Cayo Costa State Park

Omgosh! This park is pure magic! I camped here and had such a wonderful time! The boat ride over was so fun and the staff was so entertaining and sweet! The park is beautiful and well maintained! The beach and water are breathtaking and the sunset! Wow! Wow! Wow! One of the most magical and gorgeous experiences of my life! If you are camping you have to take a special boat that transfers the campers! There is a park store you can get firewood from and other goodies! Check the hours because they are not open super late! Otherwise that plan to have a absolutely wonderful time!

Camped on this island for 3 nights. Unfortunately it is infested with rats. They are literally everywhere. Bring plastic totes. They will chew through anything else. During the day this place is wonderful. Definitely an escape from people (mostly)

Update: Red tide destroyed the island when we originally visited... hence the dead fish, debris and terrible experience.... we went back last July 2019 and I could tell everything was healthier! We were on a different side and did not dock but I really would love to go back and explore. Saw a pod of dolphins and almost hooked up a tarpon nearby!

Tent camped 2 nights ($50) and it was simply magical. We took the Tropic Star ferry ($60 round trip/person) to the island which was 1 hr each way and was very nice. Saw some dolphins. The park has a gift shop with lots of supplies, food, etc. You can buy ice, firewood, rent bikes and kayaks. You then get onto the tram which is a truck pulling trailers that take you 1 mile over to the other side of the island where the campground and cabins are. The tram runs several times daily so you can go back to the store and dock easily. Each campsite has a fire pit and picnic table and the beach is a short walk away. Being on a secluded island surrounded by nature, water, and stars was so refreshing and everything is so peaceful. The portable water, bathrooms, and outdoor showers are a short walk down the path. The only downside are the noseeums (tiny black bugs that bite)! Come during the winter or fall, wear long sleeves and pants, cover yourself in repellent, and maybe even make sure your tent nets are bug proof. We came home COVERED in bites and itching furiously for days. Would not come here during the summer because the bugs are even worse and the heat will probably be miserable. Come prepared and enjoy! It was a wonderful experience!

This place is one of Florida's last untouched treasures. I feel in love with Cayo Costa a few years ago when my parents bought a place in Cape Coral. My dad took us all out on the boat and over to Cayo Costa. When we came upon it, it literally looked like a deserted island. The sand is white and there's a deep brush off the beach. The island is located west of Pine Island and Cape Coral, and north of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. West of Cayo Casta is nothing but the Gulf of Mexico. There is actually no way to get to the island other than boat. You can use your boat of course, or you can take a ferry over. During high times, the ferry can be packed and usually has a lot of older individuals looking to hunt for some sea shells. This place is great if you're looking for shells. Tons of em. I've seen some starfish there too. If you find one, please don't take it, let it live it's life. Anyway, if you do take it, it'll smell like death a day or two later. You don't want that. We usually dock down at the southern point of the island. You'll want to be aware of the different navigational channels in the area because there are some sand bars out in the water. We have docked on the Gulf of Mexico side before, but the last couple times the waves were too hard to do so, so we it on the other side of the island. There are a few houses on the island, but for the most part it's just sand and trees. It's just a really neat place to spend the day and take in all the beauty. Don't be surprised if you see stingrays swimming in the water or hawks and eagles soaring in the skies. I've personally never camped there, but would love to. WARNING: There are small, little plants that are up by the tree line. Don't go up there. Stay buy the water unless you are on a trail. The little plants have barbs on them that are SUPER sharp and will not only stick into your skin, but they are like an arrow and when pulling them out it hurts even more. You have been warned.

We went to Cayo Costa State Park over the Columbus Day weekend.Stayed overnight in a tent campsite.It was great! Cayo Costa is a beautiful,unspoiled,rustic South West Florida island in the Gulf of Mexico. The rangers at the park were friendly and helpful. Campsite was clean. Restrooms were clean-make sure you bring a flashlight,because there is no electricity in the restrooms and that been said there are no lights after sunset. Cold water showers-not so bad if you stay there between April and October. The beach was beautiful, very few people. Most of the time it felt like we had the whole island to ourselves:) Great hiking trails,kept clean. Noseeums were pretty bad, at sunset and sunrise.Nothing will keep them away but you can protect yourself if you stay dressed-covered head to toe- or if you keep moving they can't bite you. Overall we had a great time and we will definitely be back on this beautiful island!

