Captiva, on the other hand, is much, much smaller: five miles long and 1.64 square miles in size. Without a doubt, Sanibel has better shelling than Captiva. Go on a dolphin tour on a waverunner, or enjoy a chartered fishing trip. While the intention is to rebuild, the causeway has been fixed, and the island is expected to begin opening to tourism in January 2023, things are not back to normal and likely wont be for a long time. Narrow beaches mixed with more beachgoers creates a recipe for crowded beaches. If youre visiting during season, a bike will allow you to get around traffic when it slows to a crawl. Powered by Mai Theme, Tips For Honeymoon Island State Park: A Florida Gem. The Bubble Room is family friendly and a very fun place for kids - and adults. Youll find restrooms here quickly, and while the beach wont allow your dog or any open fires, you can still have a great time here. Blind Pass Beach Park. Sanibel is quiet and peaceful, with a mix of wildlife and nature, shopping and dining, and island homes. 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. On the left side of Captiva Drive there are three short side streets. Captiva Island Beaches: 3 Best Access Points | PlanetWare Privacy Policy | Here is our best explanation about Sanibel vs. Captiva in a nutshell. 1. Local grocery stores like Jerrys and Baileys General Store are good for sandwiches, prepared foods, good picnic food for the beach, and stocking your own kitchenette or vacation rental. There are no big box stores you have to go off-island to Fort Myers for that or streetlights and traffic lights. The Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are actually very different, and most articles you read on San-Cap fail to even acknowledge this. Like Blind Pass Beach, Turner Beach is best for shelling and fishing, but not swimming as the currents can get very strong! 2,950 feet from Sanibel Lighthouse. There are great restaurants but no chain places and not much nightlife. Strollers, wagons, and the like are a lot harder to maneuver on Captivas beaches than on Sanibel. Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are separated by a bridge over Blind Pass. You wont get much shelling done here, but that doesnt mean that you cant find any at all! Below its elegant main dining room windows spreads a green lawn begging for a wedding party and ends at the beach. While you're likely to find many shells at any of Sanibel's 6 public beaches, a couple that stand out include: Gulfside City Park Beach- This beautiful sandy beach is covered with countless shells to collect. Hey, it even has a K-12 school, so whats stopping you? Enjoy your visit. The Seaside Inn is another laid-back beachfront inn. Does anyone have recommendations if sunset views would be better from Lovers Key or Sanibel/Captiva (in July)? Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The following Sanibel beaches are now OPEN! The Gulf Beach is 3 minutes' walk away. Early morning is the best time to find unusual shells and especially after a rain or storm. Sanibel Island vs. Marco Island: Where to Vacation - Royal Shell It is also where the Captiva restaurants are located. 24-Hour Guide To Sanibel Island Things To Do | A Taste of Koko Once you check into this inn, you get a complimentary breakfast. Sports and Activities Insider Pagefor more information. That is a personal decision. Sanibel Island versus Destin - Trippy The beaches shown in the video are: Lighthouse Beach, Gulfside City Beach, Tarpon Bay Beach, Bowman's. You can park for free here, and you can head to the park during the day for the kids to play before heading to the sand. If at South Seas add extensive resort amenitiesand an upscale atmosphere. In Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches on the island and enjoy the Gulf and Pine Island sound. Within the developed sections are things common to towns anywhere- schools, neighborhoods, supermarkets, and stores. It will take you roughly one hour to get to Sanibel and Captiva from the Fort Myers airport Southwest Florida International (RSW) to the Sanibel Causeway. Both islands are amazing and consistently get placed on must travel lists by top media outlets. This resort is probablythe most upscaleon the two islands with extensive landscaped grounds and resort facilities and a 9 hole golf course. YUCATAN SHRIMP AT Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. The intimate 10-day festival starts off in Captiva Island and Sanibel Island, then moves on to downtown Fort Myers and wraps up at Fort Myers Beach. 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. Sanibel and Captiva Islands are but two small vacation spots on the Gulf Coast. TOLL: Unless you have a SunPass account, the Causeway toll is $6.00 per vehicle heading to Sanibel. This southern half of the island has mostly very upscale homes and notmuch in the way of public facilities. Sanibel vs Captiva: Which Island Stay is Right for You? All great points. It also has a small parking lot and portable toilets. 