The majority of Captivas accommodations are at South Seas Island Resort, and its a lovely stay perfect also for destination weddings and other family gathering as they have a variety of accommodation types from studios to 3 and 4 bedroom homes. But its far from chaotic. Bowman's Beach and Blind Pass Beach re where you will find softer sand on Sanibel Island. Generally, these two islands have amazing beaches and a calm, laid-back atmosphere that everyone enjoys. Its the place you go to unplug and unwind. Since it is more or less north and south you have perfect beach sunsets from all 7.1 miles. Here are some helpful tips to get the most out of your Captiva or Sanibel Island shelling experience. Located on a little barrier island just 7 miles long, Fort Myers Beach features wide beaches and beautiful views. Not at all. Fishermen also enjoy the beach. Once you visit, its easy to see what we mean when we call them twins. The Keys would probably be your best bet for clear water, without traveling out of the country. BOAT RIDE AROUND J.N. . The sand on Clearwater Beach is slightly nicer than the sand on Sand Key, but it is pretty close.
Sanibel's lighthouse shining bright again five months after Hurricane Ian In fact, theres an eclectic variety of Sanibel retaurants serving great breakfasts, casual lunch, and upscale restaurants for dinner. Honestly I cant imagine living on the island if I had to go to work off-island everyday, or just do a quick run to Target. If youre trying to decide which island to stay on, its really going to come down to your budget and what exactly youre looking for. Condos are also available on both the Gulf and the bay. If you stay at South Seas Island Resort, you have the added benefit of the resorts shuttle service. The currents that bring abundant shells to sanibel and the 10K islands do result in some turbulence and suspended sand in the water at times even when there are no water releases. Located in the middle of the island, there is more than enough space to enjoy the sunshine or relax in the shade should you want to take a moment to rest. While Sanibel and Captiva arent radically different, Ill do my best to break the two down: Sanibel is a sizable island with direct access from mainland Fort Myers via the Sanibel Causeway. Sanibel is most famous for its shelling. Once you check into this inn, you get a complimentary breakfast. Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Check VRBO Availability of Captiva Beachfront Rentals, Top 10 Tricks for Planning a Sanibel Island Vacation on a Budget, What to Look for in a Captiva or Sanibel Island Vacation Rental, The 3 Best Months to Visit Sanibel Island, The Highest Rated Captiva Island House Rentals, The 5 Highest Rated St George Island Beach House Rentals, The 5 Best Anna Maria Island Beachfront House Rentals, The 5 Biggest Florida Keys Beach House Rentals, The 6 Best Amelia Island Vacation Rentals, Top 10 Hidden Caribbean Private Island Rentals, Sanibel Island Tips & Secrets Only a Local Would Know, Complete Guide to Kayaking Sanibel Island. There are 76 general parking spaces. TravelMagmais a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Thank you Once you cross over the bridge at Blind Pass, youll immediately notice how the road narrows and homes are shrouded by lush greenery and gates. You'll find it on the western edge of Captiva Island. You can reach Blind Pass by heading to Sanibel's western tip where the gorgeous white sand flanks the channel between Sanibel and Captiva islands. Bowmans Beach and Blind Pass Beach re where you will find softer sand on Sanibel Island. 2. It takes about 20 minutes (without traffic) to travel the length of Sanibel and come to the small bridge over Blind Pass that brings you onto Captiva. Blind Pass Beach is where Sanibel and Captiva Islands meet. At 33 square miles, (12 miles end-to-end), walking may not always be convenient, depending on your plans. Honestly, I think of Captiva as an extension of Sanibel. On Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches on the island and enjoy the Gulf and Pine Island sound. But if youre not staying here, access to the property is restricted. There are many homes and historic cottages that rent privately as well. All great points. The beach itself is clean, with shaded areas and restrooms, covered cabanas, and picnic areas to enjoy. Captiva Beach, Captiva Island: See 1,385 reviews, articles, and 733 photos of Captiva Beach, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 10 attractions in Captiva Island. You can park for free here, and you can head to the park during the day for the kids to play before heading to the sand. Water on Marco is not constantly clear as mentioned above.
Sanibel Island Shelling - World's Best Shelling Beaches Out of the 1.6 square miles of Captiva, over 300 acres essentially the entire northern tip is all owned by the South Seas Resort. There are free taxis to many restaurants/bars but paid transport is $6 anywhere on the island.
7 Best Beaches on Sanibel And Captiva Islands - Florida Trippers Captiva Island Beaches: 3 Best Access Points | PlanetWare Thats the right question! Both islands are breathtaking. It dwells today within the seaside Casa Ybel Resort. Sanibel is known to be the top shelling destination in North America. Likewise, Ive heard from people who stayed on Captiva and were disappointed in the lack of shells. Answer 1 of 5: Hi all! To give you an accurate perspective, Sanibel is downright sleepy compared with other southwest Florida towns like Fort Myers, Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs even Punta Gorda. Sanibel and Captiva Island are amazing islands that welcome people searching for a great spot to have family time.
Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts | Choose Your Island. Choose Your Beach. Having taken morning runs on both island beaches, Sanibel's sand provides a much better surface for runners. In fact, Sanibel and Captiva have some of the most fun and unique bars in Southwest Florida. Does the lack of chain restaurants mean Sanibel has no casual restaurants for quick and cheap in-and-out service? But Captiva is even quieter and less busy than Sanibel, though theres still plenty to do. The other three councilmen are Scott. There are no high-rise accommodations on Sanibel, only two story hotels, one-story retro motels, and lovely quaint cottages. With surging currents depositing an exotic array of shells, Blind Pass Beach is one of the best beaches on Sanibel Island for shelling. On the other hand, if you intend to drive, the admission rate is $5 per car. The way it juts out into the gulf (its situated more east/west than north/south) means its a treasure trove when winter storms stir up the billions of shells sitting out deeper in the Gulf of Mexico. YUCATAN SHRIMP AT Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. They'll need water and power restored and repairs, but "uninhabitable" is a massive exaggeration.
What Makes Sanibel and Captiva Island Special? - Jensen's Marina That said, however, since most visitors seem to hit the beaches closest to the Sanibel Causeway (the only road on and off the island), youll find that the closer you get to the Causeway, the more crowded the beaches are. Because of its larger size, Sanibel has more beaches to choose from than Captiva. Without a doubt, Sanibel has better shelling than Captiva.
13 Incredible Airbnbs in Sanibel Island, Florida (2021 Edition) You will find miles of pristine beaches to enjoy, and you can island hop to the north of the beaches, and then go fishing when youre on your way! A lot of the island itself is privately owned. Relax on the miles of beaches surrounding the island or enjoy some fun in the water. Since then, Sanibel has followed a path of creating a balance for residents and visitors to enjoy the beauty of the island while at the same time proactively and aggressively controlling development and sprawl. the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Lots of visitor parking available on Sanibel but it costs $5.00 per hour. From Sanibel, this distillery is only about 40 minutes away. Many visitors are amazed at the amount of shells that theyre able to find here. Holiday Inn Club Vacations Sunset Cove Resort, an IHG Hotel. You can just spend your days on Sanibel Island and occasionally go to Captiva island to experience their unique dining experience.
6092 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 | 39 Photos | MLS #223016359 Captiva is much smaller than Siesta. Note: there is a parking fee for those coming in with their cars. Aside from being larger than Captiva Island, Sanibel Island has more shops, hotels, and sights that keep visitors engaged and excited. TOLL: Unless you have a SunPass account, the Causeway toll is $6.00 per vehicle heading to Sanibel. The kids will marvel at the sandbar and youll be able to use the restrooms and outdoor showers as you please. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States.
Perwinkle Way is the main business street but you will note that large sections are still devoid of parking lots and buildings where it traverses natural areas. Captiva has more super high end vacation homes that sit on the beach whereas Sanibel is where youll find more of the condo units. Sanibel isnt a cheap vacation destination (supply and demand because of development restrictions) so youre probably going to pay a premium for anything on the beach. ago Bowman's Beach. In addition, if you enjoy hunting for shells, you should definitely pick Sanibel Island, as it is the top shelling destination in North America. Captiva also allows the use of golf carts on the roads within the village limits during daylight hours only. Because its the only way on and off the island, as you can imagine, traffic can be insane given the popularity of the islands as a tourist destination especially at the height of season from December through March. Nearly 70% of the island is devoted to conservation and wildlife refuges. One of the best spots on Sanibel to go kayaking is the J N Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Captiva Road. Island Vacations of Sanibel and Captiva, Inc. 1101 Periwinkle Way #108 Sanibel, FL 33957 888-451-7277 From the bay to the Gulf of Mexico, the islands are surrounded by water and beauty. We did some . Very shelly though, youll need to wear flips flops to take a walk. McCarthy's Marina, Captiva Vessels up to 24 feet (239) 472-5200 Port Sanibel Marina, Sanibel Vessels up to 65 feet (239) 437-1660 portsanibelmarina.com. Sanibel is known to be the top shelling destination in North America. day trips, Fort Myers, attractions, family fun with kids, Captiva, Captiva Island, restaurants, best restaurants, Southwest Florida, Gulf coast islands, Weird Florida: 8 Unusual Things to See and Do in Southwest Florida. The paths are well marked and almost flat. As waves travel across shallow water they pick up speed and tend to stir up sand and sediment from the ocean floor. More island businesses are re-opening every week. In the village area there are a number of marinas that offer charter captains and water taxi service to the out islands of North Captiva, Cabbage Key and Useppa. The pristine beaches, with plentiful seashells for collectors, proved popular with.