Cayo Costa State Park

Cayo Costa State Park
Cayo Costa State Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Location	Lee County, Florida, USA
Nearest city	Boca Grande, Florida
Area	2,506 acres (10 km2)
Governing body	Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Cayo Costa State Park is a Florida State Park on La Costa Island, which is directly south of Boca Grande, Florida, 12 miles (19 km) west of Cape Coral and just north of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The park is accessible only by charter boat (with or without captain), private boat or ferry.

Geography

Cayo Costa Island is one of a chain of barrier islands that shelter Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound. The park contains nine miles (14 km) of soft white sandy beaches and 2,506 acres (10 km²) of pine forests, oak-palm hammocks, and mangrove swamps.

Fauna

Among the wildlife that can be seen at the park are manatees, dolphins, and an assortment of birds.

Recreational Activities

Activities include hiking, off-road bicycling, swimming kayaking, snorkeling, picnicking, fishing, shelling, wildlife viewing, camping, and sunbathing.

Amenities

Amenities include boat slips, beaches, hiking trails, picnic pavilions, 12 primitive camping cabins and bath house/restrooms. The park offers a small nature center/gift shop with nature exhibits as well as items for sale. The park has the following available for purchase: ice, sun lotion, bug spray, t-shirts, hats, bird keys, shell keys, and postcards. Cayo Costa has bikes available for half-day and full-day rentals.

Camping

There are 12 primitive cabins and 30 tent sites available for camping each with its own picnic table and fire pit/ground grill assigned to each site. Boat slips are available for those who wish to camp aboard their boats.