Page Updated: September 15, 2023
Cayo Costa State Park
Cayo Costa FL
Located on the Gulf of Mexico and once a popular fishing ground for the Native American Calusa, the barrier island of Cayo Costa State Park is now a popular destination for camping, swimming, snorkeling, shelling and fishing and is only accessible by boat. The park covers 2400+ acres and has 9 miles of beach. Public ferry service to the park can be found on Captiva Island, Pine Island, and on Punta Gorda.
On September 28, 2022, Category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall near the island of Cayo Costa, FL. Damage to the island and the surrounding greater Fort Myers area was catastrophic. Many communities lost businesses and homes. The determined began the arduous process of rebuilding. Others have chosen to move on.
Impromptu excursion! I spotted one of those tiny brown park signs on a morning bike ride, did some quick research, and voilà… we decided to pencil it in.
We took the only public ferry from Pine Island, the Tropic Star, and headed out for a fun day on Cayo Costa. Made even sweeter by a visit from my baby sis.
Before hitting the park, we made a stop at Cabbage Key for a lunch. Once we were on Cayo Costa, we were set loose for the rest of the afternoon.
The walk from the dock to the beach along Cabin Trail Road
(also the tram road) is approximately half a mile, and it’s worth noting bikes are available for rent near the gift shop near the dock.
After sitting on the ferry, we opted to walk. But, man was it was hot. If you’re brining lots of gear, I recommend you take the tram.
Our reward was a pleasant beach experience. It’s hard to beat the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico. And due to logistics of getting to the island, the crowd was small which made for a more enjoyable day in the sun.
After a few hours in the sun, it we took the last tram back to the dock.
The tram schedule for Cayo Costa is wonky. After the initial morning run, there are 15-20min gaps of dead time - maybe even 30. I’m sure it depends on passenger pickup and the amount of gear passengers need to load. But, the tram stops running at 3, and we didn’t want to miss the last tram back or the last cruise out.
We were only on Cayo Costa for a couple of hours, but I think this spot is worthy of more time. Maybe camp a night or two. Cycle a few trails. Nap under the canopy at midday. And maybe look up at the stars with my toes in the sand and see if I can see the Milky Way.
-b&b
Cabbage Key
Matlacha