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. Both islands have a good selection of mom and pop restaurants and shops, although Sanibel definitely has more (its a much larger island though). Gulfside City Park. . 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. Having taken morning runs on both island beaches, Sanibels sand provides a much better surface for runners. But one thing that's very important is CLEAR water and pretty beaches. Also Ding Darling Bird Sanctuary is best visited early in the day. The vibe is even more relaxed than the slow-paced vacation lifestyle of Sanibel. Like neat little boutiques for shopping. Dolphins make their appearance daily and often a manatee or two are spotted. Having taken morning runs on both island beaches, Sanibel's sand provides a much better surface for runners. Mostly boutique shopping. Canoe and kayak rentals, even guided tours of Ding Darling by tram or kayak are available at Tarpon Bay Explorers. As you ride your bike to cruise the 4-mile Wildlife Drive, get ready to discover different trails. We hope this clears things up a bit to help you plan your trip to either island! 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. Sanibels sideways stretch makes in an excellent destination for shelling and beachcombing; Captivas lengthy reach gives its beaches fine sand. At 33 square miles, (12 miles end-to-end), walking may not always be convenient, depending on your plans. Are Sanibel Island Beaches Open? - Coastal Conservatory 7 Best Beaches on Sanibel And Captiva Islands Turner Beach (Blind Pass Beach) Just a stone's throw from the bridge from Sanibel to Captiva lies Turner Beach, aka Blind Pass Beach. 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. Captiva is much smaller than Siesta. Island Vacations of Sanibel and Captiva, Inc. 1101 Periwinkle Way #108 Sanibel, FL 33957 888-451-7277 The northern tip of the island, well over 300 acres,is all owned by the South Seas Resort. Lighthouse Beach is one of the best places to watch sunset on Sanibel or Captiva because of the lighthouse it makes any sunset pic of Sanibel Instaworthy! Sanibel and Captiva islands offer tourists at least fifteen miles of stunning beaches, and boost over 250 kinds of seashells from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions.. You see why I said that Sanibel and Captiva have what I cherish. The passes at the ends and between the two islands get the attention of adventure beachgoers because of their swift-moving waters. The island is a lot smaller than Sanibel (half of its taken up by the South Seas Island Resort), but it feels very much the same. 5721 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 | 50 Photos | MLS #223012023 There are bird sanctuaries, modern childrens playgrounds, and RV parking for road trippers looking to get out and do something new. There are many homes and historic cottages that rent privately as well. Allison Hagerup Beach Park is a beautiful public beach with direct access to Captiva Beach and has a small parking lot. What it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in beauty and other features. CAPTIVA BEACH (Captiva Island) - 2023 What to Know BEFORE You Go Check out this shortlist of my top five 'quick picks for vacation rentals in Sanibel Island. Sanibel Island Shelling - World's Best Shelling Beaches The irony of this is, one of the best beaches on Sanibel is located closest to the Causeway. Schedule launch times and see the status of your reservation anytime, anywhere with the BoatCloud Launch App. It feels like youre walking on a fluffy cloud. 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". Bring a hammock and hang it on the palm trees for the ultimate vacation photo! Sitemap, 8 Sanibel and Captiva Island Beaches You Have to Visit. Fort Myers Beach vs Naples Beach - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums Sanibels finest wearing white gloves still move traffic the old fashioned way during peak times. Theres a parking lot on the side of the saltwater bayous. On Sanibel, youll want a bike, possibly even a car, for your visit. Trusted Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. Sanibel Beaches are among the most dog-friendly beaches in Florida, if not the entire country. But Captiva is even quieter and less busy than Sanibel, though theres still plenty to do. 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. Youll find shady areas with picnic tables and grills to enjoy your own BBQ! Don't take this the wrong way, the beaches of Captiva Island are still better for shelling than most places in the entire world, it's just that Sanibel is truly the best there is. On the other hand, the dining on Captiva Island is more eclectic than that on Sanibel Island. While you can walk to bars and restaurants from some vacation rentals it is not that easy from most. The Keys would probably be your best bet for clear water, without traveling out of the country. 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.