Discover Cayo Costa on a private boat tour with Captain Pavel and Florida Gulf Discovery LLC. Departing from Eldred’s Marina in Placida, we follow a scenic route past Boca Grande and into Pine Island Sound before exploring one of Southwest Florida’s most remarkable barrier islands.
Every trip is private for your group of up to six guests. Cayo Costa adventures are normally planned as 4–8 hour private tours, with the itinerary shaped around beaches, shelling, swimming, wildlife, photography, island history and the amount of time you would like to spend on the water.
1Private Cayo Costa Boat Tours
Cayo Costa is not connected to the mainland by a public bridge. Arriving by private boat is part of the experience, offering views of Gasparilla Sound, Boca Grande, Boca Grande Pass and Pine Island Sound before the island’s undeveloped shoreline comes into view.
Unlike a crowded sightseeing vessel or a fixed ferry schedule, your Florida Gulf Discovery tour is reserved exclusively for your group. Captain Pavel can adjust the pace and destination according to your interests, available time, weather, tides and conditions on the water.
2Why Visit Cayo Costa
Cayo Costa offers something that has disappeared from much of Florida’s coastline: miles of natural barrier-island scenery without high-rise buildings, busy roads or commercial beachfront development.
The island includes Gulf beaches, protected bayside waters, mangrove shorelines, dunes, native vegetation, walking trails and historic places connected to the people who once lived there. It is a destination for guests who want to slow down, explore and experience Southwest Florida beyond the usual tourist areas.
- Remote beaches reached primarily by boat
- Shelling and beachcombing
- Swimming and relaxing in suitable conditions
- Dolphins, manatees and coastal birds
- Natural landscapes for photography
- Island trails and historic locations
Every visit is different. Wildlife moves, tides change, storms reshape the shoreline and fresh shell deposits appear in new places. Nature—not a fixed schedule—helps determine the day’s experience.
3Departing from Placida
Our Cayo Costa boat tours depart from Eldred’s Marina in Placida, Florida. Placida provides efficient access to Gasparilla Sound, Boca Grande Pass and the northern entrance to Pine Island Sound.
Starting here allows the journey itself to become part of the adventure. Instead of beginning far from Cayo Costa, guests quickly reach scenic coastal waterways where dolphins, manatees, ospreys and pelicans may be observed along the way.
Eldred’s Marina is convenient for guests staying in Englewood, Manasota Key, Rotonda West, Cape Haze, Boca Grande, Port Charlotte, North Port and nearby Southwest Florida communities.
4Our Route to Cayo Costa
Our private Cayo Costa boat tour begins at Eldred’s Marina in Placida. From the marina, we travel through Gasparilla Sound, cruising South alongside Gasparilla Island—home to the historic community of Boca Grande.
We continue toward Boca Grande Pass, one of the region’s most important natural waterways. After passing through Boca Grande Pass, we enter Pine Island Sound. Almost immediately, Cayo Costa comes into view on our left.
From there, the journey can continue toward Murdock Point, North Gulf Beach, Cayo Costa Lagoon, Manatee Hole, Padilla Beach or other areas selected according to the weather, tides, water conditions, available time and your interests.
Captain Pavel’s approach: A safe route is never chosen from a brochure. Wind, waves, tides, shifting sand and the comfort of every guest are considered before and during the trip.
5What You Can Discover on the Island
Cayo Costa is much larger than a single beach. Its landscape includes more than nine miles of Gulf shoreline, protected waters facing Pine Island Sound, mangrove forests, dunes, maritime hammocks, pine flatwoods and low coastal wetlands.
Depending on the chosen landing area, current access and available tour time, guests may walk a natural trail, explore the shoreline, search for shells, observe gopher tortoises and birds, photograph native vegetation or visit a historic island cemetery.
A single tour cannot necessarily include every beach, trail and historic location. Captain Pavel will help select the most suitable experience according to what your group would most like to discover.
6Murdock Point
Murdock Point marks the northern end of Cayo Costa and is one of the first recognizable island features we see after passing through Boca Grande Pass. It creates a dramatic introduction to the island where the natural shoreline meets the waters near Pine Island Sound.
From the boat, guests can view an undeveloped landscape continually shaped by tides, currents, waves and storms. Sandbars and shallow areas around the point can change, so the route and approach depend on current conditions.
Murdock Point is an excellent location for scenic cruising and photography. Depending on the day’s itinerary, we may continue from here toward North Gulf Beach, the lagoon or farther South along Cayo Costa.
7North Gulf Beach
North Gulf Beach is one of Cayo Costa’s quieter and more remote shoreline areas. Located on the Gulf side near the northern end of the island, it offers long stretches of natural beach without hotels, roads or commercial development.
Guests can walk along the shoreline, search for shells, photograph the landscape, watch shorebirds or simply enjoy the peaceful Gulf surroundings. Walking farther from the landing area may reveal nearly empty sections of beach that few visitors experience.
Shelling conditions change with tides, wind and waves. Landing and swimming also depend on Gulf conditions because this side of Cayo Costa is more exposed than the protected shoreline facing Pine Island Sound.
