The most scenic waterfront properties in Manatee County are not necessarily the most expensive. If you would like to live in a neighborhood where you can see manatees and porpoises frolicking in the bay while egrets and ospreys fly above, you need to visit Perico Bay Club in Bradenton.

Located between West Bradenton and Holmes Beach, the Perico Bay Club neighborhoods share an island with Neal Preserve and the Perico Bayou, which are protected nature areas. House hunters will find apartments, condominium units, villas, and single-family residences at Perico Bay Club, and the prices start under $240K for two-bedroom and two-bathroom villa built on 1,140 square feet of living space.

The Perico Bay club is a housing market of its own; there are more than a dozen neighborhoods separated by mangrove patches, lagoons, and ponds that connect to the bayou. The best views are to the southeast, where home buyers can find larger waterfront estates with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and more than 2,300 square feet of interior space. The larger properties with views of Palma Sola Bay are typically listed under $480K.

Residents of Perico Bay Club enjoy community access to a large swimming pool and a clubhouse that can be reserved for social gatherings. Active neighbors can enjoy tennis and shuffleboard matches without leaving the club, and nature lovers can walk to Neal Preserve and the nearby Winston Tract, where kayaks can be launched to explore Perico Bayou and Palma Sola Bay.

The Perico Bay Club neighborhoods give a feeling of seclusion thanks to being surrounded by lush vegetation, but this is a very centric subdivision. The shops and restaurants of West Bradenton are about ten minutes away, and Holmes Beach is even closer.