Natural beauty is South Padre Island’s main attraction, but you’re probably wondering how you can ensure visiting these beautiful places does not destroy them? Eco-tourism on South Padre Island has increasingly become a popular solution. This entails responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Fortunately, there are numerous South Padre Island things to do that qualify as eco-tourism, so you can rest assured that your visit is helping and not hurting the local environment!
South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center, & Alligator Sanctuary
Ornithologists and birders from all over the world will have already heard of South Padre Island’s Birding center, and for good reason. Birders the world over have South Padre Island on their bucket lists. They come for once-in-a-lifetime sightings of birds that rest here before heading across the Gulf. Come catch a glimpse for yourself! You and your family will delight in the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center, & Alligator Sanctuary. Even if you’re not an avid birdwatcher, there is still so much for everyone to see and do. The center is the Rio Grande Valley’s premier destination for birdwatching due to the island’s unique location along birds’ normal migratory routes. Spring and fall are the best times to visit unusual bird species, but all year round you can spot many impressive species along with butterflies and other natural wildlife.
The center includes 3300+ feet of boardwalk to explore, 5 bird blinds, a 5-story viewing tower, alligator sanctuary, and guided bird walks. As a non-profit organization, the mission of the center is to educate the public about the birds, flora, fauna, and natural environment of South Padre Island, with an emphasis on conservation and environmental awareness.
The Center has also taken on the difficult job of rehoming nuisance alligators that have wound up in swimming pools and other unlikely spots. Guests are invited to watch daily feedings and learn about gators in our area.
Sea Turtle Inc.
Just a short way from the birding center is South Padre Island’s Sea Turtle Inc., which has been rehabilitating and releasing injured sea turtles since 1977. Originally, the organization was formed to protect the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. Now, the center has expanded its mission into three parts: Education, Rehabilitation, and Conservation.
Visitors contribute to the center’s mission, and all ticket funds go to support turtle rehabilitation and conservation. Sea Turtle, Inc. is open year-round. Visitors are welcome to meet rehabilitation patients and non-releasable residents. The facility is primarily self-guided, though there are educational presentations offered throughout the day. As part of the center’s mission to educate, “Turtle Talks” provide the public with information about the center’s mission and all different species of South Padre Island, Texas, sea turtles. Presentations are usually offered every hour.
If you’re lucky, while you’re on the Island, you may get to see an early morning hatchling release. Sea Turtle, Inc collects sea turtle eggs to protect them until they hatch. Once the hatchlings are ready for release, they are guided across the sand into the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors line the path of the sea turtle hatchlings to watch them scurry onto their first adventures. It’s a sight that you and your family will never forget.
SPI Dolphin Research & Sealife Nature Center
The SPI Dolphin Research & Sealife Nature Center offers visitors exciting encounters with many marine animals native to South Padre Island. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and showcases many aquariums with live fish, starfish, crabs, octopuses, and more. Touch tanks are available to get hands-on experience! The Center is tucked in the Light House Square in Port Isabel, between the Lighthouse and Pirate’s Landing Restaurant. After visiting the Center you can spend a whole day enjoying the lighthouse, thrift store, art gallery, artisan shops, restaurants, pier, and museums, all within walking distance of the Center. Have your camera ready!
Additionally, dolphin boat tours are available to gain an appreciation for these beautiful creatures in the wild. Trips last about an hour and a half, and you will get to know the local pod of nearshore dolphins who have frequented these shores for at least two decades. Tours cost $25 per person for a maximum capacity of 6.
Where to Stay on SPI
For those who feel most at home when close to nature, consider booking one of our South Padre Island beachfront condos. You’ll never be far from the water (or coastal ecosystems), and you’ll have easy access to all the best eco-tours in South Padre Island. Start planning your South Padre Island vacation today!
Native Plant Center
We’re connected to plants through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the medicines we use. And most importantly for South Padre Island, the sand itself is anchored by the native plants. The South Padre Island Native Plant Center recognizes this and works to preserve native coastal plant ecosystems, as well as rebuilding South Padre Island’s land dunes which are washed away cyclically. They advocate for sustainable plant management and care, and in their nursery grow many plants vital to local South Padre Island ecosystems. Visitors are welcome to visit the botanical garden, and there are even some plants for sale!
Laguna Madre Trail
Even if you don’t choose to visit any centers, South Padre Island is teeming with natural beauty that you can explore for free. The Laguna Madre Trail is a 1,500-foot boardwalk that crosses four acres of marshland. It is the perfect place to spot many coastal and migratory bird species. There are also some wild berries ripe for sampling, which is one of the most fun South Padre Island activities!
