On our most recent family trip to Captiva Island, we decided to try a new excursion. For years, the half-day trip to Cayo Costa whispered in my ear. I really wanted to take my family on this adventure and experience the pristine beach together. Finally listening to my gut, we took a cruise to Cayo Costa.
Turns out it was the highlight of our trip. We took the Cayo Costa half-day outing through Captiva Cruises. It’s a three-hour tour (yes, it felt like we were heading to Gilligan’s Island). People flock here to explore the stunning beach and find an abundance of shells you won’t even find on Captiva. There are no restaurants, no bathrooms, and hardly any humans in sight. It’s low-key and couldn’t be more lovely. We weren’t prepared for just how peaceful it turned out to be.
Cayo Costa Island
Cayo Costa Island is directly north of North Captiva Island and directly west of the smaller Cabbage Key, roughly a 30-minute cruise from Captiva Island. Most, but all, of the island, is preserved as a Florida State Park.
There are a few private residences on the island, as well as campsites and cabins, but these are few and far between.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience what Captiva or Sanibel looked like before permanent settlement, then you’ll want to check out Cayo Costa. The island features nine miles of undeveloped shoreline.
Cayo Costa is accessible via private charter and Captiva Cruises.
Cruise to Cayo Costa
Captiva Cruises offers access to Cayo Costa 
Cruising along Pine Island Sound
The boat ride to the island is half an hour each way, giving you two hours on the island. I was worried that would be too much time. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It wasn’t nearly enough time. I could’ve spent the entire day exploring this beach and the hidden shells slowly revealing themselves to us. Good news; there’s a full-day trip option to visit this island too.
Once docked, it’s a one-minute walk along a sandy path to the water. The beach reveals itself from behind a stretch of palm trees and shrubs. There’s nothing but white sand, sparkling blue water, and shiny shells greeting you as you enter this nearly deserted location. At first sight, it took my breath away. When you arrive, the island is so calm and peaceful, it feels sacred.
(Almost) Deserted Island
The unspoiled beauty of Cayo Costa 
Sealife is everywhere 
The path between the dock and the beach 
Rays swimming off Cayo Costa Island
We instantly took off to walk along the shore, looking down with each step, careful not to miss amazing shells. Each gentle wave delivers new treasure. Keep your eyes peeled because these shells will disappear as quickly as they arrived.
Be sure to watch your step; you may be joined by friendly rays and other ocean dwellers just offshore. At one point, we noticed something brown in the water only a few feet away. Turns out it was rays, swimming within five feet of the shore. It was incredible seeing them in their natural habitat. It’s a great way for kids to see wildlife up close. We spotted four on our visit and came within a foot of each; they blend in seamlessly! But we never felt in danger.
Perfect for Families and Adults
Picnic lunch on Cayo Costa 
A small sample of the sand dollars we found
The kids happily walked along the beach with us, eagerly searching for shells waiting to be discovered. As soon as another group found a unique or large shell, we would spot another whole sand dollar. And this is how it went for two hours.
We packed food and water and had a picnic lunch on the beach before heading back to the boat. Our family ate lunch on beach towels, in awe of the jaw-dropping view in front of us. We met a lot of nice people and had fun exchanging stories but mostly oohs and ahhs of each other’s shells while cruising back to Captiva.
Related: Cayo Costa Sand Dollar Souvenir
Why You’ll Enjoy A Cruise To Cayo Costa
If you’re looking for a ringing endorsement to ensure you choose the right excursion, Thrillest recently wrote about the Sanibel area and mentioned Captiva Cruises. If you can choose only one, the article states, hands down: it’s Cayo Costa. We think so too.
If you go, and you really should, be sure to bring a bag to carry all those seashells and sand dollars you’ll find.
- Excursion: Cruise to Cayo Costa (website)
- Departs From: Captiva Cruises (McCarthy Marina), 11401 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva Island, FL 33924
- Cost: $45 for adults, $30 for children, plus $2 per person State Park admission
- Time: 3 hours, 2 hours of beach time
- What to Bring: Bag for shelling, picnic lunch, towels
- What to Wear: Swimsuit or beach clothes
