You can rent a kayak here and paddle through mangroves while watching for wading and shore birds and other wildlife. There are more options for 'street legal' carts, but they are not readily available for rent at this time. The access you get to the state park beach is at the West side of Panama Shell Drive at the end of Captiva Drive, and there are just miles of empty sands and fallen trees to explore and climb. If at South Seas add extensive resort amenitiesand an upscale atmosphere. . Like neat little boutiques for shopping. The following Sanibel beaches are now OPEN! Can anyone give us advice. Its a popular destination for those who love to hop from Captiva Island to Sanibel Island and the kids will love the chance to comb for shells. Both islands are home to fantastic beaches with all kinds of amenities. While Sanibel is larger and offers more shops, hotels and sights, Captiva is quaint with powder soft beaches and Old Florida charm. This means you and your pup can frolic in the waves at Algiers Beach in Gulfside City Park, Bowman's Beach, and other Sanibel waterfronts. Many are gulf front and the rates vary greatly. These islands are perfect, providing visitors with dining, shopping, entertainment, and local hotels. There is so much you can do and see with your time, so why not go exploring now? But both islands have their own unique personality. The sand quality is good. Blind Pass Beach Park. Sitemap, 8 Sanibel and Captiva Island Beaches You Have to Visit. Marco is highly developed and channelized with high rises and wide groomed beaches. How to Rent a Beachfront House on Isla Mujeres, Ultimate Guide to Florida Keys Vacation Rentals. Without a doubt, Sanibel is the larger of the two islands, and more touristed since its the first island off the Causeway. The depth of beach space changes too. We hope this clears things up a bit to help you plan your trip to either island! The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva were still closed due to Hurricane Ian w hen we visited, but we marveled at the huge, powerful, beautiful waves we saw from the road. Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are unique for many reasons. Not at all. As for Captiva Islands beaches, the sand is much more like a pillow-top mattress. The building restrictions here are whats part of the charm. While Sanibel is not busy by mainland standards, Captiva manages to be even more laid back. Note: there is a parking fee for those coming in with their cars. Captiva has more of a village feel. Many outdoor activities are also prepared to ensure you are never bored during your stay here. Youll find many public beaches on Sanibel Island, some with fishing piers, and a few private beaches, too. Be sure to use the head. to bring home. There are submerged structures in the water, and these must be avoided. Our guide below gives you an in-depth look at what you can expect at each of Sanibel Island's popular shelling beaches. Captiva Beach, Captiva Island: See 1,385 reviews, articles, and 733 photos of Captiva Beach, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 10 attractions in Captiva Island. This Island has several restaurants and stores for shopping. You could easily sell your home, move here and never miss a thing. Both have soft white sand and clear blue-green water. The Souvenir shopping experience in both islands is quite similar, and you can get beautiful handmade items to take home with you. That is until we stayed at the Island Inn on Sanibel. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. January 2, 2021 Ryan Bellino Florida Gulf Coast Islands, Sanibel and Captiva Islands 0. Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Check VRBO Availability of Captiva Beachfront Rentals, Top 10 Tricks for Planning a Sanibel Island Vacation on a Budget, What to Look for in a Captiva or Sanibel Island Vacation Rental, The 3 Best Months to Visit Sanibel Island, The Highest Rated Captiva Island House Rentals, The 5 Highest Rated St George Island Beach House Rentals, The 5 Best Anna Maria Island Beachfront House Rentals, The 5 Biggest Florida Keys Beach House Rentals, The 6 Best Amelia Island Vacation Rentals, Top 10 Hidden Caribbean Private Island Rentals, Sanibel Island Tips & Secrets Only a Local Would Know, Complete Guide to Kayaking Sanibel Island. more. Updated 1/2/2021 Captiva Island is one of my favorite islands in the United States. It doesn't have lots of stuff inside, but we found a few things for a quick lunch, including . Most places are a little worn and just not very updated. You wont find any high rises (buildings are only allowed to be as tall as the tallest native tree on the island), any chains (except for the cutest little Dairy Queen thats been grandfathered in), and pretty much everything is a mom and pop shop or restaurant. The strong currents that make Blind Pass a . Marco is further from the Caloosatchee river so generally it will have cleaner water. At this point, the combined preserved/ protected conservation land owned by the National Refuge, private foundations and the City of Sanibel extends to about 70% of the island. Sanibel beaches are renowned for the shells that wash up every day - it's the top shelling destination in North America and residents and visitors bending over to examine the shells is the source of the posture known as the 'Sanibel Stoop". Nearby is the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and two private conservation centers. What's there to do I one place vs the other? 