Sandfly Island Loop

This trip is not a ?swamp experience;? it is mostly open water. Estuaries are among the
most productive ecosystems on earth. Here, fresh water flows from the Everglades to mix with the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico. This exchange of nutrients from the two water sources supports abundant wildlife. You may see manatees (look for their coconut-like nose at the surface as they breathe,) dolphins, a variety of birds (along the shorelines, on the water, and flying overhead,) and fish, such as the mullet who frequently leap out of the
water.
This trip involves paddling about a mile and a half across the open water of Chokoloskee Bay, a couple of miles in the islands, and paddling back across the bay. There is also a one mile walking trail on Sandfly Island. You can see the dock on Sandfly Island from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center.
Sandfly Island has a long human history. The island itself is a shell mound created by
the Calusa Indians, who arrived in this area over two thousand years ago. In the early
1900s, settlers had a home, tomato farm, and even a store on the island. Today nature has reclaimed most of the island, and few signs of human settlement remain. If you walk quietly, you may see raccoons, turtles, mangrove tree crabs, or birds.