The best private islands available to buy now

Perfectly imperfect is how the Panama Tourist Board encapsulates this culturally rich nation, which is home to untamed rainforests, pristine beaches and vibrant wildlife. Panama may not be the first place that springs to mind for superyacht travel, but its luxury resorts, unblemished cruising spots and unbeatable dive sites beg to differ. So rather than wait for the mass market to catch wind of this burgeoning trend, why not put your own stamp on this 1,000-hectare self-sufficient island and create a lavish retreat on its Pacific coast?

Isla Porcada has its own farmhouse, caretaker’s house, four bungalows and a principal residence, so already has the bare bones of an island hideaway and the potential to become a resort. There are also plans in place to add an additional guest house on the island’s plateau. A freshwater spring, good phone coverage and a reliable electricity connection add to the island’s credentials. Its runway, albeit overgrown, could potentially be reactivated to see you jet back to Miami in three hours.

With a backdrop of Panama’s rainforest-draped peaks, the island isn’t entirely secluded. It lies in the heart of the Chiquirí Province, near the city of David and within striking distance of Islas Secas, a private island retreat with restaurants and spas. So while there is work to be done, Isla Porcada has all the ingredients for a luxurious bolt-hole.

Isla Porcada is available for sale with Vladi Private Islands for $10.8 million

located just four nautical miles off the coast of Angra dos Reis, a lush Brazilian municipality meaning “Creek of the Kings” in Portuguese, sits a picture-perfect tropical island that’s fully established and ready to welcome a new owner. With palm trees, a private beach, a swimming pool and four separate properties, this 2.5-hectare island even comes with an 11-metre speedboat for easy access to Angra dos Reis.

There is accommodation for 12 guests across the island’s four properties. The principal building holds four people and is endowed with indigenous stone, polished wood floors and full-height glass windows throughout. And while the property is fundamentally contemporary, its thatched roof, antique furniture and bare stone walls give the property an authentic Brazilian feel to mirror its lush and unspoilt surroundings.

Leading out of the main property, a series of winding stone pathways link the three guest bungalows and a boat house among the manicured gardens. Each has king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms and uninterrupted ocean views. And, while the island may be secluded in Costa Verde, it benefits from a helipad that could ferry guests quickly off to Rio de Janeiro, which lies 90 nautical miles down the coast.

Home to more than 300 islands, Angra dos Reis is primed for superyacht discovery, with sheltered coves, dive sites and empty beaches. Where better to set up your Brazilian bolthole?

This Angra dos Reis island is currently for sale with Vladi Private Islands for $15 million

Each year, the Italian island of Capri welcomes more than two million people to its picturesque shores. Its rugged coastline and remarkable anchorages attract visitors from the world over, who are in search of the classic Italian elegance that Capri promises; it’s not surprising, then, that Porto Turistico di Capri is home to some of the world’s most expensive superyacht berths.

But what if you could bottle the charm of Capri and uncork it on your own Italian island – free from bustling crowds and berthing fees? Santa Maria Island may be the answer. Lying 160 nautical miles south of Capri, just off the coast of Sicily, this rugged land mass of 11.5 hectares is already home to swaying palm trees, a small 16th-century chapel and an olive grove – which in 2016 saw the production of 1,500 litres of organic olive oil. The principal property on the island is a 460-square-metre belle époque mansion, but there are also staff lodgings and animal shelters in place for the island’s resident donkeys.

With its own generator and rainwater recovery system for domestic use, Santa Maria has the foundations for self-sufficiency. At the same time, it offers accessibility as the island is within striking distance of the domestic Vincenzo Florio Airport, with links to Rome. If it were to become a hub for international jet-setters Santa Maria would need some nurturing, but, as it is, the island is primed and ready for a new owner craving a secluded Italian island escape.

Santa Maria Island is currently for sale with Vladi Private islands for £14.2 million

When you think of an island paradise, what probably springs to mind is a small patch of exotic land far from anywhere. However, this 24-hectare island on the East Coast of America has all the ingredients of an island retreat – a 24-metre yacht berth, a 12,000 square metre manor house, reminiscent of a classic Italian villa and a 30-metre yacht berth – but with a direct connection to the US mainland by a causeway.

Having been home to the same family for generations, Great Island lies on a secluded isthmus in Darien, Connecticut, just a 50-minute drive from Manhattan, New York. Developed by baking powder tycoon and American industrialist, William Ziegler, the sprawling 10-bedroom manor house, is set back from the island’s rocky western coastline and faces a small group of green islands that lie just off the coast. There is also an additional guest house, a caretaker’s cottage, a 19th century farmhouse, and a quaint seaside cottage all dispersed among the island’s extensive grounds.

The world-class equestrian centre is, however, the beating heart of the island. Designed by Rafael Guastavino – who is famed for his work on Grand Central Station and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York – the equestrian centre has 18 stables, both indoor and outdoor riding manèges, a polo field, and numerous paddocks. There are also riding trails across the island.

