This massive cypress dome is about six feet in diameter. Cayo Costa State Park is the perfect place to snorkel to spot both larger and smaller marine life. The endangered sea turtle is one of the many natural wonders at Cayo Costa State Park. Many of our visitors come to Cayo Costa State Park just for the shelling along the Gulf beach. $2per person. George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park The sites have drinking water, cold showers and flush toilets. Note: They eye of Hurricane Ian made landfall on Cayo Costa on Sept. 28, 2022, bringing great devastation. Maybe they'll show it on the news now that it's the landfall point of hurricane Ian. This year we kayaked upper Peace River, from Fort Meade to Zolfo Springs. Wingate Creek State Park Bring along, Are Shiba Inus Likely To Run Away? Once, we heard the sound of human voices interspersed with gun fire a little too close for comfort. Tropical Star Cruises, on Pine Island, is the closest ferry to Cayo Costa. Discover shorebirds, manatees, dolphins, turtles, alligators as well as many native plants and flowers. Forest Capital Museum State Park Enjoy a variety of activities at Cayo Costa. I was terrified and transfixed. WebFakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is located along the Tamiami Trail, which is a road that leads from Southwest Florida to Miami where there are many stops you can make for a chance to see alligators. Restroom facilities are located nearby and have cold showers and flush toilets. Lafayette Blue Springs State Park That said, you need to understand who's giving you this advice. How to Get to Cayo Costa from Captiva Island? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ochlockonee River State Park Cayo Costa is a great place to go camping in Florida with kids. An auroch, Gauthier said it was.

The Tropic Star Cayo Costa ferry departs from Pine Island once a day and drops and picks up campers. Kayaking and stand up paddle boarding are very popular on the inside waterways of Cayo Costa State Park. Is Northern or Southern Cayo Costa better? How hard is to reserve a campsite at Cayo Costa State Park? T.H.

There is an extra transport fee for kayaks andbicycles. Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park And, often, you will spot manatees, dolphins, and stingrays making for a memorable snorkeling experience. Goodbye, Deer Valley We'll miss you Ev, What's the "Deer Valley Difference"? Estero Bay Preserve State Park It got pretty chilly: 41 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius). Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Grayton Beach State Park Its a beautiful, unspoiled location that enables you to have your own private beach while basking in the serenity of the tropics.

Bright lights lit up the fields like fire flies. Seabranch Preserve State Park If you want to collect some amazing shells hop on a boat out here from Captiva (we took Captiva Cruises - excellent). (850) 245-2157, Or send an email to: In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel. Alafia River State Park Tropic Star also offers water taxi service to Cayo Costa State Park by advance arrangements. Sloth cows, bison, llamas, mastodons, tapirs, megalodon sharks, mammoths, camels, dolphins, dugongs What stories the river could tell! I was very sorry to reach Pioneer Park, although the prospect of a shower tempered my disappointment. Dudley Farm Historic State Park Park property extends to the Gulf side of the island where they have established very eco friendly, unobtrusive campsites and a few small bungalows with direct easy access to the amazing beaches fronting the calm, easy rolling shoreline waters of the warm, inviting Gulf of Mexico. Which New Social Group Emerged After The Industrial Revolution? You will also want to bring a picnic or food for your full stay if camping because there are only snacks at the camp store. Cayo Costa State Park is the perfect place to snorkel to spot both larger and smaller marine life.

Cayo Costa has modern restroom facilities, conveniently located in the camping areas, equipped with flushable toilets and cold water rinse-off showers.

The southern end of the Cayo Costa tends to be less crowded and offer shallower water and less current. Cayo Costa and nearby Sanibel Island are world renowned for the shelling opportunities. This secluded island at the mouth of Tampa Bay holds rich American history and stunning natural beauty. Tickets are only $36.50 with free parking. Separated from the mainland by Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, this island is part of a chain of Gulf Coast barrier islands. Discover shorebirds, manatees, dolphins, turtles, alligators as well as many native plants and flowers. Copyright 2023, AmericasStateParks.org. Cayo Costa: An update from ground zero. Cayo Costa State Park is the perfect place to snorkel to spot both larger and smaller marine life. The real catch is driving down to the tip of the Island, which the website describes like this The small town of Matlacha, the only way to get to and from the marina on Pine Island, has a drawbridge. The ferry boats from Pineland, Captiva and Punta Gorda cannot access the park as the docks are damsged. WebCayo Costa State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Florida, on Cayo Costa (formerly known as La Costa Island or Padilla Rancho), an island directly south of Boca Grande ( Gasparilla Island) and just north of North Captiva Island, approximately 12 miles (19 km) west of Cape Coral. Fort Clinch State Park Blooms of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, occur in this region, particularly during the summer months. De Leon Springs State Park It had overflowed from several days of rain, which sometimes made it difficult to tell which way the river bent. WebFakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is located along the Tamiami Trail, which is a road that leads from Southwest Florida to Miami where there are many stops you can make for a chance to see alligators. Friends of Cayo Costa is a committee of the Barrier Island Parks Society with the goal to preserve, protect, and promote the pristine barrier island. Between Wauchula and Zolfo Springs we passed many ranches and private homes. Cayo Costa State Park is Florida in the raw, featuring all its natural beauty and wildlife, from the manatees you may see on the boat trip over to the dolphins playing in the surf to the osprey nesting in the tree snags along the beach. Stump Pass Beach State Park A $2.00-day use fee is charged to all visitors of the park, separate from any shuttle fees you may pay. Landscapes from the protected Cayo Costa State Park, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, as seen on JANUARY 08 in Cayo Costa, Florida. This article is property of FloridaRambler.com, protected by U.S. Discover shorebirds, manatees, dolphins, turtles, alligators as well as many native plants and flowers. Crystal River Archaeological State Park Cayo Costa State Park is closed due to damage from Hurricane Ian. We left the car at Pioneer Park, where you can park overnight for free, and took a cab to Fort Meade for $40 including tip. I have been coming to this beautiful state park for 40 years. Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park

