Sanibel Island Beaches

Sanibel is a barrier islands with an east-west orientation. This makes for beautiful sandy beaches with great shelling. You'll find Shelling to be pervasive on the island. With shell shops every few inches.

Beach Rules: Pets must be leashed, and should be cleaned up after. No Pets are allowed on Captiva beaches. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited November through May. No open fires and no collecting of live shells.

Restrooms are at all public beach accesses. Some beaches picnic tables. Parking at Sanibel and Captiva public beaches costs $2.00 an hour.

Beaches on the Causeways between the mainland and between the islands are great for swimming, fishing, windsurfing and picnicking. You can drive right up to the water and there is no fee.

On the eastern tip of Sanibel, between the Gulf and Bay is the Lighthouse Beach & T dock Fishing Pier. There is also a boardwalk and nature trail through island wetlands.

Here's a list of Beaches:

Gulfside City Park - Picnic tables and shady pines. Mid-island on Algiers Lane off Casa Ybel Rd.

Tarpon Bay Beach - Ideal for recreational vehicles. A short walk from parking lot to beach. Mid-island at the south end of Tarpon Bay Rd.

Bowman's Beach - Our Favorite beach on the island - Quiet with no houses or hotels in sight. There is an outdoor shower and barbecue grills. On Sanibel-Captiva Rd., close to the Captive and turn left on Bowman's Beach Rd.

Captiva Beaches

Turner Beach (also know as Blind Pass)- On both sides of the Sanibel and Captiva Blind Pass Bridge. There is no swimming here because of the swift currents.

Captiva Beach - A great place to watch the sunset. No restrooms and only parking for a few cars. At the end of Captiva Drive just past South Seas Resort

The Beach in Front of the Mucky Duck. You can sit on one of the tables and watch the sun set framed by palms with a beer or drink. Food is only a few seconds away. Dinner and a Sunset. Better than Dinner and a Movie anytime.

Sanibel Island Beach Guide