Located close to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape has plenty to offer. Active travellers can enjoy amenities, such as boating and kayaking, at this houseboat.
Reviews
8.28.2 out of 10
Very good
Popular amenities
Parking available
HK$2,181
The current price is HK$2,181
HK$3,760 total
includes taxes & fees
8 Nov - 9 Nov
Add dates for prices
About this property
Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape
PLEASE READ!
The Salty Conch is a 30ft monohull sailboat that was brought to Key Largo after sailing the Atlantic Ocean twice. This is a truly and lovely adventure for people who loves nature and falling asleep watching the stars. The sailboat is moored in the ocean surrounded by nature and wildlife. As soon as you park your car, the motorized dinghy will be waiting for you to use at the dock. A 10 minute ride through the ocean will take you to the sailboat. A little bit of agility is required for your stay: to use the dinghy and moving around the sailboat.
. 2 single kayaks will be waiting for you to enjoy and connect with nature, discover the island of Rodriguez Key and the Sandbar. Courtesy snacks and speakers will set you up for a relaxing vibe over the water. Manatees and dolphins share the ocean with us too. A cooler, a grill and a little stove are there for cooking options. Italian press is provided for breakfast. The sailboat is powered with solar energy making it possible to have fresh water, light, fans. Reception is good but there is no Wi Fi in the sailboat. USB charger available. not possible to plug anything that is not 12v.
This is not a fancy stay. It is more like glamping over the water. Linens and towels are fresh and good quality. The sailboat is powered by solar energy only and has a fresh water capacity of 60 gallons.
Turn off your phone and relax but, if you're staying over 3 nights it is important to keep phone charged to communicate your needs with me.
A 2hp dinghy is provided for you to move back and fourth from the sailboat. If you don't feel like cooking, there are many restaurants around the area.
You will receive an email from me with several location pins of cool spots to explore, and instructions of how to use the dinghy and how to operate everything inside the sailboat.
Come and discover the Salty Conch Sailboat! ****No refund for bad weather or high winds. rescheduling available****
Located on the waterfront, this houseboat is in Silver Shores, a neighbourhood in Key Largo. Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill and Bluefin Rock Harbor Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Jacob's Aquatic Center. MarineLab Undersea Laboratory and Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site are also worth visiting. With kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water. Visit our Key Largo travel guide
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Visitor's Center
1 min drive - 2.0 km
Jacob's Aquatic Center
5 min drive - 6.3 km
Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill
11 min drive - 15.0 km
Getting around
Miami International Airport (MIA)
75 min drive
Restaurants
Starbucks
6 min drive
Key Largo Fisheries
6 min drive
Snappers Oceanfront Restaurant & Bar
3 min drive
Circle K
6 min drive
Mrs. Mac's Kitchen
5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape pet-friendly?
No, only service animals are welcome at the property.
How much does it cost to stay at Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape?
As of 2 Nov 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape on 8 Nov 2026 start from HK$2,181, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape located?
Located in Silver Shores, this houseboat is within 3 miles (5 km) of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Visitor's Center, Bluefin Rock Harbor Marina and REEF Ocean Exploration Center for Marine Conservation. Jacob's Aquatic Center and Newport Flats are also within 6 miles (10 km).
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Reviews
Nature Retreat Sailboat Escape Reviews
8.2
Very good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
This adventure takes a little preparing. Bring a good amount of drinking water and easy to prepare foods. We stayed 2 nights in Jan. Weather was nice. Swimsuits during the day and a little chilly in the evening. Surprisingly it was so easy to fall asleep rocking on the waves. I toally could have stayed one more night of peace and quiet.
I have no words to describe how awesome this was. everything from the dinghy ride takes you to feel like you are going to your own island in paradise. We had the luck that the water was crystal Clear during out stay. We saw a pod of dolphins manta rays everything on our ride to the dock to the sailboat. Once you are there you can tan and jump in the water. in the evening we saw the most beautiful sunset omg it was stunning. We had wine at Night and fell asleep to the stars. the bed was comfy. it is a small space but we made it work well. At the next morning the sunrise was even more spectacular. We watched the sunset and then slept tilll 10 because the breeze was so relaxing. Isidora was an amazing host. she was friendly and polite. recommend to everyone that wasn't to have an experience outside the box. We are definitly come back for more adventure next year!
We had such a great time. It was easy to find. The owner was very responsive, we had everything we needed and really enjoyed the quiet getaway. Amazing experience.
The boat is great. Beautiful sunset. Very comfortable-great experience. If you are looking for a different experience in the keys - this one is great! Great for coupes! We sat on the boat want watched the stars! Fantastic stay.
We had a beautiful afternoon and evening on the boat. We took the kayaks to the nearby key to explore and then cooked dinner on the grill. Takes a little getting used to sleeping on a boat with different sounds but we enjoyed our stay. The lovely gift basket of snacks was awesome as well!
