read more

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Did the 9am snorkeling trip to Sombrero Lighthouse. The setup was well organized with everything in place and ready to go. The staff checked us in and directed us to the dock next to the boat. There was a small gift shop with souvenirs and beverages for purchase. Before we got on the boat the mate fitted everyone with their snorkeling gear. We got on the boat, sat down, then the captain and mate went over the mandatory safety measures and discussed donning and doffing the snorkeling gear. They had complimentary beverages ready to go on the boat. Both the captain and mate were super friendly! They engaged all of the passengers in conversation. They were very knowledgeable of the reef and the local area. They offered recommendations on the best places to visit and eat. They earned their pay and our gratuity! They also offer a separate trip to their private island. We did not book that trip due to time constraints. The entire 3 hour trip was something to remember! I would highly recommend Captain Pip's to anyone looking for a fun, safe and unique experience! read more

This is one of the more unique and interesting places to stay in Marathon. The property has a lot to see, do, and offer in terms of activities & recreation. We stayed in their "Great White" room, which is located on the first floor of a two story building that consists of two upper rooms & two lower ones. The backdrop behind the property provides a nice view of the water, where you might just hear waves gently lapping against one of Pip's many fishing boats on any given morning. Also, there is a hammock for lounging, a cornhole game, a propane grill available for use, and a table & chairs area for your early day mimosa enjoyment. Once inside our room, Captain Pip's also provides guests a three ring binder full of information on places to go & things to do. Towels are changed about 3X per week. If you have a chance, take advantage of their bike rentals; we did. There is no charge if you are staying at the resort. The seven mile bridge isn't open right now (expected to be opened in May 2022) but you can take a great ride to the Crane Point Museum and back. The only issues we had were minor: the television in the king bedroom didn't work much after the first day, and there some noticeable cosmetic issues with the caulking seals around the sink & toilet. One electrical outlet also wasn't recessed all the way either in the dining room, and one of the vanity lightbulbs in the bathroom was out. Again, not a big deal. Also, if you have any ambulatory issues, try to get a lower floor: one day I saw a couple in their late 60's struggling to carry their luggage up a flight of stairs, and the husband was a US Army veteran. My family and I immediately jumped in to assist each of them. so please, always remember to #thankaveteran. I have read some of the less than tepid reviews & to be honest, I can't understand some of the complaints for Ernie or the owners at the end of the day. I would say that, if you aren't sure about something, then it's one's responsibility to ASK, and not leave negative responses as some sort of cathartic righteousness. After all, it's your hard earned vacation and money. If you read up on the site, you'll see that the owners are constantly looking to improve the guests' experience. Their new office should be open next year in a 2000 sq foot space, with a Starbucks. They are also conveniently located to Sombrero Beach and there is a laundromat less than a third of a mile away. Two good restaurants (Porky's Bayside; 7 Mile Grill) are within walking distance. I liked the fact that our rooms had liquid soap dispensers and not the pathetic .5 oz joke of a "bath bar" that you get at franchise properties that disappear after one wash. The staff were also very conversational and polite to deal with. In summary, you are in a part of the Keys that is so laid back, the Islamorada IPA's taste even better here. I had fun; I hope to be back here again. read more

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Family of four and reserved the afternoon snorkel trip. Unfortunately Hurricane Debby created some nearby storms so our water was a little too choppy for snorkeling. Instead, Captain Joe and Jesse brought us to Captain Pips private island. We still had a chance to snorkel a little and Jesse found 3 hermit crabs, so we got a good race in! We still had the option of canceling with a refund, but our hosts made the best of the situation and gave us an awesome trip! read more

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

Visited Captain Pip's to rent a boat for the day. They had the best price in town for what we wanted. We received a 19' Sea Fox that was adequate for what we hoped to do for the day. The boat was not in the best shape however. The steering had clearly had some issues and was not very responsive. The radio/speakers on the boat did not work. The anchor hatch cover had broken hinges and would completely come off when accessing the anchor. All of this did not really give us much confidence but we ended up with no issues and really had a great day on the water. The folks at Captain Pip's were friendly and quick. They made check in a breeze and even accommodated us with some swim fins for our trip. Dropping the boat off at the dock was also a breeze. Miguel, the dock hand, was quick and very helpful. I would recommend renting a boat from here if you are looking for an affordable option to get out on the water. It's a great way to experience the keys. read more

