Caladesi Island State Park Reviews

The ferry ticket is $18 per person. It’s quick to get there, 15ish minutes. On our way there we saw a dolphin. The ferry sailor was really nice!
The beach was almost empty. White and soft sand and the water clear and cold. Really good to relax.
A lot of shells in the shore.
There are some chairs and umbrellas (I think you have to pay $35 for them)
There are bathrooms, gift shop (with beer, water, soda, snacks).

The ferry ride was interesting by itself. Captain was entertaining and informative. Being from the west coast of Florida was not wowed by the beach on Caladesi Island. Crescent Beach on Siesta Key still my favorite.

Took 15 minute expensive ferry ($14 per person) round trip to this island. Rented chairs & umbrella which was $30 for 4 hour rental. Beautiful day, water warm enough to enjoy. I took a walk along nature trail but did not encounter any wildlife. Peaceful & relaxing day. Great shelling along white beach. Suggest you take 10am ferry to miss crowds & get a great spot.

We visited Caladesi for one day and wish we had more time to explore. We spent the day lying on the beach. Loved the sand and the walk down the beach. Good food options at the snack bar. Umbrellas and chairs available to purchase or rent. We also had to come back in the middle of the afternoon because that was how our ferry schedule return worked - not sure if there is a way you can go later. There is also a nature walk, but we didn't have enough time to get to do that. Can't wait to go back and explore!

We rode on the ferry to Caladesi, stayed there for a while and then jumped on the returning ferry. So easy and relaxing! We had spoken with the ranger station and they had my (free) beach wheelchair waiting for me. The ferry was completely accessible and the park has wonderful boardwalks and ramps.I did need to have someone push the beach wheelchair because it isn't possible to do it on your own. The air and water temperatures on the day we went were chilly, so we didn't stay long or go in the water. But, on a nice day we have taken one of the beach wheelchairs right into the surf! Shelling was nice that day (It is probably nice on most days!)
And the beauty of an undeveloped, natural island and beach is unsurpassed!

There is a charge to get into Honeymoon Island (free for active/retired military..bring your DD214 to get into any state park in FL for free). Then a charge to take the ferry over to Caladesi (again discount for military).
So worth it! We brought our own chairs & umbrella and packed a collapsible cooler.
Beautiful, fun, peaceful and so clean.
All the guys running the ferry are so nice & helpful! We saw plenty of dolphins to and from and while there!

We used the Caladesi Ferry which takes you from Honeymoon Island State Park to Caladesi Island State Park. If you haven’t been to Caladesi Island, I highly recommend visiting! It’s a beautiful island - one of the few untouched islands along the Gulf.

Took a short boat ride to the island and spent a few hours there. The captain and guide were very informative on the way over and the beach was great. Good place to collect shells and chill out. Water too cold in Feb (64 degrees) to swim.

This day trip is wonderful. It begins with the ferry ride to the island. The beach is clean and the water is clear. I suggest renting the kayaks and taking a ride through the mangrove forest waterway.

It was so cool, I rented a kayak and paddled there to the island. There are very deep parts at first, but then you hit a HUGE sand bar with birds where you can walk! You can see pelicans and other birds along with horseshoe crabs and hermit crabs! There are so many really cool shells as well! Overall it’s a terrific experience and even more fun when you kayak there!

We loved visiting Caladesi Island. We went snorkeling right off the shore and I had a manatee within 5 feet of me! We also went kayaking (bring bug spray if you are going through the mangroves!). If you have your own I would recommend bringing it as they are $26 per person to rent. You could even kayak from Honeymoon island to Caladesi because they are so close together (they used the be connected). We saw stingrays and fish on our kayaking trip and the island is very quiet. Would go back again for sure!

I don't buy that it's a top 10 beach in the country. It's beautiful, but the day we were there, there was a ton of seaweed and debris in the water. There were also a lot of people clustered on beach with rented umbrellas and beach chairs. Caladesi wants to be the non-commercialized beach, but it's leaning that way. There was a long wait to pay the $8 entrance fee to Honeymoon Island, and the ferry both ways was running about 10 minutes behind schedule. Worrying about catching a ferry and dealing with lines of people definitely took away from the "untouched" beach feel for me.

This is a beautiful island, with white sugar sand beaches and nature trails. It has quite a nice shop featuring a lot of merchandise, plus food and beverages for purchase.

The island can be reached either by private boat or a ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park. The fee to enter Honeymoon Island is $8.00 and the ferry is an additional $14.00. The ferry runs every 30 minutes, and you are encouraged, but not forced, to return after 4 hours.

The thing I liked the best about this island is that the beach is not nearly as crowded as Honeymoon Island, so the shell collecting is spectacular.

Have had some visits during off season when there is more staff at restaurant than people visiting the island. Bit pricey for large families with park entry then the ferry fee. But is truly a beautiful place like being on a abandoned island. Some of the best shelling in the area. Worth at least once visit. Maybe a special occasion. Enjoy.

Beautiful beach! Much better option than the crowds in other local spots. Definitely suggest going early. Rented kayaks for the mangrove trail— kayak rentals were a bit pricey but worth the experience.

Quaint day get away. Short boat ride from honeymoon. Wonderful set up, small bites and drink concession, park rangers, wild life, beach chairs available. All of the resort perks on a small island minus the hotel. Will return. Hiking and biking the island trails an option as well.

Wonderful small island with tons of wildlife, tons of other birds. Tortoises and armadillos Very peaceful, beach and hikes.

We have lived in the Tampa area for almost SEVEN years (🙃😳🤩💑) !!!! And because of our strange, opposite schedules, we do not see MUCH of each other ☹️😞💔💔
This particular day we wanted to see one of favourite little secluded spots, Caladesi Island!! As soon as we got to Honeymoon Island, we JUMPED onto the ferry for CI!!!! Worth ever dime, every moment....💭☁️🌫🌤⛅️🌥.... Nothing in this world matters more.
As soon as we put our things down, a young guy started to have racing heart, high blood pressure and passed out. He was in & out of consciousness; when the medics arrived, he thanked us with huge eyes and huge hugs. My afternoon could ONLY get better, and it absolutely did. A bottle of Moscato, Reading a bit of "Women Who Run With the Wolves", FEELING like ONE🐺, floating in the gracious salty sea as she wrapped me in her capable arms........👐🏼🌊.... A day to remember, as our time here draws to a close Xx- @rocknrollarisa

Went here to sun tan and wasn’t disappointed . The only problem was the sea gulls. They were hovering around you and when you tried to eat something they would try to take it out of your hand. They actually took a sandwich out of the person I was with hand. This would be the perfect beach if it weren’t for them.

Perfect water, perfect sand, clean area, and quiet compared to other Florida beaches, stands Caladesi Island. Great overall experience, worth the trip!

A beautiful state park run by fantastic staff. The 15 minute ferry ride was a pleasant jaunt and the beach did not disappoint.

Beautiful beach, not very crowded, trails to hike, swimming, and concessions for snacks and drinks.
We took a cooler and umbrella and stayed on the beach until 5, when the last ferry leaves. $14 per person, worth it!

First of all, do not go on a weekend because you will wait an hour in traffic to even get to the entrance of the park. We wanted to kayak the mangroves which had done in other areas of Florida before. There are no instructions as to what to do once you come out of the mangroves. We did not know which way to go and there was no one around. We paddled against the tide and ended up at a private club called Carlouel. The young man at the dock said that others had this happen before. We had no way to get back to where we were dropped off from the ferry. We called the rental place at the park and they were of no assistance. The folks at the club said it would be over an hour walk (maybe in the water) to get back. We were forced to leave the kayak there. We got no assistance or help so be prepared if you choose to do this. We ended up calling an Uber (the wait was 2 hours). This was an expensive "adventure" that was not worth it.

We took the Caladesi Island ferry during the holidays, and the old skinny angry men was a so angry and yelling at people that I thought he was going to hit us in front of the children, something is wrong, people who take those trips are on vacations or looking for a positive experience, allowing personnel to treat folks of a different race need to be re-trained and/or expelled from the trip, this is unacceptable and a state park needs to investigate as there were young children who got scared during the trip. As it stands, I will NOT sponsor them even again, I took 20 relatives there and will never go back. The Honeymoon Island park is better than the Caladessi island (they are robbing the public by charging entrance fee $8 and then the ferry fee when it was free before), the island has a monopoly game going on with the boat people who abuse clients, don't give you a speech of what is going on, just yell at people for no reason.

Only had a few hours to spend there. Had read some reviews saying it was an excellent locale for beachcombing.
Read that it was #3 in all of Florida for shell hunting.
Was just a tiny bit disappointed in that I did not find any large shells. Still found some very nice specimens, even though I was there at the work time of day (at low tide).
Very beautiful place if you just want a secluded hiking spot. Only accessible from a ferry ride that was $13.
Most of the islands border on the bay. This one borders the ocean! Very nice and worth the $13!

We took the ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park and we were going to rent kayaks but it was just too windy. Instead we walked the beach area and it is stunning! Great views, lots of shelling to be had, and bench swing by the marina made it perfect. We wanted to do the nature hike but the numerous rattlesnake warnings and signs deterred us, maybe next time. We hope to go back and do the kayaking through the mangroves because we were told it’s beautiful this time of year and a nice kayak adventure. Lots of families pack a picnic lunch and bring chairs/umbrellas,sand toys and enjoy beach time. Once you buy your $14 ferry ticket, you have to return 4 hours later. We just spent 2 hours exploring.

We love the walks along the beach and relaxing atmosphere
We bought tickets on line figuring it would speed up the process, but he guy taking/selling tickets takes FOREVER at the window
They still do everything by hand (ticket rolls/date stamp/etc) they might want to move into at least into the 80s

Otherwise it's a great place

I went here with my 11year old and 3 month old and bf and we all loved caladesi. The only way to get there is by ferry and the island is clean and beautiful there is a place to get food when you get there and there are chair rentals it was not crowded I can't wait to return.

Access to Caladesi Island is only by your boat or ferry. When you get there, it's water and sand and very little else.

I somehow was expecting it to be like the clear water of the carribean. It’s difficult to see your hand in the water, definitely can’t see your toes. Snorkeling was terrible. Maybe this is remnant from red tide (went on sept 12) but dead fish were washing up. The ferry ride had a really fun, nice crew. My children loved the piles of shells. We saw a tortoise on the island and dolphins coming home on the ferry.

Beautiful beaches! If you come by Kayak instead of ferry, you can even find your own private beach (although it takes some effort to paddle across, especially if the water is chopy).

Even better is paddling the mangroves.

On our way back out, we were accompanied by a dolphin and in the shallower parts of the bay crossing, we saw lots of fish and paddled over a huge horseshoe crab. Seabirds and wading birds everywhere.

We rented kayaks from Sail Honeymoon Inc and paddled to the park. We own kayaks, but sit on tops made sense for this trip because one of us was a beginner. We first went directly across to the sand bar and then paddled along the coast to the dock. We had grilled chicken sandwiches from the snack bar. Our intention was to return and spend some time at the beach on the opposite side, but there was a very strong headwind. After a rest at a convenient spot, we crossed the channel and returned the kayaks. The mangrove trail was our original plan. Tides didn’t cooperate. We could have called Sail Honeymoon and coordinated better or taken the ferry from Honeymoon Island and rented kayaks on Caladesi. It was a great day! Twice, we saw dolphins!

After getting to Honeymoon Island, we took the little ferry over to Caladesi Island for a brief but very enjoyable stop at the beach. There is a very nice pavilion run by the state and is very worth the small fee they ask for. A great place for couples and families too.

Great venue, dockake excellent, pretty ride in, hiking trails nicely marked and beach beautiful. Full services, great value.

We caught the first ferry at 10am from Honeymoon. Nice short ride in a foot ferry. Some commentary from captain. Captain Dan stopped for Dolphins on the way back - really fun and I fr strive! I agree with the previous reviewers that this is not a cheap day at the beach with price of ferry and 2 chairs with an umbrella but we thought it was worth it. You can take your own beach stuff. We went on a Monday thinking there would not be many people. It was surprisingly busy! Long but skinny beach at high tide so you may have to walk some distance on the beach to get to a dry spot to set up camp. Bathrooms and food available. Pretty long walk to get where you will want to go so people with mobility issues beware. Lovely day at the beach!

My 1st time there and what a wonderful relaxing day. You can rent chairs and umbrellas and take a nice long walk. Water was very clean and very calm the day we were there. There is also bathroom with showers and a concession stand/gift shop. Ferry ride was $14 for adult (check groupon for a $1 off offer) we would definitely go back. EVERYONE was so friendly. Highly recommended

This beach is a bit of a tussle to reach to but it is totally worth it to pay the 14+2 bucks for the ferry and the entry. The beach is pristine and stretches long. The crowd is limited and you get lots of time to walk around, play or collect some outstanding shells. There is a kayaking station too for renting Kayaks too and it should be fun kayaking amidst the mangrove corridors.
The island has mangroves all around and it is well maintained with canopies and chairs for rent. You get a time on your ferry ticket specifying when you should be taking the ferry back, ours was 4 hours apart and that was good time. The ferry ride is about 15 minutes from the Honeymoon island state park and is nice too. It is open only till sunset.

Beautiful and wild! Great place to spend the day. Bring plenty of sun screen and shade devices like umbrellas. On calm days you can rent kayaks from a place on the causeway and day trip over to Caladesi and Honeymoon Island.

