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Sanibel, United States

Stay in Sanibel: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Sanibel

  • Sanibel Surf spot · 0 km from Sanibel

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About Sanibel

Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces N, so wind from the S blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.

Water about 28°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing N. Wind from the N blows onshore, wind from the S blows out to sea, and wind from the E or W runs along the shore. It is sheltered to the open sea. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 16.7 km out (1 in 1667). The sea is about 19°C in January, its coldest month (2 mm shorty), and 31°C in August, its warmest (no wetsuit). For windsurfing at beginner level the best months are usually January, October and November, with about 4 good days in 7; in June and July, about 1. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Sanibel.

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Book the trip

From Chicago: about 5 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to RSW, direct.

    See flights MDW → RSW · Skyscanner from about £165 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 55 min from the airport to Sanibel.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in SanibelAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Windsurfing lessons in Sanibel · GetYourGuideAdBoard and rig hire in Sanibel · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Sanibel on Google Maps · Directions

The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.

One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

Best on Tue 20: 12 kn gusting 18, side-onshore. Water: flat.

The score for windsurf, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

DayScoreWindGustsShoreWater
Sun 18Oct023knonchop
Mon 19Oct7617knside-onflat
Tue 20Oct8018knside-onflat
Wed 21Oct8015knside-onflat
Thu 22Oct7617knside-onflat
Fri 23Oct8017knside-onflat
Sat 24Oct7618knside-onflat
Sun 25Oct2321knonchop
Mon 26Oct1221knonchop
Tue 27Oct5023knside-onchop

Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.

The season

Good windsurf days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan4of 7
  2. Feb2of 7
  3. Mar2of 7
  4. Apr2of 7
  5. May2of 7
  6. Jun1of 7
  7. Jul1of 7
  8. Aug2of 7
  9. Sep2of 7
  10. Oct4of 7
  11. Nov4of 7
  12. Dec3of 7

Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.

Your trip, day by day

6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for windsurf. Change dates

  1. Mon 19 Oct
    Travel out

    Direct flight MDW to RSW, then 55 min by road. About 5h 40 door to door

  2. Tue 20 Oct
    Windsurf Sanibel

    12 kn gusting 18, side-onshore. Water: flat.

  3. Wed 21 Oct
    Windsurf Sanibel

    8 kn gusting 15, side-onshore. Water: flat.

  4. Thu 22 Oct
    Windsurf Sanibel

    8 kn gusting 17, side-onshore. Water: flat.

  5. Fri 23 Oct
    Windsurf Sanibel

    9 kn gusting 17, side-onshore. Water: flat.

  6. Sat 24 Oct
    Windsurf Sanibel

    12 kn gusting 18, side-onshore. Water: flat.

  7. Sun 25 Oct
    Travel home

    Direct flight MDW to RSW, then 55 min by road. About 5h 40 door to door

Rough cost

About £790–£1,445 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.

  • Flights £165–£345
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Taxi £60–£100
  • Stay £270–£455
  • Food £260–£480

Places to eat near Sanibel

Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Windsurfing lessons · GetYourGuide Board and rig hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.