Cayo Costa Beach (North)

Cayo Costa, FL

As mentioned in my previous posts, Cayo Costa is my favorite beach in all of Florida. It’s a special place because of it’s natural, undeveloped beauty and its’ nine miles of unspoiled beaches; a true rarity in the state nowadays. It also is a state park that has a boat dock on the bay, camping facilities and even some rustic cabins for rent. Click HERE to learn more about camping at Cayo Costa.

LOCATION

Cayo Costa is located on the west coast of Florida and is positioned to the south of Boca Grande and to the north of North Captiva Island. The bayside of Cayo Costa is where you’ll find the entrance to the park and the boat docks. It also is the location for a very popular anchorage for cruisers called Pelican Bay.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A GREAT SANDBAR ON THE BAYSIDE OF CAYO COSTA

The Gulfside is is where numerous boats anchor just off the beach during the warmer months. Despite the fact that the location is a popular spot for boaters, the size of the beach makes it easy to make it seem like you’re on a private beach.

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW TO FIND YOUR OWN PRIVATE BEACH IN FLORIDA

WIND PROTECTION

This northern section of Cayo Costa is especially, ideal when it’s windy from the south. The curvature of the beach provides protection from a S/SE wind. The day I filmed the 360 video for this post the wind was blowing from that direction and you can see how calm it was when viewed. Another cool aspect of this beach is the large, interior lake that has formed a short walk away. It’s a great place to explore by kayak or paddle board and perfect for young children.

STERN ANCHOR

When accessing the beach by boat you’ll want to use two anchors; one from the bow and another from the stern. The stern anchor is ideal because it keeps the stern positioned in shallow water making it ideal when boarding the boat. It’s also important because it keeps the boat facing out towards the waves/wind chop regardless of the current. The current can flow strongly north or south, depending on the tide. As a result, a stern anchor is essential. By the way, this advice holds true for just about any beach or sandbar in our state.

I utilize the service and benefits of Boat U.S. They are a great organization that every boater should consider. You should too. Click HERE to learn more.