11 Best Things to Do in Captiva Island

Despite its size and remote location there’s a surprising number of cool things to do in Captiva Island, the southwest Florida island gem.

Located at the northern end of Sanibel and Captiva Island off the coast of Fort Myers, it’s one of the most popular southwest Florida vacation destinations!

The pace of life on the island is slow, and it’s perfect for those who need some island time for a while away from the hustle and bustle of life.

You can feel it the minute you drive over the Sanibel causeway, and further still when you cross the tiny bridge that separates Sanibel from Captiva, just as that hurricane did decades ago in 1921 when it tore the single island in two.

Here, you can wake up late, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, spend the entire day at the beach, or do nothing at all.

If you’re inclined to explore, there are quite a few things to do on Captiva Island, from trying a new water sport, strolling the island’s farmers market, taking a boat to surrounding islands for the day, watching dolphins and manatees play, or just celebrating sunset at the end of the day.

It’s not for everyone, but if this sounds idyllic to you, it’s probably just what you need!

If you’re looking for the best of Captiva Island Florida, we’ve got you covered!

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Sanibel or Captiva Island?

This is a question we got a lot! And we understand it can be confusing as to what the differences are between the two islands?

Aren’t they essentially the same island?

Well, yes and no.

To help you make the best decision on which island makes a better base for your vacation, check out this post here on Sanibel vs Captiva.

11 Best Things to Do in Captiva Island

1. Hit the Beach

First, we have the main reason why travelers visit Sanibel and Captiva islands — the beaches! They’re renowned for swimming and shelling, and uncrowded as well.

Most visitors will stay on Sanibel’s beaches to avoid the extra drive to the northern end of the island.

And did I mention shelling?

You’ll find yourself mesmerized by the never-ending delivery of thousands of beautiful seashells of all sizes.

They keep coming, we keep searching, and it goes on and on for your entire stay.

When it comes to beaches, what Captiva may lack in quantity compared to Sanibel is more than made up for in quality, and the lack of crowds means everyone will have room to stretch and run around.

There are several beaches to choose from:

• Turner Beach — 17200 Captiva Dr, Captiva, FL — located at the southernmost tip of Captiva Island just opposite Blind Pass Beach on the other side of the small bridge over to Sanibel is Turner Beach.

  You’ll find good shelling (although because of the current, the Sanibel side at Blind Pass seems to have the Mother Lode of shells so just walk across the bridge to check it out.)

  It’s also a good beach to catch sunset.

• Captiva Beach and Alison Hagerup Beach Park — 14790 Captiva Drive, Captiva, FL — Located at the end of San-Cap Road, directly behind the entrance to South Seas Plantation, Captiva Beach is probably the best beach in Captiva Island.

  There’s a public parking lot at Alison Hagerup Beach Park with direct access to Captiva Beach.

  Parking is $5 per hour/$40 if you stay all day, or $25 for the first 2 hours.

• The Mucky Duck (Temporarily Closed) — the beach at the Mucky Duck is beautiful, so grab a few cold ones and some food and enjoy the view!

2. Take a Boat to Surrounding Islands

Just a short hop from Captiva Island are several Gulf Coast barrier islands waiting for you to explore: North Captiva Island, Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Cayo Costa, among others.

And taking a boat to one of these islands is one of the best Captiva Island things to do.

Where else do you have the chance to visit so many islands in one view?

The closest island to Captiva is North Captiva, which many people mistakenly think is actually Captiva Island as it sits at the north end of Sanibel and Captiva.

It is not — Captiva Island and North Captiva Island are two different islands.

North Captiva Island

There are no roads leading to North Captiva so it remains a secluded paradise accessible only by boat.

Because of that limited accessibility, you’ll be able to claim a bit of that paradise all to yourself with things to do like swimming, suntanning on the golden sands, and searching for rare shells.

Even though most of North Captiva is privately owned, many of these residences are vacation rentals through VRBO, Airbnb, and other rental companies.

There are four restaurants: the Boathouse Restaurant for fine dining; Mango's Restaurant and Pool bar for casual fare; and the Over the Waterfront, located at Safety Harbor townhouses.

Getting to North Captiva Island from Captiva is easy but you just have to plan ahead.

Jensen’s Marina (239-472-5800) runs water taxi service, private charters, and sightseeing trips from Captiva to four surrounding islands: North Captiva, Cabbage Key, Pine Island, and Boca Grande.

Give them a call and they can arrange transport.

3. Take a Day Trip to Sanibel or Fort Myers

North Captiva Island isn’t the only day trip that’s worth your time.

You’ll also want to spend some time in nearby Sanibel Island or Fort Myers.

If there’s one thing that you must do during your time on Sanibel Island, it’s search for shells.

Since this island is dubbed the “shelling capital of the world,” you’re sure to find some cool treasures to take home.

And remember, it’s illegal to keep shells that are still occupied.

But if you’re looking for things to do in Sanibel Island that you can’t do in Captiva Island, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge are two must-see spots.

The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is the only museum in the US dedicated solely to seashells.

It includes dozens of seashell exhibits, a fun scavenger hunt, interactive displays for kids — you can even go on a shell-inspired outdoor story walk.

Then, there’s the lovely J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, one of the premier kayaking destinations around the area. While this wildlife refuge is appealing for many reasons, it is most well-known for its prime birdwatching conditions.

