Off the western coast of Florida, tucked between larger, more developed islands (why does the word developed remind me of pre-teens in a Judy Blume novel?), is an island so unapologetic, so scraggly, so unkempt it’s like a frat house bathroom, but as beautiful as the abs a frat house contains. Cayo Costa. It’s a state park, so you got your friendly Guides in olive Green there to help you, but honestly, help you with what? It’s a great piece of sand on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico.
This post is all about traveling to Cayo Costa State Park, a beautiful rugged island in the Gulf of Mexico.
You take a beautiful approximately 40 minute ferry ride to the island. It takes off from a cute marine-style building in Punta Gorda. There is free parking available on site there. The charge for the ferry per person when I went was around $40. As far as I know it is the only way to get to the island other than private boat, or if you can manage to kayak all the way there. But I think the ferry is much more pleasant.
You can take the ferry for a day trip, spending the day enjoying the beautiful pristine beaches, pine trees, or kayaking around the island. Or you can spend the night and do some rustic camping. There is a tram available to take gear from the dock to the campgrounds or to the cabins.
The campsites have nothing in them except a fire circle. The bathroom is a portable style building with composting toilets. Or if you don’t want to camp in a tent, there are rustic one-room cabins available for a very, very slightly more elegant experience. It’s not a luxury experience at all, but it does put you right in touch with nature and takes you back to a simpler, original Florida.
But the beaches! Man, the beaches. With a perfectly unobstructed sunset view, bright blue sunrises, and a nice warm ocean bath, these beaches are perfectly rugged.
On the island you can rent kayaks at the gift shop. It was a relatively cheap price and the waters are so smooth and blue around the island it is well worth the small cost.
Overall, Cayo Costa is a unique experience and time spent on this beautiful rugged island will rejuvenate and inspire you.
This post was all about the beautiful Cayo Costa State Park.
Must-do 
(if you like rugged nature experiences)
Quirky 
Old School 
Good for kids 
(older kids, babies and toddlers might have a tough time here)
Insta-worthy
Good if you’re a cheapskate
Worth the trip (if you like rugged nature experiences)