Synonymous with paradise, Florida’s Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and North Captiva Island offer the ultimate tropical retreat. People are far more familiar with Sanibel and Captiva, but North Captiva, also known as Upper Captiva, was separated from Captiva Island more than a century ago. There are no bridges to this remote-feeling island — visitors must take a ferry boat or water taxi from Pine Island. There are also no cars — transportation consists of electric golf carts, bikes, and feet.
If you are looking for your own island paradise with your very own private beach, check out our North Captiva Island vacation rentals below. Want to be closer to the action? A Sanibel condo will be more for you. For something in between, try Captiva Island, which is home to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. All three islands offer abundant wildlife, excellent shelling, cool Gulf Coast breezes, brilliant Florida sunshine, soft sandy beaches, fruity tropical drinks, outdoor activities, bike paths, and water toy rentals.
Pack your suitcase and get ready for a memorable island retreat! Here’s where to stay in North Captiva Island, Captiva Island, and Sanibel Island.
Luxury Sanibel Gulf Front Condo
This luxurious two-bedroom rental offers sweeping views of the gulf. Sip your morning coffee on the screened-in lanai and listen to the waves while keeping an eye out for wildlife such as birds and dolphins.
Community amenities include a heated pool and tennis courts. One parking space and a bike rack are provided. Restaurants, grocery stores, and plenty of walking and biking trails can all be found close by.
Sanibel Gulf Front Condo
Finally, we’re in Sanibel! Situated on the popular east end of the island, this two-bedroom condo is on the first floor. Just steps from the beach, it offers breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Beach condo complex offers a heated pool and covered parking.
Two bikes are included for tooling around the island. The Sanibel Lighthouse, fishing pier, and many wonderful restaurants and shops are all just a short distance away.
Luxurious Bayfront Estate
On the southern end of Captiva, on the island’s sought-after Gold Coast, this vacation rental is situated on the bay, directly across from gulf beaches. Watch dolphins, manatees, and birds from the screened lanai or the third-floor observation sun deck. Not only is there a heated pool with a spa, but the island’s most beautiful stretch of gulf beaches is just a short stroll away.
Captiva’s world-renowned wildlife eco-paradise, Blind Pass, can be reached via the Roosevelt Channel. Explore the waterways by kayak or paddle board off the private dock. Signup for guided mangrove eco-tours at nearby nature centers. Captiva’s most famous restaurants and the Sanibel bike path are within close proximity to this five-bedroom bayfront estate.
Captiva Beachfront House With Pool
This four-bedroom Captiva Island vacation home offers private, pristine beachfront with white sand, shells, and sea turtle and dolphin sightings. It also has a huge terrace, pool, and hot tub. A cabana lies between the pool and beach, offering stellar sunset views over the water.
Captiva Bay House With Pool
This four-bedroom Captiva Island vacation rental boasts beautiful bay views. Take in breathtaking sunrises from the covered lanai, enjoy the pool and hot tub, and fish off the private dock.
Village of Captiva restaurants, rental stores, and retail shops are all within walking distance. A short walk through the village takes you to the beach, where you can experience postcard-worthy Captiva Island sunsets.
Bayfront Captiva Home With Pool
Moving on to Captiva Island, which is connected to Sanibel by a small bridge, this three-bedroom vacation rental is part of the Silver Palms Estate, which is tucked away on the Roosevelt Channel. It does have a private dock — the boat lifts are out of service, but it makes for great fishing. Take advantage of the heated pool and enjoy access to Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa, only half a mile away. This place is dog-friendly for an additional fee.
North Captiva Beach House
Boasting 75 feet of private, white-sand gulf beach, this five-bedroom North Captiva vacation rental also features a heated swimming pool and a dock on a private canal. The house offers 360-degree views of the gulf and bay sides of the island, while two large screened-in lanais offer expansive views of the pool and Gulf of Mexico. Ping pong and volleyball equipment are provided as are 12 beach chairs, three umbrellas, four single kayaks, and two standup paddle boards. Paddle to the sandbar, just a third of a mile offshore, for some fabulous shelling!
Rum Cove Waterfront House With Pool
This four-bedroom North Captiva Island vacation rental isn’t on the beach, but it is on the water, which is great for boat docking and fishing. It also has a heated pool, cabana bar, and decks on all levels. Watch the sunset and stargaze on the observation deck, which offers amazing views over the state parkland and Safety Harbor. Two golf carts are provided so you can explore the island. Hike, kayak, enjoy adult frozen drinks, do some seashell-searching, float in the pool, and catch fish right off the dock!
Safety Harbor Club House
Boasting spectacular sea views, this North Captiva Island retreat is just 50 steps from the gulf, with private access to the beach. Jaw-dropping views get more spectacular on each floor, topped off by 360-degree sunrise views on the rooftop. No other homes interrupt this private beachfront lot’s vistas. Watch the sunset from the jacuzzi. A six-seater golf cart is included. As with the rest of the North Captiva Island vacation rentals listed here, dockage is available at the Safety Harbor Club wharf for a fee, if you plan on bringing a boat.
Gypsy Wind Beach Retreat
While the Gypsy Wind Beach Retreat is not on the beach, it is just 30 steps from the warm inviting waters of the gulf. Surrounded by tropical landscaping, this vacation rental offers more privacy than some oceanfront homes. It also boasts stunning, unobstructed sunset views.
Lounge in the lanai by the pool, unwind in the hot tub, and mix up something tropical in the tiki bar. Other features include an elevator, hammocks, corn hole, foosball, two six-passenger golf carts, two standup paddle boards, and two kayaks each for two people.
Oceanfront Oasis
Located on Rum Point, the northern tip of North Captiva Island, this vacation rental also boasts its very own pristine, white sandy beach. Scenery includes Cayo Costa Island, sailboats, and wildlife-like pelicans, manatees, and more. A wall of windows allows awesome views of the beach and Captiva Pass. Adjacent to four acres of Federal Wildlife Preserve, the property feels peaceful and secluded. Explore the private, undeveloped land by taking a walk on one of the nature trails.
An Island Club guest membership is also included with this rental, so you can take advantage of amenities as well as free bike and kayak rentals. Unlike the rest of the North Captiva Island vacation rentals listed above, this one does not include a golf cart rental, but you can book one starting at $50 a day.
Tarpon Cove
Located on the quiet north end of the island, this two-bedroom vacation rental also comes with a golf cart and access to the North Captiva Island Club amenities. But instead of a private beach, Tarpon Cove comes with a private dock on the Pine Island Sound, where you can fish or launch a kayak. A quick bike or golf cart ride will get you to area beaches as well as the three restaurants that are on the island.
North Captiva Beachfront Home
What could be better than your very own private beach? That’s right, an expansive, unobstructed bayside beach lies right outside of this four-bedroom vacation rental and you don’t have to share it with anyone else!
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than gentle waves lapping against the sugar-sand shore as dolphins frolic in the distance, the hosts up the ante with two golf carts, two kayaks, and a personal concierge to greet you.
But, that’s not all! This rental also includes access to North Captiva Island Club, which features two pools, a pool bar, hot tubs, tennis courts, a basketball court, fat-tire bikes, and more.
