Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Cayo Costa adventure.
Nature rules on this Gulf of Mexico island.
Nine miles of beautiful beaches, lush mangroves, and unspoiled hiking trails await on Cayo Costa Island, one of Florida’s largest barrier islands. Of course, you have to get there first, and with access only by boat, this Gulf Coast getaway is strictly for the adventurous only. Catch the ferry from one of the surrounding islands or bring your own boat and sail across the Charlotte Harbor Estuary. Don’t forget your snorkel or scuba gear—manatees, porpoises, and sea turtles have all been spotted around the island, or you can swim, fish, or go shelling along the pristine beaches.
The state park welcomes day visitors from 8am to sunset. The best time to visit southwest Florida is from late-October through May, when the weather is warm enough for beach days without the high humidity of the summer months. However, you might also want to time your trip to enjoy the winter seabird migrations or sea turtle nesting season (May through October). Hurricane season runs from June through November, and may affect travel to the island.