North Captiva Island
While many people have heard of Sanibel or Captiva, North Captiva is still a hidden gem. When you step off the boat you feel like you're on a Caribbean Island. No touristy shops or crowded streets, just sandy roads, flip-flops, and good friends.
No Cars
One thing you notice on the island is how quiet it is. One main reason, only electric golf carts, and bicycles use the sandy roads that connect the 300 homes and facilities on the island.
The lack of cars also makes North Captiva a safe place for youth to explore and stretch their wings. Just please don't let them drive the golf carts, follow island regulations so that we may keep everyone safe.
North Captiva Sea Turtle Foundation
Every summer the sea turtles make their way back to the sandy beaches on the Gulf side of the island to lay their eggs. If you are staying during that time we recommend reaching out to the North Captiva Sea Turtle Foundation to see how you can participate and help the turtles.
Restaurants
& Chefs
There are two restaurants on the island that are great for those times when being served some great fresh seafood or some wings are in the plans.
Take the ferry to Cabbage Key for their infamous burger (no, Jimmy Buffet didn't write Cheeseburger in Paradise after eating there, but they're darn good) or take a boat to Captiva for some fine dining.
Our favorite, you ask? We highly suggest Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island. It isn't just the best restaurant around, it may serve one of the top three crab cakes we've ever eaten.
Oh, do we have Shelling
You'll find the four miles of the gulf beach of North Captiva filled with a treasure chest of unusual and sometimes rare shells. One popular point is mid-island where a strong rip churns up the sand.
But even after you've walked the whole island, you aren't done, yet. A short ferry across to Cayo Costa can keep you busy for a month. This natural preserve is shell lovers' paradise. And to take all of your finds back home, we provide a nice ecological burlap sack to bring your finds home.
100 years ago, Captiva became two islands
The Tampa Hurricane of 1921 created a breach in the island. Locals anticipated that the islands would rejoin but when that didn't happen plans were formed to build a bridge. Thankfully, North Captiva resisted all efforts to rejoin her sister island to the south and over time developed her own independent personality.
North Cap, as locals will call it, is unhurried, intimate, and unlike anything else you'll find on the Florida coast. Friendly, welcoming, and secluded, just enough, to create a unique island paradise.