The Heart of Marco Island: What You Need to Explore

It is incredible to realize that the island of Marco used to be sparsely populated and undeveloped. How did it turn out that this swampy mosquito-covered island turned into a pearl of Florida?

The Origin

Marco Island was home to the Calus Indians, descendants of the Mayans. The tribe lived, fished, and hunted in this region of Southwest Florida for hundreds of years.

In the 1500s the island was visited by Spanish explorers. Pioneer Juan Ponce de Leon called it St. Mark’s Island. War broke out between Native Americans and Spaniards. Legend has it that Ponce de Leon died from the poisoned arrow of an Indian when he tried to capture a tribe. And although they did not succeed in defeating the Indians, the diseases they brought in succeeded.

Marco Island has gained a surge of fame in the late 1800s when during the excavation, Captain William Collier found ancient arrows and household items. Archaeologist Frank Cushing organized a large-scale excavation in this place.

Later, a huge amount of land was bought by Barron Collier (not a relative of William), a wealthy northerner who dreams of turning the island into a tourist paradise. Due to the Great Depression, Barron Collier did not carry out the venture.

Later years

In 1962, three of Mackell’s brothers realized the huge potential of the island. Successfully developing other projects in the sunny state, the brothers formed Deltona Corporation and decided to create a resort island where people could live, work and relax 365 days a year.

Unprecedented advertising campaigns prepared Marco Island for its “grand opening” in January 1965. 25 thousand people visited the island on an opening day, and houses began to sell like hotcakes.

People continued to flock to the island throughout the 70s. The quaint beach town continued to evolve into an exquisite island community that now attracts people from all over the world with its beautiful weather and beaches. Marco’s charm has stood the test of time.

The Traveling Sites

Let’s take advantage of the early afternoon, when our puppy falls asleep in the car, to move to Orlando. Before dinner, stop by Walmart Super Center, a chain of super supermarkets supplied, for our inevitable expense: polystyrene fridge, a mega crate of water bottles that will be enough for 2 weeks, fruit, snacks and mosquito spray. You can also get the boat rental in Marco Island as there are wonderful options for traveling through the waterside now.

Here everyone speaks to you in Spanish, a multitude of cultures and immigrants from the various countries of South America live together, you experience a perennially relaxed and carefree atmosphere, in perfect Cuban style, fun is the basis of attractions and you can feel radiance.

This place is dictated not only by the mild and sunny climate. It is no coincidence that Florida is Eden for two types of people: pensioners, who retire here to spend the winter or to spend the second life of relaxation, and young people who find the perfect place here to give themselves to the mad joy and the most unbridled revelry during spring break. In short, it’s all sea, sun, cocktails, beaches, and fun.