A Brief Guide to Owning a Private Island

We have spoken to you, on several occasions, about how the pandemic has changed things in terms of superyachts. However, it was not the only area in which COVID-19 made its mark. The private islands market also shows it.

“No one is an island,” wrote the poet John Donne in 1624. The idea remains valid even after four centuries. However, if we take into account the passage of time, but also the full side of the glass after the global pandemic, more precisely another approach to “distancing”, you should know that the idea of owning one has sprouted in the minds of many people.

Of course, people with considerable fortunes have already seen their dream come true. But you should know that there are such opportunities for (almost) all budgets. Which is why, in order to deepen the subject, you will find it approached in our materials, but of course, from different perspectives.

So, one thing is certain. The market is experiencing a special effervescence. It mattered how the pandemic changed priorities. Because a lot of people have given a higher value to the time they want to spend with their loved ones. And they took this option into account.

But not only this aspect mattered. Another type of argument comes from Edward de Mallet Morgan, partner of Knight Frank’s global residential Super-Prime division:

“During the pandemic, some people have earned a huge amount of money, and this is coupled with the fact that remote work has become a reality. It turned out that people don’t necessarily have to be in the office to carry out their work. Not even in the same city or in the same country as the businesses they own or in which they are shareholders. The old normal no longer exists and may never return.”

And the idea is confirmed by Chris Krolow, CEO of Private Islands Inc.

“Before Covid-19, some of the main criteria for the purchase of an island was the possibility of mooring with large boats and how close it was, in terms of development, to the continental model. Now telecommunications are the main factor. Availability of internet and telephone services. Basically, the question that is being asked comes down to the ability to work on the island.”

How do you choose an island?

Any private island purchase is mandatory to be done from the heart, but experts warn that there are serious factors that need to be considered.

“There are a lot of islands available. Different shapes and sizes, for purchase or rent, with clear or unclear title deeds, accessible or at a great distance from developed areas. You have to think about what you hope to get out of it,” said one of the analysts of this segment in a recent podcast.

Infrastructure, affordability, and size are three of the most important considerations when choosing a private island, analysts say. If we start with the last one, the most sought after are the islands of up to 300 hectares. Which are big enough to give you diversity, but also allow you to be in control. Including in terms of security. Because you wouldn’t want to discover that a piece of your island becomes a home for smugglers or traffickers.

Then, of course, the infrastructure matters. Of course, it’s idyllic to build everything yourself . But at a time when global supply chains are going through a deep crisis, this could take a long time and cost a lot. So it is preferable to purchase an island where things are already set up. Even if not completely, but don’t have to start from scratch.

And then, of course, it can also be about accessibility. Here things can be calibrated in various ways. You can choose according to the means of transport you own. Whether we are talking about a yacht or a superyacht, the latter possibly equipped with an extra light boat or helicopter.

Either light plane or seaplane. Or not, to start from the island and choose accordingly the means you will use when you want to reconnect with civilization, even if only to benefit from the elements necessary for living that you do not have on the island.

Have we caught your interest? Well, we decided to end with a few variants on sale. We have chosen, even if they do not cost only a few thousand dollars, such as some in the East/Central Canada area, interesting solutions located in areas that will surely arouse your interest.

La Porcada Island, Panama

Panama may not be the first place you think of when it comes to superyacht travel, but its luxury resorts, pristine beaches, and fascinating diving spots are just as many assets. And one such place is the island of Porcada. It covers 10 hectares, has its own farm, a main residence and four bungalows, but there is also the possibility of adding a guest house. Also, a freshwater spring, good GSM coverage and a reliable electrical connection add to the amenities of this island.

The runway is covered in vegetation, but it could be reactivated and thus allow you to return by plane to Miami in just three hours. With the rainforest-covered peaks of Panama as a landscape, the island is not entirely isolated, but is located in the heart of the province of Chiquirí, in close proximity to the city of San Jose de David and a short distance from Secas, a private island with restaurants and spas.

So, although there are still enough things to put in place, Isla La Porcada has all the ingredients to become a luxury retreat. It is available for sale for $10.8 million.

Angra dos Reis, Brazil

Located just four nautical miles away from the coast of Angra dos Reis, a lush Brazilian town that in Portuguese means “Stream of the Kings”, this tropical island is the ideal place for professional sailors, being fully landscaped and ready to welcome its new owner.

With palm trees, a private and virgin beach, dive sites, a swimming pool and four separate properties, this island covers a total area of 2.5 hectares. Also, for easy and quick access to Angra dos Reis, the island even comes with an 11-meter-long boat.

There are 12 accommodation places on the island in the four properties. The main building has an accommodation capacity of four people and is endowed with indigenous stone, wooden floors and floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Although the property is largely contemporary, the thatched roof, vintage furniture, and stone walls give it an authentic Brazilian feel that reflects the lush surroundings. A series of winding stone alleys that wind through the exotic gardens connect the three guest bungalows and a boat house. Each of these buildings has king-size beds, private bathrooms, and breathtaking ocean views.

The island also benefits from a helipad from where guests can be quickly transported by helicopter to Rio de Janeiro, which is 90 nautical miles down the coast. The island of Angra dos Reis is currently for sale for $15 million.

Santa Maria Island, Italy

Every year, the picturesque Italian island of Capri welcomes over two million tourists from all over the world, who are in search of the classic Italian elegance here. That’s why it’s no surprise that the “Porto Turistico di Capri” is home to some of the most expensive superyacht berths in the world.

But have you ever wondered what it would be like to take the charm of Capri as a “package” and unwrap it on your own Italian island, without the typical crowds and without mooring fees?