We took a Uber from Clearwater Beach to the park and we were charged double because he missed the first turn to the left. Once you pass the entrance to take the ferry to Caladesi and he keep going to the end. We believed him since he mentioned that he was there with his family and took the ferry to Caladesi. He charged us $30 when usually is $16. He was not honest at all since we were the ones asking for directions in the park on how to get to the ferry to Caladesi. At the entrance you pay $2 per person just to pass through Honeymoon Island. For me that doesn’t make any sense if you are only going to Caladesi. Then we had to pay additionally $26.75 to go to the island for 2 people. After all that, I was expecting the most beautiful island but it was not like that for us. At the island if you want an umbrella with 2 chairs they charge you $25 + tax for an umbrella and 2 chairs that are almost falling apart. The water was very cold and the water and the beach were not clean. The weather was nice. They have showers, restrooms and a little shop that was a plus. Clearwater Beach in my opinion is more beautiful and was clean and the water was clearer than the beach at Caladesi. I believed and trusted some of the reviews describing Caladesi Island and I was very disappointed. I didn’t find anything extraordinary and I have been at extraordinary places. The first 7 Pilate from Caladesi Island and the last three pictures are from Clearwater Beach the same day and you can clearly see the difference between the two places.

I don’t understand why people insist on going to Clearwater Beach. Although it is lovely that’s OK they can all go there because Caladesi Island State Park is much more beautiful.

Overall I was not impressed. We went after a heavy rain and everything was flooded. the boat ride was short but ok. Overall I think there are much better attractions in the area.

This was one of our favorites! On the ferry ride we saw dolphins that followed us . Super relaxing and plenty of shells !

Nice beach with a lot of shells and marine life. The ferry boat crews were lovely and The marina was nice. Negative aspect is that the volunteers on the island ride their golf carts on the beach, leaving tracks and damaging the very creatures they are supposed to protect!!

The visit also involved quite a bit of logistics and a little money. First there’s a line to the state park on honeymoon island and an entrance fee. Then there’s a 16 $ per person fee for the ferry. Hard to say if it was worth it but it was a nice little day trip.

We are not usually beach people, but we truly enjoyed our lovely day at Caladesi Island State Park. After a pleasant ferry ride to the island from Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin we rented an umbrella and chairs ($25 + tax) and settled in to enjoy a perfect April Day.

Beautiful beaches, rented a boat and headed out with the family. Excellent day. Would recommend this place for beach lovers.

Perfect for a quiet day, and folks with tiny kids. Had no red tide when we were there week of August 8.

The island is beautiful! It was busy the day we went. Stayed about 3 hours, which was enough, since we couldn’t get an umbrella to rent. For the amount of people that the ferry takes to the island, one would think they would have more to rent. Luckily we took our own chairs, otherwise I’m not sure we would have stayed as long as we did. On your return ticket they stamp a time (4 hours) after you arrive on island. If we would have stayed that long, we would have been fried. Anyhow, we stood in line to get on an earlier ferry. This was an experience that I don’t want to have again. They took those that were assigned the time the boat was scheduled to leave (makes sense). Then comes the craziness. They announce that those waiting to come back early is on a first come first serve basis. Really it’s a “who can push their way to the front of the line” get on the boat. Hence the craziness I mentioned. There has got to be a better way to do this (assign numbers or something). I can see a fight happening because of the great push to the front. Really enjoyed the island, just not getting on the ferry on the way back. Hence only three stars.

The beach was amazing with blue water, white sand and lots of sand dollars and shells. We rented an umbrella and chairs to keep us from too much sun and stayed for nearly 3 hours. On the ferry ride back to Honeymoon Island the captains kept us amused with stories and trivia and when we spotted a pod of dolphins they paused for a while for everyone to see them and get pictures.

We had such a fun day on Caladesi island. I recommend going early, we were there at 9:00 and got on first ferry. No line and no waiting. My 9 year old had been wanting to find conch shells and sand dollars. He found some perfect, beautiful shells. We brought a lunch and the kids had a blast swimming in the huge waves. Beautiful beach! Great place to walk and find shells. Short 15 min ferry ride and the employees were so friendly. I would definitely go back!!

Accessible only by water, Caladesi Island State Park is a subtropical paradise on the West coast of Florida. If you do not have access to a boat, you can take the daily ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park (most visited state park in Florida in 2018) and reach Caladesi Island. The beach is one of the nicest in Florida, and you can also wander through a 2 mile nature trail, beware of the mosquitoes.

Today will be my 4th trip to the Island. I have gone with my daughters families and their children ages 3, 11,13, and 15. Everyone was very pleased to what this beach had to offfer. We swam, walked the beach to find a bunch of different shells. It was peaceful, safe and not crowded. Sting Rays and snakes are typical all over in Florida beaches. It's nature! Anyway if you are looking for a safe place for your family to go and enjoy the beach and avoid the big crowds, this is your place. I will come back again and again! I visited in the month of May, July and going today, October!

Excellent day trip Highly recommend if you bringing tourist friends Am from Ireland and was great to see natural environment Beach, Mangroves and huge variety of sea shells Got to see a baby armadillo Beach not packed which was lovely Very relaxing There is a ferry to bring you over from Honeymoon Island at cost $18 and we got to see Manatee and dolphins Our captain Ron and his 2nd Mate Keith were Excell Great sense of humor Can hire 2sunchairs & umbrella $35 plus tax You can bring your own

Me and my husband rented a kayak at the honeymoon Island and kayaked to Caladesi. It was a wonderful experience. You can see a lot of wildlife on the way to the island and even more directly on the island. We visited gorgeous beach that was named the most beautiful beach of USA in 2008 according to dr. Beach. We also took a trail for kayakers. There’s a store if you need to get any concessions or souvenirs, restrooms, showers. Grab good sunscreen protection and a hat.

If you want to feel isolated, far away from crowds and removed from the mainland then this place is perfect. You can get there for $16 roundtrip and have an island pretty much all to yourself

Take the ferry from honeymoon island. There is a fee for Honeymoon island state park. The ferry is $14 round trip to get to Caladesi. Nice day trip for the family. You can rent an umbrella and 2 chairs for $25. I suggest to just bring your own if you can. There are changing rooms and bathrooms. Also there is a nature trail if you like hiking.

Decided to try this beach. You access via Honeymoon park, so it costs $8 to enter, and then $14 for the ferry, but we wanted to spend more time there. Ferry ride is fun and run and we had Captain Dave, who gave us local info on the way. Arrive on the island to well maintained places, with a place to eat, change, get snacks, and real restrooms. Even have large covered tables, not on the beach but grassy area for larger groups. 2 min Beach is super quiet from crowds, so very relaxing. Lots of shells, and you can walk 1 mi in either direction. Even have a nature path can walk, which we didn't have time for. Our only regret is we didn't have more time there. So, it's a must return for sure!

We got to see dolphins on the ferry ride to the island. Then we did a nature walk and looked for shells on the beach. It was a fun day.

We loved the ferry ride over. Be careful to go early enough because you are scheduled a time to come back. There are umbrellas with chairs that you can rent and those are nice. Not the place to relax. There were lots of people and some groups playing loud music. There were no shells either. The water and sand were perfect though!

Took the ferry from Honeymoon Island. Parking close to ferry shuttle to Caladesi. Last boat over a 2 tha day we went, last one back at 5:30. You have a set time to return, but they may be able to fit you in on an earlier or later trip back. If you like to walk through the shade, off and on, take the nature trail (bring bug spray). If you are into the beach, it is beautiful (bring sunscreen and your own something to sit on--additional charge to rent chairs and umbrellas). You can buy the usual plus beer and wine at the concession stand.

This was the highlight of our trip. I wanted to find fighting conchs and did, a lot of them and turbans too. The boat out was great.

For certain types of visiting boats, this place is a disaster. If you need one of the end slips because your boat is too wide, you have only two choices since the park has decided to reserve two of the four total for their own use.

One of the two has no working electrical power, and one has a broken cleat that is critical for you to tie up safely.

The ranger warned us about none of this when we called the day before arrival to check on the status. We won't bother coming back here until we get a tiny boat.

There is a great boat ride over to the park from Honeymoon Island State Park area and it is reaonably priced. Then you feel as you have the beach to yourself as you enjoy the sun.

Absolutely worth it. The 4 hour time limit will be tight if you’re a compulsive sheller, like me. We made it back to the ferry with minutes to spare.

Best bet is to pack your most efficient shelling stuff (that you don’t mind carrying for a mile or 2), and leave the rest home. Check the water temperature to see if you even need to bring floaties. It was 68° water the day we went which took some getting used to, but really isn’t floaty water temperature.

Why was I in the water? Cuz you’ll find some great specimens that haven’t quite been washed ashore. Mind that there is no live shelling so check your catch, and yeet them out to briny deep if they’re still home.

If you’re trying to maximize good shelling walk to the end of the north point of the island through the wrack piles. You’ll see all kinds of cool stuff.

The chair and umbrella service guy wouldn’t give us an umbrella for the chairs because it was too windy. Just as well, we spent a total of 5 minutes in them. They were mostly a spot to keep our over-packed stuff. Fortunately 2 chairs, no umbrella is $8. (To the guy who was complaining about the “forced” tip, it’sa screen on the credit card reader that you signed.)

In the future, I will just do one chair for the wife, because I’ll be on a mission every time we go there.

Also, their website is hot garbage, so I found most of my info on TripAdvisor.
Some things I did not see:

-The website indicated the ferry was every 30 minutes. And it is. On the weekend.
During the week it’s only an hour, so we had to wait awhile as we arrived just after it left.

-Bring bug spray for the waiting area, you’ll need it.

- Admission to Honeymoon Island does /not/ include admission to Caladesi, fortunately everything is credit card payments, and the fee for Honeymoon is $8 /car load

-no alcohol is allowed outside of controlled areas, but they didn’t check anyone’s bags, so don’t be blatant.

-bathrooms are kept up surprisingly well

-The ferry crew has a tip jar out and aside from a brief mention about it, we didn’t hear anything. Tips are obviously Cash only if you’re coming super-prepared.

-oh, don’t feed the seagulls. As i packed up our equipment to leave our chairs, 4-5 gulls descended on me, which means they’re in the habit of finding stuff left behind. A little disconcerting.

-Finally, it turns out that the wife and I had been in Dunedin numerous times, from a different angle (going north on 19), but we’ve been to Tarpon Springs several times along the coastal road (19A I think?). We had no idea Dunedin was so close. Don’t just go to Frenchy’s or Eddie’s just because they’re close. There’s a whole ton of good food and brewery options just 2 miles from Caladesi. HOB, Rusty Lyon, Corvo Bianco, and a parking garage to boot.

Magic begins with a ferry ride to a private secluded beach. Park is very clean and staff helpful and polite. Kayaking rentals available with which you can navigate your way through fascinating mangroves filled with wildlife.

Get there by boat, that should say it all. Number one in Florida for their beaches. Walking paths only. No vehicles. Only 15 minutes from Dunedin Causeway by kayak, boat or canoe.

We visited Caladesi Island State Park in February 2022. We took the ferry from Honeymoon Island over to Caladesi. The beach was a natural, beautiful beach. We wanted to kayak through the mangroves. This operation was very disorganized. We were told they would start allowing you to kayak at noon. When we got there they said not until 1 p.m. We had about a 3 hour window before we had to get the ferry to go back to Honeymoon Island. Finally around 1:30 p.m. we had our kayaks and were off. They gave us a map and very limited verbal directions. We found our way through the mangroves fine, but when we came out at the end our map did not say which direction we needed to go to get back (right or left). We decided to head left and then flagged down a small boat and asked them which direction it was to the Caladesi dock. We were goin the right way, but it was a long way back. We got back just as the Captain of the ferry was giving the last call for our ride back. The kayaking was fun, but tense at the end as we were not sure we would make it back. Be careful too because they added a 20% tip onto the rental fee, which is ridiculous because it was not a guided tour. Caladesi was worth visiting the island, but you might want to be careful about the kayaking. Just make sure you understand the map and that it might take 1-1/2 to 2 hours to do the self-guided tour through the mangroves.

Amazing place, just a few people. I felt like I was alone on my private island. Beautiful, peaceful place. Dolphins, birds, a lot of shells... just perfect!

This state park is a beautiful, natural beach that feels quite isolated considering its proximity to Clearwater Beach. We docked for 2 nights at the marina. With just a few other boats, the beach late afternoon was particularly quiet after the last ferry (& thunder storms!) rolled through. The water was 80 degrees and clear when we were there. Just perfect!

This park is only accessible by boat. We took the ferry (a pontoon boat) from Honeymoon Island State Park. There is a marina, snack bar and bathrooms with changing rooms and outside showers. You can rent umbrellas and chairs on the beach. Kayaks are also available for rent. The beach is clean and the sand is soft. Seashells are plentiful! There is a nature trail and ranger station on the island. The water is clean. We had a very relaxing day!

Like a desert island but with all the facilities of a regular island. The boat trip out was beautiful and the walk to the beach once the boat docked was like something out of a movie with boardwalks interspersed with greenery and then a beautiful sandy beach for as far as the eye could see. A day trip of a lifetime.

Highly recommend visiting beautiful location great pic opts nice place to spend the afternoon and kick back

if you feel energetic you can park near Frenchys then walk along the beach to Caladesi. You can also get there via Ferry from Honeymoon Island. Nice fine sand. Peaceful trails

A great natural treasure, completely unspoilt can cared for with great detail by the park rangers. The nature trail around the interior of the island is not to be missed. Beach is simply sensational.

I recently had the wonderful experience of walking to Caladesi Island State Park! Most people think that you can only get there by the ferry or private boat but a few years ago one of the hurricanes created a natural causeway connecting Caladesi to Clearwater Beach.

I walked from Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. For those that want to accept the challenge (it is about a 4 mile walk) just head north from Clearwater Beach and keep walking. It is a beautiful place and worth the walk. If you are too tired to walk back, you can take the ferry back to Honeymoon Island State Park for half price (they charged me $7), and then you can take an UBER back to Clearwater Beach.

Absolutely gorgeous! Very easy ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park (it was either $16 or $18 per adult, I can’t recall the exact price). We saw dolphins on the ferry ride over! Be prepared to see rattle snakes! 😂 that part kinda through me for a loop. Gorgeous shelling and there wasn’t a lot of people there at all. Definitely going back next time I’m in the area.

