Hi everyone! Thinking of visiting North Captiva Island? Then this post is for you. North Captiva is beautiful island located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is truly a hidden gem. I have been visiting the island for over 15 years, and it is the ideal relaxing, island vacation destination. Sound like the vacation spot for you? Keep reading for all of my best tips and advice for visiting North Captiva Island, Florida!
The island is remote and only accessible by boat or small plane. Because of this, there is some planning required for a North Captiva vacation, but don’t worry, this guide will provide you with all of the information you need for an amazing trip!
Background Information – North Captiva Island:
North Captiva Island was originally part of Captiva Island, but a hurricane in 1921 separated the two. North Captiva is now the more rural, quiet and relaxing island of the pair.
North Captiva is less visited, and less mainstream, than the neighboring islands of Captiva and Sanibel, and this really makes it the ideal place for people who enjoy quiet, relaxing destinations.
We love that there are no cars on North Captiva – golf carts only! Since you can only access the island by boat (or small, private plane) it is extremely low-key.
There are also no hotels on the island. Instead, visitors rent (or own) homes for their stay.
The island is truly a natural paradise and it is so much fun to walk on the beach and explore the undeveloped nature preserve.
North Captiva is truly the perfect destination for families – it is super safe and tons of fun!
Information about Island Clubs
There are two “clubs” on the island that most home owners belong to – North Captiva Island Club and Safety Harbor Club.
These clubs have “club houses” with swimming pools for renters to use. They also coordinate golf cart rentals, luggage drop-off and other island needs. When renting, I recommending booking through North Captiva Island Club, it’s more family friendly and the vibes are much more fun and relaxed.
Safety Harbor is targeted towards an older population, and I recommend booking these properties if you’re looking for a quieter island experience and if you’re not traveling with kids.
Click here to browse and book rental properties with North Captiva Island Club, and click here to book with Safety Harbor on VRBO.
This all being said, if your rental property has a pool you likely won’t be spending too much time at the clubs, besides for the bars and restaurants. Therefore, I recommend choosing the house that you think is most suitable for your family – regardless of which club it belongs to.
Rental Homes + Packing Tips
All Rental Properties Have Beach Access
When booking a rental property you will see that many are beach front, and of course, these will be more expensive. Don’t worry if the property you book is not right on the beach, you will still have beach access and it will be a maximum of a five minute golf-cart ride from your home. The beach is public, and although there are private access points, there are also public access points for homes that are in the interior of the island.
Many of the homes also have pools, but some do not, so be sure to check the rental listing carefully. Having a pool is a really nice addition, as you will be able to spend more time at your rental house with your family and less time at the communal club pool.
Pack Light
North Captiva is a super casual island – and when vacationing there all you’ll need is comfy clothes and shoes. Additionally, all rental properties come with washers and dryers, so it’s easy to wash and re-wear clothes.
That being said, don’t forget to pack sweaters! If you’re coming in the fall/winter it will likely be nice during the day (70s-80s) but it gets a little cooler at night (60s), so be sure to bring a couple sweatshirts and pairs of long pants if you get cold easily.
For more information on packing, check out my North Captiva Packing Guide!
Transportation to the Island
Check out Punta Gorda Airport
The most convenient airports to get to North Captiva are Fort Myers and Punta Gorda.
Fort Myers offers the most flights from all major airlines and it is relatively convenient (about an hour drive) to get to the ferries. I have always flown into Fort Myers, and it’s usually easy.
However, Allegiant Air flies into Punta Gorda which is also about an hour drive from the island. Punta Gorda is a small airport that services many other small airports across the country, and often the flights are quite cheap!
From both Punta Gorda Airport and Fort Myers, you can pick up the Pine Island Taxi to the ferry (explained below), for around $75.
Take Pine Island Taxi
You can book convenient airport pick-ups/drop offs through Pine Island Taxi.
Pine Island Taxi has always been great. They meet you at the airport and drive you to the ferry dock. They will also take you back to the airport for your return trip – no rental car needed.
A Pine Island Taxi car from RSW (Fort Myers Airport) to the dock is $75 – and the car can fit up to four people, depending on the amount of luggage. If you’re traveling with a larger group, Pine Island Taxi also has vans that can accommodate more travelers.