This was definitely a spectacular amazing experience. My husband and i loved it. We got to reconnect with nature. Had romantic dinners and laid under the stars . I 100% recommended this little romantic trip to everyone .
It was exactly as expected a glamping on the water. The dinghy was easy to use and navigate. The boat was so peaceful and beautiful views we didnt want to leave!! We are hoping to come back and stay again soon!! Also loved the location as key largo is more laid back and there is great food. Highly recommend!! We also had a dolphin swim near the boat which was awesome and our 11 year old loved that!!
Watching the stars was great. Kayaks were fun. Moon setting on the gulf was awesome. No issues with dingy. The only problem was the bed pad was not very comfortable. We both woke up with a stiff back.
We had an amazing time. Learning new things and enjoying the cooking. The sunsets were amazing. We had dolphins both nights.
We went around in the canoes in the dinghy worked great.
Just need some tools to cook with more for the BBQ.
Thank you for our wonderful time on your boat. I will forever cherish and miss it!
Jackie and Sam
The boat was dated but well maintained. 99% of our questions or concerns were responded to and rectified promptly. The host was accessible and kind. This was an experience that we will remember forever. Its wonderful and a lot of work akin to camping but on the water. I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for something outside the box.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Derek
7 Nov 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, communication
It’s a small sailboat. It was a little cramped and hard to move around for my girlfriend; but I live on a boat so I was cool. Maybe a little stool to help the shorter-statured get into the V-berth. But we had a manatee swim by, and salt-water swim just past dawn is always ideal!
The Salty Conch is more than just a sailboat. It's an experience that transports you away from the noise and hustle of everyday life and immerses you in the peaceful embrace of nature. I recently spent a night aboard the Salty Conch sailboat and it was an experience that will stay with me forever.
As soon as I parked my car, I was greeted by the motorized dinghy that would take me on a 15-minute ride through the ocean to the sailboat As I boarded the Salty Conch, I was struck by the simplicity and elegance of the vessel. The natural wood finishes and the gentle sway of the boat immediately put me at ease.
I highly recommend it and loved the memories
The sailboat was just as advertised- clean with fresh linen and a beautiful location. We had one issue with the toilet but Isidora responded quickly and it was fixed. We agree with other reviewers that being agile helps with moving from dinghy to boat and back again. It was a lovely peaceful setting for cool evenings on the boat. Keep in mind that you need to replenish ice supply daily. We had issues with mosquitos just the first night and relied on the fans. It was a bit tight with 2 seniors and 2 teenagers but we managed. The location is convenient...just a quick drive to John Pennekamp State Park for snorkeling.
It was the first time any of us have slept on a sailboat like this, and the novelty sparked adventure. I was concerned that my lack of seafaring knowledge would be a problem, but it was not. You need a little initiative to jump in a dingy and find your boat on the open water, and to know how to tie a few good knots and use a cleat - but Isidora makes it easy with clear communication and fast response times.
It was a great family experience. There were a few mosquitoes at dusk and dawn and it did get a little warm below deck overnight, but waking up to a nurse shark under the boat was one of the highlights of our trip.
And at the end of the day, the photos we shared of our short night on the water in Tarpon Bay have invited more comments and questions than any of our other adventures on our 10-day vacation!
She is running a scam. She should not be allowed on vrbo. She wants to communicate off vrbo. I have proof of all of this. She hides her dingy on private property without permission and tells you to hide your car in a hotel lot where it can be towed (again she doesn’t have permission from the hotel). Her and her husband/ boyfriend spy on you in the parking lot when you arrive. She has cameras on her boat. It’s really creepy. She is a bad person and she violates vrbo standards. Avoid at all costs.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Verified review
4/10 Poor
Cassidy W.
21 Sept 2022
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy
Bad Weather, No Mercy
We booked this boat for my boyfriend’s 29th birthday since he is a boat captain and loves being on the water and going fishing. We unfortunately booked it for a bad night because the weather was absolutely awful and I ended up getting boat sick. We had to get off the boat in the middle of the night due to how bad the weather was and had to book a hotel same night. I kindly asked for a reimbursement from the host due to this unfortunate circumstance and I never heard from her again. I would have appreciated some understanding and assistance during this time especially since we were staying at her boat.
