Sanibel Island is an incredible place to experience nature. There is a huge commitment to conservation and the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) is the largest, private landowner on the island. They manage over 1200 acres of conserved land.  There are numerous nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. The J.N “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge is 6,400 Acres of preserved and undeveloped mangrove ecosystem land. It is a celebration of nature at its finest. Among the fascinating animals and birds to observe is the adorable manatee.



Appreciating The Gentle Manatee


Manatees on Sanibel and Captiva, also known as sea cows, are cute, large, fully aquatic mammals. They live in shallow coastal areas, rivers of the Caribbean Sea, West Africa, the Amazon Basin, and luckily for us the Gulf of Mexico! Slow-moving and gentle, manatees are herbivores with a diet consisting of water grasses, weeds, and algae.  Manatees weigh approximately 1,000 pounds and eat 10 – 15% of their body weight daily! They are shy in nature and communicate with little chirps, whistles, and squeaks.  Communication is mostly between mothers and calves. Manatees typically breed once every two years and will generally only produce one calf. They are intelligent creatures with good long-term memories and have very good hearing. Manatees spend 50% of the day sleeping submerged, surfacing for air in intervals. They move at around 5 miles per hour but, in short bursts, can speed up to 15 miles an hour! Manatees do not have neck vertebra so if they want to look around, they have to turn their whole body.


Areas To Spot Manatees


There are several great spots on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island to spot manatees, remember, it is illegal to touch these adorable creatures. When looking for them, look for circular ripples on the surface of the water.

On Sanibel, Lighthouse Beach Park is good for a sighting and on Captiva, Tween Waters Inn Marina or, Jensen’s Marina.


The Lighthouse Café


The Lighthouse Cafe
362 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957
239-472-0303
Visit The Lighthouse Cafe Website

Hours of Operation:
7:00am – 3:00pm
7 Days a Week

Guide to Sanibel Restaurants
Guide to Captiva Restaurants
Guide To Waterfront Dining

breakfast cafe on Sanibel Island