2,950 feet from Sanibel Lighthouse. The causeway bridge to Sanibel is $6 roundtrip; there is no fee to gofrom Sanibelto Captiva. TIP: Toll is $6 into Sanibel Island. Beach access is strictly limited and there are only two small paid public lots for beach parking. The kids will love the park, and you can take a moment to explore the shoreline and find as many shells as you like (not live ones!) That is a personal decision. Captiva Cruises is the best way to get out and explore the surrounding area (Cayo Costa State Park, Useppa Island, Cabbage Key, etc.) If clear water is your absolute priority Tina, I don't think either Sanibel or Marco are for you. Aside from Bowman and Blind Pass beach areas, Sanibels beaches are far more narrow than Captivas. The currents flush fish out into the gulf and help build waves. https://www.marriott.com/hotels/local-things-to-do/mrkfl-jw-marriott-marco-island-beach-resort/. Sanibel Island is home to relaxing beaches, great dining, fishing . Captiva and Sanibel Islands have also earned a reputation for some of the best shelling in the world. These barrier islands off the coast of Fort Myers in southwest Florida are inextricably linked because, welltheyre linked. There are 23 general parking spaces. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. There are many homes and historic cottages that rent privately as well. From the bay to the Gulf of Mexico, the islands are surrounded by water and beauty. Brokered by US Schwarz Immobilien Real Est. It has no high-rises, just lots of greenery surrounding . Cruise to Key West from Marco or Naples?? If youre trying to decide which island to stay on, its really going to come down to your budget and what exactly youre looking for. When visiting Sanibel and Captiva Island, there are 8 beaches that stand out above the rest as must visit. Jensens is well-known and reliable for a day of off-island sightseeing. Bird watching where you can spot pelicans, ibis. Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are called sister islands, but there are some obvious differences between them. Marco has a 7.1 mile continuous, wide crescent beach with a long "Tigertail" beach. Youll find shady areas with picnic tables and grills to enjoy your own BBQ! The Keys would probably be your best bet for clear water, without traveling out of the country. Getting the Most Out of Your Florida Fishing Trips, 2023 TOLL: Unless you have a SunPass account, the Causeway toll is $6.00 per vehicle heading to Sanibel. Theres a $6 toll to get onto the island. As far as recommendations on where to stay on each island: On Captiva: South Seas Island Resort or Tween Waters Island Resort, On Sanibel: Casa Ybel Resort, Tortuga Beach Club Resort, the Inns of Sanibel, Sanibel Restaurant Recommendations: What I Liked & What I Didnt, Shopping on Sanibel: A Must Visit Bookstore & Cute Boutiques, A Visit to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Cayo Costa Shelling Tours with Captiva Cruises, Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Luminary Hotel & Co in Downtown Fort Myers Review, Matlacha Isles & Pine Island: A Great Fort Myers Day Trips. You should, however note that the beach access is limited, and you can only shop at one spot. It is connected to Fort Myers by the Sanibel Causeway Bridge. 2023TravelMagma All rights reserved. This relaxed oceanfront resort features an outdoor pool and dining with simple accommodations. In the village area there are a number of marinas that offer charter captains and water taxi service to the out islands of North Captiva, Cabbage Key and Useppa. Nearly 70% of the island is devoted to conservation and wildlife refuges. Sanibel and Captiva are sister islands. Copyright Lisa Erickson, Capturing Captiva, About|Contact|Privacy Policy|Sitemap, The Mucky Duck reopens after Hurricane Ian, How To Support Sanibel and Captiva Businesses, Captiva Island Parking App Pay Via Phone. They contain thousands of shells you can find. There are several reasons for this, partly because Captiva lacks the number of activities and attractions that Sanibel has, and partly because it is almost entirely private property with very high-end homes. . The Southwest Florida water currents play into a sheller's hands . The lack of multi-unit condos on Captiva makes the beaches far less crowded. But thats not the only reason Sanibel is busier than Captiva theres just more things to see and do on Sanibel. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Sanibel Island has more shells, Captiva Island Beaches have better sand. There is public access and the smaller resorts are on the West. Dont take this the wrong way, the beaches of Captiva Island are still better for shelling than most places in the entire world, its just that Sanibel is truly the best there is. Some of the features of the beach that youll find here include: Whether youre by yourself, with a loved one, or bringing the whole family, Bowmans Beach is a great option. This beach is a popular spot for fishing. Sanibel is a unique blend of well-protected nature destination and tourist hotspot with a bit of everything for those seeking a laid-back, go at your own pace vacation. But eachisland has its own distinctive personality: Sanibelis a eclectic mix of nature, wildlife conservation land, tourist destination,island home, andshopping/ restaurant districts. But honestly, zero impact. If youre not a strong swimmer or you have young kids, swimming should be avoided. There are no high-rise accommodations on Sanibel, only two story hotels, one-story retro motels, and lovely quaint cottages. If Sanibel is rough and murky you can often drive a few miles to Captiva and find calm and clear water. There's a year-round outdoor pool, and free use of their bicycles included.
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which beach is better sanibel or captiva?
