11 Best Things to Do in South Padre Island

Head to Isla Blanca Park and spend the day in a beautiful state park featuring over a mile of pristine beach. Besides relaxing and swimming, you can enjoy a range of activities like fishing, surfing, snorkelling and jet skiing. You can also snap selfies with the enormous Cristo De Los Pescadores statue – one of South Padre’s most popular landmarks.

The park has 2 large beachfront pavilions, several onsite restaurants, plus restrooms and shaded picnic areas. Be sure to walk out on the jetties to see surfers, shrimp boats and, if you’re lucky, dolphins. Visitors to the park need to pay a small entrance fee. There are tent and hook-up RV sites and cabana rentals if you want to stay a few nights.

The Dolphin Research and Sea Life Research Center is a non-profit attraction that focuses on educating visitors about wildlife preservation along the Gulf Coast. Adults and kids can enjoy up-close encounters and touch-tanks with exciting marine animals native to the area, such as crabs, fish, octopi, starfish and snails.

For an extra fee, you can go on a private (for up to 6 people) dolphin sea tour. The 90-minute boat excursion takes you out into the Laguna Madre Bay, where you can meet the wild dolphins living there.

Laguna Madre Nature Trail is a peaceful 1,500-ft loop trail that starts near the South Padre Island Convention Center. The boardwalk traverses about 4 acres of pristine salt marshland and is a superb way to experience the diverse flora and fauna of the extensive Laguna Madre wetland complex.

Nature-lovers and birdwatchers should bring along a pair of binoculars because, throughout the year, you can spot over 300 species of coastal and migratory birds. The trail is open 24 hours a day and access is free.

South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center overlooks the salty Laguna Madre wetlands and is a year-round destination to observe birds, butterflies, crab, egrets, alligators and turtles. Besides birdwatching from boardwalks, you can watch documentary films in the auditorium and learn about salt marshes, dunes and intertidal flats at the hands-on educational exhibits.

The 5-storey spotting tower offers fabulous views of the lagoon, beaches and dunes of South Padre Island. Be sure to check out the centre’s weekly programme to see the times of the daily ‘Gator Talks’ and ‘Birding Tours’.

South Padre Sand Dunes offer vast, sandy landscapes as far as the eye can see and magnificent views of the Gulf Coast and Laguna Madre. There are plenty of fantastic beaches on the island, but none are as secluded and untouched as the dunes. They extend for 30 miles to the north of the island and are free from any commercial development.

It's a perfect place for a tranquil beach stroll, secluded swimming and sunning session or stargazing under a sparkling night sky. To reach the dunes, head north along Padre Blvd where you'll pass several beach accesses. You will need 4-wheel drive to drive over the dunes. 

South Padre Island Adventure Park is a family-friendly park offering super-fun beach activities. Saddle up for a relaxed horseback ride along a quiet beach and up into the dunes. The 90-minute tours are a great way to see a variety of marine life on a remote section of the island.

You can choose a morning, afternoon or sunset horse ride. During a full moon, the moonlight ride is a magical experience. And if whizzing high above the sand sounds thrilling, the Adventure Park’s state-of-the-art zip-line, with ‘45 minutes of unlimited zips’, will have you hooked.

Beach Park at Isla Blanca is a huge oceanside waterpark sitting at the southern end of South Padre Island. From zooming down the body slides and uphill water coasters to experiencing underwater helmet-diving and the famous Surf Rider inland wave attraction, the 25-acre aqua paradise has over 15 world-class attractions sure to satisfy thrill-seekers of all ages.

For an extra dose of adrenaline, the zip-line soars over the park offering fabulous views of beaches and the Gulf of Mexico. When your stomachs start to rumble, you can pick up food from a variety of concession stands. You’re also allowed to bring a picnic lunch.

Sea Turtle Inc is a conservation centre that rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles on South Padre Island. It’s also a place to go for turtle-themed paraphernalia, such as calendars, tea towels, wooden ornaments, T-shirts, and hoodies. The kids' section is fantastic, ranging from flipbooks about the ocean to cute stuffed toys.

Sea Turtle Inc also sells cute turtle keyrings, badges, and pens, and a variety of eco-friendly items like reusable bags and stainless-steel straws – great for reducing waste and keeping the oceans clean. When you've finished shopping, stop by to say hello to the recuperating turtles and see the excellent work funded by your purchases.

Andy Bowie County Park is a laid-back, picturesque beach park on the northern end of South Padre Island. Popular with both locals and visitors, you can go swimming, fishing, snorkelling and shell hunting along the white-sand beach with blue waters. Plan to arrive early in the morning so you can choose the best spot to set up your beach gear.

You can park on the beach, and even take a scenic drive along the coastline. Though, it's recommended you use 4-wheel drive to avoid getting stuck in the sand. The park's amenities include 2 large picnic pavilions, RV sites, food concessions and restrooms. Enter at Beach Access 3 and 4 for free access, but without the facilities.

Going on a sailing cruise is one of the best ways to admire the natural beauty of South Padre Island and the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy an unforgettable morning of relaxing and suntanning or snorkelling in clear waters or an exciting afternoon of dolphin spotting.

Couples or those celebrating a special occasion can end the day with a romantic cruise to watch the sunset over the dazzling waters of the Laguna Madre. Most cruises include ice-cold sodas and bottled water in the price; some trips are BYOB.

After a day of sea and sun on South Padre Island, it’s time to chill out at the best local bars and enjoy the sunset. Pier 19 is a relaxed restaurant and bar perched at the end of a pier, far out into the water. From the bar, you can see pelicans, dolphins, boats and stunning sunsets. Bring your catches and let the chefs prepare it for you with all the trimmings.

Live music, spectacular waterfront views and a laidback atmosphere set the tone at The LongBoard Bar & Grill. The old school island hangout offers a great food and drinks menu, plus a huge patio with plenty of places to sit and take in the scene. After sundowners, head to Louie’s Backyard, one of the biggest party spots on South Padre Island.