Beach Nature

One of the Paradise Coast’s most popular marine residents is the bottlenose dolphin. Arguably one of the most playful and intelligent creatures on the planet, dolphins can often be seen swimming alongside Naples. Bottlenose dolphins can also be spotted from the beach where they cruise close to shore to fish. Dolphins are social mammals and usually live-in groups or pods of up to 30, although pods of have been recorded of more than 1,000!
Another of Naples favorite wildlife inhabitants is the West Indian manatee. Known as sea cows, manatees love the warm shallow waters around Southwest Florida. These gentle marine animals can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh as much as 1,200 pounds. Manatees are plant eaters, and an adult will normally consume up to 10 percent of its body weight per day – that is over 100 lbs. of vegetation! A cruise or kayak trip is a great way to view these amazing gentle giants.

Keewaydin Island is a barrier island located between Naples and Marco Island with nearly eight miles of untouched white sand beach. (Eighty percent of the island is undeveloped, and the rest is populated with private homes.) This island beach is only accessible by boat, and it is the only pet-friendly beach in the Naples/Marco Island area.