If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). Rich with wildlife and first class amenities, Captiva and Sanibel are considered two of the most captivating barrier islands in the country. 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. On the other hand, the dining on Captiva Island is more eclectic than that on Sanibel Island. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Sanibel City leaders said their beaches fared better than Captiva's in the erosion department following Eta, although isolated erosion was spotted on some public beaches. In addition, if you enjoy hunting for shells, you should definitely pick Sanibel Island, as it is the top shelling destination in North America. Marco is highly developed and channelized with high rises and wide groomed beaches. While Sanibel is larger and offers more shops, hotels and sights, Captiva is quaint with powder soft beaches and Old Florida charm. 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. But youre going to have to dig around more than youd think and its probably not going to be a bargain. Although you may not be able to climb to the top of the historic Sanibel Lighthouse, you are allowed to visit the surrounding areas for a lighthouse photo-op. People who visit the island mostly have plans of hanging out on the beach, as it is the main attraction. Compared to Sanibel Island, beaches on Captiva Island do not have a lot of crowds and have a few shells to hunt. Which beach is better Sanibel or Captiva? Most of the year it feels like you are the only one on the beach. It seems like this couldnt possibly be true since they are so close, together but it absolutely is. Captiva's beaches are more of the soft sugar sand that one would typically see on an island. Some of the major differences between Sanibel Island and Captiva Island can be found on the beaches. Were happy to answer trip-planning questions! Youll also find a good selection of family-friendly beachfront resorts, condos, B&B's and Airbnbs. The Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are actually very different, and most articles you read on San-Cap fail to even acknowledge this. It's a quiet beach, but it's not really the best place for swimming. The building restrictions here are whats part of the charm. Condos are also available on both the Gulf and the bay. The access you get to the state park beach is at the West side of Panama Shell Drive at the end of Captiva Drive, and there are just miles of empty sands and fallen trees to explore and climb. Brokered by MVP Realty Associates LLC. The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva are known for shelling, consistently ranking at the top of the best shelling beaches in the United States. Here and on adjacent roads you will find a wide selection of restaurants, galleries, shops, food markets, a live theater company, a movie theaterand severalsmall shopping centers. 1725 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral, FL 33904. From Sanibel, this distillery is only about 40 minutes away. The currents flush fish out into the gulf and help build waves. Discover the Beauty of Sanibel and Captiva Islands There is so much to find and enjoy in Southwest Florida, especially on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Before you reach the South Seas Island resort theres the quaint village of Captiva with a few shops and eateries. Sanibel Island has more shells, Captiva Island Beaches have better sand. Captiva Beach - Andy Rosse Lane. And anything called a resort is actually a condo with more resort-like amenities. A collaborative effort of the Florida Shorebird Alliance, the survey of shorebirds and seabirds in Florida aims to gain a better understanding of their winter distributions, the SCCF reported. A Saltwater Fishing License is required to saltwater fish from shore. How to Rent a Beachfront House on Isla Mujeres, Ultimate Guide to Florida Keys Vacation Rentals. There are more options for 'street legal' carts, but they are not readily available for rent at this time. There are no main roads, so it doesnt get as crowded as you think it would. Having taken morning runs on both island beaches, Sanibels sand provides a much better surface for runners. What it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in beauty and other features. The gulf water was clean and calm, but not clear. One of the biggest attractions on Sanibel Island is the J.N. The currents that bring abundant shells to sanibel and the 10K islands do result in some turbulence and suspended sand in the water at times even when there are no water releases. That said, however, since most visitors seem to hit the beaches closest to the Sanibel Causeway (the only road on and off the island), youll find that the closer you get to the Causeway, the more crowded the beaches are. Here are some of our favorite places to cool down with a cocktail. While you can walk to bars and restaurants from some vacation rentals it is not that easy from most. You can take Instagram-worthy pictures and view the local wildlife from the perfect vantage point: the sand! At these islands, you get 15 miles of coastline, 25 miles of biking, and fifty different species of fish! The way it juts out into the gulf (its situated more east/west than north/south) means its a treasure trove when winter storms stir up the billions of shells sitting out deeper in the Gulf of Mexico. Some people are put off by higrises on the beach. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Lighthouse Beach. 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. Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts boasts more than 50 years of hospitality marketing and management success all based on the delivery of our mission, by each team member, to each of you, our guests: deliver a warm, friendly and memorable island resort experience that provides value to you so exceptional, you'll want to return . You get a very comfortable and relaxed oceanfront resort, which includes: Another amazing inn on this island is the Seaside inn. While Sanibel is not busy by mainland standards, Captiva manages to be even more laid back. Port Sanibel Marina | The northern tip of the island, well over 300 acres,is all owned by the South Seas Resort. It had the same color/clarity as the ocean here in NC. The lack of multi-unit condos on Captiva makes the beaches far less crowded. 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. Its a great way to explore and enjoy the island. If youre looking for a smaller beach, Sanibel Lighthouse Beach is an excellent option. Before traveling to any vacation destination, one of the most important things to consider is where you are to stay on your arrival. But its all about your expectations. Gulfside City Park. The strong currents that make Blind Pass a . Very different experiences. You could easily sell your home, move here and never miss a thing. The sand on Clearwater Beach is slightly nicer than the sand on Sand Key, but it is pretty close. We aren't big nightlife people, but enjoy good "non-chain" restaurants. The irony of this is, one of the best beaches on Sanibel is located closest to the Causeway. Turner Beach is located at Blind Pass right across the bridge from Sanibel. . Very shelly though, youll need to wear flips flops to take a walk. Canoe and kayak rentals, even guided tours of Ding Darling by tram or kayak are available at Tarpon Bay Explorers. I only took in the Captiva Island portion of the trip but made sure to experience as much of the area as possible and not just sit on patios listening to acoustic music while drinking rum punch. The beaches shown in the video are: Lighthouse Beach, Gulfside City Beach, Tarpon Bay Beach, Bowman's. Sticking to the beach rules of no alcohol, no loud music, and tidying after yourself will ensure that you have the best adventure. Can you find a nice place to stay? Holiday Inn Club Vacations Sunset Cove Resort, an IHG Hotel. Sanibel public beaches & parking lots have started opening! Jensens is well-known and reliable for a day of off-island sightseeing. You can download an app with tons of info on it. Captiva doesnt have the network of dedicated bike paths that Sanibel has, so if you were looking forward to extensive bike-riding on your vacation, Sanibel may be the better choice. Our guide below gives you an in-depth look at what you can expect at each of Sanibel Island's popular shelling beaches. It does. Thank you 7/9/2016. "This light being lit . Blind Pass Beach is one of the more unique beaches on this list given the fact that it stretches to the northern tip of Sanibel Island, making it easily accessible from Captiva Island as well. Schedule launch times and see the status of your reservation anytime, anywhere with the BoatCloud Launch App. Sanibel Island is home to relaxing beaches, great dining, fishing . Both are a far cry from the bitter cold winter months further north. Relax on the miles of beaches surrounding the island or enjoy some fun in the water. All SW FL beach towns have the same water clarity issues. 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. More questions about Sanibel vs Captiva? Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. One of the best spots on Sanibel to go kayaking is the J N Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Captiva Road. On the left side of Captiva Drive there are three short side streets. Dating back to August 1884, the Sanibel Lighthouse is over hundred years old and of historic importance. 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. More island businesses are re-opening every week. The Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery gives free tours and tastings for all visitors. 3 beach destination in the United States, and it is easy to see why. Biking is our favorite way to get around the islands . The pristine beaches, with plentiful seashells for collectors, proved popular with. Plenty of visitors love to enjoy sports here, with wading and swimming being very popular in the right places. All of the area's beaches from Lighthouse Beach to North Captiva Island are great shelling locations. Jensen's Captiva Island Beach and Marina Resorts, Captiva Vessels up to 40 feet (239) 472-5800 gocaptiva.com. Check the Refuge for hours of opening since recent budget cutbacks have reduced staff and forced occasional closings. Within the developed sections are things common to towns anywhere- schools, neighborhoods, supermarkets, and stores. The beach connecting Sanibel to Captive is probably the best known public beach and it is very well known for its shelling. YUCATAN SHRIMP AT Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. What's there to do I one place vs the other? Bowman's Beach is very quiet and pristine. (read about the brown water discharges from Lake O). Has the red drift algae been a problem AT ALL on Captiva?? One of the questions we get asked a lot is, what are the differences between Sanibel and Captiva Island?.