We stayed for new years eve a couple of years in a row. Marina is very nice but best to go in the cooler months due to the tremendous amount of no see ums. There is a snack bar,restrooms and a outdoor shower. The beach is awesome and has always been rated as one of the best in Florida.

After taking the ferry from Honeymoon Island, my husband and I headed straight to the beach. We loved swimming in the warm, clean water and were able to collect shells that were close to the shoreline. The shells we found were absolutely beautiful- we were even able to find 10+ conch shells! We never knew that shelling could be so fun and relaxing until we came to Caladesi Island!

We didn't venture out much on the island because we couldn't pull ourselves from the beautiful beach/out of the water, but we were able to see some tortoises on our walk to the beach and saw a green sea turtle while we were swimming!

Truly loved Caladesi Island...I only wished we could have stayed for a longer time. Please be aware that you are only allowed to stay on the island for a maximum of 4 hours if you take the ferry over.

Ferry ride over was pleasant. $14.00 a person round trip. The island has nice white sand and tiny waves. Facilities were very nice. Lots of boaters anchor there to swim.

Loved, loved, loved! The ferry captain gave us an informative ride. We saw dolphins, pelicans from the boat. We found sand dollars, sea stars, conch, hermit crabs, fish, turtles on Caladesi and so many beautiful shells! It's such a relaxing beautiful beach. If you don't like crowded, commercial beaches..this is the beach for you!

Beautiful white sand beach and quiet place with shallow beautiful water. Would escape here from a crowded beach?

There's a reason this beach is rated among the US top 10, soft white sand, clear calm surf, and NO condos in sight! The shelling is amazing, soft sandy bottom easy on the feet, nice little café with drinks and snacks, and nothing but the sound of nature, no man made sounds! Best part is the fun ferry ride over and back. Captains and mates are knowledgeable and work hard to make the trip enjoyable for the passengers. Love coming to Caladesi Island!

Beautiful natural beach. We took the ferry from honeymoon. This beach is a lot nicer than honeymoon, soft sand and not rocky.

First time experiencing the ferry from Honeymoon Island to Caladesi Island for all five of us. Found a well-deserved break from our cold, harsh winter up north! Looking forward to returning next year!

Nice beach for family and children and seniors. Easy access and very reasonable cost.Lots of picnic tables to enjoy a BBQ or picnic. very clean

The sunsets are as beautiful as you can get. I like the breakfast of pancakes, eggs and toast on Saturday and Sundays. The sand is music to your feet, the wind is usually constant to keep you cool. I live very close to the Park and can visit often.
Don't miss the opportunity to visit one of the nations most beautiful parks with adventures of trails and demonstration of animals in the park.

After reading some Very Negative reviews I decided to see and ride the ferry for myself
I had the tome of my life. The Captain and Mate were very knowledgeable and so friendly I felt that they were family. We even saw Dolphins wow what a ride😀. I read an earlier post to watch out for ticket price change from 12 to 15 dollars. That is a bunch of BS. My ticket was 14 dollars as advertised and my 5 year old was free. I also read a review that the crew was a bunch of surly retirees. Also a bunch of BS. These were some of the nicest and friendliest people I have ever met. Caladesi Island was absolutely breath taking. Yes it was hot. But hey it’s Florida

Beautiful island get away only an hour from Tampa. The ferry ride was informative and entertaining thanks to the Captains and 1st mates. Tasty bites available onsite. Lovely beach! 🏖️Soft white sand and shell collector’s paradise 💕

The Florida state park system is exceptional and Caladesi does it right as well. Beautiful beaches with wonderful amenities: lots of parking, restrooms, chair and umbrella rentals, restaurant grill. You can’t ask for a better experience

Its a beautiful island/beach but enjoy Fort Desoto 20mins south better. Dont have to pay a boat shuttle fee, tons more shells to find and not limited to 4 hours on the beach. Plus we can go back to our vehicle anytime if needed at other beaches. Overall have a much better time elsewhere. No question Caladesi Island is a super clean, quiet, beautiful beach. Just not on top of our list in the area.

My wife and I visited this island while we were staying in Clearwater and it was one of my favorite parts of our whole trip! From Clearwater, we drove to honeymoon island ($8 per vehicle) and from there, we took the ferry over to Caladesi since it’s only accessible by boat. $12 per adult for the ferry. It’s a quick 15 min boat ride over and the staff are very friendly! Once there, you can rent Kayaks and paddle through the mangroves and around the island which is very scenic. We went out onto the beach where there was practically no one! It’s just like Clearwater beach just with way less people. The shelling there is amazing since there aren’t as many people picking over them. I walked about 2 miles down around one end of the island and found a ton of cool looking shells and some sand dollars. I highly recommend this place if you want to enjoy the beach without the crowds!

Caladesi Island is accessible from Honeymoon Island ferry or on foot from Clearwater beach (I've heard it's a 90min hike). Entrance to Honeymoon Island is a min of $8 for a car with 2 people,and the ferry is $14/person. The beach is calm and the water is beautiful. There are nature trails, concessions, gift shop and restrooms on the island. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards and chairs and umbrellas. It was a great day, though if I came with my family, it would have been very expensive. There are other beaches in the area that have same beautiful water and amenities for less cost. That said, I am glad I finally went become I have lived in the area 30 yrs and it was my first time!

I used to walk every evening with my friends and watch the dolphins, and the sunset along our 5 mile round trip walk

One of the best kept secret of Florida. We took relatives here while they were visiting and it was perfect. Great beach and wonderful for shelling.

With 2 girls - 10 and 7 - I wanted to make sure we had a beach they could run at and loads of seashells. Yes, Clearwater and other beaches were great but I wanted them to feel like they were on an adventure. Given you have to take a boat out to this island, and we saw pelicans and dolphins, they truly felt they were headed out to sea. Once at the island we walked 10 minutes to get to other side where the warm water and clean beaches greeted us. We were off. My parents rented chairs and an umbrella (for shade) as we played in water and ran down the beach to find and capture as many shells as we could want. What a great time. We were hungry so left after 2 hours. The boat left on time and we were sitting with cold drinks in hand in no time. Highly recommend this island and the Honeymoon Island shuttle to service your transportation needs.

Rented kayaks on honeymoon island for 4 hours and wished it was longer. Went to caladesi, had lunch, sat on the beach, and paddled the mangroves. Paddle back into the wind was a workout, but was joined by a dolphin! Take the ferry if you want a more leisure day and rent kayaks on the island. Definitely going back!

We made the mistake of going on a Saturday. Because it was a weekend the lines were long and we waited for 2 hours to catch the ferry to Caladesi Island. Our guaranteed departure was 4 hours later, but we wanted to leave sooner and it was another 1.5 hour wait to board an open ferry. We spent more time in lines than enjoying the beach.

The beach: much busier than expected, sea shells were no different than we were finding on North Clearwater Beach & the beach was covered in weeds.

Coming from a week on CWB I was unpleasantly surprised and wouldn't go back.

The neat part was seeing dolphins to and from Caladesi Island while on the ferry and also while waiting for the next ferry to pick us up from Caladesi.

I love The spark, it's the Best of both worlds can have a day by the seashore ,walk the beach watch the sunset or you can walk the nature trail.for some reason the spark always reminds me of cape cod I can't tell you why it just does.

Plan for the day. There are restrooms and changing rooms. Once you take the ferry over, you should plan to stay until you are ready to leave. On the island is a snack bar, similar to the one on the main part of the park, so you can buy food there if you need to. There are rentals on the beach if you are inclined, but we found it fine without. You can walk for a very long way without interruption. To ease walking, you should bring shoes or flip flops. There are so many shells on the beach that you may end up cutting your foot (like I did). It was not too bad, but not something I'm used to on the beach. If you love looking at shells, best come for the whole day and bring a Santa Claus sized bag.

Nice boat ride to a lightly used very beautiful island beach. The boat ride cost some money but in my opinion, very reasonable and well worth the extra expense.

Definitely worth a trip over on the ferry. Saw dolphins on the trip and seemed to almost have the beach to ourselves.

We (party of 2) arrived to honeymoon island to catch the ferry at 1230. Maybe our downfall was arriving at this time. We waited in line to buy a ferry ticket for 45 minutes. When we reached the front, we were told it would be another 40-50 minutes until our ferry as previous ones were full. There we were also told we had a scheduled return time of 7pm. We might be able to return earlier if there was room. I'm not sure if this is a new Covid instruction, but it's definitely not my vibe. We had dinner plans at 6pm, but decided to risk it anyways.

We did not get to the island until 3pm. 2.5 hours later. The island itself is beautiful. The nature trail is not worth it, just enjoy the beach. White sands and teal warm water is great. But I'm not sure it's worth the headache of the ferry.

We had a wonderful 4 hours on the island. Get there early if you want to rent chairs and an umbrella. The sun is very strong! We took long walks and saw various types of birds. The beach is gorgeous and not crowded. As I was photographing a sign stating that there are rattlesnakes on the island, one crawled right in front of me. Pay attention! The ferry ride was easy and only took about 15 minutes. I would highly recommend going to Caledesi Island.

I have never been there, but was wondering if there are private trails to explore there? I always find this a fun thing to do. Here or Honeymoon Island?

Best beach can only get there by boat or ferry...There is a snack hut and fees are a little high but worth it

Nice experience, the people there were great , had a great time , looking for shells go at low tide ,
Do Not Get Food there, I got 8 hot dogs , 8 fries , and 8 fountain drinks and it cost me 130.00 dollars
Food is not good , and that is plain hot dogs
Bottle drinks are 4.50 for one
Bring your own food and drinks and maybe your own shade and chairs , 30.00 for two chairs and one umbrella, these are the only bad , , everything else was good 👍

Well worth your time, excellent beach on Caladesi Island. Beautiful white sand, lots of sea shells and excellent places to walk. It is true paradise.

You take the ferry for about 18 minutes from Honeymoon Island State park to this lovely island. Hike the nature trail or walk the beach. It is quiet--there are board walks -- You can buy some snacks at the concession stand. The rangers will answer your questions. A great place to spend some time.

The island is accessible by ferry or private boat and was a wonderful experience. There is a café on the island, rest rooms with beach chairs and umbrellas available for rent. The 3 mile beach is made up of white sand with some unusual and large intact seashells everywhere. The beach is left in its natural state so the wrack (dried seaweed and sea grasses) is present. To me, however, I loved the fact that the wrack provides food for the many sea birds on the island. For those who like hiking, there are over 2.5 miles of cleared trails throughout the interior of the island. We live nearby but had never visited the island. It is absolutely worth a visit and we will be going there again.

Caladesi water from what I have seen in photos look like blue Caribbean water. The water is not blue as the photos show. I call the color of water
as Dirty Jersey!

A must visit to Caladesi Island. Only 25 min from Clearwater, its worth the visit. The beach has barely any people, beautiful water (actually clearer than Clearwater) lots of cool shells to collect. So glad we stumbled upon this. A ferry ride to the island is very nice as you get some information on the island, its nature and wildlife.

smooth operation, incredible amenities in honeymoon and caladesi islands. Very nice, Florida knows how to do beaches!

To start, if you are going by Kayak then you have a nice long paddle ahead of you depending on where you put in. Most people put in at the Causeway and brave the treacherous waters of Hurricane pass. Here you will dodge idiot boaters and big head jet skiers that will stop nothing but short of running you over. It is like playing real like Frogger, Water version!

If you manage to make it through you will have a short paddle to the first stop if going left. Nice little area but not much to do. If you fish there is Reds and sharks that frequent the area. Further down the way you will get to an entry way that will lead you to the Marina and the entry point to the Island. Be very carefull of the boaters that do not pay attention and stay close to the mangroves as you make a right tunr. Paddle down and look to the left. You will see the docks. Keep going and head to the area next to the ferry launch. You can park your Yak there.

Now if you want to go in the mangroves for a nice relaxing adventure and do not mind the 1000's of crabs you will see then look at the maintenance shed across the way. Just to the left you will see the entrance to the mangrove tunnel of love!

Be careful of the branches you hit or grab and there will be crabs on them, some are the big red ones the size of your hand. It is a nice easy travel and I think most people will have a great time.

Now the beach on the other side is beautiful most of the time and highly recommended. The only downside is people tend to not obey the rules and then act stupid. The people working on the island ready don't do anything about it either. Also there might be seaweed covering the beach at times so it can be bothersome.

The food at the shack is ok but nothing to write home about but I guess that is expected. The prices are a little bit high for what you get too so most people bring their own stuff. Maybe if prices were lower a bit more people might eat there.

Another thing to try out is the nature trails. It is a nice relaxing walk and I recommend going during the weekday when there is not so many people there, especially with school in session now.

Over all it is a nice day trip to enjoy.

We were able to set our stroller on the ferry without collapsing it. Once on the island, it’s a paved 5-7 walk to the beach. Not crowded. 2 chairs and umbrella rental 25 dollars. Kids loved all the shells. Arrive early, the ferry can sell out. We got there at 9:15 to purchase tickets then planned to explore honeymoon island. The first ferry was supposed to be at 10. Because they had so many people, they ran a 9:30 ferry. It was a beautiful holiday weekend day. 4 hour time limit was perfect. Kids love the kayaks through the mangoes. 25 for adults and 15 for kids. Would definitely return!

What an amazing find a quick 15 min boat ride to the Island by purchasing a ticket at the ticket booth once inside the Caladesi state park. Water was great lovely beach walk many shell finds. Water was brackish it was not pretty blue as the advertisement I read however, to be expected realizing the location and maybe time of year . This was my very first visit and plan on returning soon. I do recommend wearing a water shoe/sandal as the broken shells can be rough on bare feet also the sand becomes very hot by afternoon. The Island does offer for a cost chair rentals and umbrellas. We brought plenty of water with us not realizing they do offer food, drinks and souvenirs you can buy. Nice bathrooms and showers to rinse off sand. It’s unfortunate I did not take my phone to capture what I was in awe with during our walk.

this was a beautiful secluded beach at the tip of the island. It is a little hard to get to but the ferry ride is worth it to get there. beautiful uncrowded beach and a must for sheel collectors as there were a bunch of really nice ones to collect. also, the snack bar on the island was really good.

