South Padre Island is nestled on the Gulf of Mexico, near Brownsville\, at the southeastern-most tip of Texas. Because the island is only a half a mile wide, you can see beaches from nearly any vantage point on the island. There are ecological tours, dolphin sightings and peaceful walks along the sand. South Padre Island is a choice destination for honeymooners, couples looking to eat out and relax, and families ready for adventure. Next read: 6 Best Romantic Restaurants on South Padre Island
Sea Turtle Inc
Sea Turtle Inc was formed to protect and recover an endangered sea turtle species. Since then the mission has expanded into three: Education, Conservation and Rehabilitation. Donations keep the doors open, the turtles cared for, and the educational programs afloat. Even without any government assistance, 1/5thof the income is used to fund conservation projects involving sea turtles worldwide.
Sea Turtle Inc. provides college scholarships and a summer internship program for biology students. It rescues, aids, and releases injured sea turtles and assists with conservation efforts for all marine turtle species, all while endeavoring to educate the public.
6617 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX 78597, Phone: 956-761-4511
The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
This is Rio Grande Valley's top destination for birdwatching, and an ideal place to observe butterflies and natural wildlife in coastal South Texas. You can walk down the boardwalks; take a birding tour; and experience the nature center. The butterfly garden is full of fluttering visitors from summer to late fall, when the Monarchs arrive.
Any number of varieties of warblers arrive in the Spring. Orioles and numerous species of hummingbirds and other species are forced to land here because of severe weather during their migration routes. Experience the wonderful views of the Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, the Wood Stork and countless warblers. Brown Pelicans, White Ibis, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Red-winged Blackbirds, and many other species of birds reside here year round.
The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, 6801 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island,TX 78597, Phone: 956-761-6801
Padre Island National Seashore
South Beach begins where the paved road ends. This national park has 60 miles of beach you can drive on. South Beach ends at the Port Mansfield Channel. Texas beaches are public highways, so all traffic laws apply, and all vehicles traveling on Padre Island National Seashore must be street legal and licensed, including ATVs because The National Seashore uses ATVs to patrol for nesting sea turtles in the park.
The driving conditions at the beach are constantly changing due to the currents, winds, and tides. Toilets and cold-water showers can be found at Malaquite Pavilion. Enjoy birds, turtles and other beach wonders without distractions.
Padre Island National Seashore, P.O. Box 181300, Corpus Christi, TX 78480, Phone: 361-949-8068
Southern Wave Sailing Charters of South Padre Island
Southern Wave's 48’ custom-built Catamaran is a safe way to experience state-of-the-art sailing while enjoying the beauty of South Padre Island and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to Dinner Cruises and Snorkeling trips Southern Wave rents out Kayaks, Paddle Boats and Paddle Boards. Catamarans have a double hull construction and flotation devices which make them almost unsinkable.
Our experienced personnel help rookies and the experts alike on the snorkeling trip. All snorkeling gear is provided for the 4 hour snorkeling trip, as well as a delicious lunch. Enjoy a memorable day of sailing, an afternoon of dolphin watching, or an evening of beautiful sunsets on one of the famous dinner cruises.
Southern Wave Sailing Charters of South Padre Island, PO Box 833, Port Isabel Texas, 78578, Phone: 866-704-7245
Isla Blanca Park
Isla Blanca Park is a state park, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, the Brazos Santiago Pass and the Laguna Madre. For day trips, there is ample parking and excellent bathroom facilities. For longer stays, it offers over 500 RV spots. Walk out on the jetties to see surfers, shrimp boats, cargo ships, dolphins, and the enormous Cristo De Los Pescadores statue.
Sea shells abound for collecting. Three restaurants are within walking distance from the park. The park features a fishing area and a bait shop. It is a clean, well maintained park with a wide paved trail around the 1 ½ mile perimeter of the park which is perfect for walking, jogging or biking.
33174 State Park Road 100 South Padre Island, TX 78597, Phone: 956-761-5494
Laguna Madre Nature Trail
The Laguna Madre Nature Trail is a boardwalk that runs from the South Padre Island Convention Center to the Laguna Madre wetlands. This is a great place to see almost 300 species of birds. The Laguna Madre Nature Trail is open 24 hours a day and there is no charge.
