Hi there! Thinking of visiting North Captiva Island and wondering if it’s the right vacation spot for you?
Then keep on reading!
In this post you will find 10 amazing reasons to visit the beautiful island of North Captiva, in Southwest Florida.
After visiting the island for more than 10 years, I can confidently say that North Captiva is absolutely incredible, and truly makes for the perfect vacation spot. It’s definitely a unique place, and once you visit you’ll want to go back again and again.
Sound good?
Keep reading for 10 amazing reasons to take a vacation on North Captiva Island, Florida!
10 Reasons to Visit North Captiva Island
1: It’s secluded
North Captiva Island is only accessible by boat or small private plane!
Unless you’re taking your own private boat/plane, you need to book ferry tickets in advance. Because of this, there are a limited number of people on the island at all times, and it never gets overly crowded.
From the mainland in Cape Coral, the ferry ride to the island takes about 20 minutes.
Luckily, although the island is secluded and not accessible by cars, you’re still easily able to reach other parts of Florida from the mainland.
Once on the mainland, Fort Myers is less than an hour away! Once in Fort Myers you, of course, have access to the airport as well as to the ferry to the Florida Keys! You could easily visit the Keys before or after a trip to the island – be sure to check out this amazing guide to a 5 day Florida Keys road trip!
2: There are no cars on North Captiva Island
This is one of the best parts of North Captiva Island is that there are no cars! On the island everyone drives electric golf carts and it is so much fun.
There are no paved roads, so the island feels very rural and secluded.
view from the back of a golf cart
3: You can walk the entire length of the island on the beach
North Captiva Island is relatively small, about four miles long and half a mile wide.
The entire southern half of the island is an undeveloped state park, so there are no houses built in that area.
Depending on the time of year, at low tide, you can sometimes walk down the beach from the northern to southern tip! It is such a beautiful walk and I highly recommend brining a picnic for sunset.
4: All homes/rental properties have beach access
There are no hotels on North Captiva, just private homes and rental properties.
Every single property has access to the beach, whether or not it is beachfront, through public beach access points. Because the island is so small, the beach is always a quick walk or golf cart drive away.
5: North Captiva has amazing shelling
Sanibel and Captiva, two neighboring islands, are known for having the best shelling in the USA. North Captiva is smaller, with fewer tourists, so the shelling is oftentimes even better!
6: It’s super laid back and relaxing
There’s no need to bring any dressy clothes to North Captiva, it’s super laid back and casual. Just make sure you pack your sandals and swimsuit! You’ll be spending most of your days at the beach, by the pool, or driving your golf cart around the island sipping a piña colada.
7: The sunsets are stunning
The sunsets on North Captiva are only rivaled by the sunsets I’ve seen in Greece. Watch them from a boat, the beach or a balcony, they are incredible.
8: The beautiful wildlife
About half of North Captiva is a Florida state park, and there is tons of wildlife on the island. Notably, you’ll see adorable turtles walking down the sand roads, as well as the occasional bobcat.
In terms of ocean life, you’ll regularly see dolphins jumping and manatees swimming close by. We’ve also seen stingrays and small sharks.
Lastly, if you’re lucky, you’ll also spot a bald eagle or two! If you’re not so lucky, you’ll see an alligator in a pond or a huge black snake. But there’s no need to worry!
9: There’s amazing fishing
If you like to fish, North Captiva is a great place for you! You can easily fish from the beach, or charter a boat and a guide!
10: It’s super safe
This almost goes without saying, but the island is so safe.
Of course, because of its small size, everyone is super friendly and helpful. It is a great place for kids, families, spring break trips, weddings and really any other type of vacation. If you visit the island, you can rest assured you’ll be safe and relaxed.
it’s also a great vacation spot for pets!
Well, there you have it!
Thanks for reading my top 10 reasons to Visit North Captiva Island, Florida! The island is truly an amazing place and makes the perfect vacation spot for families, couples or groups of friends.
Ready to book your trip? Be sure to check out our North Captiva Island packing guide as well as all of our best tips and advice for your trip!
If you have any questions about North Captiva, let us know in the comments below and/or reach out to us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad.
Lastly, we appreciate you sharing this post with someone you know who would love a trip to North Captiva Island!
More about fishing in North Captiva here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B55pIS-Au8i/
This looks like the perfect place to get away to. I love that there are no cars allowed on the island. What a peaceful retreat!
Oooh nice Visit North Captiva Island looks like such a pleasant place to relax! I love spots like this where there are no cars – it’s mad what a difference that makes in terms of quietness while you enjoy the beaches!
p.s. Glad to see your doggo enjoyed it too.
I have never heard of this island before! I love that it’s so small and there aren’t any cars!
Looks like a lovely place. I love the secluded beach access and all the beautiful sunsets!