As others noted the ferry trip is great and the beach is spectacular. Lovely lovely afternoon watching waves and birds. The nature trail was all sameness - we abandoned at beach cutoff and walked back to our chairs. We saw dolphins alongside ferry.

This is a very special place and so we’ll run and pleasant you won’t want to leave. I lived in Florida most of my life and shocked I’ve never been there until now. Here’s the drill: you go to Honeymoon Island in Dunedin and catch a ferry to Caladesi. Get the in time for lunch and have a superior cheeseburger and cold giant cup of ice water. Then just stroll to the beach and rent chairs and umbrella and relax. Sure you can take a cooler and schlep chairs etc but why? A small cooler with water or a water bottle in you beach bag is also a good ideaTake mask and snorkel, kids toys and bucket and noodle if you want. Take a nice shower when you have to get on the ferry which is fours hours after you get there.

This is definitely the highlight of our vacation in Clearwater. We drove to Honeymoon Island park and bought tickets for the first ferry out to Caladesi Island. It's got beautiful white sand, tons of shells, nature trails and emerald waters. We spent the entire allowed day there. The whole family can enjoy while relaxing since it's got a huge beach and not many people.

We kayaked over from the Causeway. Had a good time walking the beach and picking up shells. Enjoyed the lack of other folks and just spending time on the beach and in the water. Worth the trip over!

Caladesi Island is such a beautiful place. We used to have a small boat and went over often. The beach has white sand and shells. Love to float in the sea and enjoy the peaceful quietness. A wonderful few hours. We will be back!

You pay to get into the park, and then you pay to take a boat to the island. The facilities on the island were in great condition, the staff in the shop were very friendly. If you are looking for a calm relaxing beautiful beach, this is for you

Had a great beach day here. We paid $6 to enter the park and then got the ferry over to the island for the day. This cost around $100 for 6 adults. It was gorgeous - soft sand, very clean and quiet. Lots of shells and sand dollars around. Beach chairs and umbrellas to rent out for the day. There is also a canteen and washrooms/change areas!

We came here for a day trip during our week long trip to Clearwater, Florida. You have to drive to Honeymoon Island ($8 to park) and then get a 15 min ferry which run on the half hour (and I think is $16 per person round-trip). The island itself is breathtaking, completely uninhabited by commercial buildings or civilization. It is truly a sight worth seeing. We saw so much wildlife while we were there - sting rays, horse shoe crabs, and different varieties of birds. We walked all up and down the beach which took about an hour and a half. The beaches are just as nice as Clearwater, just need to watch out for sting rays! There is also so many shells to collect on the beach, not all broken up like most of the ones in Clearwater are. There is also a hiking trail (about 2 miles) which we loved! I've never been on a trail like it before. It was really tropical and had a lot of interesting plants. It almost felt like we were on a safari in Hawaii. They give you a return time of 4 hours to return back to the ferry, which I think is adequate time. There is also a small snack shack on the island if you want a quick lunch. All around a great day and definitely worth visiting!

Beautiful beaches. Kayaked from causeway was easier than expected. Love to do it again small island on the way with people hanging out.

Worth the ride over. Calm waters. White beach. There is a little store and snack bar. Wish we had gone earlier so we could have rented a kayak to explore the mangrove trail. If you like collecting shells, go early for the best selection.

The water here is dreamy! Beautiful teal water, calmer waves, and less crowds! Well worth the longer trip. The shells here are also bigger (I found a small conch) and the ferry so fun for everyone! There’s a small restaurant that also has a gift shop. This was by far the best part of our Clearwater trip!

A relaxing way to spend the day. Shell collecting for the kids, a small lunch type eatery / comfort station. Advise staying on the wooden walkways to avoid damaging the ecosystem and snakes.

What a fantastic island. The beautiful beaches and crystal clear water was perfect. It's a short boat ride from Honeymoon state park which costs $14 per person. It's worth the money. The island has shower stations, restrooms, and a snack bar that serves burgers, dogs, etc and some alcoholic beverages. The shell hunting is fantastic too. Make it a day trip for sure.

This little beauty of an Island is a short ferry boat ride away from Honeymoon Beach and is totally worth it! The beach is nicer with clearer turquoise water than the surrounding beaches. I went there with friends for a day on vacation to swim and read on the beach and it was just perfect!

You can walk on the beach for a while and it’s not crowded and all and very relaxed atmosphere.

We brought our own chairs and umbrella, but you can rent one there and there is also a concession store with food, beer and kayak rentals. They told us to be careful with stingrays, but we did not see any (advantage of clear water). Also worth mentioning for those who collect shells you’ll be spoiled!

Far from maddening crowds. Worth the paid ferry & paid admission, to Honeymoon Island State Park. Strong kayakers can paddle here from the causeway(there is a kayak rental kiosk).

HINT: ONLY place you can camp on island is on your own boat, at their dock

Less crowds than most beaches, tiny store/cafe with facilities. Seashells galore.

BRING: strong sunscreen, hats for all, chairs, shade, beach buggy or personal sherpas to haul it all to beach(less than 8 minute walk), ice chest with drinks and snacks, seashell collection containers, goggles/snorkles to see under water. Stay longer or leave earlier, if ferry has seats.

HINT: no ferry budget? Honeymoon Island State Park beaches have amenities also.

Caladesi island is an unspoiled natural beach. There are beach cabanas to rent at the end of the walkway to the beach and that is where most of the people are. I recommend walking towards either end of the island to find great shells and wildlife. This island is also a rookery for black skimmers, ruddy turnstones, Royal terns, etc. The park service has the nesting areas roped off to protect them. Dolphin mothers and their young can be seen in the mangrove lagoon where the ferry docks. The Rangers said that some mother dolphins come there to give birth and some bring their young there to teach them to catch fish. This island is quiet and serene, a perfect place to reconnect with nature.

Caladesi Island State Park is a must visit! We took the Ferry from Honeymooon Island which was very fun. The beach at Caladesi is very peaceful, less traveled and not crowded at all. There was great shelling and we even saw an armadillo in the park. The snack shop also has great burgers and fries!

We spent about 8 hours relaxing at this beach and it was a great experience, it doesn't get too crowded, the water was clear, plenty of parking spaces, definitely we will be back.

yeah, i think it is human nature that we do not really make an effort to visit what we have (i always tell myself "yeah, one day i'll go") so for the first time in 8 years we have lived here, we took the ferry and went to caladesi. we thought the ferry would just cut cross the cut (the shortest points cross between honeymoon island and caladesi) turned out it went the far way and was a very nice "water taxi" ride. (we always love "water taxi" on the sea. one of our favorite things to do whenever we do to positano italy is taking water taxi all over along the amalfi coast. so it was a nice surprise.) the island is nice and much less crowded than honeymoon now. they have a concession pavilion. ferry schedule is very convenient too. the only thing i did not "love" is that ferry price was rather stiff (for the duration of the ride) and their food is even more so.

June 2018 was our second trip to caladesi island state park and when we visit again we will definitely visit again. You can only get to the island by boat via honeymoon island state park. You pay to get into honeymoon island and they pay the ferry to get to caladesi. It’s well worth the money to both. Once you pay and get in the ferry you only have 4 hours to visit so don’t waste any time. If possible try to bring an umbrella with you for the sun. It is full sun all the time. There is a guy who rents some accessories and toys for a reasonable amount if you do forget anything. Take time to walk along the beach and you will find all kinds of shells big and small. It is also not uncommon to see dolphins on your boat ride to or from as you can see from the pictures we posted. There is a gift shop/snack bar at the dock when waiting for the ferry back that had some good stuff and good food.

Beautiful, by any standard. Deserves the title of "Best beach in America". Very little shade. Suggest you take your own umbrella and chairs as the rental ones are quite expensive.

For the cost of tickets to an aquarium plus parking. We got to sit and watch the wildlife in its natural environment.

We hired deck chairs and spent a few hours just relaxing. Went for a dip in the warm water.

It truly is a little bit of paradise.

There’s a cafe and small shop by the ferry drop off. With ferries running every half hour until 4.30 pm.

If you visit honeymoon island then it’s worth the cost of the ferry $18 each to go to Caladesi.

You won’t regret it.

A short shuttle ride to a slice of beach heaven. $8.00 per car for entrance to both Caladesi and Honeymoon islands and $14.00 (look for local $1.00 discount) per person ($7.00 per child and under 5 free) shuttle ride to Caladesi. Near a city of almost 3 million, you can be by yourselves. Great snorkeling (do the Stingray Shuffle!) you can see live shellfish in the water as well as Stingrays and Sand Dollars. The guys that run the shuttle are terrific to chat with too! Paradise IS attainable!

I haven't been here in a long time because it is very expensive. From what I remember it costs $8 admission which includes parking the car, then another $16 roundtrip per person for a 4 hour visit which is the longest they allow you to stay at the beach. This is ridiculous. Maybe if they have a groupon I will return but at this time I will use the free Dunedin Causeway. It is not as nice but for free it can't be beat.

We left at 10 o’clock in the morning and came back at 2:30 in the afternoon. The people on the ferry were so fun and the ride was event full on a beautiful day. It felt great just to be on the water for the very short trip. The island is absolutely beautiful. Perfect for shelling or just laying around. It also has several trails that you can follow that are covered and not covered. Kayaking is also available on the island along with chairs and cabana rental on the beach. Had a great sandwich and a hamburger later on before we got back on the ferry. The boat ride home was exciting as we saw four different sightings of dolphin families. The driver of the boat actually stopped and we followed the fish family for a little bit. We ubered both ways. I would highly recommend coming to the Island even though the ferry ride cost seven dollars each way. It absolutely added to our experience!

We enjoyed taking our son and his friend out to Caldesi Island last March it was so relaxing and they were happy with all the beautiful shells they collected too. Great day for NY'ers who have nothing like this .

I loved this island. Within a few moments walk down the beach you will find yourself almost alone. Most people stay around the entry point so if you want to hear the wind and the waves it's easy to move away from the other visitors. There are facilities and food is available. If you want to rent a kayak, go early. The only drawback is that it's a bit of a hike to the beach from the ferry when you're loaded down with chairs, coolers etc so pack accordingly.

We took the shuttle boat from Honeymoon Island ($8 for a carload of people to get into the park). The shuttle is $14 per person but I had a coupon for $1 off each person. The trip took about 15 minutes and the shuttle boat captain was very knowledgeable. We saw dolphins and many birds on our way back and forth.

The island was absolutely beautiful. We ate at the snack bar and then walked to the beach. We rented an umbrella and four chairs ($32). The tide was coming in and bringing in a lot of shells - we filled our bag. The beach was not crowded but it was a Friday; not a weekend.

This would be a great destination for families and even older people. The walk is easy. It was a wonderful day trip!

I have been to Caladesi Island SP about 5 times and the most recent is today. I love this place!

The ride over in the “ferry” (small pontoon boat) is fun for the kids, they have a little grill on the island and bathrooms. The beach is beautiful and the shelling great. I don’t miss a chance to go.

Negative? It can be a walk to the beach for my older parents & the ferry cost is about $14/adult and $7/kids. It’s also costs $8.00 to get into the park which seems excessive to me since all you do there is park in the ferry lot and leave on a boat. That’s why it gets 4 stars and not 5.

Overall a great day at an amazing in crowded beach-but it can be expensive.

Great beach with restrooms, concession stand, nature trails, and beach chairs/umbrella rentals available. Clean beach with plenty of space to spread out and not too crowded.

Caladesi Island State Park is great. You can get there by boat or walk from Clearwater Beach. There is a hiking trail, a concession stand (which has GREAT burgers etc.), a gift shop, and beautiful walks on the beach. If you haven't gone there GO.

Great place to picnic, watch sunset and relax. It is very clean and soft sand. Family friendly. Some areas dog friendly too.

The beach is pretty, the bathhouse is nice, and there are lockers and food available. So why the poor review? The ferry boat system is a screwed up free-for-all.

When you pay $18 per person for a roundtrip ferry boat ride, you would think they would have a fair and equitable system. They don't. While your ticket is stamped for a guaranteed return trip time, they allow empty seats to be taken on a first come, first served basis. That's where the cutting in line rudeness begins.

For example, if you have a 4:00 pm guaranteed return trip and get to the shelter for the 3:30 pm ferry, they announce that all 3:30 pm tickets can board. Then, instead of announcing 4:00 pm tickets to board, it just becomes a free-for-all with rudeness, pushing, and cutting in line. Really? Have they ever thought of announcing times in order so that the first 4:00 pm tickets board, not 5:30 pm tickets cutting in line.

This was such a a poor experience I don't think I'll be returning to Caladesi Island anytime soon (especially via ferry boat).

Loved loved loved it!!!! Saw 3 gopher turtles eating in the grass on the way in! Heard beautiful birds singing! Had a great time shelling! The water was too rough to swim! The only con is having to pay admission!

I absolutely love Caledesi Island - you can only get there by boat so that limits the number of people who are there. It is a beautiful unspoiled beach so be prepared there is only a small snack bar where you come off the ferry and the beach is a little bit of a hike but it is well worth it!

We really enjoyed our visit to Caladesi Island. We took the ferry from Honeymoon State Park over to Caladesi. There was a snack bar there with needed items, food, and drink. The park rangers there are fantastic and keep the place clean and it tip top condition. There are turtles to see, resident rattlesnakes, and a host of other wildlife. They rent chairs and tents on the beach but we decided to just walk it which was really a good time without too many people there. Most stay by the snack bar and restrooms.