Well, Santa Maria Island could be the answer to that question. Located 160 nautical miles south of Capri , off the coast of Sicily, this 11.5-hectare island is home to a small 16th-century old chapel and an olive grove that, in 2016, produced 1,500 liters of organic olive oil.

The main property on Santa Maria is a 460 m2 “belle époque” mansion, which is surrounded by housing for the staff, but also by shelters for the many donkeys that inhabit this island.

It also has its own generator and a rainwater recovery system for domestic use, and also offers access to the nearby “Vincenzo Florio” airport, from where tourists can quickly reach Rome.

If it were to become a hub for international jet-setters, Santa Maria would need some care, but as it stands now, the Italian island is ready for a new owner who wants to take refuge on an isolated Italian island. However, to become the owner of the island, those interested must relieve themselves of about 17.1 million dollars.

Great Island, Darien, Connecticut (USA)

When you think of an exotic paradise, a small patch of land far from everything probably comes to mind. However, the 24-hectare island located on the east coast of the United States of America offers all the ingredients of an island retreat, such as a mooring place for yachts up to 24 meters long, a 12,000 m2 mansion reminiscent of a classic Italian villas, as well as a mooring place for even larger yachts, of 30 meters. The connection with the mainland is made by means of a high-speed road.

Home to the same family for generations, Great Island is located on a secluded isthmus in Darien, Connecticut, just a 50-minute drive from New York’s Manhattan neighborhood.

Built by American tycoon and industrialist William Ziegler, the huge 10-bedroom mansion on Great Island is located far from the rocky west coast of the Atlantic, in front of a small group of green islands that lie just off the coast.

There is also a guest house, a cottage for the mansion caretaker, an old 19th-century farmhouse, and a few picturesque cottages nestled on the oceanfront.

The main attraction of the island is the world-class equestrian center designed by the Spanish-born civil engineer Rafael Guastavino, who became famous for his works at the “Grand Central Station” and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York.

The equestrian center has 18 stables, indoor and outdoor riding stables, a horse polo field and numerous paddocks. There are also horse riding trails throughout the island.

With more than a kilometer of coastline, the island represents a rare opportunity for superyacht owners looking for an island with equestrian facilities. Great Island is currently for sale for $100 million.

Little Whale Cay, Bahamas

Few places on earth could better symbolize paradise than Little Whale Cay, a 16-hectare private island located in the Berry Island Chain in the Bahamas, just 130 nautical miles southeast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

With pristine white beaches lined with palm trees, a 600-meter-long airstrip, and its own flamingo flower, this island was created in the “art deco” era of the 1930s by Wallace Groves, an American financier who would later settle in the Bahamas.

Here there are three secluded houses on the beach, which are large enough to accommodate up to 12 guests. The main residence, Little Whale House, has two floors, two double bedrooms, a large living room, a kitchen and an outdoor fireplace, which have been designed so that guests can catch a sunset in the Bahamas while the chef serves the catch of the day on the grill.

Facilities for fitness enthusiasts include an infinity pool, tennis court, yoga deck and gym. The island is surrounded by coral reefs and lagoons with sapphire-blue water, in which numerous green turtles and manatees swim, and is home to flamingos, Bahama woodstar hummingbirds and peacocks.

Additionally, it features a marina, making the island a great prospect for any yacht owner. To find out the price you need to request a quote from Vladi Private Islands.

Leaf Cay, Bahamas

Spread over 12 hectares, Leaf Cay is an untouched paradise in the Bahamas, offering a unique opportunity for a yacht owner looking to make their mark on this private retreat in the Exuma district of over 365 islands. The triangular-shaped island has three white sand beaches and is covered with tropical vegetation.

It contains two lakes of considerable size, one of which could be an ideal setting for a small private marina. Also, the island is surrounded by very clear turquoise waters, which offer multiple places for anchoring.

For those who don’t want to get there by boat, Leaf Cay is just five nautical miles north of Great Exuma, which has a 2,000-meter-long runway.

At the same time, the island is just 1.8 nautical miles south of the famous Bock Cay, where an 18-hole golf course is being developed. On Leaf Cay there is already a permit to build five cabins and other facilities, including a marina. With the private island market booming as more and more people search for a private oasis, the island could prove to be an option to consider.

Leaf Cay might be considered the perfect embodiment of retreat in the Bahamas, but its proximity to the other private islands means it’s well-connected, just one link in one of the world’s most enviable island chains. Leaf Cay is listed for sale for $7.5 million.

Crown Pigeon, Bahamas

In the mid-17th century, British farmers, merchants, and professors, known as the Eleutheran Adventurers, settled on the islands of North Eleuthera and Harbour in the Bahamas.

Life was hard, and their main source of income came from helping shipwrecks that ran into the coral reefs around the island. It is said that they increased their business by knowingly luring ships to the island to be shipwrecked.

Located between these two points, the Crown Pigeon spans five acres and today offers three spacious villas and five other guest cottages spread across the three powder-white sandy beaches.

The dwellings are connected to each other by paths and stone paths that intertwine among native foliage, orchids and gardens of exotic plants. There is also a beach bar and a bar on the north beach, which is ideal for water sports and swimming. There is also a special barbecue place.

The island is easily accessible by boat, and in the center of it is a marina spread over two hectares. It cannot accommodate superyachts, but offers enough space for four center-console ships to dock.

In addition, there are two boat lifts, a tow ramp, a floating dock, and a boat garage. Crown Pigeon has several backup generators, a water production system, an organic composter, water pressure systems and a high-speed internet network. Crown Pigeon Island & Cays is listed for sale for $44.4 million.

If you are smiling at the idea of having your own island, I invite you to read the following articles:

Explore Dubai’s hidden islands and atolls by yacht

Top 10 idyllic sailing destinations in the Dodecanese Islands

Expedition to the Balearic Islands