If you preorder groceries, the taxi driver will also stop at Publix for you to pick them up. The trip, without stops, is around one hour. Click here to learn more and to book.
Book Your Ferries in Advance
Ferries go to and from North Captiva quite regularly with North Captiva Island Club Ferry and Island Girl Ferry.
The first North Captiva Island Club Ferry to the island leaves at 8am and the last boat off the island is at 7:15pm. There are also boats later in the evening, but there will be a surcharge. The price for a one way ferry ticket is $24 for adults and $21.50 for children ages 2-12. Children under 2 ride free. Click here for the ferry schedule and to book!
There is also parking at the NCIC ferry dock for $10 a day – this is great if you’re coming in a car/rental car.
Island Girl ferries leave from the Pineland Marina. Click here for their ferry schedule – the high season and low season have different hours. Island Girl will also arrange off-hour ferries for fees beginning at $150 one-way.
Food and Drinks
Bring Lots of Food and Drinks
Before coming over to the island, you’ll need to go grocery shopping for everything you will need during your stay.
Many grocery stores, like Publix, allow you to order online and they will “boat-pack” all of your groceries in coolers and paper bags to be easily transported to the island. On your way to the dock you’ll just stop, either in a taxi or your rental car, and pick up your groceries that will be all packed and ready to go.
If you want to pick out your own groceries, that’s fine too. However, you’ll most likely need to rent a car in order to shop so that your taxi/Uber driver isn’t waiting for hours in the parking lot.
Finally, you can download the Instacart app and order groceries for pick up from a bunch of stores near the ferry dock – just put in the zip code for North Captiva (33924) and the stores nearby will pop up. Double check to make sure that the store you pick isn’t out of the way.
You Can Order Groceries to be Delivered to Your Rental House or to the Ferry
Another option for grocery delivery, if you don’t want the hassle of stopping at the grocery store, is an island grocery delivery service. Fresh Pick Grocery Service will work with you to have all of your items picked up and delivered to your rental home upon your arrival. This way, you won’t need to worry about stopping at a supermarket and then rushing to the ferry after your flight.
The charge for this service is 25% of of the total grocery bill. Although this does seem high, it is a very convenient and stress-free option.
Additionally, Tibball’s provides a services where they will stock your rental home with groceries, or have your groceries picked up and delivered to the ferry dock. The fees for these services are between 25%-40% of the total grocery bill, but, again, they are very convenient options.
There is Only One Tiny Store on the Island
Be sure to bring enough food – this is my biggest North Captiva Island tip.
There are a few restaurants on the island that serve great food, but there is only one grocery store with extremely limited options (beer, pasta, eggs, etc.) Don’t rely on the on-island grocery store. It’s good for essentials if you’re in a pinch, but you cannot buy groceries to feed a family for a lengthy amount of time.
Check Out the Four Restaurants!
There are four restaurants on the island and one ice cream shop! I’ve eaten at all of these restaurants many times and they all have great food! Although some of the restaurants are within island clubs, you do not need to be a member of the club to eat at the restaurants.
Mangos
At North Captiva Island Club you will find the pool bar, Mangos. Mangos serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with all outdoor seating. I highly recommend the fish tacos – they are so good!!
The Boathouse
Also within North Captiva Island Club you’ll find the Boathouse. The Boathouse is only open for dinner, and is a little “fancier” (by North Captiva standards). They also require reservations. Be sure to try their key lime pie, it is amazing!
Over the Water
In Safety Harbor Club be sure to try Over the Water; it has great views of the ocean. They are open for lunch and dinner and their menu is delicious. We highly recommend that you try the shrimp scampi and the brownie sundaes, they are both so good! There is limited seating so be sure to make a reservation by calling (239) 472-4762.
Mainstay (Barnacles) + Ice Cream
Finally, check out Mainstay North Captiva (also called Barnacles). Barnacles has indoor seating and also outdoor seating under tiki huts. This is the perfect location to enjoy a casual lunch or dinner.
They also have a bar where you can relax and enjoy drinks while looking out at the water.
Note: As of 2023, Mainstay is closed. If it re-opens, or if a new restaurant opens in its place, I will post updates.
