It has been nearly 500 years since Hernando de Soto first anchored in the crystal clear waters of Pensacola's Santa Rosa Bay. Since then, the sheltering Santa Rosa Island has been home to a rich culture of fishermen, writers, artists, innkeepers and dreamers. At the turn of the 21st Century, Santa Rosa Island found itself at the mercy of an unusual succession of natural events that swept away many of the structures built by man.

Thanks to the indomitable spirit of hardworking local visionaries, Pensacola Beach is back. And this time, it is better than ever.

Gone are the ramshackle bars and in their place rise new gourmet restaurants and world-class resorts. Gone too are the leaky storage tanks and septic systems that once threatened the bay. In their place are state-of-the-art waste treatment plants and resorts built with the future ecology in mind.

Portofino Island Resort & Spa is pleased to be a leader in the effort to preserve this intriguing Gulf Island community for future generations. By introducing visitors from around the Globe, we hope they will support international efforts to preserve our pristine beaches and our clear Gulf waters, teaming with life.

As a guest of Portofino Island Resort & Spa, we invite you to ride with us on our free bay shuttle to explore the New Pensacola Beach.

500 years in the making; better than ever. Welcome back to the New Pensacola Beach!