The cabins are truly dreadful, if you're planning on camping, do it in a tent. That aside, the island itself is beautiful and the boating and fishing opportunities are outstanding. There is a small store with ice, water, and limited food on the island but it's only open till 3pm. Tram service runs hourly 9-4 and comes in handy if you are too tired to walk the 3/4 mile trail from the boat dock to the beach. Very peaceful island. We were warned of rats, snakes, and raccoons but did not see any. Bring bug spray. Clarification on cabins for those who are considering them. The one we stayed in was filthy and hot. No ventilation even with screens on all the windows. And the screens had lots of holes and tears. Bunk beds have vinyl covered mattresses which are slippery and hot. You need shoes inside because the floors are so dirty even after sweeping and you wouldn't want to put your food, clothes, or toiletries on any surface because it looks like nothing has ever been cleaned or painted in years. We would have been much more comfortable and felt cleaner outside.

We arrived to Cayo Costa by private water taxi at about 10am on Friday, July 3. There is a $2 entrance fee to get into the park (bring cash, as there is no change given), and then a tram will transport you to the other side of the park to the beach. Once we arrived to the beach, about a 5-minute ride, it was as if doves flew. It was gorgeous and unspoiled! I imagined it to be like some deserted beaches in the Caribbean, and it wasn't quite like that, but it was definitely unspoiled. The water was warm, and although it wasn't clear, the sand felt amazing through my toes! There are no services offered at the beach (except restrooms), so be sure to bring your own chairs or umbrella if you need shade. Since we arrived via private water taxi, we just had water, towels, and sunscreen. If we'd planned to stay longer than just a couple of hours, we probably would've wanted our beach umbrella. Many boaters pulled up and anchored there while we were enjoying the beach, and the Cayo Costa ferry arrived around Noon when the place became very busy and no longer very relaxing. It was nearly time for us to leave anyhow, but it's a tidbit of info for anyone planning for some quiet time -- go first thing in the morning, and plan to leave by Noon. It became so packed when the ferry passengers arrived, that people were stacked so close to each other, and it just was no longer a respite in the sand. Nevertheless, I will return again and again!

I don't really know what to rate this. I had a miserable time here, but it's nature and I'm a fan of nature. Word of advice: if you're celebrating your engagement with your fiance and you get the idea that it would be romantic to camp near the beach on a secluded island, perhaps reconsider and book a room at a 5-star resort near a beach instead! Especially if you're going in the dead heat of the Florida summer. Sh*t. The "beach camping" is actually a 5 minute walk from the beach. You won't be on the beach. Everyone who warned you about bugs was not lying. I left here with about 50 bug bites, despite running out of my tent in the middle of the night to spray my whole body with bug spray multiple times. I think I was naked. I hope this doesn't give me penis cancer. Advice #2: don't sleep naked. All parts of your body will become food for all the wild critters. It was so damn hot. I didn't know what to do, so there I was. The fun part is walking around the beach and chasing the crabs. We did a lot of that come sundown. We were too scared to swim on the beach. The water is murky and there are so many huge sting rays, sharks and other marine life near the beaches. A few people were swimming, but I didn't have the courage to do so. Hiking the island at 7am after a terrible night's sleep was probably the best part. We then spent endless hours waiting for the saving grace: the ferry that takes you off the island. The terrible part? It only comes once a day. We were literally stranded here. Would I return? Maybe with some experienced buddies who like to hunt and fish and definitely not in scorching August. I would also probably get a cabin next time rather than tent camp.

What a beautiful romantic weekend getaway! Thank you my love for all the thoughtful planning and preparation. Looking forward to future trips!

Great spot to camp , night music was excellent, we will be back again for sure! The bathrooms are very clean , showers are cold but part of the experience haha and what else can I say ?! It's camping !! The views are also beautiful :)

Holy Moly the best shelling ever. We took the 9am to Cayo from Captiva Cruises. There was a storm that brought in a zillion amaZing shells. Cpt. George and his First Maye Eliot were stupendous! We cannot wait to return.

Tent camped 2 nights at site #5. When I go back I will choose a better shaded spot that is not on beach side. No sites are actually on the beach so the site map can be a little misleading. We sat on the beach for two days. That's it. I didn't sleep well because around 9:44 each night the wind picked up and it was loud and knocked my tent around. The noseeums were insane and chased us into our tents after the sun went down. The natural beauty is what I loved. Magical.

This is why I rate Cayo Costa 5. 2 Manatees to boot. I've only visited during the day, no overnights.

Had a pleasant stay in a cabin here. But I heard bugs are bad in summer. We didn't have any issues but don't plan to try in summer.

Great facility for boat docking and transportation on the hour to the Gulf side of the island. This was a nice way to get to the gulf side beach on a very windy day.

