Since it opened in the 1950s, the Faro Blanco Lighthouse has been an iconic landmark for boaters traveling to Marathon in the Florida Keys. In January 2015, the site was relaunched as Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club, complete with a state-of-the-art marina, onsite Hyatt Place hotel, exceptional restaurant, and many other amenities for the visiting boater. “When you build a new marina from scratch, it’s just new,” says Alain Giudice, the General Manager. “Faro Blanco is different because it already had a history and a personality that we are thrilled to carry on.”
The Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club offers 74-slips at its two marina basins, east and west. The west basin has slips for vessels from 50 to 120 feet, while the east basin accommodates vessels from 35 to 60 feet. The marina also features pump-out from the dock, Valvtect fuel, shower and restroom facilities, a private captains lounge, 24-hour security, concierge services, WiFi, a fitness center and a marina swimming pool.
Marina guests have access to Wakezone Watersports, which is stocked with jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards and boat rentals. Fishing charters can easily be arranged for inshore, offshore, reef and wreck, backcountry and tarpon fishing excursions. The ships store even carries games like Jenga, cornhole and croquet. And if you happen to be staying on the last Wednesday of a month, don’t miss the marina’s Yappy Hour, a monthly fundraising event that benefits Safe Harbor Animal Rescue of the Keys (SHARK).
Lighthouse Grill, the onsite restaurant, serves a delicious array of seafood dishes for both lunch and dinner. Dine indoors or outside, where the Veranda Bar has picturesque views over the gulf. And if you don’t feel like leaving your boat, the resort offers a dockside service of ‘docktails.’
While in Marathon, don’t forget to swing by Keys Fisheries to sample their famous Lobster Reuben. Other adventures include renting a bicycle to cycle to Pigeon Key, and visiting the Dolphin Research Center or the Turtle Hospital. Another fun place to visit is the just-opened, interactive Aquarium Encounters facility, which puts you up close and personal with local marine life.
Within the next two years, Faro Blanco plans to add a second marina on the ocean side of the property, adding 90 deep-water slips. And any day now, the facility is scheduled to get its official Green Marina designation. Clearly this is the place to tie up to get the most out of the beautiful Florida Keys.
Marinalife Member Discounts:
10% Off dockage
$0.10 Off per gallon of fuel.
