
Cheeca Lodge & Spa
Best for families and travelers who want a full-service resort (beach, spa, golf, kids' club and a long fishing pier).
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa is a five-star, full-service Islamorada landmark with private white-sand beach, a long fishing pier, multiple restaurants and family programming — read this if you want a luxury, all-ages resort with lots of on-site amenities. Amara Cay Resort is a four-star Islamorada property with a breezier, beach-club atmosphere — read this if you want a stylish, more casual beachfront stay with poolside bars and a smaller resort footprint.
Updated

Best for families and travelers who want a full-service resort (beach, spa, golf, kids' club and a long fishing pier).

Best for travelers who want a breezy, beach-club vibe with poolside bars and a smaller, more casual property.
When Cheeca Lodge & Spa wins: choose Cheeca if you want a large, full-service luxury resort with multiple restaurants, a sizable spa, family programming (Camp Cheeca), golf, and extensive event space.
When Amara Cay Resort wins: choose Amara Cay if you prefer a smaller, casual beachfront hotel with a relaxed beach-club atmosphere, fewer rooms and straightforward pool/beach access.
Bottom line: Cheeca is the choice for a full-resort experience and family stays; Amara Cay is a solid pick for travelers who want a simpler, stylish beachfront stay in Islamorada.
| Category | Cheeca Lodge & Spa | Amara Cay Resort |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Full-service luxury landmark with resort-wide amenities and multiple dining venues | Stylish, breezy beach-club feel with poolside bars and a relaxed scene |
| Location in Islamorada | Atlantic-side resort at Mile Marker 82 with 1,200 ft private white-sand beach | In Matecumbe on Overseas Hwy; private beach and beachfront access |
| Size | Large resort spanning 27 acres with 240+ rooms (sources vary) | Medium-size property with about 110 rooms |
| Ages / audience | All ages — family-friendly with a seasonal kids' club (Camp Cheeca) | All ages — not adults-only (property listing shows adultsOnly: false) |
| Pools & beach | Three outdoor pools (two oceanfront family pools + one adults-only relaxation pool) + 1,200 ft private beach and 525-ft fishing pier | One outdoor pool, private beach and poolside-bar service |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple restaurants and bars (Atlantic's Edge, Nikai Sushi Bar, Mia Cucina, Tiki Bar, 25 South, Pierre's, Beach Café) | Two restaurants (including ReelCatch) and three bars/lounges; poolside bar |
| Spa & wellness | The Spa at Cheeca Lodge — 5,700 sq ft, six treatment rooms, fitness center, adults-only lap pool | Fitness facilities listed; no full-service spa details in the supplied listing |
| Signature features | 525-foot fishing pier, Jack Nicklaus–designed executive 9-hole golf course, Camp Cheeca kids' club | Beach-club atmosphere, on-site kayaking/snorkeling, multilingual staff |
| Event & meeting space | Extensive event space including multiple ballrooms and oceanfront terraces (over 15,000 sq ft listed) | Limited meeting space (Number of meeting rooms - 1 listed) |
| Room types | 21 room and suite types including oceanfront bungalows, multi-bedroom suites and penthouse options | Many room types listed (Studio Suite, Standard Room, multiple oceanfront/partial-ocean options) across ~110 rooms |
Cheeca sits on the Atlantic side of Islamorada at Mile Marker 82 with long private beachfront and its 525-foot fishing pier.
Best if you want an Atlantic-side resort with a long beach and pier plus easy access to nearby Islamorada attractions.
Amara Cay is located in the Matecumbe area of Islamorada on Overseas Highway with beachfront access and on-site water activities.
A good pick if you want a beachfront location with a casual beach-club feel close to dive and boating activity.
Cheeca offers a wide range of rooms and suites from standard guestrooms to multi-bedroom suites, bungalows and oceanfront penthouses.
Choose Cheeca for more space and a wider selection of suite and bungalow styles.
Amara Cay lists a variety of room types including Studio Suite, Standard Room, partial-ocean and oceanfront rooms.
Amara Cay provides a straightforward set of beachfront and partial-ocean room options in a mid-sized property.
Cheeca has multiple on-site restaurants and bars that range from sushi and Italian to oceanfront beach bars.
Cheeca suits travelers who want varied, higher-end dining without leaving the resort.
Amara Cay offers casual dining with a focus on poolside and beachfront service.
Amara Cay is geared toward casual, pool-and-beach dining with easy bar access.
Cheeca emphasizes its beach, multiple pools and fishing pier as key features.
Pick Cheeca for more pool choices, a large beach and pier-based fishing/water activities.
Amara Cay focuses on a single pool, beach access and poolside bar life.
Amara Cay is ideal if you want a compact beachfront property with poolside bar energy.
Cheeca offers a substantial spa, fitness classes, organized family activities and nighttime dining/music.
Cheeca blends a full spa program with family services and nightly entertainment.
Amara Cay lists fitness facilities and poolside bar nightlife but no spa details in the supplied listing.
Amara Cay offers fitness and casual evening options but not the same spa breadth as Cheeca.

Cheeca — seasonal Camp Cheeca, kids' activities, multiple family pools and larger suite options make it the stronger family choice.

Amara Cay — a breezy beach-club vibe, poolside bar and a smaller property footprint suit guests after a relaxed stay.

Cheeca — a dedicated 5,700 sq ft spa with treatment rooms, a spa lap pool and scheduled fitness/yoga.

Amara Cay — fewer rooms and a compact property mean a simpler, lower-key stay if you want less of a resort scene.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa — it has Camp Cheeca (seasonal kids' club), multiple family pools and larger suites suited to families.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa — The Spa at Cheeca Lodge is a 5,700 sq ft facility with multiple treatment rooms and an adults-only lap pool. Amara Cay’s listing shows fitness facilities but no full spa details.
No — both properties are listed as all-ages; Cheeca has adults-only pool areas, while Amara Cay is not adults-only.
Cheeca — it lists multiple restaurants and bars (seafood, sushi, Italian, tiki bar, pool bar and more) compared with Amara Cay’s two restaurants and three bars/lounges.
Explore how Cheeca Lodge & Spa stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·