My family and I went to Cayo Casta yesterday as a beach day. We rode the Tropic Star ferry out which was about a 30 min ride to the island. The staff on the ferry and the employees on the island were very nice. We were given a tran to ride to the other end of the island and back. Besides it being secluded with no real crowds, and also being an actual an island only assessable by boat, I would say it's like any other beach. It was beautiful and a little more wild life than most.

Spent 3 days tent camping here and I can't wait to do it again. What an amazingly beautiful and peaceful place. Pros: * Park rangers/store attendant were very helpful and friendly. * The park itself was full of beauty and there were very few people there.. During our stay we were 1 of 4-5 families there. You could walk the beach for hours and not see anyone * There was a really tiny but cool cemetery in the middle of the island, recommend hiking the trail late at night to find it Cons: * Noseeums (midges) were unbearable. 2 couples cut their camping trip early because they couldn't deal with it. We didn't have that problem - see tips below! * Very little shade on the island, come prepared * Shop didn't have much food, only candy and health bars * Expensive ferry to get there ... $45 pp Tips: Do yourself a favor and buy a thermacell device and a bunch of refills. We read about it on another review and I am glad we did. It creates a bubble of protection from biting insects around your tent. We didn't get bit at all! Amazing. Book the ferry in advance. There are several options. I used tropic star (see my review of them) Secure your trash! Wild pigs and raccoons ransacked our trash

I visited Cayo Costa for the first time this past president's day weekend and it was a wonderful experience. I came back relaxed and recharged. Even though the camping grounds are primitive compared to other parks, they have no water nor electricity per site, the bathroom facilities and the ranger's house provide for your basic needs: fresh water, ice and even candy bars. The park itself can be described with just one word: nature! It has it all, beautiful beach, lagoons, mangroves, bird colonies, tarpon fish, etc... The beach line is so extensive that you can find your own spot and you'll feel as if you were in your own private beach. The sand is white and soft and the ocean perfect!! You can kayak for $15 an hour or if you want to rent the kayak for the whole day it's only $50 (bring cash). There is a lot to see as there are a lot of small islands surrounding the park. The rangers are friendly and they try to help you as much as possible. They don't go around checking on you but they have everything under control. The quite time is 10pm but since there is so much to do, you'll be beat by 9pm. Getting there is a short trip from Miami, from 2 1/2 hrs to 3. You'll need to go by boat or ferry from pine island marina (north of Ft. Meyers) to the park. I tried going with tropic star but they have only 2 trips a day and they couldn't accommodate us so we were lucky to find a another service that was a lot better. Towboat USA!! They charge a bit less than Tropic Star, $32 instead of $35, but they work with you and get you there in only 30 mins instead of 1 hour! Anyhow... If you like to camp and you want to get away to your own private beach and surround yourself with nature without suffering one bit... Cayo Costa is your choice... This is the site: http://www.floridastateparks.org/cayocosta/default.cfm..

nice beach, friendly staff, lots of cool shells and sand dollars. easy to find public dock and they have a trolly to the beach because its almost a mile walk. we wound up walking back because we missed the last one and 4pm. looks like a cool camping experience

Went to Cayo Costa for Spring Break with a bunch of gals. We camped and lived off the land. Campsite was clean. Neighbors were great. Restrooms were clean- always have a source of light with you though. (there are two stalls; one handicap and one smaller one) Showers are cold and located outside. So wear your bikini or swim trunks when you showering. Some nights, there will be music at the amphitheater. It's loads of fun The beach was awesome. self- explanatory. It was incredible. Great running sand trails. Bikes are available for rent for half a day or for an hour. BUGS- so when we went, we only had a bug issue for 1 day. Noseeums are BRUTAL. they will eat you a live. However, protect yourself with bug spray and by wearing pants and long sleeves. Movement will also prevent further damage. bugs in general are everywhere, so do not be surprised. SUNSCREEN Is so important. because the sun is powerful! overall, one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I hope to be back.

It's interesting to read the various reviews on several sites, from one star to five star. They all describe Cayo Costa more or less the same but the reviewers have very different reactions. Cayo Costa State Park is a pretty natural experience, for better and worse. That means you get the sun, wind, stars, meteors, sunsets, surf, sand, odors, heat, sweat, insects, dolphins, birds, manatees, tortoises, snakes, raccoons, spiders, etc. that naturally exist in a place like this. If you love that, CC is 5 star. If you love your comfort more, it's less than that. In my opinion, the park has just the right level of amenities, which is not much. This is not a resort or mall. The screened cabins can be sultry and sticky but we slept ok. We used insect repellent but still got pretty bitten up, so ok we itch for a few days. Running water at the minimal rest rooms is nice to have. The tram works well but only runs once an hour, so plan on it or take a nice 3/4 mile walk. Boat access is limited, so plan on that also and take what you need but not a lot more. Do your homework to know what to expect. Bring what you need and not a lot else. CC SP is beautiful and pristine, which is hard to find. It's not controlled and comfortable, but that's not why we go.

