Were often asked and emailed questions from readers wanting to know what the difference is between Sanibel and Captiva islands. Getting the Most Out of Your Florida Fishing Trips, 2023 Captiva does not have a bike path, but rather, a 3 foot "safety shoulder" that runs along each side of Captiva Rd, so inexperienced bicyclists and children should use extra caution. If at South Seas add extensive resort amenitiesand an upscale atmosphere. But you may not find the amount youll find on Sanibel, which means more time may be needed to hunt for them. Island Vacations of Sanibel and Captiva, Inc. 1101 Periwinkle Way #108 Sanibel, FL 33957 888-451-7277 If you aren't into shelling this is definitely something worth considering. For people who are enthusiastic about shell hunting, there are better shells on Sanibel beaches. Theres a reason that Sanibel is consistently named as one of the best shelling beaches on the planet. Just cut into 3/4 wide sections. $5 per hour for public parking. The gulf water was clean and calm, but not clear. Its especially popular among beach and nature lovers as the beaches are pristine and the water sublime. Does the lack of chain restaurants mean Sanibel has no casual restaurants for quick and cheap in-and-out service? Sanibel is known to be the top shelling destination in North America. Sanibel Island has more shells, Captiva Island Beaches have better sand. Captiva Island and Sanibel Island were formerly single islands located along North Captiva Island. The Gulf Beach is 3 minutes' walk away. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. Turner Beach. This video shows what I consider to be the best public beaches on Sanibel Island. Blind Pass Beach is where Sanibel and Captiva Islands meet. (read about the brown water discharges from Lake O). Im not saying any of this to put you off, because Sanibel and Captiva are GREAT islands and one of my favorite places in Florida, but if youre used to staying at more high end beach resorts in other parts of Florida, what that money gets you on Sanibel and Captiva is a lotless. The water is frequently greenish and less than clear due to fine sediments stirred up by currents / wave action and significant drainage from the land, particularly after a storm. Captiva Beach - Andy Rosse Lane. These islands are more alike than they are different. The paths are well marked and almost flat. Sanibel won, hands down. Relative to Sanibel, only 583 residents live on over 1.6 square miles of island, and not nearly as many visitors venture over to Captiva, other than those staying at South Seas Island Resort. 1. This resort is probablythe most upscaleon the two islands with extensive landscaped grounds and resort facilities and a 9 hole golf course. Both islands have the same great beaches, but if youre coming for the day or youre not staying right on the beach, parking at the beaches on Captiva is much more limited and more expensive than on Sanibel. 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. Not at all. "This light being lit . Once you visit, its easy to see what we mean when we call them twins. We found it while cycling around Sanible and Captiva. I am a birder, sheller, bike rider, and photographer and it is my favorite place on earth (which is why I moved here). Captiva has only a limited number of properties with nightly rentals and they are very popular. 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. Marco is further from the Caloosatchee river so generally it will have cleaner water. You can reach Blind Pass by heading to Sanibel's western tip where the gorgeous white sand flanks the channel between Sanibel and Captiva islands. Before we delve into whats unique about each island, let us just say that both islands have these things in common: Gorgeous beaches and a laid back, islandy atmosphere, There are NO: high-rise hotels and condos, big box stores, chain restaurants or traffic signals. The water at Sand Key is exactly the same as the water on Clearwater Beach. On the flip side of this is that Captiva allows the use of golf carts on the roads within the village limits during daylight hours only. TOLL: Unless you have a SunPass account, the Causeway toll is $6.00 per vehicle heading to Sanibel. Tarpon Tale Inn is one of the smaller Sanibel Island inns, but that just makes the place to stay on Sanibel Island more homey. Onceyou're is on the beach, it is public property from mean the high tide line to the water, so you can stroll to your heart's content. Without a doubt, Sanibel has better shelling than Captiva. Captiva Island Beaches have a more laid back, island-y vibe. Captiva, on the other hand, isn't close to anything. Refer to our Privacy Policy for full affiliate terms. 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". There are no restrooms on the Sanibel side, but there are restrooms on the Captiva side of the beach. Even some private homes that are rented to guests on the resort have limitations on the useof facilities. Two weeks ago, the water was cloudy but this last week with mild winds from the east, the water is crystal clear. In fact, Sanibel and Captiva have some of the most fun and unique bars in Southwest Florida. Because of its larger size, Sanibel has more beaches to choose from than Captiva. For Sale: Single Family home, $899,000, 2 Bd, 2 Ba, 1,291 Sqft, $696/Sqft, at 6092 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 Water on Marco is not constantly clear as mentioned above. Sanibel-Captiva islands have been an idyllic destination for tourists from Florida and the world over. Lets see what sets the islands apart and explore some of the best beaches on both islands. Before you reach the South Seas Island resort theres the quaint village of Captiva with a few shops and eateries. What's there to do I one place vs the other? If youre not a paddler you can still see a lot of the refuge by taking the guided tram tour or hiking on established trails. You can walk for miles on the beach here, and you can find soft white sand with plenty of intricate shells to enjoy. and they leave from Captiva, but its an easy drive from Sanibel. Sometimes they are even joined when the narrow waterway of Blind Pass that separates them fills in and the two islands actually connect, though a concerted effort is underway to keep the pass open to improve the health of the bayous on the bay side. not find chains or franchises (except a few grandfathered ones). Located along the channel between Sanibel and Captiva island, the Blind pass beach is famous amongst sunbathers and . And there are no golf carts on Siesta. To get to the beach, its a short five minute walk through a nature trail, boardwalk bridge, hammock, and beach scrub to get where you need to be. You may be looking for hidden gems in Captiva Island, and with the Gulfside City Beach, thats exactly what you will find. Both islands are breathtaking. