Cayo Costa (Coastal Key in English) is a key on Florida's Gulf Coast, off Fort Myers/Cape Coral.  It is only accessible by ferry or private boat, which limits the number of day visitors as well as overnighters.  I have reserved two tentsites for two nights:  Friday and Saturday, which will give us plenty of time for hiking as well as swimming in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  There are a number of boating services which ferry passengers to the key.  I will be taking the 2:00 p.m. Tropic Star Ferry on Friday.  This ferry leaves from nearby Pine Island and costs $42.00 for a round trip ticket (parking at the terminal is extra).  The total cost for the tent sites is $44.00, which will be divided equally amongst those who sign up.  If the full complement of 8 sign up, the cost will come to $5.50 per person.

Camping is primitive, so you will need to bring a tent, which can be shared between two people, food that can be kept un-refrigerated or in a cooler (the sparse Visitor Center on the key does sell ice), stove if you want to warm up your food, sleeping bag, bathing suit, a change of clothes, bug repellent, sunscreen, etc.  There are charcoal grills at the campsites, and if there is interest, we may organize a cookout for Saturday night.

When you sign up, let me know if you do not have a tent, and I'll try to pair you up with someone who does. Likewise, let me know if you already have set up an arrangement with someone else.  We are only allowed two tents per campsite, so if we do have the full complement of eight, we will definitely have to have two people per tent.  Otherwise, solo tenting is a possibility.

Directions are to the Tropic Star Ferry, where we will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Friday 3/27.  From I-75, take exit 143, just north of the Caloosahatchee River, and go west on Highway 78 (Pine Island Rd.) all the way pass Matlacha to County Road 767 in Pine Island.  Turn right (north) towards Bokeelia, and in 6.5 miles turn right onto Barrancas Ave.  Go five blocks, and it will sort of dead end at the Jug Creek Marina, where Ferry is located.  You will need to make reservations for the Tropic Star Ferry, and their number is (239) 283-0015.  You can make other time arrangements with them, but please let me know if you are doing so.  I will then give you the tent site numbers, and you can meet us there.