Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve

To protect, enhance, and educate about the Preserve

ATTENTION!!

The Preserve is still closed due to the major damage to the boardwalk.

We’ll be holding perimeter activities in early 2024. The peace pole will be reinstalled at that time and the amphitheater seating area can be used. We hope to have access to the primitive walking trails in early 2024.

Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve meeting will be held at 10am on Monday, April 29th

The Matanzas Pass Preserve

The Matanzas Pass Preserve is located on the seven-mile long barrier island of Estero in the town of Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The 60 acre preserve runs along Matanzas Pass and is one of the few undeveloped, protected areas on the island. As such it offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience Estero Island as it was before becoming the popular beach resort that it is today.

Four natural plant communities make up the preserve (take a virtual tour of each community by clicking on it's name): maritime hammock, tidal swamp, Black Mangrove forest and coastal grassland. The natural plant communities and shady hammock support a variety of wildlife both on land and in Estero Bay. In each plant community, there exists a wide variety of native plants. Many of the plants are unique to the Preserve and include Wild Cotton, Jamaican Caper, Florida Mayten, and Cat Claw. To view a list of the plants found in the Matanzas Pass Preserve, click here.

There is also a diversity of wildlife including raccoons, rabbits, hawks, owls, turtles, snakes, herons, fish, and songbirds. All of these may be seen while traversing the 1.25 miles of boardwalks and trails within the 60 acre preserve.

The Matanazas Pass Preserve offers many educational opportunities including guided walks, tours led by an ethnobotanist, volunteer training, stress detox tours, and the new children's educational programs.

Directions: After accessing Estero Island/Fort Myers Beach via the Sky Bridge,
continue south on Estero Blvd. for approximately 1.1 miles. Turn left on Bay Street at the the Fort Myers Beach Library. Follow Bay Street to the dead end where the Preserve parking lot is located adjacent to the Historic Cottage. The entrance to the Preserve is immediately in front of you. ENJOY!

Map to Matanzas Pass Preserve
Button
Matanzas Pass aerial view--Click to enlarge
Button
New Matanzas Pass Preserve Trail Map--Click to enlarge
Button

Click to View Brochure
Button
Button
Button
Button

About the Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve

Matanzas Pass Preserve is an independent Preserve where all work activities are under the supervision of a designated Lee County Land Steward. The Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve (the "Friends") has been granted a tax exemption under the provisions of Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Friends are dedicated to the preservation, protection and enhancement of the natural and fragile beauty of the Preserve to create a legacy for future generations. Click here to download a copy of a brochure on the Preserve. We have a Board of Directors elected annually by the membership.