WHAT TO PACK
- North Captiva Island is very casual. Be sure to pack a few swimsuits, shorts, t-shirts, a hat, and a sweatshirt for cooler evenings. All roads are sand, so plan your footwear accordingly.
- We find it helpful to bring a pair of flip flops or sandals just for the beach and an extra pair for inside the house to help keep sand outside.
- If you burn easily, consider packing a few UV shirts and plenty of sunscreen for hikes and long days at the beach.
- Please return all beach chairs and umbrellas to the house at night. It is important to keep the beach clear for nesting turtles. Additionally, the occasional storm can create a mess if beach chairs are left out overnight.
- Don't forget your personal toiletries such as a razor, and lotion - soap, shampoo and conditioner are provided.
- We have personally designed North Captiva Island T-Shirts and keepsakes to help provide an additional way of growing your family's memories of your stay at North Captiva Pearl. They can be found HERE
NORTH CAPTIVA STATE PRESERVE
North Captiva’s population is centered on the North end of the island with the 350 acre North Captiva State Preserve separating the North End and the South End.
The nature trails in the state preserve are wonderful. It’s about an hour and twenty minute walk to the southernmost point of the preserve. On your nature walk you will see the beauty of the island from flora and fauna to bird-watching, turtle-hatching, shelling, sharks and dolphin watching! Make sure to bring water, closed-toed shoes, bug-spray, and sunscreen on your walk. It’s advisable to begin your walk early in the morning when the sun is not as strong.
SHELLING
- Clean the shells right away in freshwater, this prevents any smells or dirt from sticking to the seashells. DO NOT WASH SHELLS IN THE HOUSE - PLEASE USE THE SHELL WASHING TABLE LOCATED OUTSIDE
- When collecting a seashell from the beach, make sure that there is no longer a living creature inside of it.
- Among the species you may expect to find on North Captiva Island are: Conch - Junonia - Lightning Whelk - Cockle - Scallops - Murex - Tulip - Olive - Coquina
Each family will be provided with a cotton mesh bag and a laminated shelling guide that has 70 species of shells and beach life-both common and exotic-found on the island for you to keep.
Is there good shelling on North Captiva Island? Sanibel and Captiva are well known for having the best shelling in the U.S. North Captiva's shelling is even better than those islands as the beaches are similar with only about 2% of the tourists to pickup the shells.
SHARK TEETH
It is possible to find shark teeth on North Captiva Island and some people say it is best to go at low tide when the water is calmer. Others find more shark teeth when the tide is coming in and pulls away the sand from the waterline. Since the waves drive the fossils from deeper waters towards the shallow coastal areas, there could be more teeth on the beach after a stormy period.
- The majority of shark teeth found in Florida are from - Lemon Shark - Bull shark - Tiger shark - Sand Tiger shark - Hammerhead shark - White shark
NORTH CAPTIVA SEA TURTLE FOUNDATION
Sea Turtle Nesting Season is March through October - Nearly 90% of sea turtle nesting in the U.S. occurs in Florida.
If you are staying on the Island during this time we recommend contacting the North Captiva Sea Turtle Foundation to see how you can participate by adopting a nest.
North Captiva Sea Turtle Foundation is a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization. The purpose is to enhance the sea turtle conservation efforts on North Captiva Island.
North Captiva Sea Turtle Foundation reported that in 2021, 166 turtles nested on North Captiva.
Watch baby Sea Turtles spill out from their nest in Florida: https://www.southernliving.com...
You can find out more about adopting a Sea Turtle Nest by clicking the Turtle below-
THE MANGROVE ACTION PROJECT
The Mangrove Action Project (MAP) is a US-based nonprofit which collaborates with stakeholders at all levels to preserve, conserve, and restore our Floridian Mangrove Forests as well as Mangrove Forest around the world.
Using a holistic approach to mangrove restoration empowers local stakeholders to mitigate mangrove stressors and teaches them how to use mangrove ecology and biology to facilitate natural regeneration.
Click on the logo below to watch a short video explaining the benefits Mangroves provide to the world at large – including sequestering and storing more carbon than any other forest type per acre.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
We take great pride in our rich estuary system and are consistently attempting to have less of an impact on this local, fragile environment.
Please consider helping us do this by reusing towels when possible and washing clothes when only necessary.
THANK YOU
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR INFORMATIONAL ARTICLES ABOUT NORTH CAPTIVA ISLAND
Neighborhood Spotlight: North Captiva - 2022 Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
Captiva's Younger Sibling: BORN OF WIND AND WATER, NORTH CAPTIVA IS STILL UNSPOILED - 2022 TIMES OF THE ISLANDS
10 Amazing Reasons to Visit North Captiva Island, Florida - 2021 Two Sisters Abroad
