Please click on the links below for more area information: Beaches in Southwest Florida Cayo Costa State Park Florida Gulf Coast Islands Gasparilla Island Manasota Key Palm Island - Don Pedro Island Palm Island Transportation Helpful Information

Palm Island - Don Pedro Island

The Florida Gulf Coast Islands of Don Pedro, Palm, Knight, and Little Gasparilla can all be grouped together because, although these islands were once separate, in the 1960s the passes between the islands filled with sand making an interconnected, singular barrier island system off the coast of Cape Haze Florida. Locals refer to the four islands collectively as Little Gasparilla Island although each ‘island’ maintains a distinctive identity. So, depending on who you talk to, Palm Island may be called something different. For us, this spectacular Gulf coast barrier island is and always will be Palm Island; the beautiful 7 mile strip of gorgeous, pristine, white beach. Palm Island is located about 9 miles south of Englewood Florida, just south of Manasota Key and north of Boca Grande.

Uncrowded seclusion awaits you at our Palm Island Vacation Rentals. There are virtually no cars on Palm Island FL and the main modes of transport are golf carts, mopeds and bicycles. The gulf water and beaches are gorgeous and offer wonderful opportunities for snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, fishing, shelling, and sunbathing. Because nearly the entire beachfront on Palm Island is privately owned, to enjoy the pristine beauty of Palm Island you need to stay in one of our beach side Palm Island Vacation Rentals. We also feature beach view, bay front, lagoon and mainland Palm Island rentals, allowing you to choose your Palm Island view! The bay side of the island is covered in beautiful mangrove forests making for great boating and fishing activates. All visitors must use the Palm Island ferry or private boat to reach Palm Island as there is no bridge to the island. The Palm Island Florida ferry departs from Englewood and transports foot travelers and cars, mainly those of Palm Island homeowners because there are no parking lots or stores, to the island. The ferry runs 365 days a year from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, 7:00 am to 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. Without a bridge, Palm Island remains much as it did 25 years ago; an oasis of peaceful and preserved gulf coast beauty and relaxation. The only people on the island are vacationers or owners of Palm Island’s 300 homes.

Though Palm Island boasts 7 miles of broad, preserved beaches, only 1.3 miles of Palm Island offers public access to its beaches. All 1.3 miles of public beach are found within Don Pedro Island State Park. Before the three Florida Gulf Coast Islands merged, Don Pedro Island was situated in the middle, thus, Don Pedro Island State Park is located at the heart of Palm Island. Don Pedro Island State Park is a buried treasure lying within 135 acres of natural, pristine beauty. Because of the complexity of the formation and segments of Palm Island, Don Pedro Island has remained the best kept secret of southwest Florida. The park looks and feels like a deserted island paradise complete with picnic pavilions, grills and restrooms. Because of its preserved nature, wildlife is in abundance on Palm Island and in Don Pedro Island State Park. Gopher tortoises, rabbits, armadillos, bobcats, dolphins, manatees, osprey, hawks, herons, egrets, owls and eagles are frequently sited. You can access Don Pedro State Park by boat or beach walk, but the park is bordered by a private development, making it illegal to walk through the Palm Island mainland on your way to the park.

Grande Tours Inc ferries visitors to Don Pedro, departing from the Fisheries Dock, located just south of the Boca Grande Causeway in Placida. Ferries to Don Pedro Island State Part leave at 10:00 am, Friday through Sunday and return to the dock at 3:00 pm. In addition to the ferry, Grande Tours offers Eco-Tours, kayaking, fishing, cruises to Boca Grande Florida and Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve and wilderness camping. The Don Island ferry schedule is subject to change so be sure to call 941-697-8825.