Vacation rentals in Fort Myers Beach

Located on Estero Island in southwest Florida, Fort Myers Beach is seven miles of sand as soft and white as powdered sugar set against clear aquamarine waters. Here you’ll find world-famous shelling and gorgeous Gulf of Mexico sunsets easily viewed from seaside bar stools. You might even be able to spot a manatee or dolphin in the distance as you gaze at the water. Fort Myers is home to plenty of other Florida beach town staples too — such as delicious oyster bars, countless beachside events, and stunning natural wonders, both above and within the water.

There are 20 artificial reefs in Fort Myers, which are home to 250 species of fish. With 35 different access points for snorkelling or scuba diving, you can easily spend most of your vacation here underwater.

Being among so much marine life has had an impact on this area for centuries. The Calusa people lived in southwest Florida 2,000 years ago, and these original shell collectors left behind fascinating artifacts like the Calusa Shell Mound. This structure, on view at the Mound House, is made of shells, pottery, and bones, and is believed to have been a ceremonial burial ground.

Fort Myers is also located two hours from the Everglades National Park, a 1.5 million acre UNESCO Heritage Site that’s home to numerous rare and endangered species.

Snowbirds love flying south during the winter season to Fort Myers, when the skies are clear and temperatures remain on the warmer side. Captiva Holiday Village begins celebrating the holiday season Thanksgiving weekend, offering lighted boat parades and live opera on the beach through Christmas. In January, you can catch the SWFL Wine and Food Fest, a weekend full of culinary delights and fantastic wine selections from across the country.

Temperatures begin to climb in spring, as do the number of visitors. In March, the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival and Parade includes live music and the crowning of the Shrimp Festival Queen. In April, filmmakers and enthusiasts alike gather for a film festival. Late summer and early autumn is hurricane season, and with it high humidity and a greater chance of tropical storms.

Fort Myers Downtown River District

Ambling down brick-paved streets lined with palm trees and Spanish Floridian architecture feels like a different world, although it’s located only 30 minutes from Fort Myers Beach. The Downtown River District is a hub of fine dining, theatre venues, and public artworks. The Edison and Ford Winter Estates has a renovated museum and a 1920s Botanical Research Laboratory. The Southwest Florida Museum of History teaches you about Indigenous residents’ contributions and changes brought by Spanish explorers.

Sanibel Island

Florida is known for flamingos, but at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, you may also spy the pink but rare roseate spoonbill, the only species of spoonbills in the Americas. Here other threatened and endangered creatures, such as Florida panthers, West Indies manatees, and American crocodiles swim and roam a 7,600-acre home. Cycle, boat, fish, or tour via guided tram the area located 30 minutes south of Fort Myers on Sanibel Island.

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

Also a 30-minute drive from Fort Myers Beach, you can experience a 3,500-acre cypress swamp at the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. From a 1.5-mile long, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, you can enjoy mouth-dropping views of the native wildlife, including alligators, turtles, and hundreds of species of birds.