This is the premier beach in the area! What a beautiful island! You find shells and pristine waters. You can walk the beach forever and see sea turtle nests, boats docked and plenty of sea birds. It’s a little piece of heaven on earth!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but this place was amazing. After a short ferry ride and then a very short 5-min walk to the beach, I was so happy we came here. In my opinion, the beach is nicer than the beach across from the Sandpearl hotel. Could be because not as many people frequent this beach, but nonetheless, it's nicer. Water seemed to be clearer than the water at the Sandpearl's beach as well, but I'm not sure how much of that may have had to do with the weather/tide/etc. Would definitely go here again.

It was a great day out. We swam in the golf twice and participated in a 2.5 mile hike. While we were in the water, dolphins swam very close to us.

We took the ferry over not really knowing what to expect. There’s a beautiful beach (not crowded I expect because of the cost of the ferry) we rented umbrellas and chairs and had the best day! Food, drinks, restrooms and changing rooms are available on the island.

Caladesi is beautiful and has a lot fewer crowds than other beaches in the area. We walked there from the northernmost part of Clearwater beach, and it was so fun! Chances are you will have the stretch between the two beaches all to yourself. Try to go at low tide so there is more beach available, but you can also cut through the mangroves if the water is too high.

After a day at Universal, our day on Caladesi beach was a peaceful paradise. Warm water, shells galore, and space to spread out, Caladesi was a relaxing break.
The ride from our Orlando hotel was about 2 hours, but worth it. If you’re looking for shops and restaurants, this isn’t for you.

You have to pay to get onto Honeymoon Island first, if you don't have a pass. That's $8. From there you drive a to the ferry parking lot and then you have to pay $14 per person (round trip) to get onto Caladesi. I think it's $6 for kids over 5 and free for those under 5. The ferry leaves every half hour and only takes about 15 minutes from dock to dock. The staff is fun and they even teach you a little on the ride. We love going to Caladesi because it's so quiet and clean. I've never seen it really busy and you never have someone right up on you like you get with other beaches. There is a 4 hour time limit though which I feel is enough. They have a gift shop with well priced sundries. You can also get smoothies, beer, burgers and such. I've been told that the food is actually really good although I haven't had it myself. There's plenty of bathrooms, showers and even some beach carts for the handicapped. It may not be the best for small children as they tend to have a ton of belongings that won't fit well on the ferry if it's crowded but it's great for adults who want to lay out and relax or go shelling/surf fishing. We usually hit this beach once or twice a year.

If you are in the Tampa Bay area, you must go to Caladesi. You can access this state park by taking the ferry from Honeymoon or by kaying from the mainland. The water is warm and clear, there are no rocks; all you need to do is relax. You can rent chairs and an umbrella and go for a nice long wak along the beach. Caladesi is my favorite beach in the US (I have not been to Hawaii).

Caladasi Island is beautiful, it is like being in paradise, the ferry across is $14 for adults and a bit cheaper for kids but is worth it. Upon arrival there is a cabin which serves hot food, drinks etc, there are changing rooms & toilets and then a small walk to the beach. Chairs and umbrellas are a bit pricey, 4 chairs and an umbrella $36 so worth bringing your own but the beach is fantastic. The water is very warm and you can go quite a way out before it gets a bit deeper. It is a great way to lap up the sunshine and relax but be careful not to step on a stingray, shuffle your feet once in the water but we didn’t see any.

Drove my sister in law up there from Ft. Myers. Thought it would be better than Sanibel island for shelling, but the pickings were very slim. disappointed.. the boat ride to the island was enjoyable

This beach was breathtaking. I felt like I was on the set of a movie. Take the ferry it is definitely worth the trip!

Caladesi Island is often on the list of America's best beaches - and it doesn't disappoint. A boat ride from Honeymoon Island will get you to this quiet island. Mostly natural, there is a building with food service and facilities. But most of your time will be spent on this beautiful, secluded beach, enjoying a relaxing and renewing time with the soft waves and the sand.

Visited the island with my husband and two young kids. We had a blast. It was a nice day trip. We stuck to the beach because I was scared after reading about snakes . Thankfully we didn’t see any. The beaches were calm and easy for kids to play in. We took a cooler and snacks which I would recommend. FYI you need a mask to ride the ferry! The guys who run the ferry are entertaining and make the trip a load of fun! Definitely a must see if in Dunedin!

The ferry ride over was quick and the ferry drivers funny and friendly. There were chairs and umbrellas for rent which was very convenient. Great shell-collecting beach.

It gets a little pricey if you have to take a ferry over and rent beach gear. That said, it is a pretty beach with long nature trail.

We took a nice boat ride to the island. The island itself has a great beach with lots of shells, and is noted for people going shelling. There is also a 2.5 mile nature trail. Best to allow 3 hours for the whole experience, so start early.

The Island is beautiful, with $10 parking fee per car. The Nature center is staffed when we visited with very friendly rangers.

I've heard the stories about the canals in the mass of mangroves that leads into the central part of the island. The canals are so narrow that it's sometimes difficult to row given all the mangrove roots. The path eventually opens up to the marina with a worker there to assist in securing kayaks. Admission is cheap $2 with easy access to the beach, nature trails and other amenities. The food was good though less than reasonable but having access to hot food on an island is worth the extra cost. The beach is beautiful and less crowded given the less than convenient island location but I enjoy those little gems you have to work to get to.

Our family with three kids had an amazing day at the beach. We took the ferry and understood we had 4 hours to enjoy the beach. The beach was a reasonable walk from the drop off point and the bathrooms were accessible. The mosquitoes were present and would have made a hike without bug spray unpleasant; not an issue with on the beach. The beach and water were amazing. Having dolphins playing within sight the whole time made it incredible. We also saw a manatee swim by. The beach was much less crowded than the Honeymoon beach we visited after. Definitely would return.

We arrived at 945 and got tickets for the 1030 ferry. The island was beautiful and we got lots of shells. My daughter even found a live starfish which we took pictures of and put back in the ocean. We had to leave after 3 hours. We had our elderly parents with us and had gotten a beach wheelchair for my dad. I recommend that you do not do that. It was very very hard to push. My husband managed to push him to the beach where we rented chairs for them to sit down. It took everything he could do to push it there. I dont know if the tires werent totally inflated or what but that wheel chair was useless. (We had to have him walk part of the way back because we couldn't push it up hill through the sand.) We couldn't walk around or anything. My parents sat there in the shade the whole time at the beach. Then we waited in line in the cafe for 30 minutes for a smoothie. The smoothie I believe was $6.00 for a tiny cup and seemed to be a mixture without any real fruit in it. After that we took the Ferry back early because we couldn't leave my parents alone and it was impossible to do anything. It was beautiful and we will come again by ourselves and hopefully get to kayak and explore the island. They are building a discovery center and a high area to climb to see over the entire island. It looks as if its close to being finished. Maybe it will be open in June.

If you would like a nice little getaway with the family this is one great way to spend the day. You must enter through Honeymoon Island which alone is a fabulous place to spend the day for a relaxing day at the beach. It is also very affordable to take the ferry or you can also kayak over to Caladesi Island. It's a wonderful little trip it's a great Island and it's so affordable compared to Clearwater Beach and it's not anywhere near as crowded and it's beautiful

I grew up in St. Pete and at age 63 have never been to Caladesi Island so I booked a private boat charter for my husband's birthday which included a stop here. Prior to going, I had read the State Park's website and it mentioned that Caladesi was voted America's Beach in 2008. Well, we were not impressed. If you are looking for someplace to go that is "remote", then this is it. Otherwise, we did not find the beach area to be conducive to laying out and there was a lot of seaweed or other plants hanging along the shoreline. We prefer Clearwater Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach way more than what we encountered here. These beaches have a much nicer shoreline and clearer water. Glad we finally saw it, but no reason to return.

Recently went with my family and friends while in Clearwater Beach. It takes appx. 30-40 minutes to get there. You have to drive to Honeymoon Park, pay the entrance fee then take the ferry to Caladesi. I believe we spent about $50 to get there for a family of 4. Once there you will find yourself in a little paradise. This beach was not crowded at all and so clean. They also have a nature trail for those who want to see more than the beach. Overall, we spent an amazing day there!

Caladesi Island is beautiful. This is the first time I rented an umbrella on the beach...sign said "$29.00". Just flew back home and saw my credit card got charged $34.80. Dug up the receipt, and it has a $5.80 "tip" added on. Tip for what? The guy sits in a beach chair and swipes your credit card!

Definitely need shade on the beach, just know going in that the price is higher than advertised.

One of the best beaches in Florida. The views are breathtaking and the facilities are really nice as well.

Beautiful, wonderful sand, gorgeous views, clear water! It was very amusing to be looking around for different sea shells and little hermit crabs! It was very soft sand with lots of birds roaming around. We kayaked there and that was an experience on an experience! It was fun to walk around the shallow sand bars and overall it was a fantastic experience! I would totally recommend the island and if your kayaking don’t forget to check out the mangroves:)

Took a ferry over to this beach. Absolutely beautiful. Good shelling. Nice picnic areas with a small concession stand and gift shop.

Not for handy cap folks.Once you get to the board walk to the beach it would be very hard to get out there

A long walk to the beach. Just go to honeymoon island beach. MUCH BETTER

Had a great day have fun in the sun Beach seashells waves. Walking with together with the sun on its way down. Just you two and beautiful views. Great place for the family also. Bring your own chairs and umbrellas if you can. They are expensive to rent. The boat ride across round trip was 14bucks each.There is a restaurant where you can have a drink eat a hot sandwich. All in all a good time 5 stars.

If you walk to Caladesi Island State Park from Clearwater Beach, wherever you start (in the southern part of it), you're talking about 2,5 - 3 miles of beach walk up north, to the park. To the natural beach side of it. So you walk, and walk, and walk ... until you see the official sign saying that you are, in fact, at this park.

The place is strange, to say the least - it's a sheer jungle, with sea oats, sea grapes (those look nice), trees washed off the land, dead tree limbs entangled in some unimaginable compositions. The tourists leave their mark there as well, by putting various shells on the trees , that sort off brings some 'human touch' to the whole scenery of undisturbed wilderness.

What is more, you come to the point, where it looks quite iffy to go any further. And this is because of the tide that comes close to the shore line, and above it. Luckily, the front desk of the hotel I was staying at, warned me about the high tide coming in at about 1 pm that day, so I decided not to take any chances. Actually, several other 'explorers' who walked nearby, also decided to turn back.

The best part about this visit for me was taking photos - and I was even lucky to take some of the birds, as well as of that jungle around. The photos show exactly the way it looks at this side of the island.

I decided not to put dead shells on the trees. Leave it for some Stephen King's characters, I thought. That would be a perfect set for his next novel.

Seriously, the best way to get to this park easily and to enjoy being there, would be by taking the ferry from Honeymoon Island to Caladesi Island State Park, that actually has a nice beach, a developed trail, some proper facilities. And live, civilized looks.

We enjoyed a few hours relaxing on the island. Bring your own umbrella, chairs, and cooler for your stay. The cost is $14.00 for a round trip ferry ride from Honeymoon Island, which charges an $8 park fee. The short ferry ride to the island included a narration by the captain about the origins of the island. Bathrooms are available, as well as a gift shop and grill. There is also a large shelter house for picnics. We found a location to plant our umbrella for the four-hour stay. There was time for shelling, watching stingrays, and swimming. We spent most of our time under the umbrella enjoying the sights and sounds on the beach. The return ride by ferry was a perfect end to our day. Pack the sunscreen and water for your stay.

Clean beach. We took the ferry to go to the other side oof the island from Honeymoon Island beach. Great customer service and fun. We also saw dolphins. Great beach.

This is one of those places you must go to and spend the day there. Unfortunately, you have to take a ferry to get there that is not cheap especially for a family with children. You can take your beach chair and a cooler with you on board the ferry. The water is turquoise blue and the sand is white and powder soft. The only drawback to going here is that they do not advertise anywhere that the last ferry leaves Caladesi at 4:30 so if you don't go early in the morning, you have wasted your money. This is not the kind of place you can go to for a late afternoon swim or to just relax after work. They do not have a sign posted anywhere that tells you the last ferry is at 4:30 and you only find out after you have bought your ferry tickets. The ride over is very short; about 20 mins; and on the way you may see dolphins and manatees. It's a really enjoyable day if planned right.

Went to the regular beach one day and the pet beach the next. Actually like the pet beach better.
Beautiful, and staff is extremely friendly. great family place!

There are many shells on the beach, makes sure you have shoes you can get wet. Renting the kayak and going through the mangroves is a must, just make sure you bring bug spray and sunscreen . Staff are not super friendly or helpful.

I wondered, if after visiting Clearwater Beach and Honeymoon Island, was it even worth visiting Caladesi Island, especially since the ferry from Honeymoon cost me over $40? The answer is yes. After a beautiful ferry ride across crystal blue water and mangroves, you set foot on a picturesque, tropical island. The sand is soft, white, and like powder, but still enough shells for those who collect them. The water is great and the beach was less crowded than other nearby beaches, due to access being more difficult. Definitely worth the trip!

If you are looking for an untouched shoreline and to get away from the touristy, crowded areas, this is your place. The beach is absolutely beautiful, the water is clear and wonderful to swim and play in and the 2.5mile hiking loop is well worth it. Highly recommend!

I was somewhat worried about visiting here after I read several reviews about rattlesnakes being common on this island. But I quickly found that the unspoiled beauty of Caladesi Island is worth the risk! The water is clear and so inviting. It's nice to find a beach where people leave it as they found it. The ferry ride over to the island was great and the crew was fantastic. I would suggest this beach for adults, maybe not so much for small children because of the snake risk, as well as stingrays. There are signs around the island warning of common rattlesnake sightings.

Solice...white sand...clear water...lots of shells and a few sting rays. Everything I'd hoped for and then some...
Quite an enjoyable short ferry ride over to the island. The captain stopped the boat to allow is to see some playful dolphins. Had an enjoyable 4 hour respite on this secluded little slice of heaven. My teens were a little disappointed in that there weren't many waves...and yes this beach is relatively calm so leave the boogie boards in the car as a raft or float would be more appropriate. Exceeded expectations for feeling like you almost had your own private beach...especially if you walk away from the first entrance of the beach...you will literally have tons of space to yourself to explore and enjoy.

