Ever wonder what Florida’s west coast looked like before developers manicured the beaches with resorts, condominiums and luxury homes? If so, you might enjoy a voyage to Cayo Costa State Park off the coast of southwest Florida. This 7-mile long, pristine island is a rare gem accessible only by boat. 

Cayo Costa sits due south of Boca Grande Pass in Lee County, sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound. Virtually untouched white, sandy beaches wrap the island for over 9 miles. Unspoiled red-mangrove forests blanket the coastline on the bay side, a truly idyllic spot for fisherman and kayakers.

Cayo Costa is a nature lover’s paradise with miles of hiking and biking trails that wind through oak hammocks, pine forests, and low, grass covered sand dunes. Across the park’s 2426 acres, you’ll see a wide variety of wildlife including ospreys, gopher turtles, rabbits, alligators, manatee, otters, and many other creatures. The beaches are world renowned for shelling, out of reach from crowds of tourists. Snook, redfish and trout may be caught year-round just about anywhere. And in May and June, huge tarpon congregate in the deep waters of Boca Grande Pass.

Sail into Pelican Bay and you’ll spot the docks near the north end. The ranger station stands just beyond the water. Staying overnight is a great idea when the mosquitoes are low in the winter. Campsites are available for $22 per night. Many sites are just off the beach. Primitive cabins may be rented for $40 a night. The cabins are pretty basic, screen windows and bunk beds. Bring your own bedding. You can even rent a slip overnight for $20 and sleep on your boat. Or, for larger boats, anchor in Pelican Bay for free. Day trippers are charged $2 each for admission into the park. Camping reservations are recommended.

A complimentary trolley transports gear, campers, and sunbathers from the bayside ranger station to the camp ground on the Gulf of Mexico across a one-mile dirt road that winds through a scenic oak hammock.

The park service allows most of Cayo Costa to take its natural course. That means you’ll see a coastline that looks pretty much the way it has for thousands of years—wild mangrove forests, trees that have fallen into the sea, acres of sea grasses and sea oats. One thing you won’t see much of is other people. It’s easy to walk the beach for miles without running into another living soul. This is one of the reasons that wildlife photographers, like Clyde Butcher, have been returning to this natural destination for years.