Cayo Costa State Park is a

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...

in the U.S. state of

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, on Cayo Costa (formerly known as La Costa Island or Padilla Rancho), an island directly south of Boca Grande (

Gasparilla Island Gasparilla Island is a barrier island in southwest Florida, United States, straddling the border of Charlotte and Lee counties. Its largest town is Boca Grande, and it is the location of the Gasparilla Island State Park. The island has been an ...

) and just north of

North Captiva Island North Captiva Island is an island in Lee County in Southwest Florida, located just offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. It lies just north of Captiva Island, separated by a channel called Redfish Pass which was created in a 1921 hurricane. It lies j ...

, approximately west of

Cape Coral Cape Coral is a city located in Lee County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1957 and developed as a planned community, the city's population has grown to 194,016 as of the 2020 Census, a rise of 26% from the 2010 Census ...

. The park is accessible only by charter boat (with or without captain), private boat, ferry or helicopter.

History

Cayo Costa was occupied by

Calusa The Calusa ( ) were a Native American people of Florida's southwest coast. Calusa society developed from that of archaic peoples of the Everglades region. Previous indigenous cultures had lived in the area for thousands of years. At the time of ...

people until about 1700. Native Americans built a number of shell mounds on the island. Starting early in the 18th century, fishermen from

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

began establishing ''ranchos'', stations for catching and processing fish for the Havana market, along the southwest coast of the Florida peninsula from Tampa Bay to the

Caloosahatchee River The Caloosahatchee River is a river on the southwest Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States, approximately long.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 18, 2011 It dr ...

, possibly including on Cayo Costa. The ''ranchos'' operated through the period of British rule of Florida (1763–1783), the second period of Spanish rule (1783–1821), and into the period of American rule, until they were forced out during the

Second Seminole War The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between the United States and groups collectively known as Seminoles, consisting of Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans and ...

. Tervio (Tariva, Toribio) Padilla, commonly known as "Captain Pappy", settled on Cayo Costa in the second half of the 19th century. Born in the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

, Padilla became a U.S. citizen in 1862, while a resident of

Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...

. Padilla operated a ''rancho'' on Cayo Costa where he and his workers caught and processed fish for the Cuban market. A cemetery on the island holds the graves of Padilla and his wife, as well as of approximately 30 Cuban fishermen who died in a 1910 hurricane. Cayo Costa State Park suffered two category 4 hurricane landfalls in recent history. On August 13, 2004,

Hurricane Charley Hurricane Charley was the first of four separate hurricanes to impact or strike Florida during 2004, along with Hurricane Frances, Frances, Hurricane Ivan, Ivan and Hurricane Jeanne, Jeanne, as well as one of the strongest hurricanes ever to ...

made direct landfall on Cayo Costa as a Category 4 storm. Then, on September 28, 2022,

Hurricane Ian Hurricane Ian was a large and destructive Category 4 Atlantic hurricane that was the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. Ian caused widespread damage across western Cuba and the southeast Unit ...

also made direct landfall on Cayo Costa as a Category 4 storm.

Geography

Cayo Costa Island is one of a chain of

barrier islands Barrier islands are coastal landforms and a type of dune system that are exceptionally flat or lumpy areas of sand that form by wave and tidal action parallel to the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a ...

that shelter Charlotte Harbor and

Pine Island Sound Pine Island Sound is located in Lee County, Florida, lying between Pine Island and the barrier islands of Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, North Captiva Island and Cayo Costa, which separate the Sound from the Gulf of Mexico. The Sound connects t ...

. The park contains nine miles (14 km) of soft white sandy

beach A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shel ...

es and of

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accep ...

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

s, oak-palm

hammocks A hammock (from Spanish , borrowed from Taíno and Arawak ) is a sling made of fabric, rope, or netting, suspended between two or more points, used for swinging, sleeping, or resting. It normally consists of one or more cloth panels, or a wov ...

, and

mangrove swamps A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves are taxonomically diverse, as a result of convergent evolution in severa ...

Fauna

A variety of wildlife can be seen in Cayo Costa State Park. Among the most looked-for animals are

sea turtle Sea turtles (superfamily Chelonioidea), sometimes called marine turtles, are reptiles of the order Testudines and of the suborder Cryptodira. The seven existing species of sea turtles are the flatback, green, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead, ...

s. There are four species found on the island: the loggerhead (''Caretta caretta''),

hawksbill The hawksbill sea turtle (''Eretmochelys imbricata'') is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Eretmochelys''. The species has a global distribution, that is large ...

(''Eremochelys imbriata''),

green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...

(''Chelonia mydas''), and

Kemp's ridley Kemp's ridley sea turtle (''Lepidochelys kempii''), also called the Atlantic ridley sea turtle, is the rarest species of sea turtle and is the world's most endangered species of sea turtle. It is one of two living species in the genus '' Lepido ...

(''Lepidochelys kempii''). Cayo Costa has many volunteers who check the entire nine-mile beach each morning during sea turtle nesting season (during the months of March through October in southwest Florida) in order to find nests and document them. The loggerhead turtle is found far more than the others, and the green turtle is a distant second. The loggerhead turtle and green turtle's eggs have the most diverse niches. Their niches rely on climate and weather which allow the eggs to survive on land and eventually hatch. Cayo Costa State Park is a major nesting site for sea turtles in Florida. These nests are protected by

Florida State Parks There are 175 state parks and 9 state trails in the U.S. state of Florida which encompass more than , providing recreational opportunities for both residents and tourists. Almost half of the state parks have an associated local 501(c)(3) non-pr ...

and are regulated by volunteers and staff. The nests are patrolled and marked off so that guests can avoid interrupting them. Another species found on the island is the common

raccoon The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the common raccoon to distinguish it from other species, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of , and a body weight of ...

