Captiva Island

Across from Blind Pass Bridge at Turner Beach at the north end of Sanibel Island is Captiva Island. The two islands Captiva and Sanibel, are forever linked by a common history of conquistadores, tales of swash buckling pirates and the fear of encroaching and rampant overdevelopment. Fortunately, development on Captiva Island, Florida, is restricted. The state government purchased approximately half of Northern Captiva (350 acres) in 1975 to preserve the land and the species found there. There are currently approximately 370 dwellings on North Captiva Island. Only 50 of these homes are permanent residents.

The island provides its visitors with magnificent vistas of sand, sea and sky. The sunsets are a wonder to behold. The beach stretches five miles to the northern end of the island and Redfish Pass.

Turner Beach, on Captiva Island, Fl., is a source of fishing delights and one of the major boasts of this island, shells. Individuals spend all day collecting the different types of shells found on the island. These gifts from the sea come in amazing colors and shapes delighting the eyes and hearts of casual collector and fanatic alike. The posture of the shellers has even resulted in the creation of a term – the Captiva Crouch.

Captiva Island vacation rentals include beachfront condos, expensive resorts, homes and a few hotel/resorts. The island is not as developed as Sanibel, even the downtown of Captiva Island is more village-like than urban. Captiva Island rentals, therefore, do not offer as many varied choices as in Sanibel or a larger metropolis. This does not mean that a Captiva Island vacation rental is not possible. There are a few places available to provide Captiva Island accommodations to vacationers.

South Seas Plantation Resort is a busy marina and an excellent starting point for boat trips to Cayo Costa. Pelican Roost offers beachfront condos. There is an occasional Captiva Island cottage for rent. Furthermore, there are the two combination resorts, condos or even hotel combination. Hotels in Captiva are lacking. A Captiva Island rental tends to be in the form of a resort or a private home.

Both Island Club Resort and South Seas Island Resort offer rentals of properties and apartments to vacationers. The North Captiva Island Resort, Island Club Resort, has rental properties that range from one-bedroom suites to six-bedroom estates. They offer use of bikes, golf carts and a swimming pool.

Captiva Island is fishing. Captiva Island is a beach wedding. Captiva Island is, for some individuals, the ideal place on earth to spend their vacation.