Boat Rentals for Cayo Costa, FL
Cayo Costa State Park is reachable only by boat, and Paradise Boat Rentals can put you at the helm from Cape Coral.
Cayo Costa
A State Park You Reach Only by Water
A Cayo Costa boat rental puts the park's quiet beaches on your own schedule. Cayo Costa State Park sits on an island north of North Captiva, reachable only by boat, with miles of undeveloped shoreline. Leave from our Cape Coral marina, or ask how delivery to the nearest mainland public dock works.
How to Get to Cayo Costa State Park
From the marina, the route runs down the Caloosahatchee and north through Pine Island Sound. Your captain goes over it on the GPS and the paper map, along with tides and areas to avoid. Check the park's own site for current hours, fees and ferry status before you go. Pontoons should stay on the inside waters of the sound, so if your group wants to run the outside, pick a deck boat or a center console.
Day boats leave from 9am and return by 5pm, so plan your beach time with the ride home in mind.
Secluded Beaches, Shells and Wildlife
With no bridge and no road, the park's beaches stay quiet. Bring a bucket for shelling, a cooler of drinks and some shade. Manatees, dolphins and sea turtles may be seen offshore, so slow down and give wildlife plenty of space. Our dolphin watching guide covers the basics.
Picking a Boat for Cayo Costa
Beach chairs, mats, umbrellas and coolers are available as add-ons, and ice and sunblock are sold at the marina.
Your orientation covers the safety gear on board, the GPS and the paper map, and you'll watch a short safety video before leaving the dock. Operators born on or after January 1, 1988 need a Florida Boating Safety Education ID card to run a boat of 10 HP or more, so bring it along with a photo ID. We own and maintain our boats and keep backups on hand.
- Pontoon rentals: stay on the inside waters; pontoons are not Gulf-approved.
- Tritoon rentals: a third tube for a steadier, more buoyant ride.
- Deck boat rentals: 21' and 23' Starcraft boats with 200 HP.
- Center console rentals: Key West boats for anglers and gear-heavy days.
- Since 2006Paradise Boat Rentals has been renting boats from Cape Coral since 2006.
- Our Own Private MarinaPick up at our Cape Coral marina, where parking is free and you can leave your car while you're out on the water.Learn More
- Licensed CaptainsA licensed captain walks you through your boat, the safety gear and the map before you leave the dock.
- We Own Our FleetWe own and maintain the boats we rent, and we keep backup boats ready in case one has a problem.
- Delivery to Your RentalStaying on the water? A captain can deliver your boat to your vacation rental for a fee.
- A Day, a Week or a MonthRent for one day, a long weekend or your whole stay in Southwest Florida.
- Veteran-Owned & OperatedA veteran-owned business run with Midwest values: do the job right and treat people well.
Our Marina & Fleet
At Our Cape Coral Marina
Is Cayo Costa only reachable by boat?
Yes. The state park is on an island with no bridge, so you arrive by private boat. Check the park for ferry status, which can change.
Can we leave from your marina and be back by 5pm?
Yes, on a day rental. Pickups start at 9am, so an early start leaves the most beach time.
What should we pack for a day at Cayo Costa?
Water, food, sunblock, shade and a bucket for shells. There are few services on the island, so bring what you need.
Book Now
Plan Your Trip to Cayo Costa
Paradise Boat Rentals also helps visitors to North Captiva, Captiva and Sanibel, and boaters looking north toward Boca Grande. Book now or call (239) 758-9512.
Open daily 9am–5pm