(''Procyon lotor''). These animals are frequent predators of sea turtle eggs during nesting season. The eggs are also threatened by foxes, ants, ghost crabs, high tide, and looting humans. The

West Indian manatee The West Indian manatee (''Trichechus manatus''), also known as the North American manatee, is a large, aquatic mammal native to warm coastal areas of the Caribbean, from the eastern US to northern Brazil. Living alone or in herds, it feeds on un ...

(''Trichechus manatus'') is also found coming up to the island beaches. This is considered an endangered animal, but the population is currently growing. They can be seen from the beach or near the canals and docks of the island. The West Indian manatee is found in Florida and Puerto Rico. Although they are part of the same species, there is significant genetic diversity between the two populations. The

bottlenose dolphin Bottlenose dolphins are aquatic mammals in the genus ''Tursiops.'' They are common, cosmopolitan members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Molecular studies show the genus definitively contains two species: the common ...

(''Tursiops truncates'') can also be seen jumping, swimming, and playing along all nine miles of beaches on the island.

Snowy egret The snowy egret (''Egretta thula'') is a small white heron. The genus name comes from Provençal French for the little egret, , which is a diminutive of , 'heron'. The species name ''thula'' is the Araucano term for the black-necked swan, app ...

s (''Egretta thula'') can be found on the island. They usually stay near the beaches. They are a small white heron with long, slender black legs and yellow feet. Both sexes of the snowy egret have the same features, even during the breeding season. The southern bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') can be found flying about the island or sitting on high trees. This is another threatened species. The eagles eat a variety of animals, but prefer fish. They scavenge and steal food when they are able to, and hunt for live prey only as a last resort. The Eastern Coachwhip (''Masticophis flagellum flagellum)'' is a docile and flighty snake that can be found all around the island. They are very long snakes, reaching over eight feet long, despite being very slender. They can be found on the ground and in shrubbery. They are very quick snakes, moving at about 3 miles per hour, and eat insects, lizards, birds, and other snakes. Coachwhips on Cayo Costa are tan, and may be seen pointing their heads out of bushes and grass. The snakes are not aggressive, and do not chase and or whip people.

Flora

The

mother-in-law's tongue ''Dracaena trifasciata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo. It is most commonly known as the snake plant, Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and ...

(''Sansevieria trifasciata'') is found in the state park. This plant is most commonly seen as a house plant, but this invasive species came from one of the houses on the island and has spread widely. Staff is currently trying to rid the island of this invasive plant. The

resurrection fern ''Pleopeltis'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Polypodioideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). The genus widely distributed in tropical regions of the world, and also n ...

(''Pleopeltis polypodioides'') is found growing on trees throughout Cayo Costa. It is an epiphyte that turns brown and curls up its leaves when dehydrated. When the plant receives water or rain, the plant will "come back to life" and reappear green and alive. Seagrape (''Coccoloba uvifera'') is found at Cayo Costa. The fruit appears in the summer time during the wet season. It starts out as a bright green grape then ripens to a purplish color. The fruit mainly consists of a large seed with little flesh. It is well known among locals, who make jellies or wines from the grapes. This plant is native to South Florida and the Caribbean.Jackson
"With the Wild Things: Seagrape"
''Florida Gulf Coast University'', 2007 This plant can grow up to fifty feet tall, and is often found close to the ocean because it is relatively salt-tolerant.

Recreational activities

Activities include

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

, off-road

bicycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, Physical exercise, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bike ...

swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...

kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...

snorkeling Snorkeling ( British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped breathing tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a ...

picnic A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding ...

king,

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

, shelling, wildlife viewing,

camping Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more nat ...

, and

sunbathing Sun tanning or tanning is the process whereby skin color is darkened or tanned. It is most often a result of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or from artificial sources, such as a tanning lamp found in indoor tanning beds. ...

Amenities

Amenities include boat slips, beaches, hiking trails, picnic pavilions, 12 primitive camping cabins and bath house/restrooms. The park offers a small nature center/gift shop with nature exhibits as well as items for sale. The park has the following available for purchase: ice, sun lotion, bug spray, T-shirts, hats, bird keys, shell keys, and postcards. Cayo Costa has bikes available for half-day and full-day rentals. There are 12 primitive cabins and 30 tent sites available for camping in the park, each with its own picnic table and fire pit/ground grill. Boat slips are available for those who wish to camp aboard their boats. Florida state parks are open between 8 AM and sundown every day of the year, including holidays.

Wildlife gallery

File:CayoCostaSP_Shells01.jpg, Shells File:CayoCostaSP_Sanderling01.jpg, Little sanderling File:CayoCostaSP_SeaUrchin01.jpg, Live sea urchin with shells File:CayoCostaSP_RuddyTurnstone01.jpg, Ruddy turnstone

References

Cayo Costa State Park
a
Florida State Parks

a
Absolutely Florida
Padilla Family. https://books.google.com/books?source=bl&ved=0ahUKEwiHxrTD7ebMAhWBST4KHVmyC_cQ6AEIQzAK&sig=oWK-syxq1YYALOihZyAX3wOIv9c&pg=PA98&hl=en&lpg=PA98&sa=X&ots=soMZr7_9zL&id=-ISu8kfLpnAC&dq=padilla+family+canary+islands#v=onepage&q=padilla%20family%20canary%20islands&f=false Padilla Family http://pineisland.info/index/surrounding-islands/cayo-costa/ {{authority control State parks of Florida Parks in Lee County, Florida Nature centers in Florida