A weekend get away with friends. We stayed in a cabin, bare minimum but they're big enough for three comfortably. Bathrooms are in rough shape, but i was grateful for the running water even if it was cold. Beach and suset are spectacular! Don't over pack, minimal is good for a weekend, just bring suntan lotion and bug spray!

My husband and I live in Key West and wanted to get out of town for Spring Break. We like to camp and came across Cayo Costa, highly recommended in multiple searches. We managed to reserve the last available tent camping site! The website states that the tent camping is primitive, it's not. Each tent camping site has campfire rings with grills and a picnic table. There are flushing toilets and potable water. There are also private showers, thought not hot water, certainly not primitive. Additionally there is a small store that sells wood, ice, gifts(t-shirts and hats) some campfire cooking essentials, assorted sundries, soda pop and Heath ice cream bars! Be warned, it's expensive! Wood is $10 a bundle(7/8logs) and ice is $4 a bag. We brought our inflatable kayaks( paid the extra fee in advance) and rented bikes on the island. Bikes are $10 half day and $16 for a full day. They are not in the best shape, could use a donation of bikes! We saw a Bald Eagle, dolphins, zebra fish and my husband was stung by a Florida Catfish. There was a singing event one night which was fun. My only complaint would be that this was the most unfriendly bunch of folks who worked and volunteered here! There was a nice second mate on the Tropic Star on the way home. One lady who volunteered at the store was also kind...everyone else was pretty cold and un welcoming - they kept to themselves and you didn't see them much so that was nice but it never feels good to get the feeling that you're not wanted somewhere. A few other campers remarked on the standoffishness of the staff and park rangers, too.maybe they had a bad group before we got there but it put a small damper on the trip. I will definitely go back if I get the chance, we only had time to explore half of the island and we stayed 4 nights.

Camping Cayo Costa Tranquil, Beautiful, Isolated. Just Do it. It's worth it. Cayo Costa State Park is an Island in the Gulf of Mexico that is accessible ONLY by boat. (We booked our round trip passage on Tropic Star Ferry http://tropicstaradventures.com/ which was about $35 US round trip. They drop campers off in the morning and pick you up at 3:30pm the next day) The island has beautiful westward facing sandy beaches that have a feeling of seclusion. They are perfect for sunsets. The further SOUTH you walk, the more secluded it becomes. (Perfect for Skinny Dipping) The north side has a picturesque palm tree forest with some very interesting drift wood scattered about. The east side of the island is lined with mangroves for the most part. The southern part of the island is private, with a few homes, but you wouldn't venture that far unless you were willing to hike about 14 miles round trip. The interior of the island has about 9 miles of hard trail to hike/bike if you enjoy bird watching or exploring foliage. You can also visit the island's cemetery which is on the interior of the island. We went out for some tent camping during the Geminids meteor shower on Cayo Costa to avoid the light pollution of the city. La Costa (as the locals call it) now ranks up as my second favorite tent camping spot in Florida (behind Ft Desoto). The park is clean and pristine with feeling of isolation from the world. The rangers, parks department, and friends of Cayo Costa do a nice job keeping the park natural. It's definitely worth knocking off your bucket list of "places to camp in Florida." Tips: 1) Bring Bug Spray with DEET or a ThermaCell. We used a "ThermaCell" which worked very well. It's available at Wal Mart. 2) Timing is everything. Due to the intense heat in the summer you'll want to plan your trip when the weather is a little more forgiving especially if you're staying overnight. I wouldn't camp out there if the highs were over 72 at night. 3) Cabin 1 has a screened in porch which is nice to keep away from the bugs if you're going to book a cabin. Camp site #11 an #12 are side by side and work well if you have multiple tents as part of your group. They are also located at the far end of the campsite along the trail to the beach. #12 provides nice coverage over the picnic tables for a break from the sun. 4) The kayaks are free to use if you do it through the ranger. Tropic Star will charge you if you book through them. Cabbage Key is about an hour and a half paddle. It has a pricey restaurant and bar on that island and a small nature trail that's kind of cool. It's rumored that Jimmy Buffet was inspired to write "Cheeseburger in Paradise" here. 5) The 4 hour bike rentals ($10 per bike) are worth it if you want to explore the island. There's about 9 miles of trails to ride on. They run along the outskirts of the island so you can visit the north point and the gulf side of the north point without hiking and see most of the visit able portion of the island in a single morning. 6) Google Map "Cayo Costa" in satellite mode. You can zoom in to see the trails and individual locations of the camp sites. It might be wise to print it out if you're going exploring as it's a bigger island than you might think. 7) There's a ranger store on the island that sells, ice and firewood. They also have small snacks and sodas at a premium price so I'd advise bringing your own food. You should bring your own Kindling to get your fire started as they don't sell kindling and scavenging wood is not permitted. 8) The only electric on the island is at the ranger station area, so conserve power on your phones if you're staying overnight. There's an outlet near the ranger station you can use to charge your phone. (Under the light pole) It's a 2 mile round trip hike so if you don't make the trip while the tram is running, you have a long walk. 9) Oddly enough liquor/beer IS permitted in your campsite, just not on the beach. (Although I imagine if you were discreet, no one would complain.) The rangers and staff at this spot are very laid back. 10) There is a shower room (cold water only) and a men's and women's bathroom with modern plumbing. 11) I think Tropic Star will ferry SUPs and Kayaks out with you to the island. (Double check with them to see if there is an additional charge) We saw some kayaks on top of the boat being ferried out as we left. We're very happy we found this place and encourage you to visit in the open traveler spirit. It will be good for your soul. Did I mention..BRING BUG SPRAY? :)

