When you make your reservation at Island Breeze we can also arrange for the airport taxi, water taxi, and provide a grocery store stop. If you are driving we can help make parking, and water taxi arrangements for you. Whatever your needs are request them at the time of reservation so we can help.

Upper Captiva is a barrier island surrounded by water. You can only get here by boat or plane. Maps often call it North Captiva but locals still call it Upper Captiva, a remnant from when it was still connected to Captiva. In fact high water can still break through near the narrows and divide the island again as it did during the summer of 2001. Soon, sand flows North and fills the break. Hurricane Charlie broke through another section further south that is now called Charlie pass and it too has filled in.

The typical scenario is to fly in to Ft Meyers, take the Pine Island Taxi, (239 283-7777, 888 777-9653) to Publix (FAX 239 458-7822 or 239 458-8900) where you pick up groceries, and then go to Pineland Marina where you take the Island Girl water taxi (239 633-8142) to Barnacle Phil's where we meet you with your golf cart and take you to your house. The entire process takes about 2 1/2 hrs.

Just tell us when you plan to arrive and we can help make the arrangements.

	You unload at Pineland Marina for the Island Girl water taxi ride to the island. Custom rides are available for off hour times.
The crew of Island Girl is tops.
The canal takes you to Barnacle Phils' dock where you unload and your host picks you up to take you to your island home in paradise.
It is amazing how much stuff a family of five needs for a long stay. This is where the water taxi leaves at Pineland Marina.	There is just as much baggage when you arrive. Be sure to tip the crew.

This is Barnacle Phil's from the water in Safety Harbor.

Safety harbor wharf is between NCIC and the canals leading to Barnacle Phil's.

When you go from NCIC to Barnacle Phil's on the water taxi you may stop here at Safety Harbor bulk head to the North or right of Safety Harbor wharf. On the right is an older fish house on the water that is now the Over the Water Font restauarant for Safety Harbor Club members and guests.

If you are flying, the closest major airport is Ft Myers which is an hour away from Pine Island where you catch the boat to the island. You can also fly to the island if you have a guest pass from an airfield owner or you can purchase a flight in from Zair.

If you’re on a budget or are visiting other parts of the area you may find cheaper flights out of Orlando (Disney World creates competitive pricing) or Tampa. Renting a car in Orlando, driving four hours, and then parking at Pine Island for a week is sometimes cheaper than flying into Ft Myer’s and gives you other options on the Mainland.

Click on the button for a map of Florida showing where Ft Myers is.

Once in Ft Myers you take an airport shuttle to Pineland Marina to catch a water taxi. It’s about a one hour trip and costs 70 dollars for up to 3 people (8 dollars an additional person), and about 35 dollars per hour for shopping stops. If you are driving your own car you can park it at the marina for 10 dollars a day.

Pine Island Taxi provides 24 hr prearranged airport service and local service every 2 hrs from 6 AM to 10 PM. 239 283-7777, FAX 239 283-8065, toll free 888 777-9653.

If you are driving from Ft Myers, you have to cross Pine Island to get to its west side to catch a boat to cross Pine Island Sound to get to Upper Captiva. Click on the map button to display a larger printable map.  Use the map to help you orient yourself. From the Ft Myers airport take I-75 North to exit 26 which is route 78, Pine Island Road. Follow this across North Ft Myers, through Matlacha to the four way stop at Pine Island Center. Turn right at the stop onto Stringfellow road. To go to Pineland Marina, go approximately three miles and turn left at the Pineland Marina road. Follow this road about a mile and a half until you turn left into the marina. When you get to the Marina go into the office to arrange for parking and they will tell you where to meet the water taxi.

Fly to the island. You can fly directly to the island from Ft Myers with ZAire. In fifteen minutes you can be on Upper Captiva. Cost is about $300 round trip per person. Plane capacity is two passengers with many bags or three passengers with a few bags. Contact Zeke at ZAire at 239 472-1079.

If you rent or have a boat to bring over be sure to get a chart that covers Pine Island Sound and be aware of "Hell's Half Acre," an uncharted high spot at the North end of the island. You may prefer to have the boat rental company bring the boat to the island or drive you over in your boat so you can see the route. Click on the button to show a map of Pine Island Sound.

Click here for a map of how to get to the house from Barnacle Phils.

Coming into North Captiva Island Club and the marina.

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This is the boat rental building across from Mangos'. They also have bait, tackle, and gifts.

Glad to be home after a long day in town.

Will finds a good way to pass time while waiting for the trest of the crew.

Send questions or comments to jim@islandbreezevacations.com.
Copyright 2009 Island Breeze