Went to Cayo Costa early May for two nights of tent camping. I thought it would be packed from other reviews but the first night there was only one other tent, and the second night we were the only ones! The cabins were full but it felt like we had our own island. Yes, it was very hot and shady... more

The trip was fun and very beautiful. The beach was perfect water was cold but very clear. You could see everything from huge fish, to sanddollars and sea urcherns still alive and moving in your hand. We found probably 20 different sizes and types of sand dollar on the beach and also plenty of shells!! SHELLS EVERYWHERE! But you have... more

A bit disappointed with the shelling trip considering what I have heard but I know there is always an off time. We will be back to try again. I hear great things about the shelling We are ging to give it one more try. Any suggestions from fellow TA's??? more

I come from Puerto Rico and the beaches I saw growing up (Virgin Islands and the Caribbean) were nothing but spectacular, I never thought I was going to be as impressed as I was with a beach in Florida but I can tell you that this place is absolutely gorgeous. If you want lots of facilities this is not the... more

If you like biting flies on the beach, no see ums at your campsite, no privacy, tent campsites practically on top of each other, dirty (from fire ash) sand all around the campsites (your feet get filthy), only a few cold, open, low water pressure showers, and a few small dirty toilets for hordes of campers and cabin goers, then... more

Cayo Costa is a beautiful place. It has gorgeous, untouched beaches and surprisingly clear ocean water for the west coast of FL. Even the bay side water is clear--perfect for kayaking--you should see dolphins. For the best shelling, head south until you get to the inlet for the lagoon. Lots of lightning whelks, a few tulips, olive shells, etc. The... more

We went to Coya Costa state park on 12/31/08 via the Tropic Star ferry. The Pine Island Marina was easy to find. You will need to go into the marina building to pay for parking, which is across the street. You can pull up to the dock to drop off your gear. There is no bathroom on the boat but... more

You can get to Cayo Costa via a ferry (Tropic Star ???) but we go by private boat. It is first come first served for boat slips..These guys are busy on the weekend... Warning: You bring it ...you haul it...we saw so many people struggling with way too much stuff..talk about bringing the kitchen sink..we saw it...I had to laugh... more

Cayo Costa State Park is a true outdoor lover's retreat. Completely removed from soceity it truly captures Florida's beauty. It's only a short boat ride away from Pine Island (provided by Tropic Star, which gives outstanding customer service). We were more than a half hour late for our ferry and they still were willing to run us over at no... more