My wife and I have been coming here for 30 years. It doesn't get any better for fishing and seclusion. For spending the night in a tent with no air, another story. From May thru September it is very hot here and at night the No see um's and mosquito's are world renowned adversaries. One our honey moon we decided to take a midnight stroll, the next day we were both at the doctor getting shots of Benedrile. The only chance you have at night is with a product called "100% Deet". Just spray your hands then wipe your body. It will last 6-8 hours. What ever you think you need bring it with you then pack it out. We always get there by boat then leave on our boat at dusk. Its on my top 5 places to see in the USA

DO NOT GO HERE! My family and I are seasoned campers and this place it THE PITS/HELL on Earth! BUGS galore and everyone left chewed to bits! Everywhere we looked all campers were red and raw. This was not a normal case of "bugs camping", GROSS! I live in Palm Beach County and there are much better beaches/camping spots than Cayo Costa on the East Coast. Peanut Island is AMAZING!!! Bahia Honda in The Keys, to name just two. Not to mention, if you bring your own boat to Cayo Costa, you must be back on your boat and back at the dock by 4pm cause your campsites are 2 miles away from the docks and the trams stop at 4pm. There is not nearly enough to do here nor is it worth a thousand bug bites per camper to be stuck on that island. Also, there are lagoons filled with wild gators about 30 yds from the tent sites. All around our family's worst camping experience ever!!! We could not wait to leave Cayo Costa! We were on the first tram ride out on our check-out day. HORRIBLE!!!

Loved the seclusion of this place, at times it felt like our own private beach and island. Cabins are small but big enough for 6 single size beds (3 bunks). No electricity here so I'd recommend going in the cooler months as I'm sure those cabins can get pretty hot in the summer.

This is by far one of my most favorite places on the earth. I have visited with a group of friends for the past ten years. This year after the fairy left we were advised that there was a Rodent issue on the island. And to keep all food in coolers and bins. They should have said that if you try to cook after dark the RATS! and I mean RATS! Will be coming into your camp. They should have said that if you try to take a shower during the day that the RATS will join you in the shower. They should have said that the rats are nesting in the soffit of the cabins. But the truth is that you never see any rangers in the cabin areas. Perhaps they didn't know. So giving the rangers the benefit of the doubt we reported what we had found. The residents ranger told us that several of the island in the area have RAT issues and they have trapped some and if you don't want to be with gods creatures you should not come back! So travelers beware! The RAT issue is real! I will not return until until it's fixed!!!

I went camping at Cayo Costa SP last weekend & had a WONDERFUL time. The sites are BEAUTIFUL. The staff is very helpful & accommodating. There is no electricity at the campground, but there are fresh cold-water showers outside and men/women bathrooms (bring a lantern at night... no lights). The camp sights are VERY clean. There are boat slips available if you choose to come by boat rather than the local ferry. Pet friendly for primitive camp sites (no pets allowed in the cabins). The office had ice, food, and firewood, and other essentials available for sale. NOTE: BE SURE TO RESERVE YOUR CAMP SITE IN ADVANCE. They were nearly full when I booked one month in advance!