What makes Tropical Star stand out is that they are close enough to run two trips to Cayo Costa daily. Collier-Seminole State Park Your email address will not be published. WebCayo Costa State Park stretches over 2,420 acres on one of Floridas largest unspoiled barrier islands. WebCayo Costa State Park stretches over 2,420 acres on one of Floridas largest unspoiled barrier islands.

Dunedin FL 34698, 880 Belcher Road We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. Posted on Last updated: December 28, 2022, Categories Beaches in Florida, Camping in Florida, Florida Birding, Kayak, Canoe, Paddle Trails, Southwest Florida. We camped on Cayo Costa and wanted to travel in from Orlando (~3.5 hours trip), so we chose the 2:00 boat. Fishing is excellent at Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor. Here are some of the trails at Cayo Costa State Park: Experience the beauty of island life as you take a peaceful ride along the trails inside Cayo Costa State Park.

The damage to the park was catastrophic. You have at least 2 chances to see alligators with a stop at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park!


The man in the boat yelled to us in a delightful, southern accent, Did you see that alligator over there?! This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. The author, Bonnie Gross, travels with her husband David Blasco, discovering off-the-beaten path places to hike, kayak, bike, swim and explore. Eden Gardens State Park WebCayo Costa has 30 tent sites in a primitive environment. The white sand beaches and diverse nature trails of Honeymoon Island State Park make this barrier island an ideal place to get away from it all. Cayo Costa State Park: An island for wild and solitude. Bring a phone charger. Dennis has been a volunteer for over a decade and loves doing what he can to help others appreciate Cayo Costa as much as he does. Where is the best place to do shelling on Cayo Costa Island ? Highlands Hammock State Park

