If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Southwest Florida for a day, take a trip to Cayo Costa Island State Park. Accessible only by private boat or ferry, this barrier island near Punta Gorda and North Fort Myers guarantees a little space and solitude in a stunning Gulf Coast location.
Photo credit Debi Pittman WilkeyBe a Castaway for a Day on Beautiful Cayo Costa Island
Getting to Cayo Costa Island
Cayo Costa Island lies between North Captiva Island and Boca Grande, at the entrance to Charlotte Harbor.
If you are not fortunate enough to own a boat (or have a willing friend with one!) then all is not lost. Captiva Cruises, the official state park concessionaire offers ferry service for those wanting to visit this gorgeous barrier island!
Photo credit Debi Pittman WilkeyThe ferry drops visitors at the large State Park Dock and after that it’s easy to walk to the nearby beach. Advance bookings are recommended by phoning (239) 472-5100 or you can book online from the official Cayo Costa Ferry website.
The eight-mile journey from Captiva takes about 30 minutes.
Photo credit Debi Pittman WilkeyWildlife and Amenities in Cayo Costa State Park
Once you’ve landed on Cayo Costa Island, you’ll find a nine-mile long beach of pristine white sand just waiting for some footprints. The island has sand dunes, pine forests and oak-palm hammocks along with mangroves, grassy areas, dunes and palms.
Photo courtesy Captiva CruisesYou may see dolphins frolicking in the wake behind the boat, and there will certainly be pelicans and other sea birds flying overhead. The beaches are a turtle nesting area from May to September and nests may be marked with wooden sticks to avoid visitors accidentally disturbing the eggs, which are protected by law.
Things to Do on Cayo Costa Island
There are about six miles of hiking and biking trails for exploring the 2,426-acre Cayo Costa State Park. Bicycles can be rented from the Ranger Station which has an interactive exhibit and sells ice. You can go fishing, shelling, bird watching or relax on the beach and catch the sun’s rays. The safe waters are ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
Photo credit Debi Pittman Wilkey