Visitors rave about the diverse amount of animals they were able to see on the Laguna Madre Trail, especially all the alligators and the different varieties of birds. The Laguna Madre is a hyper saline lagoon. It is saltier than the ocean, one of only 6 such lagoons in the world. It is the nesting area and home of many creatures found nowhere else.
7355 Padre Boulevard South Padre Island, TX 78597, Phone: 956-761-3000
Beach Park At Isla Blanca
Experience the most popular waterpark, a 25 acre attraction, in the Rio Grande Valley. Enjoy the best waterpark attraction in the Texas Gulfcoast region. Roar down 13 amazing indoor and outdoor water slides, or float down one of the river systems.
The resort includes lodging, great Gulf beaches, wonderful dining experiences, and unlimited use of both the indoor and outdoor water features. Seasonal packages are available for the whole family. Plan a weekend getaway. Enjoy a fun filled day; then stay the night in a room just steps away from the beach with the best indoor water attractions in the area.
Beach Park At Isla Blanca, 33261 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597, 956-772-7873
South Padre Island Adventure Park
Ride horses, enjoy the Zip-lines and the petting barn. Take a hayride on the beach, swim in the ocean, then end the day on the beach with a luau menu and a bonfire. Birthday parties are a specialty, with ponies and barn animals, hotdogs and refreshments. This park specializes in special events and parties, just tell them what you want, and it will be organized for you.
Groups of all sizes are welcomed. With the state-of-the-art quick zip-line transition system, you will be able to go around the circuit as fast, or as slow as you want to. There are several horseback riding opportunities available.
South Padre Island Adventure Park, P.O. Box 3633,South Padre Island, Texas 78597, Phone: 956-415-0546
Coastal Studies Laboratory
The Coastal Studies Laboratory located on South Padre Island was established in 1973, and provides educational opportunities, research and community outreach about coastal concerns in the Gulf of Mexico with an emphasis on the South Texas region. The Coastal Studies Lab is open to the public Monday - Friday 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm for self-guided tours, to see marine aquaria with local fish and invertebrate species. There is a touch tank, as well as sea shell collections featuring shells found locally and elsewhere around the world.
There are nature videos and a gift shop. No admission is charged, but donations are accepted. School groups can arrange to visit the Coastal Studies Lab. The group sponsor should visit www.utrgv.edu/csl for details and pricing on guided tours.
100 Marine Lab Drive, South Padre Island, Texas 78597, Phone: 956-761-2644
Sand Castle Lessons
South Padre Island, Texas is one of the rare places in the United States where you can learn how to make a great sand castle. The magnificent beaches of South Padre Island have a number of professional sand sculptors who have decided to help people have more fun on the beach by offering lessons in sandcastle building.
There are beginners, intermediate, and advanced classes. The instructors meet you on the beach of your choice and bring all the equipment – there is more to it than just a plastic bucket. The classes last from one to three hours, and you are guaranteed to have fun and learn a few tricks about working with sand. You will never be embarrassed by your sand castles again.
Sand Castle Lessons, Phone: 956-433-9948
Isla Tours
Every Friday and Saturday night, from Memorial Day to the end of October, fireworks light up the night on South Padre Island. The best place to watch them is aboard of Isla Tours’ party yacht Murphy's Law. Their party cruise starts with a dolphin watch, after which you enjoy the glorious sunset. After the sun goes down, the party really heats up.
The captain turns on the party lights, a live DJ pumps up the volume, and you can dance to your heart’s content. Then the captain anchors the boat so you can watch the fireworks exploding all over the night sky. Isla Tours also offers eco-tours, Port of Brownville tours, and deep sea fishing trips.
33256 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, Texas 78597, Phone: 956-761-4752
The Original Dolphin Watch
Seeing dolphins while on South Padre Island is a must, as it is one of the rare places where you can get close enough to them. There are few pods of bottlenose and spinner dolphins that live permanently in the area, and when you’re aboard the 60’ cruise boat the Double Sunshine with experienced guides like those with the Original Dolphin Watch, you can watch them play and feed as they follow the boat. Dolphin Watch offers light refreshment and a well-prepared presentation about dolphins while you are cruising to Devil’s Elbow.