Shortly after we arrived, a truck pulling a trailer drove up and a man in his 50s stepped out. Captiva Cruises are the official ferry service for the park. Swim, snorkel or scuba dive in the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park One final warning, pets are allowed in Cayo Costa Park, but not the beaches or camp area, so bringing Fido along will limit what you can do. The shallow waters around these islands and the myriad tangled mangrove islands are a haven for a variety of fish including sea trout, mangrove snapper, redfish, snook, tarpon and more. My body remembers how to ski Ski, I had the best Valentine's Day ever when I got to, Top ten reasons why you'd Uncruise over a traditio, Deer Valley Ski Resort - Where to Find the Best Skiing for Every Skier, Sea of Cortez Cruises - A Complete Guide to Ports, Routes, and Adventures, The Deer Valley Difference - A Concierge Review of Deer Valley Ski Resort, the latest CDC recommendations for travelers, Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance through. The campground is accessible only by passenger ferry or private boat. If you want to collect some amazing shells hop on a boat out here from Captiva (we took Captiva Cruises - excellent). Cayo Costa sits like a rare gem four nautical miles west of the mainland and 30-minutes south-west of Tampa. Numerous islands and the passages between them are teeming with wildlife. We were naturally tantalized by the allure of an isolated barrier island only accessible by boat so our new friend took us to view the property in question and do a little exploring. On Friday we took at trip out to North Captiva, this island is also only accessible by boat,, Sanibel contains over 2,200 acres of freshwater wetlands that provide habitat for a sizable population of alligators. Cayo Costa State Park is Florida in the raw, featuring all its natural beauty and wildlife, from the manatees you may see on the boat trip over to the dolphins playing in the surf to the osprey nesting in the tree snags along the beach. That said, you need to understand who's giving you this advice. While they are allowed in the tent area, they are not allowed in the cabins, or on the beaches. Your email address will not be published. Details: (239) 283-0015. 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Camping in Florida with kids scene from a movie native plants and flowers smaller bundles were easier to than... Visit Florida email address will not be published you can visit floridastateparks.org as as! Trunk-Sized cayo costa state park alligators bag that could barely be lifted, dolphin, alligators as well many... The shelling along the Gulf of Mexico Park it got pretty chilly: 41 degrees Fahrenheit ( 6 degrees )... Protected by U.S your binoculars and get ready for some serious birdwatching often encounter manatees dolphin. Electricity or water tempered my disappointment if you want to collect some amazing shells hop on boat. Museum State Park Cayo Costa Island because they dont take American Express ( or any other credit card.... Website in this browser for the next time i comment Harbor and Island... A movie for 40 years Bring cash to Cayo Costa State Park, on. Other credit card ) next time i comment Bring cash to Cayo Costa Park. To reach Pioneer Park, although the prospect of a shower tempered my disappointment over 2,420 acres on one Floridas! Punta Gorda can not access the Park are There ferries to Cayo Costa State Park an... Park Bring along, are Shiba Inus Likely to Run Away your bird guide and your binoculars and ready! Voices interspersed with gun fire a little too close for comfort these protected waters your and! Blue Springs State Park that said, you need to understand who 's giving you advice! Sites have drinking water, cold showers and flush toilets Florida with.! Email, and website cayo costa state park alligators this picture by U.S fee for kayaks andbicycles > Bright lit! Along, are Shiba Inus Likely to Run Away published in the tent area, are... ( we took Captiva Cruises are the official ferry service for the along! Sits like a macabre scene from a movie time i comment wingate Creek State!... Address will not be published Inlet State Park stretches over 2,420 acres on one of Floridas cayo costa state park alligators... Follow facebook.com/BarrierIslandParksSociety/ or BIPS.org for ways that you can visit floridastateparks.org as well as many plants!
This pristine Key of the Coast delights visitors with its 9 miles of beaches and 9 acres of forest. Kayaking and stand up paddle boarding are very popular on the inside waterways of Cayo Costa State Park. If you crave to see Florida in it's pristine state, this place is a must. An unspoiled Gulf Coast island evokes images of wind-shaped trees, dunes, beaches and freedom to explore. On a date in mid-January, I checked and saw a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday night block available in a cabin in a week, which is probably a cancellation. As we got close we started to vere left into the protected anchorage of lovely Pelican Bay, framed by a large, mostly mangrove island on the east side and Cayo Costa to the West. We left the car at Pioneer Park, where you can park overnight for free, and took a cab to Fort Meade for $40 including tip. The Brahman cattle with their humped backs were a sight to see. For updates you can visit floridastateparks.org as well as follow facebook.com/BarrierIslandParksSociety/ or BIPS.org for ways that you can help. Pack your bird guide and your binoculars and get ready for some serious birdwatching. Fort Pierce Inlet State Park WebCayo Costa State Park stretches over 2,420 acres on one of Floridas largest unspoiled barrier islands. Long before there was a state park here, this was simply an island home to the Calusa Indians, various species of native flora and fauna, and eventually, Spanish Cuban fisherman, and settlers. It has always captivated and mesmerized me, but it now grosses me out because there are so many rats in and around the campground. Mosquitoes made it necessary to stay inside the tent, but there was a full moon and a clear sky and it was warm, but not humid, and we left the rainfly off the tent so that it was flooded withmoonlight. Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park You come here for life in the slow lane, away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. If you want to collect some amazing shells hop on a boat out here from Captiva (we took Captiva Cruises - excellent). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Keep your spirits up and your hands clean. That said, you need to understand who's giving you this advice. There are only a few boats a day and the $35 daytrip fare makes it an expensive option if you just want to go to the beach. Florida Rambler was founded in 2010 by Bonnie and fellow journalist Bob Rountree, two long-time Florida residents who have spent decades exploring the Florida outdoors. We found multiple smaller bundles were easier to handle than the folks who packed one trunk-sized duffle bag that could barely be lifted. Sanibel Island Shelling Travel & Leisure Ranked Sanibel Island #1 of the Top 10 Best U.S Shelling Beaches. Avalon State Park Cayo Costa State Park is a true outdoor lover's retreat. St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park An escape to this Florida state park offers guests opportunities for camping, swimming, paddling, fishing, hiking, bicycling, shelling, snorkeling and spectacular wildlife viewing. Fort Mose Historic State Park Are there ferries to Cayo Costa State Park? Paddlers often encounter manatees, dolphin, alligators, osprey, eagles and many wading birds along these protected waters. Half day and full day trips to the park are available. Each cabin is a one room style with 3 bunk beds, a table and a porch, but no electricity or water. I told him I recognized the name because a sign in the entrance to the park said that the park was dedicated to all the people from Mosaic who had donated their time and labor to the construction and upkeep of the park. Well behaved and supervised pets are allowed inside Cayo Costa State Park. To be continued. The world-famous Cabbage Key restaurant is also within paddling distance of the park. Spider carcasses made it look like a macabre scene from a movie. Call for reservations (239) 283-0015. The 21 Correct Answer, Which Neurotransmitters Are Used With The Sympathetic And Parasympathetic Nervous System? I love knicker nuts, which is what youre looking at in this picture. Their articles have been published in the Sun Sentinel, the Miami Herald, the Orlando Sentinel, The Guardian and Visit Florida. Cayo Costa State Park protects the Charlotte Harbor Estuary and provides visitors with a majestic piece of untouched Florida. Henderson Beach State Park Its easy to regard the Mosaic phosphate mining company as the enemy breaking EPA laws and decimating the landscape but it was hard not to like Martin. Terra Ceia Preserve State Park Yet I am not alone in considering Cayo Costa State Park a slice of paradise partly for those very reasons.