Secrets of Sanibel

Lighthouse Beach

If you look to the south while crossing the Sanibel Causeway you will see her great lighthouse standing on the island’s eastern shore. Lighthouse Beach is very near the causeway (located at the eastern end of Periwinkle Way) and in fact is a great place to snap some photos of the causeway spanning the bay, and of Ft. Meyers Beach on the mainland.

Lighthouse Beach is a great place to take a walk through mangrove trees, visit the historic lighthouse, or bike/hike along the Gnarly Woods nature trail. We often drive from our place up to lighthouse beach to take a walk with our kids. It is a great place to meet people who are visiting Sanibel from all over the world, and we have met many nice families on our strolls. If you are interested in shelling (and many Sanibel vacationers are), Lighthouse Beach is the best place to search for the elusive wentletrap.

Though you can find some good shells here, swimming is discouraged because of the bay currents, which are strong, as you will be able to see. There is a boardwalk to the fishing pier (located next to the public parking lot), which is very popular and is a big contributor to the beach crowd each morning. The beach is open 7AM-7PM and public parking is $2/hr. 


For information on more Sanibel beaches, click on a link below:

• The Sanibel Causeway Beaches
• Bowman's Beach
• Turner Beach
• Gulfside City Park
• Tarpon Bay Road Beach
• Captiva Beach
• Secluded Beaches