Sky Luxury Houses
Key Largo is the first of the Florida Keys, an hour south of Miami, and the moment the water beside the highway turns turquoise you understand why people keep driving past the airport hotels and come here instead. This is our guide to a weekend on the island — the version we give guests staying at Casa Mar, our oceanfront house under the palms.
Morning: the reef
Key Largo calls itself the Diving Capital of the World and, for once, the sign is right. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was America’s first undersea park: glass-bottom boat tours for the ones who want to stay dry, snorkel trips out to the reef for everyone else, and the famous Christ of the Abyss statue nine meters down. Book the morning departure — the water is calmer and the light on the reef is better.
If you would rather stay horizontal, the park’s two small beaches are shallow and protected, which makes them the easiest swim on an island that mostly has dock access rather than sand.
Afternoon: the water, your way
Rent kayaks and paddle the mangrove trails, or book a sandbar charter and spend the afternoon standing in knee-deep water three kilometers offshore. Sportfishing boats leave from Whale Harbor and the Holiday Inn marina all day. None of it needs planning more than a day ahead outside of holiday weekends.
Evening: conch, fish, sunset
Eat what the island does well: conch fritters, fish sandwiches, key lime pie. The waterfront fish houses along the bay side all point west, which means dinner comes with a sunset. Order the catch of the day blackened, ask for it on a sandwich, and do not overthink it.
Then skip the bar. The best sunset in Key Largo is a private one — at Casa Mar it happens at the end of our own dock, and the only queue is for the hammock.
Where to stay
Our house Casa Mar en Key Largo sleeps 12 right on the ocean: private beach, private dock, a pool facing the open water and vaulted white interiors. From $2,500 a night, booked direct with us on WhatsApp — no platform fee.