As a S. Floridan it’s been my dream to go to NoCap, but so tricky to find info on how to get there! I read your other post and it was so helpful! Can I ask some questions though? If I’d be driving from the east coast of Fl, is there an easy/safe place to park right near a ferry marina, for a few days? If so, approximately how much is it?
Once we get there, do we just buy ferry tickets and that’s our only fee (other than parking our car at the main marina, and the home rental fee of course 🙂 )?
Once the ferry lets you off at NoCap, do you drag your suitcases to the house you’re staying at? Or you’d need a taxi there?
Thank you so much for any info you can give!
Nancy
Hi Nancy! Thanks so much for checking out our North Captiva posts, I’m so glad that you found them helpful!
For the ferries, definitely book in advance (you can find the schedule here). Tickets are $22 each way for adults, and $19.50 for kids! You can park at the ferry marina for $9 a night, and there is always plenty of parking available. Once you get to the island, you’ll take your suitcases to your home with a golf cart. Most homes include golf carts with their rentals, or you can rent them through the North Captiva Island Club! There are no cars on the island, just golf carts, which I think is so fun! If renting through the club, they will also help you bring your suitcases and groceries to your rental home for you! I hope this answers your questions, and please let me know if you would like additional information!
I have read a few of your posts in preparation for our trip later this month. Thank you for sharing all the information! How is the wifi on the island? I’m hoping it will be reliable enough for my daughter to log on to her zoom classes for one of the weeks.
Hi Wendy! I’m so glad you found the posts helpful! For wifi strength it will depend on the specific rental property you’re staying in, but we’ve always been able to Zoom into classes and meetings with no problem! So hopefully your daughter will be all set! I hope you have a fantastic trip and please let us know if you have any other questions.
The comment about wildlife is not as it used to be just 2 years ago. 🥺 Animals are harassed (and run over by crazy golf cart drivers) by many visitors and the island has become overrun by tourists and rentals wanting to “tame and profit” North Cap to be another Sanibel… Yes the article would be true as of 2018.
Hi M, I’m sorry you’ve had negative experiences with tourists and wildlife on the island recently, but our post is up to date and updated regularly. Our family lives on the island part time, and we’ve been traveling to North Captiva for over 15 years. Even in recent months, we’ve been able to see turtles, bald eagles and other animals thriving on the island. I totally agree that visitors need to be careful on the island, and let the animals live peacefully – they are such an important part of North Captiva and their home needs to be kept safe and clean for them!
Does anything shout vacation more than no cars allowed on the island!? That sounds so fun to just be using golf carts haha. I’m also SO jealous you found a sand dollar, that’s always my favorite find! Definitely would love to visit North Captiva Island at some point now, thank you for sharing!
From reading some of your other blog posts along with this one, it seems like we have similar taste in travel destinations! I’ve been here as well 🙂. It’s so nice visiting somewhere where cars aren’t allowed and everything is so safe and relaxing. Xx Sara
North Captiva Island, Florida sounds like it was created for me! Seclusion, beaches, laid-back, no cars…that’s definitely my kind of getaway – or maybe where I should live.
How have I never heard of this? Wow! How perfect can one place be? I love that there are no cars and no hotels. Thank you for teaching me something new today! I can’t wait to plan a visit.
I hadn’t heard of this area of Florida before but it looks amazing to go to as part of a weekend getaway. Thanks for sharing!
It looks so relaxing! I wonder if I could handle being that chill for more than a day LOL I need to practice!
Are there places to eat and get a drink on the island? It sounds great. Do they offer dolphin excursions? My other questions were answered above. Parking for a few days. Also, how has the island recovered after Ian?
Bill S.
Hi Bill! Thanks for your comment, the island is truly a d beautiful and special place and I think you’ll love it. There are places to eat and drink on the island, although post-hurricane these restaurants are operating a little differently. Over the Water serves lunch and dinner (make a reservation at 239-472-4762) and the food is really good. You can also get drinks and bar food at Mangos Pool Bar and it’s a nice place to hangout. Right now, there is also a pizza truck on the island that sometimes takes orders, but the days and hours aren’t set. Nick B’s is another post-hurricane option, they have a food stand on the island near the air strip and also offer in-home catering. I would definitely advise to plan to cook most of your meals and maybe go out to eat once or twice.
Island Girl Charters offers dolphin excursions and sight seeing tours. You can contact them at 239-633-8142. It’s also common to see dolphins on the ferry ride over and back to the island and from the beach.
The island is recovering, although slowly. There was a ton of damage and although many renters have been able to open their homes, there are still a lot that have significant damage. The beach is beautiful! You will see debris and vegetation on the sides of the road as the clean-up continues and there will be construction, but overall, considering the extensive damage, the island is recovering very well. It’s looking better every day!
For more information about North Captiva and things to do, I definitely recommend checking out our post “Tips and Advice for Visiting North Captiva Island.” If you have any other questions please let me know! I hope you have an awesome trip to the island!