This is a lovely park- rented a kayak and took off across the bay. Met a dolphin who” escorted me” around the more shallow areas. Really beautiful.

Pay the ferry and take the trip!! Beautiful white sand beaches and tons of shells. We went from 11a-3p and that was plenty long to swim and find sea shells. We also saw many crabs, small sting rays, dolphins and birds. It’s worth the extra trip!

We were on the first ferry of the day. The ferry service was very good. The crew wore masks & were super friendly. They sat people wearing masks distanced from people without masks, which I thought was respectful.
The island is beautiful. Agreed that we did not see a ton of large shells, but there were a lot of small shells, and far more variety of shells than I saw on other beaches.
The sand is soft where there aren’t shells. And the water is beautiful. Enjoyed our 4hrs on the beach.

This park may want to do something about its employees attitudes. We were so disgusted with them that we left and didn’t take the ferry over. First of all, the lady at the pay gate was totally rude. We paid with a $20 bill and she asked if we had anything smaller. We told her no, sorry and she got visibly upset. We then asked her where we catch the ferry as we’d never been there before. She rudely said, “second left” and forcefully threw her arm out the window with our change. Ok, first strike but maybe she was having a bad day. Then we get to the window for the ferry tickets and there was a lady in front of us. She told the man in the booth that she didn’t know how this works as it was their first time. She asked if she picks the times that she wants to go or what. The man rudely said “no I pick them for you.” Then he told her if she left now she would come back at 3:30 in the afternoon, she asked him if she could come back any earlier and then he was extremely rude and said “did I say you could come back earlier?” She turned around and looked at me with this look on her face and then said, “rude.” So then I went up to the window and I asked him if there’s anything over there like to get something to drink or anything and he was very rude and said “yeah there’s a whole concession stand over there get a flyer.” By then I was just done. We turned around and just left. We were looking forward to this and these two people just completely ruined it for us.

Don’t let any negative reviews turn you off; this place is beautiful!

We took our two kids here (10 & 8) by catching the ferry from Honeymoon Island.

Ferry ride over was relaxing and we even saw a pod of dolphins. Ferry driver was kind enough to stop and let everyone enjoy this neat scene.

The beach is an easy walk from the where the ferry drops you off, and is covered in shells! My daughter was in heaven searching through all the sizes, shapes and kinds (scallops, oysters, sand dollars, conchs etc.).

After 2 hours on the beach we did the nature trail hike (only half of it) and saw a couple of gopher tortoises which are so cool and prehistoric looking! Lots of little anole lizards running around here too.

We spent some more time swimming and then it was time to leave. A GREAT day overall....lots of sun, so be sure to bring sunscreen, cover-ups, hats and lots of drinking water :)

Completely worth the price - don’t miss seeing this tiny slice of heaven!

We decided to take our friends, who live in Minnesota and annually vacation in the gulf coast, to Caledesi Island, which is one of the continually top rated beaches in the U.S. You can only get to the island by boat, and there is a ferry service provided at Honeymoon Island State Park (cost is $18.00 per person).

The ferry ride is approximately 15 mins long and it is not uncommon to see plenty of dolphins on the trip. Upon arrival, there is a 108 slip marina and when you disembark, you arrive at the snack bar/ranger station. The snack bar features burgers, hot dogs, snacks, soft drinks and beer. From there, it’s a 5 min walk over the boardwalk to unspoiled beauty!
The beach is simply beautiful, there are 3 miles of hiking trails and you can also rent kayaks and explore through the mangroves.
Be advised, your time on the island is limited to a few hours if you take the ferry across. You are given a return time on your ferry ticket stub (do not discard this stub). You can reach the island via private boat or kayak; however you travel, it will be a memorable experience!

We went to Caladesi Island shelling and were not disappointed. We found many neat shells and fighting conch shells were in abundance. Be careful, as many shells have live creatures in them but they're neat to see and there were still plenty of shells to collect. We got to the park by way of the Caladesi Connection Ferry which was a nice ride. There is a gift shop and snack shop when you get to the park and also a nice walking trail. We enjoyed our time there.

It’s rocky, so wear shoes, shelling was ok. If you want great shelling head to Captiva! This was not worth the $8 entrance fee. We drove here, stayed about and hour and headed out. I agree with some other reviews that Clearwater beaches are better.

Perfect for swimming and beachcombing. There are chairs and umbrellas for rent. Walk the long stretch of shell laden white sand beach. Look out for the dolphins and rays. Water temp was 83 degrees F, not too warm, but refreshing. You can catch the ferry here from Honeymoon Island. We rode our bikes from Dunedin on the Pinellas Trail, over the causeways into Honeymoon Island. There are restroom, shower facilities here and a small concession serving up basic beach fare. Don’t forget to check out the nature trails. We recommend packing a lunch for the day and enjoy the beauty of Creation.

Great relaxing calm peaceful beach. Clean quite quaint place. There was plenty of Parking available easy access

There aren't enough words to describe how beautiful this gem is right here in our own community. It is so very worth the cost of the ferry boat ride to and from it. Once you get there, you feel like you are far away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, as if you are truly on an island vacation, even if only for a few hours. The gift shop/cafe on the island provides just enough amenities. Rent a kayak and cruise the mangroves if that is your thing, but be sure to wear bug spray because the mosquitoes can be a little overwhelming. I prefer to pop an umbrella in the sand on the beach and just feel the breeze, listen to the ocean and wildlife and relax.

Ferry over to Caladesi from Honeymoon Island. There's a cafe with great folks serving you and fun things to shop for. The nature trails are nice, beach combing was fun. There are restrooms and outdoor foot showers for those sandy toes. The ferry crew was informative and fun. On our way back, we saw dolphins nearby.

Park at Honeymoon Island and enjoy the adventure. Your pass is good for four hours.

Take the ferry/shuttle from Dunedin every half hour or boat in yourself. You can hike nature trails, cross over the island to swim in the Gulf of Mexico, kayak around the mangrove. No matter your outdoor interest, there is something for everyone. Bring your picnic or a hot food grill is available as well

Should have spent the whole visit on the beach at Honeymoon Island State Park. Took the "ferry" over to Caladesi State Park on the recommendation by the lady in the ticket sales booth. The 20 minute boat ride was nice on a long pontoon boat. However, the boat driver told us to be wary of all the sting rays. That alone just about ruined the trip for 2 in our group. Once we were on the island it was a short walk to the beach. The beach was covered in seaweed.. on the shore and along the water. The water was choppy. If you are content to just lay in sun and enjoy the beach...it may be fine for you
With all the hype, we expected it to be prestine and and lots of shelling.. not the case. Our time would have been more well spent on the beach on Honeymoon Island.
Please check out the beach on Honeymoon Island FIRST then decide about the trip over to Caladesi Island.
The sunset on Honeymoon Island State Park was fabulous .
Entrance fee to Honeymoon Island is $8 per vehicle. The boat to Caladesi is $14 per person for @3 hours on the island.
Save your money and spend the day at Honeymoon Island St Park.

After a fun ferry boat ride we spent time on the beach shelling. Provisions are available at the cute little snack bar and gift shop. Well worth the trip1

We've been wanting to go visit Caladesi for several years but somehow never had the time, it finally fell into place! Weather was absolutely beautiful, perfect day for the 20 minute boat ride as it's only accessible by boat. The ferry goes back and forth on the hour and you can stay up to 4 hours, the $14 fee is for round trip and well worth it. We didn't bring our own umbrella so we rented one there on the beach, the sun is very intense so it was worth the expense for my 83 year old father.

This was a welcome beach trip away from the crowds of the local beaches. Take a short ferry, which is informational and enjoyable, and you can easily arrive on the island. The island had nice beaches with ample shells to be found. This was a beautiful beach area.

We found lot of little shells some medium size ones , horseshoe crabs,birds, sponges, coral. They give you a maximum of four hours which you will definitely need since the island is three miles long.

We wanted to get away from the crowded public beach. The ferry ride over to the island was fun too. Go early morning so you have time to walk down the beach for some peace and quiet. The water was clear. We found some shells and sand dollars. We found some shells that were live, so we of course threw them back. It may get busy in the afternoon so be sure to go early. We went at 10am

This is a hidden gem! You take a small boat ferry to the small, sand bar island! Uninhabited. No hotels. Just beautiful nature! Beautiful beaches! Great for shell hunting!

We loved spending one relaxing day on Caladesi Island during our vacation. We drove from Clearwater Beach to Honeymoon Island State Park and paid the $8 parking fee, then we got in line to take the ferry to Caladesi, $14 per person (you can find a $1 off coupon online). On weekends and during busy times of the year, try to go early to avoid congestion on the road and a waiting line at the ferry. The Park opens at 8:00 am and the first ferry leaves at 10:00 am. The ferry runs every half an hour. You can rent chairs and beach umbrellas on the beach. Food is limited on the island so we brought our own, but we stopped at the bar for a nice, cold beer on the way back. When you purchase the tickets, you are given a return time (four hours from departure time) but you can always return earlier if there is space on the ferry. It was a bit windy while we were on the beach and maybe that kept away the sand flies that instead bit us relentlessly on Honeymoon Island.

Ferry ride was awesome. Got to see dolphins. Beach was less crowded than Honeymoon Island, Kayaks and a concession stand were offered.

Wow! Very beautiful water, so, so blue! This beach is only accessible the ferry (14 p/adult) and it’s worth it!!! Please walk away from the main entry, it’s worth the extra walk for peace and quiet.
Came on a Saturday morning and made it to the ferry in no time at all. The return ferry (4 hours later) was a lovely ride back. I’ll never see Clearwater Beach again!

Beautiful private beach that requires a ferry ride. It is quiet and clean. We rented kayaks and floated through the mangroves which gave us the opportunity to see a lot of wild life. Beautiful place to visi.t

Beautiful white sand amazing views beach was soft waves crashing definitely worth the ferry ride to get here

Over the years, I have enjoyed Caladesi island ! The Ferry boat is fun to ride and the price is right! I just wish we could stay on the island longer but I understand the reason why we can't!

During a recent visit to Dunedin, we took a day trip via ferry to Caladisi Island State Park. After arriving on the island, we took a beautiful 3 mile hike on the well marked trails thru a variety of different Florida coastal terrain. After the hike, we enjoyed time on the unspoiled beach. The return ferry ride was exceptional... The captain took time and circled the boat to allow us to watch several dolphins swimming in the bay. A day trip that was definitely worth the price of ferry passage!

You take ferry or boat to this island. It was great. Beach is beautiful with shells. Can’t say enough about it.

Wonderful experience. Walked beach and nature trails and both were enjoyable experiences. We were able to view most of the wildlife that were present. Lots of activity. Did not go on a weekend as we heard it go crowded.

After entering the park one has the choice out of three parkings. The parking in the centre has bathrooms and you can buy drinks and things to eat. The beach is a great place for shelling and go swimming. If you want to walk along the beach and around the island? We will certainly come back again.

We took the ferry over to Caladesi Island from Honeymoon Island. This beach was rated Top 10 in the US and I'm not sure why. We loved that it was somewhat remote and secluded from tons of people on the beach but we expected it to be that white powdery sand and quite frankly there were a lot of rocks, tons of seaweed, and shells. The water was also not crystal clear like I would have expected. The only reason it's not that popular there is because it costs so much to get there. $14/person for the ferry and an additional $8 entry. I hate to be the tough critic here, but I wouldn't go back. Clearwater Beach was much better beach conditions (other than being overcrowded). Just my opinion.

Great state park - wonderful beach - we rented two beach chairs and umbrella $25 right near the concession stand. Highly recommend. Lovely beach, white sand.

We've been coming to Caladesi Island for a couple of years since moving to the area. We always have a wonderful few hours enjoying the soft sand and beautiful water. Family always requests going there. Today on our visit, after we loaded our beach buggy with chairs, coolers, umbrellas, etc, we got to the building to purchase ferry tickets, and were abruptly told wagons or beach buggies aren't allowed on the ferry. We tried to ask why, since we have in the past years, and were rudely told, "It's been a new rule since the first of the year." At 70+ years of age, it's quite a chore carrying everything to the ferry and then to the beach. BE AWARE, NO USE OF WAGONS OR BEACH BUGGIES! The captains and first mates operating the ferries are absolutely the best guys who definitely enjoy their job.

We rented kayaks and paddled here from the causeway. We were treated to dolphins on the ride over. The Northern tip of the island is a beach paradise. We swam , explored and fished. Lots of shells, hermit crabs, and an array of sea birds. We then paddled down the east side of the island, hoping to reach the marina, but it was just too hot and too far. We did get to see sting rays, though in the shallows. Exploring more of the island would be a great adventure in the fall or winter.

We aren’t exactly “locals”, but we visit the Tampa/Clearwater area 4-5 times per year and have been to every beach around. This one is our favorite. From the unique ferry ride to the more laid-back style and the not so crowded beach... we love it. The staff is very friendly and there is a snack shop for lunch and souvenirs. Worth every penny.

We took the ferry from the park and took a trip to Caladesi Island park. The resturant in there is very good and I recommend to eat a fish Sandwich. Take a Breach chair and enjoy the peacuful and Quiet Island.Kids and Adults would have a blast.There is a lot of Sea Shells to collect and Hunt for.

We have been to Honeymoon Island several times but never took the ferry to Caladesi. It was a great day trip-perfect unspoiled beach with nature trails to explore. Also you can rent chairs and umbrellas and they have a basic snackbar. Great place to look for shells and have a nice picnic luncg. The ferry ride was pleasant with friendly staff too. This is the perfect place to look for wildlife-eagles, dolphins, tortoise, and all kinds of birds.

Not knowing what to expect, it was nice to walk the shore and pick up a few sea shells. It was nice to just sit on the beach chairs we brought along and chat, take a nap or whatever. I'll definitely go again.

