Cayo Costa State Park

Located along the South-western portion of the Floridian shoreline, Cayo Costa State Park Beach is a large and long white-sand beach. This beach is situated on an island called Cayo Costa and it is a part of a state park named Cayo Costa State Park. This beach is nine-and-a-half miles long and a forest is present near it. 

Cayo Costa State Park Beach does not have lifeguards. However, the beach and Cayo Costa State Park have many other amenities including restrooms, showers, concession stands, kayak/canoe rental facilities and launching areas, and an amphitheater. 

Cayo Costa State Park Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, paddleboarding, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, water-skiing, kayaking, canoeing, wake-boarding, and parasailing. The water near Cayo Costa State Park Beach has gentle lapping waves, which makes it ideal for beginner swimmers, kayakers, and canoers. The clear water here is also popular among snorkelers and scuba divers, who enter the water here to explore its vibrant marine biodiversity - depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including sea turtles, manatees, porpoises, and dolphins. Sea turtles also use this beach as a nesting spot between May and October. However, if you are planning to enter the water near Cayo Costa State Park Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents. 

If you like birdwatching, you can view many kinds of shorebirds around Cayo Costa State Park Beach. Birds also use the beach as a nesting spot between late winter and spring.  Cayo Costa State Park Beach is a great spot for beachcombing, particularly during the winter - you can find many kinds of shells on this large beach including clam shells, oyster shells, and scallop shells. Cayo Costa State Park Beach is also a great fishing spot and you can catch many kinds of fish in the water here including sheepshead, tarpon, and flounder. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Cayo Costa State Park, we recommend ensuring compliance with the local fishing regulations. 

Cayo Costa State Park has a vibrant landscape which consists of many habitats including pine forests and wetlands - you can explore the park’s landscape via hiking and biking trails. The park also has a campground and cabins. If you are planning to camp or stay in Cayo Costa State Park, we recommend visiting the state park’s webpage at Florida State Park’s website for more information regarding the campground and the cabin charges and rules. The park’s amphitheater also hosts interpretive programs which offer a unique insight into the state park area’s natural and cultural history.

Getting to Cayo Costa Park can be difficult as the only way to visit this beach is via boat. If you don’t have your own private boat, Captiva Cruises is a privately-owned concession that offers half-day and full-day trips to Cayo Costa State Park. Captiva Cruises is based on Captiva Island, and you can visit its website for more information regarding the ferry rules and charges. 

There are many attractions near Cayo Costa State Park Beach. The Barbara Sumwalt Museum has interesting exhibits which offer a unique insight into the rich history of south-western Florida. However, since this museum is located on a privately owned island, we recommend visiting the website of Useppa Island Historical Society (which manages this museum) for more information regarding the access details. Pineland Monument Park is a recreational waterfront park which offers interesting information about the Native American Calusa people. In addition, the park is also a great fishing spot and it also offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the south-western Florida shoreline and the Gulf of Mexico, especially during sunsets. If you are looking for another attraction near Cayo Costa State Park Beach, the Calusa Heritage Trail is an approximately mile-long trail which offers visitors a chance to explore a historic site called the Pineland Archaeological District - this site consists of many unique structures constructed by the Native American Calusa people. This trail also has many amenities near it including benches, observation areas, picnic areas, and restrooms, along with interpretive exhibits. A research center named Randell Research Center also offers guided tours of this trail on a seasonal basis.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Cayo Costa State Park Beach. Tarpon Lodge Restaurant is an upscale restaurant which is set in a 1920s building - this restaurant also offers amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico. This restaurant also serves amazing gourmet dishes for lunch and dinner including seafood, steaks, burgers, and poultry dishes. Capt'n Con's Fish House is a waterfront restaurant which is known for serving amazing seafood. The restaurant also offers amazing poultry dishes, steaks, sandwiches, and salads. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Cayo Costa State Park Beach, Little Lilly’s Island Deli offers amazing salads, sandwiches, breakfast dishes, and seafood.

If you are looking for a hotel near Cayo Costa State Park Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village is a 40-minute drive away from the nearby community of Bokeelia and offers many amenities including a hot tub, a spa, a fitness center, three pools, and a restaurant center. In addition, the hotel also offers activities for kids (for a fee) and it also offers kayak rentals and tours. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Tarpon Lodge which offers many amenities including a restaurant, a lounge that offers live music, a pool, and complimentary breakfast. The hotel also offers dockage for a fee.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Cayo Costa State Park Beach, the 2-Star Bridgewater Inn offers a couple of amenities including a fishing area with seating and a boat dock (available for a fee).