Things to do nearSandspur Island

Sandspur Island is part of Cayo Costa State Park, one of Florida's largest and most remote barrier islands, accessible only by private boat or passenger ferry from Pine Island or Bokeelia. The island's name reflects the spiny coastal grasses that dot its interior, though most visitors come for the long, undeveloped Gulf-facing beach that defines its western edge. Because no bridges connect it to the mainland, the shoreline has remained largely unchanged for generations, preserving a landscape that feels genuinely wild.

The beach itself is the main draw, a broad expanse of fine white sand and broken shells where loggerhead sea turtles nest in summer. Shorebirds, including black skimmers, willets, and American oystercatchers, forage at the water's edge throughout the year. The bayside of the island offers calmer, shallower water well suited to kayaking and paddleboarding, with views across Pine Island Sound toward the mangrove-fringed shores of the surrounding park.

There are no restaurants or concessions on Sandspur Island, so visitors typically bring a packed lunch and spend the day at their own pace. The ferry from Pine Island Sound lands at the main Cayo Costa dock, from which a short trail or tram ride leads across the island to the Gulf beach. Those arriving by private boat often anchor in the sound and wade or dinghy ashore.

Sandspur Island rewards visitors who value quiet over convenience. Its combination of undisturbed shoreline, rich wildlife, and clear Gulf water makes it one of Southwest Florida's most memorable natural destinations.