Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park We departed the marina at the northwest end of Pine Island and skirted the rippled blue green shallow waters along the southern most stretch of Charlotte Harbor, where it meets Pine Island Sound, and made a beeline towards Boca Grand Pass, famous for outstanding Tarpon fishing. Reviews rave about how much fun this cruise is with a narrated tour and frequent dolphin sightings as you cross Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is accessible only by a boat and it is a one-hour ferry ride from Bokeelia, itself a remote spot on Pine Island west of Fort Myers. Each of these ferries service campers as well for an additional $10 fee. Ollie and I explored the webs for a while until we discovered a tick. Well behaved and supervised pets are allowed inside Cayo Costa State Park. Gauthiermade moong dal and couscous with harissa for dinner, and southern hospitality supplied us with sweet potato pudding. Required fields are marked *. Camp sites are steps to the spectacular beach and surrounded by native vegetation. An amazing traveling companion, Gauthier drove us through some very unique landscapes on the way home. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Look out for Snowy Egret, Brown Pelican, Least Tern, Reddish Egret, Snowy Plover, White Ibis and Tricolored Heron. There are bobcats, raccoons, river otters, grey squirrels, feral pigs, and possibly the endangered Anastasia Island beach mouse. There is an extra transport fee for kayaks andbicycles. And there you have it. A bit of trivia. WebCayo Costa State Park protects the Charlotte Harbor Estuary and provides visitors with a majestic piece of untouched Florida. And if snakes bother you, youve come to the wrong place. Manatee Springs State Park Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Cayo Costa State Park Tropical Star Cruises, on Pine Island, is the closest ferry to Cayo Costa. St. Andrews State Park This is what Florida was like before the age of condos and airplanes. Dudley Farm Historic State Park There is a water taxi serving the general area, Island Girl. A $2.00-day use fee is charged to all visitors of the park, separate from any shuttle fees you may pay. Launch site: Fort Meade If you require immediate use of your pass, this is the best option. This article is property of FloridaRambler.com, protected by U.S. Tickets are only $36.50 with free parking. Ponce de Leon Springs State Park Visitors are reminded that camping is allowed only in designated sites in the campground on Cayo Costa. Orman House Historic State Park The access docks, entire shop compound, ranger residences, and many other facilities will have to be rebuilt from scratch. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park, Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park, Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park, Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park, Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park, Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, T.H. Friends of Cayo Costa is a committee of the Barrier Island Parks Society with the goal to preserve, protect, and promote the pristine barrier island. As many of you know, Cayo Costa State Park is where Hurricane Ian made its initial landfall. There are multiple trails throughout the 2,426 acre park, not to mention just walking on the white sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. WebCayo Costa State Park. Hontoon Island State Park Lake Talquin State Park Youll appreciate the rugged beauty of Cayo Costa State Park as you explore trails by foot or kayak. South Fork State Park Looking down the considerable length of the shoreline from our perspective in the boat it appeared that there would be no more access points and I started to wonder if this guy was going to try sell 'swampland' to us ignorant yankee transplants. On the way home we stopped for lunch at Wheelers in Arcadia and browsed the antiques on sale in the stands that line the street every Saturday. And, often, you will spot manatees, dolphins, and stingrays making for a memorable snorkeling experience. On one side of the road was a vast forest of pines trees growing in eerie rows, and on the other side was the muddy and desolate remains of a harvested forest. Contact the Statewide Information Line: Lake Louisa State Park The campground is accessible only by passenger ferry or private boat. Snorkelers can expect to see schools of fish, starfish, and seahorses. The communities on Pine Island welcome everyone interested in selecting the area as their Florida Spring Break destination, however, the island does not have a public beach. Pine Island visitors would need to travel to Cape Coral or Fort Myers Beach to dip their toes in the sand, or hop in a boat to access Cayo Costa. The creek becomes shallow in the autumn, but during the summer it floods the forest. Each site has a picnic table, a ground grill and access to potable water. And, often, you will spot manatees, dolphins, and stingrays making for a memorable snorkeling experience. Closer to home, near Lake Okeechobee, they were harvesting sugar cane in the cane plantations. There are multiple trails throughout the 2,426 acre park, not to mention just walking on the white sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park Parking is $5, but there is also a $6 toll to cross over to Captiva Island. The 9 Latest Answer, Which Neurotransmitter Is The BrainS Chief Inhibitory Neurotransmitter? Most of the palm trees are vibrant and green, many hardwoods are already budding fresh leaves, and a surprising number of pines are still standing strong. WebCayo Costa has 30 tent sites in a primitive environment. Troy Spring State Park Please read our disclaimer. Campsites and cabins are available for overnight stays, and a ferry service runs to the island from several mainland locations. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Confirm details when planning visits. Follow www.friendsofcayocosta.org for updates. Lake Kissimmee State Park If a local fisher is not afraid to be up to his chest in the water with a 12 foot alligator nearby, I am not afraid of alligators either. Addison Blockhouse Historic State Park Sebastian Inlet State Park The name Cayo Costa translates to Key by the Coast, which in this case should really be Key to a Paradise Lost.There is an abundance of wildlife found on Cayo Costa. WebAn alligator soaks up the sun on the edge of a tidal pond on January 5, 2020 at Cayo Costa State Park on Florida's west coast. The campground is fairly sunny and near the beach. Fort Pierce Inlet State Park WebCayo Costa State Park stretches over 2,420 acres on one of Floridas largest unspoiled barrier islands. Hillsborough River State Park The only facilities that appear intact or in seemingly repairable condition are the ranger station, gift shop, bayside restroom and main gulfside restroom. As we got close we started to vere left into the protected anchorage of lovely Pelican Bay, framed by a large, mostly mangrove island on the east side and Cayo Costa to the West. To be continued. WebFakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is located along the Tamiami Trail, which is a road that leads from Southwest Florida to Miami where there are many stops you can make for a chance to see alligators. We continued motoring along southward past the park and the shoreline became an increasingly thick, dark inaccessible tangle of mangrove roots. This let us leave after breakfast instead of 5:00 am for either of the other two shuttles. No matter how lovely the day or how idyllic the beaches, you wont find crowds at Cayo Costa State Park. The communities on Pine Island welcome everyone interested in selecting the area as their Florida Spring Break destination, however, The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) notified residents, Cayo Costa is my proudest accomplishment because of the. That said, you need to understand who's giving you this advice. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. This year we kayaked upper Peace River, from Fort Meade to Zolfo Springs. Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park The lagoon, just past the camp sites very convenient for hungry gators. WebFeb 2021. The water is stained from debris that has settled at the bottom of the river. Estero Bay Preserve State Park Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park This will not happen overnight, and will take years to rebuild the park and infrastructure for full visitor use. WebCayo Costa State Park is only accessible by private boat or Captiva Cruises. Goodbye, Deer Valley We'll miss you Ev, What's the "Deer Valley Difference"? Just before Zolfo Springs boat launch at Pioneer Park, you learn why its called Zolfo Springs. We had a picnic lunch and this way our view; its Boca Grande. This year we kayaked upper Peace River, from Fort Meade to Zolfo Springs. Long before there was a state park here, this was simply an island home to the Calusa Indians, various species of native flora and fauna, and eventually, Spanish Cuban fisherman, and settlers. We heard lots of alligators; we saw few because they tended to jump in the water with a loud splash before we could getclose enough to see them. There just arent many places like this left. T.H. Yes, some people do. 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