Columbus Day on Pine Island

Columbus Day dawned with a light breeze and relatively low humidity. Now that the weather is a little cooler (high 80's vs. 90's) and dryer, it is a great time to visit the outer islands. Cayo Costa Island is a large island about 5 nautical miles from Pine Island. Most of Cayo Costa is a state park and there are really beautiful white sand beaches where you can walk for miles, snorkel, swim, shell and fish. Accessible only by boat, Cayo Costa is a 2,416 acre barrier island park that is unspoiled and undeveloped. You can take the Tropic Star Ferry (pictured above) from Pineland, Marina and enjoy a whole day on the island for $25 round trip fare.

There are picnic tables, rest rooms and shower facilities on Cayo Costa, but no food or beverages to purchase, so come prepared with refreshments, plus sunscreen, hat, bug spray etc.

Besides the beaches, there are hiking trails, cabins and tent camp sites, an old pioneer grave yard dating to the early 1900's when a small group of settlers fished and farmed on Cayo Costa, and a small natural history museum.

Cayo Costa is a delightful and quick day (or half day) outing from Pine Island. To find out more about Cayo Costa, go to http://www.floridastateparks.org/ . To find out more about Pine Island and Pine Island Real Estate, go to http://www.pineislandhomesandland.com/