Camping on Cayo Costa
More than 90 percent of the 2,225-acre island is given over to Cayo Costa State Park. This wild, sparsely populated destination is known for its shelling (collection of live shells is prohibited, so please take only empty ones). Campers can also rent bikes and swim and snorkel in the surrounding Gulf waters.
The only way to reach the island is by boat, about a 20-minute ride from mainland and near-island marinas. Water taxis from Captiva and Pine Island provide transportation for visitors.
One road (traveled only by bikes and a park tram) and five nature trails (about six miles in all) crisscross the park's dunes, pine flatwoods, oak and palm hammocks, grassy lands and mangroves. Overnighters can dock and unload on the bay side, anchor their vessels and ride the tram along the one-mile Cabin Road to the campground.
The park runs a tidy little campground with 12 cabins that contain three wooden bunks each and are available for $40 a night. Thirty campsites can accommodate up to eight people each for $22 a night. Reservations are advised, especially on weekends and in season. Contact Reserve America up to 11 months in advance to hold your away-from-it-all spot.
Showers and restrooms serve guests to Cayo Costa State Park, plus there's drinking water. You must bring all of your own food in animal-proof containers, and take everything with you when you leave the island. The ranger station sells ice. Day visitors pay $1 each to enter the park, but the tram service is free to all visitors. The island has no electric hookups. During warmer months, bug spray is recommended.
