We came to Island House as part of our obligatory rite of passage every gay boy visiting Key West needs to undergo! More specifically, their famous Sunday pool party. The ultimate unapologetically gay resort! What happens in the Island House stays in the Island House… The location is also unique because Key West lies 80 miles (129km) to the West and Miami 80 miles (129km) to the East. Islamorada is nicknamed the “Village of Islands” because it is made up of 6 islets – Casa Morada lies right in the middle. It lies just off Highway 1 (also known as the Overseas Highway), which is the main road that connects all the Florida Keys. In terms of location, Casa Morada is on Islamorada. Casa Morada offers guests the use of their kayaks, paddleboards, snorkelling equipment and bikes. We recommend splurging on one of the 5 suites that overlook the marina, particularly The Shangri-La Suite, which has panoramic ocean views, an additional outdoor shower and a whirlpool tub.Ĭommunal areas include a freshwater pool, marina, gazebo, sun-loungers, hammocks, secluded cabanas and a bar with swings to enjoy those famous sunsets we mentioned at the start of this article. Furnishings include dark-wood furniture with a tropical theme and terrazzo flooring. Each room includes modern amenities – a fridge, robes air con, and unique extras like yoga mats and super sleek walk-in showers. With only 16 rooms across the two main buildings set among extensive natural gardens, Casa Morada feels like a romantic little nest. This is where every morning we would join the sunrise yoga session, a fantastic way to start the day in the Keys. For us, the highlight was the private island connected to the hotel by a footbridge with its own sunset cocktail bar. The atmosphere here is peaceful and serene. They then extend from Key Largo, all the way to Key West, which is the westernmost of the inhabited islands.Ĭasa Morada is one of our favourite gay friendly boutique hotels in Florida, perfect for couples!
The Keys begin at the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula, about 15 miles (24 km) south of Miami. The word “Keys” comes from the Spanish word “cayo”, which means ‘small island'.
The Florida Keys are a string of thousands of tropical islands stretching about 120 miles (193km) off the southern tip of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. There are of course many other reasons to visit the Keys: the terrific gay scene of Key West, the diving in the many coral reefs, beautiful beaches, and of course the star culinary highlight, the divine Key Lime pie! But for us, those magnificent sunsets stole the show. We've travelled the world extensively, and can hands down say that when it comes to stunning sunsets, the Keys of South Florida is the best place to come. This is our gay travel guide to the Florida keys, where we set out the best gay hotels to stay, our favourite gay hangouts and top things to do.