Las Olas Isles: Fort Lauderdale's Finger-Island Yachting Paradise

Las Olas Isles is a collection of man-made finger islands just off Las Olas Boulevard, dredged and developed starting in the 1920s. The community spans six distinct enclaves, Seven Isles, Nurmi Isles, Riviera Isles, Coral Isles, Venice Isles, and Idlewyld, and remains one of Fort Lauderdale's most prestigious waterfront addresses, prized for deep-water canals with no fixed bridges to the ocean.

Built From Wetlands Into the Venice of America

Las Olas Isles was carved out of swampy wetlands in the 1920s, part of the same land-boom era that shaped much of Fort Lauderdale's waterfront. The result is a network of slender, canal-lined islands where nearly every home sits directly on the water. Locals and outsiders alike often refer to Fort Lauderdale as the Venice of America, and nowhere is that more literal than here, with the isles stretching south from Las Olas Boulevard toward the Intracoastal.

Six Isles, Six Personalities

Each enclave within Las Olas Isles has its own character. Seven Isles is the most exclusive, a guard-gated community with a private, manned entrance. Nurmi Isles and Riviera Isles offer their own gated privacy, while Coral Isles, Venice Isles, and Idlewyld round out the collection with the same deep-water access and walkability to Las Olas Boulevard's restaurants, galleries, and boutiques.

• Seven Isles: guard-gated, most exclusive enclave
• Nurmi Isles and Riviera Isles: gated waterfront communities
• Coral Isles, Venice Isles, and Idlewyld: deep-water canal homes closer to Las Olas Boulevard

Why Boaters and Buyers Both Want In

Nearly every property in Las Olas Isles offers direct, unobstructed ocean access with no fixed bridges, a major draw for yacht owners. The location adds to the appeal: walking distance to Las Olas Boulevard's dining and shopping, a short ride to Fort Lauderdale Beach, and close to the Riverwalk, the Museum of Art, and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Las Olas Isles doesn't come up for sale often, and when it does, the right buyer usually already knows exactly which isle they want. Lourdes Maestres and the MPH Team track activity across all six enclaves and can help you understand what's realistic, whether buying or selling.