Overpassed all expectations. Isidora was thinking of every details to make our stay was a dreamy one. From the location to the dinghy experience, the mangroves canals and the restaurants around. This sailboat experience is a dream and Isidora will make you feel that everything is covered for you to relax and have a great time in nature.. the lack of ac wasn’t a problem for us because the fas and hatches kept the boat cool at night We saw dolphins in the morning and stars at night. We cooked in the boat every day with fresh vegetables we bought during the day at a local market. Some other day we went in the dinghy to a restaurant. The option are plenty but there is no refrigerator just a cooler so keep in mind you have to stock yourself daily. We will be back soon! Make sure to follow the nature trails map she gives you and also the user guide of the boat. Thank you Isidora!
recently had a unique weekend sailboat experience that had a camping-like feel. The friendliness of the dog on board added to the enjoyment, although the lack of air conditioning in the Florida heat made it uncomfortable, especially for our dog. We discovered early on that there were no showers on the boat. To make the trip more convenient, I recommend bringing sandwiches, snacks, and a bag of ice. The 20-minute dingy ride to our destination was tiring, and returning for more ice was out of the question we didn't want to be stranded in the dark. Overpacking was unnecessary as we spent the entire time in our bathing suits due to the heat. Despite these challenges, with some adjustments and planning, it was an enjoyable adventure. I should also mention that the property owner was very professional and checked up on us by phone, which was appreciated. :)
Stay away from this cool sounding experience!! Booked this stay months in advance. We showed up at 3:10 to go to the dinghy and head to the boat…when we got there, there was no dinghy. I messaged, texted and called the owner and no response; 20 min later they messaged me back and told us the “boat sank 30 min ago” (about 3pm). We could see the boat from the neighborhood where you park, so I told them we could see it. They responded with, “it’s half way sunk and full of water inside”. I sent the picture via text and they said, “it’s not underwater now but things aren’t working”. They offered another place but this was just nuts! I don’t know if they just weren’t prepared for us or what?! We had showed up early around 1:30 to see the layout and had noticed the boat out there. There was no one out there and It looked just as it did around 3 and 4. Such a ridiculous excuse…if your boat was sinking there’d have been someone out there at some point. They also wouldn’t respond to VRBO calling multiple times. Stay away from sinking your money into this one
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified review
2/10 Terrible
Patricia
13 Jan 2023
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property was not at all what was advertised and we couldn’t even stay on the boat due to the the bed being soaking wet and overall the boat being cold and musty. You have to take a dingy out to the boat which is illegally tied in mangroves with only access is going down sharp rocks to access it behind a government building in which you can not park at you have to park next door at the hotel which you need to hope your car isn’t going to be towed for not having a parking pass. We fell many time on the rocks due to it being very unsafe. Then the dingy wouldn’t start and we called the owner multiple times with no response, so we had to row over a mile one way to the boat only to find the conditions to be unfit to stay because if we did we both would of ended up very sick. I messaged the owner asking for a refund or even a partial for such inconvenience and never heard back from her! Please do not waste your time booking this she is overcharging for what she is offering!
From start to finish: The dinghy that gets you to the boat is not the best, the directions to get to the sailboat are not very accurate. It took us a while to find the sailboat. We were concerned that the dinghy was taking water in and that we wouldn’t get to our destination, but finally, we were able to find the boat. once we got to the sailboat, we noticed there was no kayak or floating dock as described on the details and pictures. Once we finally got into the sailboat we realized there was no running water. The water tank must’ve been empty. When it was time to make dinner the gas grill was disgusting, horribly dirty, but we had no water to clean it. We contacted the host. Her reply was sorry for the inconvenience. Since we had no running water and also not enough gas to even prepare our dinner I ended up getting food poisoning so on top of everything else, the weather was not helping . I understand weather conditions are unpredictable but not having running water or a shower or enough gas to cook it made our stay very uncomfortable. On top of that, we did not have the floating dock night described or the kayaks to entertain ourselves, so all we had left to do was make dinner and enjoy the outdoors, but even that was kind of impossible since there was not enough gas in the tanks to cook. The pictures on the site must be old pictures because nothing that is shown there is accurate. And the response from the host of sorry for the inconvenience didn’t helo!
It was a stormy day, we found the dinghy that we were supposed to use to get to the boat. We wanted to hurry and make it there because of the storm coming. The motor was not working and it was somewhat deflated. I called a few times for help, no answer. So we decided that we would try the paddles. It started raining and thundering and we were nowhere close to the boat. We decided to find the nearest shore to get out and find shelter. Finally got a call back and they came and fixed the dinghy. When we go to the boat we notice there was only one kayak and not two. I mentioned it to the boat manager and they tried to say that it was there and it must of drifted of during the night! Good thing I had a picture that showed the date and time. So we couldn’t go out and enjoy that together. Wished I would of taken pictures of all the things that were wrong! We didn’t find the cooler with waters they said was supposed to be there. In the email they sent us they said we would find these things there, and a map of the area of where we could kayak to and find a beach. But we only got a a screen shot of a map that was easily missed at the bottom of the email .The lights were not working, we used a lantern that was there. We tried to make the best of that one night we spent there either way. I emailed the boat manager about the problems we had and expect some kind of compensation for our troubles buy didn’t seem to care one bit. Will be the last time I book with people with no experience. I do work for a vacation rental business so I know what is expected.