The Original Dolphin Watch also organizes snorkeling trips to the Laguna Madre Estuary where crystal clear water from three to six feet deep is perfect for any ages and abilities.
33256 Park Road 100 Sute 104, South Padre Island, Texas 78597, Phone: 956-761-4243
Wyland Whaling Wall Number 53
The magnificent, enormous, life-size paintings of orca whales on South Padre Island Convention Center are part of the worldwide campaign Wyland’s Walls, organized by the renowned painter Wyland and the Wyland Foundation, who had the goal of completing 100 life-size marine murals in public places around the world. They completed their goal in 2008 after 27 years.
The murals are meant to encourage greater understanding of and appreciation for aquatic habitats and the aquatic life. The life-size paintings are supposed to change people’s attitudes about marine conservation worldwide. With its Wyland Whaling Wall #53 “Orcas off the Gulf of Mexico,” South Padre Island is proud to be one of the 79 cities in 17 countries and 5 continents to raise its voice for marine conservation in this unique way.
Wyland Whaling Wall Number 53, 7355 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, Texas 78597, Phone: 800-995-2630
Pirate's Landing Fishing Pier
Pirate's Landing Fishing Pier is located in the park in Cameron County on the southern side of South Padre Island. The crowning glory of the lovely one-acre beach park is an old fishing pier, which used to serve as a causeway that stretched across the bay until the new bridge was constructed in the early 1970s.
A central part of the original causeway has been removed, and the portion of the causeway on South Padre Island has been named the Queen Isabella State Fishing Pier. It became a part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which turned it into a fishing pier where fishermen can catch sand trout, speckled trout, croaker, sheepshead and other fish.
501 E Maxan St, South Padre Island, Texas 78578, Phone: 956-943-7437
Andy Bowie County Park
Andy Bowie County Park, located just across from the South Padre Island Convention Center on the north side of South Padre Island, is a lovely beach park with 20 miles of hard packed sand that is popular among off-road drivers – driving on the beach is permitted.
It is stretched along the Gulf of Mexico and has two large picnic pavilions on the beach side, food concessions, BBQ areas, RV sites, beach equipment rental concessions, a swimming area, a fishing area, restrooms, and showers. You will also find a flagship hotel and a number of condo developments all around it. Andy Bowie County Park is only about five miles from Isla Blanca.
7300 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, Texas 78597, Phone: 956-761-3704
Crystal Flats Guide Service
South Padre Island is famous for its fantastic fishing locations. Whether you're a tourist wishing to experience south Texas fishing, a beginner, or an experienced angler, your best option when it comes to fishing the waters of South Padre Island is with Captain Fleming, who knows all the best spots better than anyone else.
He and his Crystal Flats Guide Service offer customized fishing charters on board his 22-foot Bay boat near shore, in the clear "flats," in the Lower Laguna Madre Bay, Port Mansfield, or Ports Brownsville, or wherever the fish are biting at the time. The tours leave from South Point Marina.v
Crystal Flats Guide Service, 103 S Manautou St #1701, Port Isabel, Texas 78578, Phone: 956-320-0556
Sea Ranch Restaurant-Bar
Dig into the freshest seafood on South Padre Island when you head to the Sea Ranch Restaurant-Bar. A must-visit of South Padre, Sea Ranch has been joyfully serving diners at this family dining establishment for over 35 years. Their specialty? Local, wild-caught seafood that comes straight out of the Gulf of Mexico. Some of the restaurants recommended dishes off the menu include the Oysters or Shrimp Rockefeller, and the Seafood Enchiladas, as well as Sea Ranch Signatures like the King Crab Legs, the Live Maine Lobster, Gulf Coast Shrimp, and the Red Snapper. Sea Ranch also has a bar and lounge to enjoy which opens at 4:30 pm daily. Meanwhile, the restaurant is ready to welcome guests from 5:30 pm onwards.
1 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, Texas, Phone: 956-761-1314