8Cayo Costa Lagoon
Cayo Costa Lagoon is one of the island’s most fascinating natural destinations. Located on the protected side of Cayo Costa, its shallow water, sandy shoreline and surrounding natural landscape can provide a beautiful setting for swimming, relaxing, paddleboarding and observing wildlife.
What makes the lagoon especially interesting is that it has not always existed in its present form. By studying historical aerial images, Captain Pavel observed that the lagoon began developing around 2005–2006 as a very small opening in the changing shoreline.
Over nearly two decades, sand and shells continued to move and accumulate. Wind, waves, tides, currents and hurricanes gradually reshaped the area, creating the larger lagoon visible today. It is a remarkable example of how quickly a barrier-island coastline can change.
The lagoon may be peaceful during quieter periods but busy with visiting boats on weekends and holidays. Its shoreline, water depth and appearance continue to change, and every visit is different.
Access and activities depend on weather, wind, tides, water depth, park notices, wildlife protection, available tour time and guest comfort.
9Manatee Hole
Manatee Hole is a secluded natural tidal cove located on the protected eastern side of Cayo Costa, approximately 2,000 feet South of the ranger station. A narrow, mangrove-lined tidal entrance connects it with Pine Island Sound.
Against the predominantly shallow waters surrounding this part of Pine Island Sound, Manatee Hole stands out as a localized bathymetric depression—a naturally deeper underwater pocket.
The available evidence indicates that Manatee Hole is a natural tidal feature rather than an excavated basin. It most likely developed gradually through historical tidal scouring and Cayo Costa’s continuous movement of sand and shells. Tidal currents helped remove sediment from the deeper pocket, while surrounding mangrove roots stabilized parts of the shoreline.
Some local accounts describe spring influence or groundwater entering the depression, but this has not been confirmed by the official hydrological information reviewed for Cayo Costa. It is best treated as an interesting local explanation rather than an established geological fact.
The calm, protected location has long been associated with manatee activity, giving the cove its familiar name. Manatees are wild animals, however, and sightings are never guaranteed.
The entrance, shoreline and depth can change as sediment moves and storms reshape the island. Access depends on tides, water depth, weather, wildlife activity, park restrictions and vessel suitability.
10Padilla Beach and Island History
Padilla Beach is located on the northeastern side of Cayo Costa and offers a combination of natural beauty and island history. Its protected location provides a different experience from the open Gulf shoreline, with views across Pine Island Sound.
Guests can enjoy beachcombing, shelling, photography, wildlife observation and quiet exploration. Tides and seasonal weather continually rearrange the sand and shells, so the shoreline never looks exactly the same.
Padilla Beach also provides access toward the historic Padilla Cemetery, which preserves the story of one of Cayo Costa’s early island families. Visiting this area offers more than a beautiful beach; it creates a connection with people who once lived, worked and raised families on this remote barrier island.
Access to the cemetery and other interior locations depends on current park notices, trail conditions, weather, tides, available time and guest comfort. Historic sites must always be approached respectfully and left undisturbed.
11Shelling, Swimming and Wildlife
Shelling and Beachcombing
Cayo Costa’s long natural shoreline provides excellent opportunities to search for shells. The best deposits depend on tides, wind direction, waves and recent storms. Shelling is about exploring slowly and appreciating what the Gulf has placed along the beach that day.
Swimming and Relaxing
When conditions are suitable, guests can swim, cool off in shallow water or relax beside the boat. The safest and most comfortable location may change during the day, so Captain Pavel selects swimming areas according to wind, waves, currents, tides and water clarity.
Dolphins, Manatees and Birds
The route through Gasparilla Sound, Boca Grande Pass and Pine Island Sound provides opportunities to observe dolphins, manatees, ospreys, pelicans, bald eagles, shorebirds and other native wildlife. On the island, guests may also encounter gopher tortoises along trails and in suitable upland habitat.
Wildlife is never scheduled or guaranteed. We observe animals from a respectful distance and never chase, feed, touch or disturb them.
12Customize and Book Your Tour
There is no single perfect Cayo Costa itinerary for every group. Some guests want to spend most of their time shelling and walking a quiet Gulf beach. Others prefer swimming, wildlife watching, photography, paddleboarding or discovering the island’s history.
Cayo Costa adventures are normally offered as 4–8 hour private tours. Your tour can be planned around the experiences that matter most to you. The final route is adjusted for available time, weather, tides, water depth, Gulf conditions, wildlife protection, park access and the comfort of everyone aboard.
Aboard Our Axopar 29 Sun Top
Your private adventure takes place aboard Florida Gulf Discovery’s 2024 Axopar 29 Sun Top, powered by twin Mercury 200 hp V6 FourStroke engines. Its stable hull, shaded seating, open walk-around layout and easy water access make it well suited for island exploration, beach stops and comfortable coastal cruising.
- Private experience for up to six guests
- Flexible 4–8 hour Cayo Costa adventures
- USCG-licensed and insured captain
- Flexible destination and activity choices
- Modern boat with shaded and open seating
- Route selected according to real conditions
Book Your Private Cayo Costa Tour
Tell Captain Pavel what you would most like to experience, and let Florida Gulf Discovery create your personalized Cayo Costa adventure.
Book Your Private Tour!
