Cortez Village
Cortez is one of the last remaining fishing villages on Florida’s southwest gulf coast. The Village is located in Manatee County west of Bradenton before you go over the bridge to Anna Maria Island. Cortez Village is a National Register of Historic Places community.
Cortez started in the 1890s as a rural community of fishing families. Some of the original cottages still exist along with descendants of the original settlers. Despite nearby modernization of Bradenton, the village has maintained its old Florida fishing village character. The people of Cortez are proud of their fishing history and preserving the legacy.
The Florida Maritime Museum is located in Cortez housed in the village’s 1912 schoolhouse. The museum documents the importance of the local, commercial fishing industry.
Today Cortez is home to commercial fishing operations. These commercial fishermen catch a variety of species of fish which they ship to across the world.
Cortez Village Things to Do
- Florida maritime museum
- Historic cottages
- Picturesque waterfront
- Fish shack restaurants
Captain Sal’s Island Adventures offers boat tours of Anna Maria Island, Egmont Key, Jewfish Key, Passage Key, Intracoastal Waterway, and sunset cruises. See Cortez Village by boat on a Captain Sal’s Anna Maria Island boat tour.