Visited Caladesi Island while vacationing with my wife and 8 year old daughter. This was our last stop on our Florida vacation after hitting Madeira Beach, Siesta Beach, Turtle Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, and Clearwater Beach.. Caladesi was by far my wife's favorite.. My daughter and I also enjoyed it. Beach is very clean. It doesn't get raked like other beaches so there is some sea grass. Very family friendly.. Supposed to be alcohol free since its a State part but certain groups seemed to be exempt from this rule.. I recommend and would visit again.

You will enjoy the fun boat ride too! It's a sandy sunny beach treat beautiful sand and sparkly water

Clearwater beach is fabulous to be sure. It's highly rated by beach bums and beach academics alike. But . . . for an adventure par none, at least as far as beach exploration goes, head north just a bit to Caladesi Island State Park. It's in Dunedin, FL. Take the boat ride out to Honeymoon Island for a total relax. There's a modest fee for transit to Honeymoon Island's beach. It's nominal and worth every cent. Pack a picnic. Grab beach chairs and sunscreen. Don't forget your hydration. And then (reread the title of this review) . . .

This island is so beautiful and quiet! I had a portion of a beach pretty much to myself! The ferry is $14 per adult, but it's worth it. You get 4 hours to spend on the island.

There is a long nature trail that I walked back on from the beach & saw several turtles & osprey.

If you are in Dunedin, you have to check this place out!!

If you go on their website they always offer $1.00 off per ferry ride to the island. The island itself is free for visitors. It's about a half hour ferry ride to the island and it's fun all in itself. You will usually see dolphins to and from. You can pack all your beach gear and a cooler to have a picnic. I suggest this option for food/drinks. They do offer a cafe on the island but it's less than mediocre food and there is no table service. I would pass unless I was very hungry and went to the island on a whim, unable to prepare. This island has been voted "best beach in america" many times due to it's beauty. It's very clean. Gopher tourtoises roam free on the island and are very cool to see if you take a walk around the island that is away from the beach. You are allowed 4 hours on the island and then you will be ferried back to the main land. You are not allowed to stay more than 4 hours, but you may leave earlier if they have an open spot on the boat back. I have never had a problem with leaving earlier. Great place to visit.

I love beaches that are on more of the quiet side. Caladesi was that for me. We took the first ferry of the day and the beach was practically empty. Of course, it starts to fill as the day moves on but it never felt crowded. We went on a Monday so that may have something to do with it but I think the time limit helps to avoid it becoming too crowded. This beach is awesome for finding shells and just a stunning view to take in overall. The sand is soft as well. You are allowed 4 hours on the island which was a nice amount of time for us to take a long walk on the beach and lay in the sun. We had lunch on the island at their little gift shop, and brought our own umbrella and mats to sit on but it looked like they had some you could rent. I enjoyed the boat ride over and the ferry crew was all very nice. I'd definitely go again.

Went on a weekday after school began, practically had the beach to ourselves. Water was beautiful. Recommend a visit.

Although Clearwater beach is more famous and heavily visited, I found Caladesi island state park to be more relaxing, beautiful and pristine. It's a state park in Florida with white sandy beaches and cool waters. There are only 2 ways to visit, personal boat or ferry from Honeymoon Island state park. Entrance to Honeymoon island is $8 per car and there's plenty of parking if you reach early (we reached by 11am on Sat during President's day weekend). Ferry costs $14 per adult. After a 15min ferry ride, it docks near a cafe on Caladesi Island SP. From the cafe there are 2 nature walk, about 5mins each, to the beach. Water was cool and relaxing in mid Feb and we also saw 2 dolphins while taking a dip. That was the high point of our trip. We returned after 2 hours because we wanted to visit clearwater beach but this can be a full day picnic affair.

Went to Caladesi Island for the first time with family. $8 for park entry and $14 per adult for the ride to the island is a bit much but worth it occasionally. My only real issue was the 4 hr time slot for the return trip. What if you want to spend 6 hours on the beautiful white sand beach? Beaches are way better than those rocky ones on Honeymoon Island.

Beach was nice. Got to see an armadillo, tortoise, and lots of birds. Ferry ride over was enjoyable.

Really spectacular the island, charming and wonderful, the ferry good service, which I do not understand why they force to return to the 4 hours of having arrived nowhere says that the value of 16 dollars was for 4 hours, if I go to the beach I want to stay as long as they want, that should be clarified to the visitors, because as we many had that they planned to stay the day and we had to leave at 1 pm. It should not be so, it is understood that you must leave before the park closes or must be clarified and one decides whether or not to go.

After lunch in Dunedin, we took the ferry and rented a cabana with chairs. Relaxing, wonderful day to enjoy the waves and beautiful sand.

They limit the number of visitors, so it is quieter than many beaches, which was wonderful.

We had a great time on the island and wished that we could have stayed longer. It wasn't crowded, and the shells are unbelievable.

Beautiful experience, favorite beach in Florida! Not a place to go if your in a hurry or have other plans- it’s for total relaxation! Nature is wonderful, turtles eating, all types of birds, flowers blooming! White sandy beach and crystal clear water! So many sea shells of all shapes and sizes!

100% not worth it. $18 per adult for a ferry ride to a beach that anything but beautiful. Food prices are $$$$ and slow service. Oh and you can only stay 4 hours which was fine because we were ready to leave!

I chose Caladesi because I can't stand crowded and built up beaches. We went to Honeymoon Island (which is also very nice) and took a 15 minute ferry ride to Caladesi. You have to pay to get into the state park and for the ferry - but it was worth it. On the island we had 4 hours. There is a beautiful nature trail. If you exit at the beach exits you will have a much quieter beach than if you go right by the visitor center area. Still neither are anything like Clearwater in terms of crowds. The sand is lovely! We also paid extra to take kayaks into the mangrove tunnel. It is actually a tunnel with mangroves all around and above you - loved it! There are many small crabs so if this bothers you, you may not like it. Check the tides carefully because if it's too low you can't go and if it's too high you also can't go. We got lucky with hitting a perfect time to go through the tunnels. The people in the visitor center will be able to help you time it out. But, check the tide schedule before you ferry over or call for the best time before spending money on the ferry if kayaking the mangroves is high on your list. You can kayak the tunnel in as little as an hour. We all though the money to go to Caladesi was well worth it and recommend this island to anyone who enjoys places that are not commercial. There is a place to buy food and drinks on the island.

With the right kind of weather (80 degrees and mostly sunny), we had the perfect beach day on Caladesi. The sand is super soft, the water is clear and beautiful, and the crowd was family-friendly. There WAS a crowd, and you should know if you're going during spring break to get there early. We arrived at 10:30 and waited over an hour to buy our tickets and wait for the ferry. Our return trip was much smoother with no waiting. The website says there's great shelling, but be warned that the "great shelling" area is a 1.5 mile one way walk down the sand to the other end of the island. The website also says you'll see dolphins and manatees, we saw none and it seemed like it wasn't a typical thing to look for them. The ferry ride is fairly quick, and the captain and mate are friendly and efficient. There are beach chairs for rent right on the island and a cafe. We are from Michigan, and I would put this on par with one of the great Lake Michigan beaches we are used to visiting in the summer, but with softer sand.

A wonderful nature preserve on a barrier island with a fabulous white sandy beach included. A very special place to spend a day.

Caladesi island is a beautiful place. Our family loved the ferry ride over and decided to rent two kayaks to go through the mangroves. It was hard and long but memorable. Here is where I had the problem...we were told by Annette ( keep this name in mind) at the cafe when renting where to return the kayaks when finished. We followed Annette's instructions and returned the kayaks where they should be. We decide to go the beach before boarding the 3pm departing ferry. As we were getting to leave the dock ..Annette ran towards the docks pointing at me ( I had no clue) very abruptly! She in her harsh tone asked me where the kayaks were ( they were returned as I said earlier) She then told the ferry driver that we may have to wait till the next ferry ride ( absolutely rude) . I explained to Annette in a calm voice that the kayaks were returned. But obviously Annette had it set in her mind that we had them under our beach bag. I informed Annette that two more people came in to rent kayaks after we returned. Maybe her paperwork skills were not up to par. The reason I'm writing this is to make you aware that Annette is not very good at customer service and honestly was completely out of line making accusations. I spoke with manager and he said he would handle it. Besides Annette it was a great day so please don't judge Caladesi island on Annette's poor personal skills. Ty!!

Visiting Dunedin so had to see. Cost $8 to get in, $16 per person to ride ferry, and $29 for umbrella and 2 chairs. Water had lots of weeds in it and so did the beach. You would think they'd hire a company to rake it to make it look pretty.

First time visiting the marina on the island. Was a bit confusing to do but called the park itself and made the arrangements. Enjoyed the day on the beach and saw an incredible sunset. BRING BUG SPRAY or you'll be eaten alive by the mosquitoes and no-see-ums. There is a beach-fare restuarant there but closes early for food.

If you are in the Tampa area and are trying to plan a day, please spend one day at Caladesi Island. The ferry runs every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, weather permitting and they run every 30 minutes beginning at 10 AM (February through September). Check out their website for more information. Bring you beach chairs, towels and blankets (or you can't you can rent items including an umbrella which I would highly recommend). With 3 miles of white sand beach, you can spend the day gazing out at the water, shelling, swimming or sun-bathing. This has to be one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been too.

Beautiful! You go by ferry to get there. Lots of shells to collect! It is very “natural” which is so pretty! We will definitely be going back!

Amazing island retreat. The ferry across is fun and a great trip in its own right. Beautiful natural beach with good facilities on the island. We did a 1 hour kayak tour through the mangroves and along the coast that we brilliant.

Spent a wonderful day here yesterday. If you are a shell collector, this island is a treasure trove of shells. You do have to pay the state park fee of $4 per person to get into Honeymoon Island State Park and then $14 per person to take the ferry (passengers only) to Caladesi. Perhaps this is why the crowds were less than on mainland beaches but it is worth the money. Besides shells, there are many birds as well as information about the different kinds. There are also nesting turtles but not at the time of year we went. Food is very limited on Caladesi (a bit more on Honeymoon) so I would recommend bringing a snack. Note: When you board the ferry, you are given a max return time (about four hours which is plenty of time) but you can return earlier if there is space. Chair, umbrella, and cabana rentals are available on both islands. You can definitely take in both islands in one day.

This was a simple morning paddle for our family of 4 (8 & 10 yr olds). We rented two double kayaks from Sail Honeymoon for 2 hours ($45/kayak) which was long enough to paddle over, explore the Caladesi Island and paddle back. The tide was low and we even found an area of live sand dollars on the way. Highly recommend!

I visited Caladese Island last week and it was almost indescribable. Beautiful with sands like an Oasis. The island was not very crowded and the waters were clear and topical island like. I would like to keep it a secret but everyone should have a chance to visit this beautiful state park.

My husband & I visited this beach while vacationing in Dunedin. We took the ferry over based on previous reviews & were not disappointed! The beach is clean & not crowded!
Great place to spend the day, enjoy the view and search for sea shells. Highly recommend this beach for a day trip. Although there is a “snack bar” in the area, I highly suggest you take your own picnic and spend the day relaxing.

Go early. Traffic stinks getting to the park. Nice boat ride over to island. Beautiful beach. No hotels. Umbrella set up if you like. Walk to more remote area if you want privacy.
Has a snack bar. Pretty average food. Not cheap.
Bathrooms are reasonable state park fare. Sea shells are not great. Still worth a visit.

Awesome State Park that cannot be missed. It is accessible only by ferry from a landing point in Honey Moon Island State Park ($7 per person each way/$14 roundtrip) that runs every half hour till 5 pm. The beaches are walking distance from the ferry terminal on the island. Lovely beaches and famous for shelling it appears! The fascinating thing about this island is that till 1921 it was part of the HoneyMoon island and the sea moved in after a hurricane cutting off road access! Nice, peaceful beach. We saw lots of people who were serious shellers with bags full of shells! Go prepared to do some shelling if you go here. Next time we will take a bag with us!

We took the 15-minute ferry ride from Honeymoon Island out to Caladesi and were among the first to arrive on the beach. Uncrowded sand and we were about the first to stroll the surf looking for shells. Clean bathrooms and a nice gift shop/snack bar make this a great little day trip if you’re in the Clearwater/Dunedin area. You can only stay for four hours but that was plenty of time. If you can time your visit to coincide with low tide the shells are more abundant. The ferry crew made the trip out and back more fun. Some carried small wagons with chairs and umbrellas but you can also rent everything you need in the island. Can’t wait to go back. Just watch out for the snakes, we found one sunning on the boardwalk!

Caladesi is a special place and deserves a whole day visit. Take the ferry early and enjoy both the beach and the nature trail. Easy parking lots of toilets and a Cafe but bring a picnic. Bring or rent chairs and umbrellas. Great for all ages

The ferry ride costs $14pp round trip and is totally worth it. They offer military discount of $2 which is very much appreciated.
The ferry ride is smooth and is about 15min long. The scenery is just beautiful, I didn't want the ride to end. We got to see wild dolphins and many types of birds on the ferry ride.
The Captains and their 1st mates are super friendly and during the ride they engage with the people and give information about the park and areas around.
During this season the ferry runs every 30mins. The park has everything so well organized. There's plenty of shady areas for people to wait for the ferry. There are public facilities everywhere.
Once you get to the beach there's a small food place where people can get burgers, hot dogs and drinks.
People can rent umbrellas and chairs.
The sand is so soft and powdery. The water is clear and beautiful. There are plenty of seashells for everyone.
This park is a must to see and go. We had great time.
The park staff are doing such a great job, the park is well kept and clean. We can tell they take pride on what they do.

Perfect day getaway! Take the passenger ferry boat here and you're transported to another world away from the commercialized beaches nearby!

