Visitors who crave the opportunity to explore a majestic nine-mile stretch of pristine beach, completely free of commercial development, should definitely add the Cayo Costa State Park to their list of day-trip destinations.
Located in the brilliant Gulf of Mexico, Cayo Costa can only be reached by boat, which makes getting there part of the fun. You can jump aboard the ferry in Captiva/Sanibel Island, Punta Gorda or Bokeelia and find yourself on a picture-perfect tropical island in less than an hour. Once you reach the state park you can spend your day shelling (Costa Cayo is considered one of the best shelling destinations in the world), hiking, swimming, snorkeling, bird-watching and fishing.
Cayo Costa State Park, FL 33924