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

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We had so much fun staying here! We brought Seven people total including four kids, two adults, and a granny. We stayed in the Garden Guest House, Mako Room, and Bonefish Room. The rooms were clean newly renovated and had so much character! They have every amenity you could want including large refrigerators, coolers for boating, full-sized coffee pots (really god coffee), microwaves, TV, great showers, and Christmas trees!! Our favorite part was snorkeling with Captain Booker and Rob--saw some incredible fish, crystal water, and had a blast. As you can see, we also went crazy in the gift shop. The merch is high quality and so fun. read more

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My husband and I had the best time thanks to Patrick and Jesse! I was terrified, given that I can't swim. But everyone was welcoming and helpful with our boat tour/snorkeling. What an amazing adventure. Thank you captain for keeping us safe and ensuring that we had an amazing time. read more

Thank you for a great snorkel trip! Everyone had a fun time. You made sure to check on everyone to make sure they enjoyed their ride.

Best place. Clean. Quiet. Better view of Gulf sunset. Nice run clean with everything we need. Highly recommend.

Rented a boat for a half day. Boat was in horrible shape and poorly maintained. In fact we had engine issues on a short rental. We burned a lot of fuel as we could only manage 8 mph at 3000 rpm's. Boat was also completely filthy and disgusting. read more

Jesse and Patrick were amazing. They gave us instructions to be safe but also making it so we could laugh. We got to see cool wildlife snorkeling and saw a huge barracuda! It also came with snacks and drinks which were much needed after all the hard work of snorkeling. Couldn't thank Patrick and Jesse enough for what they did for us! Definitely recommend! read more

First time renting from Captain Pips. Easy process, nice informative staff. They offer all you will need on the water, beer, ice, water, snacks etc. Rented a 19ft center console called Bottoms Up. Boat worked ok but was well worn. It had many worn, broken or missing pieces. Would rent from again but only if boat is in better shape. Will pick a different boat next time. Rates were ok. We caught a ton of fish and made it back with no issues. read more

Captain Candace and First Mate Corey were awesome! Very fun and informative!!! We couldn't go snorkeling at the reef because of wind and waves so we alternatively went to the island. Fun place. We enjoyed the ride and the spot!! read more

My family and I had a fantastic time snorkeling on Sombero reef! Highly recommend this trip with Spirit Snorkeling! Captain Rob and First Mate Jesse were great!!! They were so helpful, informative, very safety conscious, and made it all fun. All the snorkeling equipment you needed was included, plus drinks and snacks (very much appreciated) Water was such an incredibly gorgeous color and so clear! Even though it was a bit choppy that day, it was an amazing experience! I swam with a turtle (the highlight!) saw so many fish...various colorful reef fish, parrotfish, barracuda, yellow fin snapper. It was magical! read more

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

We had a fantastic time on the Sunset Snorkel! Everything was top notch from start to finish. Thank you, Captain Candace and Cory!

We went on the spirit 3 for snorkeling at Sombrero Reef. Patrick & Hope were our tour guides and they were absolutely amazing!! We had the most fun with them! Drinks were provided and we even finished early enough for a "booze cruise" where Hope also showed us her favorite food spots. Patrick played the best music for our cruise as well. Patrick & Hope were so knowledgeable about the water and sea life. Lots of great people and the most fun experience! read more

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida

Amazing time, snorkeling and site Seeing ... justin and capt rob were great and Very informative about the local sealife, the reef, also places to go and see during our trip! Will definitely be back!!! read more

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It was a great day snorkeling. Captain Rob and Jesse were professional, safety conscious, and fun. We highly recommend the Sombrero Reef snorkeling tour. read more

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway - Great place to snorkel. - Boating Near Me - Marathon, Florida