Sanibel and Captiva Islands Planning & Tips

Getting There and Around
Sanibel Island is located 14 miles west of Fort Myers, about a 40-minute drive from Southwest Florida International Airport. If you're driving from Orlando, plan on a four-hour drive. From Tampa, it's a three-hour drive. While there are shuttles that will take you from the airport to Sanibel and Captiva, please note that there is no public transportation on the islands, so it's best to have a rental car. In the daytime, biking is the preferred mode of travel.

The Art of Smart Timing
Like the rest of Florida and the Caribbean, Sanibel and Captiva are highly discounted from April 15 to November 15, with the summer months considered the low season. The weather in April and May is ideal, with temps in the mid to upper 70's. The heart of hurricane season is August, when the region was battered by Hurricane Charley in 2004.

Off the Radar
Head off the island to Babcock Wilderness Adventures, 11 miles northeast of Fort Myers in Punta Gorda. Swamp buggies carry you through the marsh, forest and swamp on a 90-minute naturalist-lead ride to see panthers, birds and alligators. Admission is $19.95 for adults and $12.95 for children, ages 3 to 12.

Visitor Bureau
For more information on the region, visit the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau at FortMyersSanibel.com. Or, purchase "The Sarasota, Sanibel Island & Naples Book," written by local Chelle Koster Walton.