Hundreds of bird species make their home in this refuge, including herons, ospreys, cuckoos, and bright pink roseate spoonbills.

Just a bit further off-island is the historic city of Fort Myers, with its vintage and vibrant downtown packed with cool restaurants and shops.

This was also the summer home of inventors and friends Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

They were so friendly in fact that they built their homes next door to each other, and today those homes are among the most visited attractions in Fort Myers.

There are excellent beaches and lots of other fun things to do in the city that you can check out!

4. Book a Dolphin Cruise

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of dolphins that swim around Captiva Island.

One of the best things to do in Captiva is try to get a glimpse of our underwater friends.

If you’re lucky, you’ll often be able to see these friendly mammals from the shore.

PRO TIP: And here’s a tip to help you out: watch where the birds go!

The birds and the dolphins tend to be in the same place, since they’re both heading to feed on a school of small fish.

Sometimes the dolphins don’t cooperate and it’s hard to see them from the shores of Captiva Island.

Instead, We recommend taking a guided dolphin cruise.

While there are a couple of different dolphin cruise companies in Captiva Island, Captiva Cruises is by far the most popular one.

Boat captains of Captiva Cruises dolphin tour know where to find dolphins at different times of day, and will take you to the best locations to see Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

These tours are narrated by volunteers from the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation so you’ll learn loads of interesting and fun facts about dolphins.

5. Party at the Mucky Duck (Temporarily Closed)

There are few better places on Captiva to have drinks than the Mucky Duck.

The food and the atmosphere is pub-style and very good, but the outdoor setting is more relaxed and fitting with being at the beach.

By late afternoon the setting gets more lively with people playing games and coming in off the beach.

We recommend you do both — catch the beach for fun in the sun or sunset, then stay awhile for the party to warm up!

6. Eat at These Captiva Restaurants

There are several excellent Captiva Island restaurants to try during your stay, and several of them have become favorites for their intimate yet casual island settings.

Key Lime Bistro at the Captiva Island Inn is excellent and don’t forget a piece of — you guessed it — their incredible Key Lime pie.

Another island favorite is the Bubble Room, especially If you have kids in tow. It’s practically an institution.

And while the food is good and the atmosphere quirky, if not a bit odd, their desserts are ginormous and fun, and very good.

We promise your wee ones will love it!

7. Shop Local at the Captiva Island Farmers Market

The Captiva Island Farmers Market is a small weekly event that is definitely worth your time.

It’s one of the best things to do in Captiva Island, as it’s the perfect place to find a souvenir, support a small business, or just munch on some good local food.

Every Tuesday from the end of November to the end of May, 25 local vendors come and sell their wares.

You can find everything from empanadas and homemade candles to orchids, fresh fruits and veggies at this market.

8. Search for Shells

While Sanibel Island has established itself as the shell capital of the world, the conditions in Captiva Island aren’t too shabby either.

Of course, you just have to know where to look.

Just about every beach in Captiva Island has a few shells, but the prime shelling shorelines include Turner Beach and Allison Hagerup Beach Park.

If you’re looking to identify the local shells you’ll collect at the beach, pick up a shell map before you go.

9. Go Parasailing with YOLO Watersports

If you’d like to see Captiva Island from a bird’s eye view, maybe parasailing is for you.

YOLO Watersports (You Only Live Once) is the company you want to turn to if you want to have some extra fun in the water during your time in Captiva Island.

One of the best things to do in Captiva Island is try your hand at parasailing.

This is YOLO Watersports’ most popular activity (but there are more). Experience what it’s like to fly in the sky while being pulled along by a speedy winch boat!

If parasailing isn’t for you, maybe jet skiing is! YOLO Watersports offers 2-hour Waverunner (or jet ski) excursions, which take you from Captiva Island to Cayo Costa Island.

Along the way, you’ll be able to speed along on your jet ski and see quite a bit of wildlife, including dolphins, manatees, stingrays, and turtles.

Or try your hand at flyboarding, undoubtedly one of the coolest things to do in Captiva Island.

A pair of water-powered boots will propel high up into the air. It looks hard but is actually fairly easy for most people.

It’s definitely a special experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

10. Catch Sunset

The mere fact that sunset is cause for daily celebration and onlookers applaud when the last teesy bit of sun fades from view tells you a lot about the kind of sunsets there are to see in southwest Florida.

They’re spectacular anytime of year! So plan on counting this natural phenomenon among your daily things to do in Captiva, preceded or followed by sundowner cocktails at The Green Flash!

Here are our favorite places to watch the sunset on Sanibel and Captiva!

11. Go on a Kayaking Adventure

With all of the nearby islands and the relatively calm waters, Captiva Island is one of the coolest places in southwest Florida to go on a kayaking adventure.

There are plenty of places to paddle, and a few of the best islands to kayak to include Pine Island, Buck Key, and the Wulfert Keys.

You can also kayak along the Buck Key Paddle Trail or around the Chadwick Bayou.

Instead of embarking on this kayaking adventure on your own, you can also take a tour.

There are so many fun things to do in Captiva Island.

Whether you’re hoping to spend time on the beach, see wildlife, or do a little shopping, your time in Captiva Island will be a blast!

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