Are you planning a trip to Florida and want to dedicate part of your vacation to beautiful beaches where you can relax and maybe sip a cocktail while watching a magical sunset over the Gulf of Mexico? Captiva Island is one of the destinations on the west coast of Florida that best suit your needs!
The island cannot be considered without its big sister, Sanibel Island, that you have to pass through to arrive here by land. But if you are thinking of an itinerary in this area, make sure you read our articles on Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach, which are the fundamental stops on the mainland opposite these magnificent islands.
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How to get to Captiva Island (and best time to visit)
Let’s start with the logistics: we are talking about an island, but the only way to get here is by land, or rather across another island. The Sanibel Causeway is a road that connects the coast with Sanibel Island with its long bridge, crosses the whole island and continues on another bridge to Captiva Island. The distance between the two islands is minimal and this is because until a century ago they were actually the same island. In 1926, a major hurricane destroyed part of the fragile sand and mangrove ecosystem, opening the channel known today as Blind Pass.
That said, to get to the island you’ll need a rental car, which turns out to be almost indispensable for a touring trip to Florida. In this regard, we recommend you read both our article on how to reach Fort Myers, which is the main city in the area.
Another aspect to take into consideration when organizing your trip is the period. Florida, particularly along the coasts, is not a state that you can visit easily all year round. The summer is very rainy and in some areas you also have to watch out for hurricanes. We went into more detail about the climate in this article.
Visiting Captiva Island
Captiva Island is a thin strip of land, 2625 feet wide at its widest point and only 300 feet at its narrowest point, stretching for less than 5.5 miles from the northern tip of Sanibel Island. As mentioned earlier, it wasn’t until 1926 that the two islands were created from the splitting of a single previous island, due to a hurricane. Sand and the intricate network of mangroves are the two building blocks of a good portion of these islands: a delicate ecosystem that, as shown, can change its appearance at any moment if nature wakes up one morning in a bad mood.
A bit of history
Today Captiva is a destination for vacationers, teeming with hotels and restaurants, but let’s take a few steps back in time to understand who has lived here over the centuries, when its appearance was much wilder. The first to inhabit the island were the Calusa Indians, who seem to have remained here until 1700. It was then explored by the Spanish conquistadors and was a refuge for pirates. It is said that the pirate Gasparilla brought the women he captured here, in a sort of personal prison. This is where the name of the island (from the Latin captivus, prisoner) comes from, handed down until today.
Subsequently, several particular characters transited from these parts. Among the many, in the nineteenth century a Mr. Binder was shipwrecked here, on his way from Austria to New Orleans: for ten years he was the only inhabitant of the island and is now buried in the cemetery of the Chapel by the Sea. Between 1800 and 1900 the island began to develop and to be inhabited by a growing number of people, also as a result of the studies carried out here by the scientist Coles, on behalf of President Roosevelt, on the meat of sharks and manta rays. The excellent fishing potential of these seas attracted entrepreneurs and several businesses were gradually born. Among the personalities of the twentieth century who lived here, we can remember the pop art artists Robert Rauschenberg and Roy Lichtenstein.
Things to Do in Captiva Island: Discover the Captiva Village
Between dips in the sea and siestas on the beach, take a tour of Captiva Village, the heart of the island. The stores and main businesses are concentrated here, in the north-central area of the island. A small library, several bars and restaurants, as well as the small white wooden chapel are all within walking distance.
Best Restaurants in Captiva Island
Although the island is quite small, there is no shortage of places to eat, as we are in a very touristy area. If you’re looking for a special place, try Cantina Captiva (14970 Captiva Dr): the cuisine is Mexican, the furnishings are colorful and the ceiling is completely papered with dollar bills. If this last detail has amazed you, then you should go eat at Cabbage Key Restaurant Dollar Bills, which is located on the small island of Cabbage Key and can be reached by water cab. Here, all the walls and ceiling are completely covered with dollar bills, put there by customers, as often happens in places of this type. You can ask the waiter for a permanent marker and contribute to the decor with one of your bills, signing it or writing what you want on it before pasting it on the wall.
Harbourside Bar & Grill (5400 S. Seas Plantation Rd.), a nautical-themed eatery that specializes in seafood dishes, is also good. From the veranda you can enjoy a beautiful view of the sunset over the sea. In the same hotel complex that houses this restaurant, we also find Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille: a good quality chain that combines American and Caribbean cuisine. A bonus there is often live music to accompany dinner. Returning to seafood cuisine, a good place is the Old Captiva House (15951 Captiva Dr.), while The Bubble Room (15001 Capiva Dr.) is a restaurant especially appreciated for its desserts. Here in addition to eating you can also visit the adjoining store: it also has a room decorated all year round with a Christmas theme.
Captiva Island Beaches
One thing is clear: those who come to Captiva Island do so especially for its beautiful beaches of white sand and its crystal clear sea. If you devote your vacation to this place, you will certainly have the opportunity to tour the entire coastline at your leisure, but if you are just passing through you will certainly appreciate a more in-depth description of the different stretches of coastline, so you can choose where to spend your day. The island actually has only one very long beach that winds along the entire western coast, while on the eastern side the mangroves overlook the lagoon. However, we can separate it into two sections.
Turner Beach is the first segment of beach you come across when arriving from Sanibel Island, just to the side of the channel that divides the two islands. It is not the most popular for those looking for complete relaxation, but it is very popular with those looking for shells because the current brings many on the shore at this point. In addition, it is a great place to observe the colorful sunsets over the Gulf. One precaution, however, is a must: in the part near the bridge, the water becomes deep very quickly and the current can be dangerous, so if you swim at Turner Beach, do not stray too far from the shoreline.
All the rest of the coast on the Gulf of Mexico is known simply as Captiva Beach and has several entrances to access it: the main one is located at 14789 Captiva Drive. Some areas of the beach are private, such as the Millionaire’s Row area, where each house corresponds to its own private pier. The width of the shoreline means that there is room for those who want to relax in peace, as well as those who prefer water sports. Captiva Watersport rents jet skis, boats and fishing rods. There is a chance to try kite surfing, parasailing, paddle boarding or other water sports. Water cabs to Cayo Costa, Boca Grand, Useppa Island and Cabbage Key also depart from here.
Places to Stay in Captiva Island
The island is not very big and most of the available accommodations are of a good standard, so it is not easy to find cheap rooms. If you’re looking for a fairly inexpensive hotel, we suggest looking at availability on the mainland near the Sanibel Causeway.
If, on the other hand, you plan to stay overnight on the island, and spend at least a few days here, the best solution is undoubtedly to rent a vacation home or apartment. Three of very good quality are South Seas Beach Villa 2418, South Seas Beach Villa 2008 and South Seas Gulf Cottage 1106. If you are passing through and want to sleep only one night in Captiva, choose the Bed & Breakfast Captiva Island Inn: simple, essential, but of good quality.