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Does Marco Island have prettier & clearer water and beaches than Sanibel/Captiva? On Sanibel, youll want a bike, possibly even a car, for your visit. Sanibel's beaches are generally firm and compact, from higher foot traffic. Sanibel Island might be better for you if youre looking for active family vacations, great shelling beaches, more shopping and dining amenities, being closer to nature preserves and off-island driving adventures to Fort Myers and beyond to the Everglades or Charlotte Harbor. With a shell bag in hand, they scour the beaches for hours looking for unbroken treasures. It does get busy understandably so as its so popular! Beach access is strictly limited and there are only two small paid public lots for beach parking. There is no toll for leaving the island back to Fort Myers, or for crossing the small bridge from Sanibel to Captiva. Sanibel is a better choice if you are beachcombing and want to enjoy biking on the bike paths, birdwatching, a d being out in nature in general. Gather some refreshments and enjoy a picnic on the beach, its one of the most beautiful places you will ever have the pleasure of visiting. Since then, Sanibel has followed a path of creating a balance for residents and visitors to enjoy the beauty of the island while at the same time proactively and aggressively controlling development and sprawl. So map your walk along this route carefully and make sure that youre not trespassing along the way. But its far from chaotic. Sanibel Island beaches for shelling are known across the country, while Captiva Island beaches are known for their fine sands. 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. All SW FL beach towns have the same water clarity issues. Youll find many public beaches on Sanibel Island, some with fishing piers, and a few private beaches, too. You will find miles of pristine beaches to enjoy, and you can island hop to the north of the beaches, and then go fishing when youre on your way! Even though it sits a stones throw (literally) across from Sanibel Island, it has a totally different vibe. Bring a hammock and hang it on the palm trees for the ultimate vacation photo! The best comparison is to a mattress. . Today, Sanibel is unique from other southwest Florida towns because there are no chains or franchises (except a few grandfathered ones). Several restaurants are within walking distance on Sanibel Island, including The Lazy Flamingo, Sunset Cafe and The Mad Hatter. As for Captiva Islands beaches, the sand is much more like a pillow-top mattress. Located in the middle of the island, there is more than enough space to enjoy the sunshine or relax in the shade should you want to take a moment to rest. Bringing the whole family is a must when you head to Captiva Beach, and there are plenty of beaches and places to stay along those beaches. 1725 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral, FL 33904. It does. Shortly after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the light began shining as bright as ever. A popular destination for visitors, Turner Beach is one of the best beaches on Captiva. But both islands have their own unique personality. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. I agree completely with the response from Hawkowl (#3 above). Theres even a lovely campground on Sanibel! Sanibel has all the bells and whistles compared to Captiva. Dolphins make their appearance daily and often a manatee or two are spotted. 2. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Nearly 70% of the island is devoted to conservation and wildlife refuges. With endless skies and treasured beach walks, Captiva Beach will surely captivate you and the whole family. 2. With its soft beaches and Florida charm, Captiva Island is a great relaxation spot with superb dining. Just within the past two weeks, we've seen Billy's Rentals and Tarpon Bay Explorers reopen, along with Doc Ford's, Timbers and the Great White Grill. A lot of the island itself is privately owned. You can take Instagram-worthy pictures and view the local wildlife from the perfect vantage point: the sand! So if you score a parking space, you can walk along the beach as far as youd like. 2023TravelMagma All rights reserved. Thank you for your responses. Sanibel and Captiva Island are amazing islands that welcome people searching for a great spot to have family time. In all shapes, sizes, and colors, vacationers often leave Blind Pass Beach with buckets full of incredible shells. Dogs on leashes no longer than 8 feet are welcome on all Sanibel Island beaches. Sanibel Island Shelling - World's Best Shelling Beaches Sanibel Island shelling is considered the best shelling spot in the world according to Travel and Leisure Magazine. With hundreds of beaches throughout Florida, you may be asking yourself why you should visit these beaches instead of all the others. This refuge allows you to watch birds, go on tours, hike, bike and engage in other fun activities. Privacy Policy | Both families and groups alike will love this beach, as you can swim, sunbathe, enjoy a picnic, build epic sandcastles, and play beach games. There is a small parking lot adjacent to the beach with a limited number of spaces, and is $5.00 per hour paid at the lot kiosk. "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. The residents, wishing to conserve the natural setting and protect the wildlife refuge atmosphere actually broke away from the county and formedSanibel's own municipal government. The Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery gives free tours and tastings for all visitors. Re: Siesta Key vs Captiva Island. Its a beautiful resort and one we highly recommend staying at for its resort facilities including a 9-hole golf course, and the variety of accommodations that will suit everyone. Gulfside City Beach is also known as Algiers Beach, and the park itself has beach access and a nature trail to enjoy. Are there still restaurant's and shops that are closed due to Hurricane Irma? The pristine beaches, with plentiful seashells for collectors, proved popular with. Great Licks is the perfect place to help you cool off from Florida heat and pamper your taste buds for amazing and mouthwatering homemade ice cream. Sanibels beaches are actually made up more of ground up shells than sand, which can be somewhat uncomfortable for bare feet. more. Compared to Sanibel Island, beaches on Captiva Island do not have a lot of crowds and have a few shells to hunt. Whats the difference between Sanibel and Captiva? One of the best spots on Sanibel to go kayaking is the J N Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Captiva Road.
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