On a late February afternoon, we walked down a trail in Caladesi park. Before we went 5 yards we saw an osprey on a tree limb eating his freshly caught fish. Nearby was a nest with other spray. As we walked on, we saw other osprey nests and also saw one with a female Great Horned Owl in it. The male Great Horned Owl sat in a tree nearby. There were many tall pines and a thick understory. It's best to stay on the trail as there are rattlesnakes in the undergrowth. The path was easy to walk. We also visited the nature center and saw some good displays about the history and wildlife of the park. The rangers there were very knowledgeable and there were great interactive dislays for children to enjoy.

A nice Beach. You can bring your own boat or there is a pay for round trip boat that leaves honeymoon islands. Every hour during the day.

This is the most perfect place for a beach day. We came on a Friday and there was maybe 100 people total on a mile stretch of beach. It is very secluded and private. The water is crystal clear and the beach is immaculately clean. We were however disappointed that we couldn’t kayaks. There is a red algae that is taking over the whole Tampa area and killing the fish. So we’ll kayak through the mangroves next time. The beach day was perfect and we were okay with just relaxing. You have to pay $8 to enter Honeymoon Island then catch the ferry to Caladesi for $16. All worth every penny. A highlight of our Florida adventure.

My sister in law and I decided to take the ferry ride over to Caladesi Island and it was worth it. Beautiful beach. I recommend taking a long walk down the beach. You won't regret it. So peaceful

Do not miss this! It should be # 1. And my app is not allowing me to give 5 stars.
So beautiful and peaceful- we went 2x to Caladesi Island and 2x to Honeymoon Island during our stay. Great, easy well maintained trails. Very flat. Not crowded either. The ferry ride is only 15 minutes over and back, and leaves on the hour to Caladesi and in the 1/2 hour to return to Honeymoon Island. Its $8 per car load to get into the state park and $16 RT per adult for the ferry. There is a concession stand on Caladesi which is handy, but pricey, and they have snacks, fried chicken, ice cream, beer etc. You could probably pack a small cooler to bring with you- we were hiking the nature trails and really didn’t feel like carrying a cooler around so we sucked it up and bought $5 Lays chips lol and $8 beers. Gorgeous beach but windy so bring a fleece if you’re normally chilly. We would recommend a stop in Dunedin on your way. They have umbrellas and chairs for rent as well. The ferry operators accept tips- make sure to have cash 😊

The beach was amazing. There weren’t many people there. The area is great to go kayaking and walk on the beach. Plenty of crabs, horseshoe crabs, small fish, and other wildlife to find. Water wasn’t good for snorkeling.

Caladesi Island is an interesting, and well maintained State Park. I would like to have spent more time there, but the tide waits for nobody. The marina can accommodate large boats, and our 33' Hunter was not a challenge to dock. Power and water are available for overnight stays, and the dockage fee is very reasonable.

The beach is excellent, and there is a nature walk I still want to take, so I think I will need to return!

If you don't boat in, there is a ferry from Honeymoon Beach that runs all day.

Friends of ours took us to this island for the day, we walked along the shore and through a trail down the middle of the island back to the marina where there is a store and food available. Had a nice time and would recommend it's in the area.

The ferry leaves every couple hours, cost $14 and was well worth it. You are allowed to bring your own beverages or you can purchase them on the island. Captain Carmine was our guide, he did a very nice job pointing out the sites, he even stopped to allow us to view some dolphins. When we arrived at Caledesi we docked at a cute little harbor, then walked over a wood boardwalk that led to the beach. Seashells were very abundant along the shoreline, the further we walked the more shells we found. We spent about 4 hours walking along the beach, I would’ve stayed longer but we were told we had to be back in time for the last boat back to shore, but in talking to another I met on the beach, I discovered we were lied to and there were other boats leaving after ours. Kind of a bummer that we were lied too and expected to return before we were ready, I did consider staying but since we already returned from the far side of the island, my husband thought we should get back so we could explore Honeymoon Island a little bit before sunset. Before we left we visited the gift shop and purchased some really nice hoodies, which were perfect for the ride back as the temps had dropped a little. That being said this beach was among the best we visited.

We had a pretty decent day there.. The water was green/blue just like all the other beaches here in florida.

I liked:
The ferry ride to the island
You can bring beach chairs and umbrellas
A bathroom
Outside shower rinses
Great tour guides (friendly with great music)
Lots of seashells
Bring your own food and beverages/cooler
Not a wide beach, but you do have to walk from the ferry to the water. It’s about a 5 minute walk ..

Cost:
$8 to enter the park
$$35 umbrella and chair rental
$$$18 per person for the ferry ride to caladesi
$$$$$ a concession bldg for food

I didn’t like:
The mosquitoes before entering the ferry
The mosquitoes
The mosquitoes
Repellant is a MUST; I can’t stress this enough
The mosquitos are only on the boardwalk leading to the pier; they aren’t on the beach or the ferry. Run through that part if you can.
Rocky in some spots in the water
The rattlesnake signs and the possibility of seeing one. We didn’t see any thank goodness.

Other:
You get 4 hours on the island but can stay longer; we returned on time and was allowed to get on at our designated time. There were others there with different return times, but we were allowed to enter on first. I think the ferry runs every 30 minutes.

It was a fun trip! The boat captain and first mate were friendly, fun, and made us laugh. We seen dolphins on the boat ride out to the island, have good burgers on the island, found several unique shells, seen a big turtle eating grass, and seen the wonderful town of Dunedin on the drive.

Lovely area, soft white sands, clear blue water, and we were lucky enough to see a manatee swim right up close to us. Perfect.

Was nice to ride the ferry and it was awesome that the beach wasn’t over crowded. However I thought the water would have been more blue like the pictures don’t get me wrong it was still nice the Sand was soft closer to the water . I think honeymoon island beach is better in my opinion, overall it was nice to check it out once. And if you plan to leave early be ready to wait for the boat to have room for you it’s not guaranteed you will get onto the boat right way if it’s not your time. So try to get your groups tickets in the same time slot and go on together, have fun

A great beach that has plenty of room to spread out. The facilities on the island our clean as well. If your in the area this is the number 1 beach you should check out.

Had we been there in perhaps April or May we might have enjoyed the beach a bit more. It was butt cold when we were there and we did not stay that long. Has potential on a warm day I am sure.

Clean, beautiful and peaceful. Crystal clear water, shells.

Ferry is extra fee and there is a four hour limit on beach.

I have been to this park several times and it never fails to inspire. The beach is stunning, never feels crowded.

My mom and I had a great visit to the island. We had a little wait for the ferry, but it was worth it. We rented an umbrella and 2 chairs and the nice gentleman in charge gave us a discount since it was later on the day. We paid $16 and it was worth it. I walked along the beach and there were quite a few shells. It’s a beautiful place, crystal clear water and white sand.

We took the ferry to Caladesi Island and had a wonderful day. We saw a dolphin on the trip over and the captain stopped the ferry so that we could enjoy the dolphin and snap some photos. On the island there is a small marina, a gift shop/ cafe with bathrooms, then closer to the beach was another bathroom. The beach makes you feel like you are on a tropical island. There is a chance to rent umbrellas and chairs or you can bring your own things. We brought some fruit and drinks in a small cooler. We loved our day. We swam, walked the beach and explored the little island. The trip is a great value and so much fun!!!

My husband was leery of this, but I went with the majority of reviews. We paid $8 for our car to get into the park at Honeymoon Island. It was $14 per person ro get on the ferry. The beach was lovely and uncrowded. We rented an umbrella and beach chairs. Many people brought their own and coolers. You need at least an umbrella out there. I wished I was in better shape, because i would have gone walking for shells, but just coming off some surgeries. With that in mind, it was easy to walk out to the beach. There are bathrooms and outdoor showers there. Also, a small concession stand. Only reason this got a 4 instead of five was the cost. The ferry ride was great. We saw about five dolphins on the way back. The captain stopped the ferry to let us see, talked a little about the dolphins and then carefully did the ferry so that the dolphins rode in the back wake of the ferry. This is lovely spot and is mostly unspoiled. However, be careful....rattlesnakes are on the island. Just as my husband was teasing me about the “Beware of rattlesnakes” sign, a long snake slithered in front of us....not a rattler. But I screamed anyway. We also saw a gopher tortoise, which are wild and roam free on the island as well.

Quiet, peaceful, no pets :) not crowded. The only way there is by swim....boat....walk! There is a convenient concession stand that has great hamburgers and fries. Best beach in Florida!

Kayaking from the Dunedin Causeway to Caladesi Island is a relatively short paddle that can yield a wide diversity of experiences.
Caution must be used when crossing the channel of Hurricane Pass via kayak/paddle board when the tide is rapidly rising or falling and also be attuned to the wind speed & direction. But the rewards are many with weekdays the best time to visit as often you will have the north beach entirely to yourself.

Caladesi is great! It's a little on the pricier side to get there (by ferry), but it's a beautiful place! You will likely see dolphins along the way! The food in the small concession area is delicious as well. Would definitley return.

Ferry ride over to this Beautiful island. Through the red mangroves with lots of birds. Gorgeous beach powdery white sand! Nature walking trails. Feel like you are a million miles away. Keep walking to get away from the crowd for seclusion.

We were a group of 3 - 66, 44, and 11 years old. We did the mangrove kayaking and it was fantastic. Remember to use protection from the mosquitoes. We say many little crabs on the mangroves and several birds as well as the natural vegetation of the mangroves.

First warning - bring bug spray. Waiting area for the ferry sits over back waters and was buzzing with mosquitoes; we all got chewed up. The ferry ride was very enjoyable. Saw one dolphin. The walk from the marina to the beach is about 5 minutes. It's mostly boardwalk which makes it easier. Second warning - the walk into the water has lots of shells; you may want to wear water shoes. You can take your own chairs and umbrellas but not a beach wagon to haul them in. Two chairs and an umbrella are available to rent for $35, no cash. You are limited to four hours on the island. We found that to be plenty of time. All in all glad we did this.

We were staying in Clearwater Beach and decided to make a day trip. It was well worth it. We drove to honeymoon Island and took the ferry over to Caladesi Island. The ferry guys are kind and funny and they give you a little bit of background on the area as you boat along. The water is beautiful and there are lots of shells on the beach. Most of the shells are smaller but there is a good variety.
We truly enjoyed our experience.

The ferry experience was great and you will likely spot wildlife on your trip. The beach is much quieter compared with Clearwater beaches and you can truly relax here. If you need refreshment, there is a cafe on the island offering standard beach food.

What a blast! Doug and Tony made the trip to Caladesi island and back so much fun! They were obviously concerned about safety, and informative about Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island. Well worth the money whether you are going to hunt for shells, to just get away from the big crowds at Clearwater beach, or just to relax and absorb the sun.

Beautiful Beach! Wonderful experience to take the ferry over to the Island the staff very friendly and informative. Not too many people on the beach so for the most part we had the beach to ourselves. My kids had a great time collecting sea shells we did not find any sand dollars but there were many shell to collect. The ferry cost $14 per adult and $7 for children above the age of 6, totally worth the money for a great day at a beautiful beach.

They have beautiful beaches, Covid 19 clean facilities. You can swim, fish, kayaking. Its a small island but there are lots of birds, wildlife, squirrels, tortoises & armadillos.

Very calming place. The beach goes for miles. There’s picnic area, clean bathroom and a small shop/food. Very friendly staff. You can rent chairs and umbrellas at the beach.

It’s on the list of 10 best beaches and it should be. The ferry to the island is a bit expensive so they make what could be maybe a 6 minutes ride to about 20 to make it seem worthwhile. It’s fine but note it’s wimdy on the ferry so you might want a wrap. Of course you pay to get onto Honeymoon island so you could just stay there but the beaches and shelling are better on Caledesi island but the beaches are also beautiful white sand on Honeymoon Island too. Note both have chairs and umbrellas to rent on nice days
Bathrooms and small concession stands

I have gone to other islands, much like Caladesi, and I found Caladesi to be superior mostly due to the facilities provided. When you take the ferry over they give you a return time which is four hours later. Four hours is a long time if you are taken to an empty island. Caladesi has a small shop with cafe food as well as restroom facilities. This makes for a much nicer experience. Red tide had ended, but there were still a couple areas that smelled of dead fish. Decent (mostly small) shelling, a few small strombus pugilis, or fighting conchs (not the larger queen conchs). I didn’t see any whelks. Lots of coquina, jingle shells, a few small augers, oyster and clam shells. Great walk along the shore. Beautiful coastline! I’m not sure I’d go during the heat of the Florida summer mainly since the ferry doesn’t begin running until 10 am and the middle of the day is extremely hot. You are allowed to return before your time if there is room on the return ferry. We only stayed two hours because it was still very hot mid-day at the end of September. I would recommend bringing water in a cooler if staying longer. The shop also sells a few bottled drinks. You can bring chairs etc on the ferry but there is a rental place there as well. Ticket is $14 over on the ferry after paying admission to Honeymoon Island so for large families that may be a deciding factor.

Nice water, but beach needs cleaning. Great shell finds under water, Snorkeling FUN!!! Very nice and quiet.

The ferry ride from Honeymoon St Park to Caladesi was shorter that we expected but was delightfuolo to be out on the water for a few minutes. Arriving at Cala. we walked over the boardwalk to the beach that has the chairs and umbrellas. The view took my breath away! Only nature. Sky, earth and water and no commercialization! I took my daughter who is a third year vet student in need of a day of nature therapy and she got it. My only critisism is you are only allowed on the island for four hours. I suppose to let more people enjoy this paradise. We'll be back!

Caladesi Island State Park is one of the most beautiful in Florida, the sand is white, most arrive by boat, some take ferry, fewer swim, today I walked. The don't aloud pets, they have a few small wildlife, birds, all watersports, trails, marina and concession stand.

Caladesi Island is a barrier island, you must take a boat. It has white sand, mangroves, a ranger station, no fleas, birds, picnic shelters, concession stand, wildlife. They have 3 miles of mangrove trails, a network of boardwalks. You will see kayaks, dolphins, ospreys and Mother nature.