A Short Guide to Visiting Caladesi Island | One of Florida's Last Untouched Islands

When it comes to beaches in Florida, the St. Pete / Clearwater region really is spoiled for choice.

However, the most surprising beach experience we had during our west coast road trip was undoubtedly at Caladesi Island State Park. Prior to this, we had an assumption that most Florida beaches would be a little like the ones we'd seen on TV - bodybuilders, cocktail bars, spring break (whooo!) frat boys, and something quite commercialised over all. You know the deal, sort of like that scene in Top Gun.

Whilst Clearwater did sometimes fulfil a few of those preconceptions, a trip to Caladesi blew them out of the water.

One of the few remaining uninhabited islands on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Caladesi Island offers visitors that chance to explore a tropical nature path, a mangrove-shaded kayak trail, and a glorious four-mile, wild and white sandy beach filled unique shells, birds, photogenic deckchairs, and a very remote vibe.

It truly is an island paradise - and somewhere we highly recommend visiting if you’re spending week or so in Clearwater.

In this short guide you’ll find all you need to plan your visit to Caladesi Island, including how to get there (by boat and on foot), how much it costs and the best things to do on the island.

Things to Do on Caladesi Island

For a relatively small island, there’s actually quite a large number of activities to keep you occupied on Caladesi Island!

Hang out at the beach

The four miles of pristine white virgin beach which edges Caladesi Island is wild, rugged and a world away from polished stretches of sand elsewhere in Florida.

It’s the perfect spot to hang out for a few hours, taking dips in crystal clear water, lazing beneath the warm Floridian sun and generally enjoying being at one with nature.

It’s so lovely in fact, that if you did nothing else on the island, we’d completely understand!

You can rent two of the wonderfully photogenic blue sunbeds and a matching parasol for $30 for four hours or alternatively just show up and your towel down wherever you fancy!

From the marina, the beach is clearly sign-posted and requires only a few minutes walk along a raised walkway to reach it.

Wildlife Spotting

Caladesi’s protected status means that there is plenty of potential wildlife spotting to be done along her shores (as well as inland)

Keep your eyes peeled in the water for stingrays, crabs and an abundance of tropical fish, but don’t forget to look up to spot great blue herons, snowy egrets, sandpipers, pelicans, osprey and cormorants.

And if you’re super lucky you may even spot some manatees and dolphins!

As ever, please be a responsible and respectful visitor, and give all wildlife the necessary space and distance when observing.

Shelling

The unique geography off the coast of Florida means that many of the shells that would normally fragment when coming to shore remain mostly intact - that’s what makes this part of the world is such a popular shelling destination!

To make hunting for shells easier, consider beginning no sooner than an hour before low tide.

Whilst this is a well-recognised activity here, we were personally a tad uncomfortable about the amount of shells being collected by some people. From a conservation point of view, please only take a small number.

And never, ever, ever collect live shells - if you notice something living inside, place the shell back where you found it immediately.

Hiking

Well, more like a jolly good walk than a hike, but a wonderful way to spend an hour lost in nature. Caladesi Island has a circular loop trail that covers the internal portion of the island, the length of which is approximately three miles.

The trail itself is very easy, and completely flat, but would be more challenging in the middle of the day, under the hot sun.

The trail is clearly sign-posted from the marina; follow the path that leads to the beach and you’ll quickly encounter another sign directing you left to the trail.

You can find the complete trail route here.