Visting North Captiva
North Captiva Island
North Captiva is located north of the furthest point of South Sea’s Beach Resort. It is separated by a channel called Redfish Pass which was created in 1921 by a hurricane. The only way to get there is by boat or private jet, we are going to explore the boat options!
Captiva Boat Tours
Run by Captain Brian Holaway, Captiva Boat Tours explores areas of great natural beauty that are certainly worth the trip. But Captain Brian will definitely be a great choice for a trip to North Captiva. His knowledge of shelling, wildlife, and the ecosystem makes his various nature tours incredibly informative and truly spectacular. Captain Brian has a variety of tours available.
Jensen’s Marina
Jensen’s Marina provides many charter tours including Island Hopping which stops at several islands with North Captiva included. You can also rent a water taxi at Jensen’s just to get to North Captiva and back.
Now I’m Here, How Do I Get Around?
Just to emphasize, there are NO cars on North Captiva. No options to rent, Uber or even hitchhike! So, now you are here, how do you get around? Learn all about rental options below!
Boats And Fun
Boats And Fun are North Captiva’s only independent rental service unattached to rental accommodations or a resort. They have everything you could possibly need to get the most out of your trip to North Captiva. They provide fishing tours, jet ski tours, sightseeing tours and private water taxis. They rent out bikes, golf carts, boats, kayaks, jet skis, fishing equipment and paddleboards!
Now I’m mobile, where should I go?
North Captiva is known for its white-sand beaches and gorgeous ocean. There are approximately 5 miles of beach to explore. It is a great place for shelling. You can walk all of the beaches and, for the majority of it, it will border Barrier Island park which is a huge nature preserve. There are no formal trails however, the paths are easy to navigate. You won’t get lost in the daytime, but, it is probably advisable to not explore in the dark! There is a plethora of amazing wildlife to observe including Osprey’s, Bald Eagles, and Dolphin.
I’m pretty hungry, where can I eat?
There are a handful of spots to dine out on North Captiva. It is advisable to call in advance of your visit to reserve a spot as the places have limited seating.
The Boat House
4421 Bartlett Pkwy, N. Captiva, FL 33924
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 4:45pm – 7:45pm
The Boat House is family-friendly, fine dining. There are great views of the marina and overlooks both the marina and lagoon. They have a great selection of fresh seafood, steaks, and a good wine list. You have to make a reservation in advance, at least a week in advance if not more.
Mainstay North Captiva
4401 Point House Trail, N. Captiva, FL 33924
Hours:
Open Daily, 11am – 8:30pm
Mainstay North Captiva has a great menu for the whole family and excellent seafood. They have a full bar, an ice cream shop and a general store!
Mangos Store & Mangos Pool Bar
Bartlett Pkwy, N. Captiva, FL 33924
Hours:
Open Daily 9am – 8pm
Mangos store has basic grocery supplies if you are staying for a few nights and did not bring your supplies from the mainland. Mango’s Pool Bar is located between 2 custom pools and offers a menu of light bites such as tacos, sandwiches, and pizza. Has good poolside cocktails! The pool bar is only accessible to guests of the North Captiva Island Club Resort.
Over The Waterfront
4470 Escondido Ln, N. Captiva, FL 33924
Hours:
Wednesday thru Monday
11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 9pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Call ahead as hours may vary
Reservations a must
Over The Waterfront restaurant is the only restaurant truly over the water! Located at the end of the dock, Over The Waterfront is surrounded by beautiful water, and if you’re lucky you may see a dolphin or two! It is a BYOB and opens for lunch and dinner most days.
I like it here! Where can I stay?
There are no hotels/motels on North Captiva but, there are plenty of accommodation choices through management companies and private owners.
North Captiva Island Club
4421 Bartlett Pkwy, N. Captiva, FL 33924
Hours:
Open daily, 8:30am – 4:30pm
North Captiva Island Club is a local property management company that has a wide variety of rentals on North Captiva. They can accommodate different requests such as a private pool, a boat dock, hot tub, and pet friendly. They have you covered. Also, when you rent through North Captiva Island Club you receive access to their resort pool bar, Mangos.
Tortuga Properties
Point House Trail, N. Captiva, FL 33924
Hours:
Open daily, 6:30am – 9:00pm
Tortuga Properties is a smaller operation but, still rents and maintains several great properties throughout the island.
About The Sanibel Captiva Guide Podcast
The Sanibel Captiva Guide Podcast is your portal to all things island! Follow us on this fun journey as we discover interesting parts of history, talk about local events and recent island changes, and interview local residents and business owners! We hope to cover major attractions such as the beaches, the museums, the outdoor activities and more! It is our hope to bring a unique voice and perspective to this wonderful area of South West Florida, building a supportive community foundation where we can all share thoughts and ideas. We would love your feedback and, suggestions for future interviews, questions you may have or, quirky island stories lesser-known!
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If you enjoyed Podcast #49, check out the following links:
Sailing around the islands, check out the sailing advice from Captain Kevin!
Can You Surf On Sanibel? Listen in and find out all the surfing secrets on Sanibel!
Captiva Erosion Prevention District, find out all about the latest environmental efforts to maintain the beaches.
Fishing on Sanibel, discover everything you need to know about the best fishing on the islands.
History of Sanibel and Captiva, check out our various video’s about historic landmarks of the islands
Day Trips of Fort Myers, check out day trips in Fort Myers including recommended museums!
Dunlop Road, check out the other cool spots on Dunlop Road next to the farmers market!
Sanibel Public Library, explore the library right next to the farmers market!