Above Barnacles there is also an ice cream shop, which is great for an afternoon or post lunch treat!
Things to do on North Captiva Island
Kayaks, Bikes and Beach Chairs are Free to Use
If you’re renting through NCIC, you have complementary access to kayaks, beach chairs and bikes! This is great, as it is so much fun to bike and kayak around the island! You can get all of these items from Mangos (store and pool bar.)
Rent Jet Skis, Paddle Boards and Boats
Through Boats and Fun, located near Mangos, you can rent paddle boards and different types of boats.
The staff at Boats and Fun is super helpful, and you’re sure to have a great time no matter which activity you choose. Click here for more information about the different rentals and activities, as well as for rental and charter rates.
Boats and Fun is also a gift shop – and they have tons of items that you can use while on the island, or buy as fun souvenirs to remember your vacation.
Take Day Trips + Fishing Trips
Through Boats and Fun you can also book day trips to go dolphin/manatee watching, fishing, do water sports, and even visit nearby islands!
We love hiring a boat to visit Cabbage Key for lunch. It’s about 30 minutes away from North Captiva and makes a great day trip. Click here for rates.
You Can Walk the Entire Length of the Island
North Captiva is only about 4 miles long, and half a mile wide at its widest point. Because of its small size, it’s relatively easy to walk the entire length of the island – either along the beach at low tide or through the nature preserve.
The entire southern portion of the island is a nature preserve/Florida State Park, and at this point there are no longer any homes or construction, just beautiful paths through a tropical forest. The southern portion of the island has amazing shelling, and it is a great place to bring a picnic and watch the dolphins jump.
Note: depending on the weather and tides, sometimes it’s not possible to walk on the beach the entire length of the island. When this happens, simply walk through the nature preserve to reach the beach on the Southern tip of the island.
Take Golf Cart Rides
This is one of the most popular activities on the island, and you’re bound to see tons of families driving around on golf carts and admiring the beautiful island scenery.
Most rental homes come with a golf cart (or 2), but if not, they are available to rent through NCIC. Everyone on the island is super friendly, and you’ll see vacationers and home owners driving around waving to all the guests they pass.
What to Bring to North Captiva
Besides your personal items, most of the rental properties will have everything you need for your stay!
However, there are a few items we recommend you bring in order to make your stay as fun and eco-friendly as possible.
Reusable straws
In my opinion, way too many straws are used by the bars and restaurants – bring your own to avoid extra waste, especially being so close to the ocean. Click here and here for some cute options – the big size is perfect for frozen drinks!
Reusable Zip-Lock Bags
These are perfect for packing a picnic or taking snacks to the beach! You can also use them for toiletries when going through airport security. Click here for a 10 pack.
Books
Although there is a “leave a book, take a book” mailbox on the island, there is nowhere to buy books.
Some homes have books that other travelers left behind, but I recommend bringing your own. I’ve been obsessed with Liane Moriarty books recently – check out Nine Perfect Strangers for a fun read! You can also bring a Kindle or iPad for easy book downloads!
Games
Again, many rental houses will have board games available for use, but there’s no guarantee. I recommend bringing a few of your favorites, or at least a deck of cards, for family game nights! Since the island is so low-key there isn’t a ton to do at night, so your board games will get a lot of use! My favorite games are Taboo and Sequence.
Recycling Note
Finally, I find it important, and unfortunate, that at this point there is no recycling on the island through NCIC. This is a huge downfall, and after talking to the island club owners I learned that the lack of recycling facilities is related to a lack of funding from the county. Currently, NCIC island staff are working on implementing a recycling system, and Safety Harbor already has one in place! I’m looking forward to recycling coming to the island soon, and for more eco-friendly programs – like no plastic straws at the bars!
In Conclusion
I hope our tips and advice for visiting North Captiva Island will help you have an amazing vacation!
North Captiva is such a wonderful place that you’ll want to return to time and time again. If you have any questions, please reach out or let us know in the comments below!
Lastly, we always appreciate you sharing our posts with others♡.
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More North Captiva Posts to Plan Your Trip:
- What to Bring to North Captiva Island
- North Captiva Island Year Round Packing Guide
- 10 Amazing Reasons to Visit North Captiva Island
♡Kate
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