With more than a kilometre of coastline, the island presents a rare opportunity for a superyacht owner in search of an island with equestrian facilities. But its connection to the mainland, means that you can relish in the joys of island life without the headaches that often accompany ownership of an isolated property

Great island is currently for sale with Douglas Elliman for $100 million

Few places on earth could exemplify paradise better than Little Whale Cay, a 16-hectare private island sitting in the Bahamas’ Berry Island chain, just 130 nautical miles south-east of Fort Lauderdale. With immaculate palm-tree-lined white beaches, a paved 600-metre landing strip and even its own flamboyance of flamingos, Little Whale Cay is a turnkey island, which is close enough to Florida to fly in for lunch.

Developed in the art deco era of the 1930s by Bahamas pioneer Wallace Groves, Little Whale Cay has three secluded beachfront houses large enough to accommodate 12 guests. The main two-storey residence, Little Whale House, has two double bedrooms, a large living room, chef’s kitchen and external fireplace designed to catch the Bahamian sunset while the chef serves up the catch of the day from the barbecue. Additional facilities, which will keep even the keenest of fitness fanatics entertained, include an infinity pool, tennis court, yoga deck and gym.

Surrounded by coral reefs and turquoise lagoons teeming with green turtles and manatees, a deep-water marina makes the island an excellent prospect for a superyacht owner. The new proprietor will, however, have to share the island with the flamingos, Bahama woodstar hummingbirds and domestic peacocks (which can be traced back to Wallace Groves’ bird collection) that also call the island home.

Little Whale Cay is listed for sale with Vladi Private Islands, POA.

Spread across 12 hectares of verdant untouched paradise, Leaf Cay offers a unique opportunity for a yacht owner looking to put their stamp on a private retreat in the Exumas. The triangular-shaped island has three powder-white beaches with a slightly elevated interior covered in tropical vegetation. It contains two sizeable lakes, one of which would make an ideal setting for a small private marina. The island is also surrounded by deep aquamarine waters, which would offer multiple protected anchorages.

For those not wanting to arrive by boat, Leaf Cay sits just five nautical miles north of Great Exuma, which has a 2,000-metre runway. It is also just 1.8 nautical miles south of the famous Bock Cay, which is reportedly undergoing development of an 18-hole golf course.

Planning permission is already in place on Leaf Cay from the Ministry of Environment to build five cottages with support buildings, and for the creation of marina facilities. With the private island market booming as more people seek a private oasis following the pandemic, the island could also prove to be a sensible investment option.

Leaf Cay may feel like the epitome of Exuma privacy, but its proximity to Great Exuma and other private cays means that it is well connected – not so much an isolated land mass, but a link in one of the world’s most enviable island chains.

Leaf Cay is listed for sale with Savills for $7.5 million.

In the mid-17th century British puritans, known as the Eleutheran Adventurers, settled on the islands of North Eleuthera and Harbour Island. Life was hard, and their main source of income came from helping wrecked ships that hit the surrounding coral reefs. Rumour has it they boosted their business by luring the ships to their peril. Set in between these two points, this five-hectare island was central to the action.

Today, Crown Pigeon Island offers a decidedly less hazardous way of life, with three spacious villas and five additional guest cottages spread across the shores of its three white-sand beaches. The accommodations are connected by walking and cart paths that weave between native foliage, orchids and established kitchen gardens. There is also a beach club and bar on the north beach, which is perfect for watersports and swimming, plus a dedicated barbecue spot.

The island is easily accessible by boat and at its centre sits a two-hectare marina, which is reached from the leeward side of the cay. The marina may not be able to accommodate superyachts but it does have room to berth four centre-console vessels, and there are also two boat lifts, a hauling ramp, a floating dock and a boat house. The island is connected to Eleuthera by cable and there are several transformers in place for additional homes and facilities. It also has a large water-maker system, organic composter, back-up generators, water pressure systems and high-speed internet, all ensuring it is a long way from its puritan past.

Crown Pigeon Island & Cays is listed for sale with Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty for $44.4 million.

Something about the Bahamas makes celebrities want to stay. Johnny Depp bought Little Hall Pond Cay in 2004 after falling in love with the area while filming Pirates of the Caribbean. Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and singer and Shakira invested together on Bonds Cay, in the Berry Islands District. Lenny Kravitz and Eddie Murphy also purchased property there. They are not alone – after all, what superyacht owner has cruised the Bahamas without dreaming of owning their own slice of paradise?

Right in the heart of the Exumas, a group of 365 islands surrounded by sapphire waters (and home to the famous swimming pigs), Cave Cay sits just north of Musha Cay, the 280-hectare private island owned by David Copperfield. Reaching Cave Cay by yacht is not a problem thanks to its deep-water harbour (3.6 metres at low tide) and floating concrete dock system with 35 dock slips. For those flying in, there is also an 854-metre private airstrip which makes frequent visits a breeze. With lush vegetation, unspoilt beaches, and elevations of up to 12 metres, it’s a place of remarkable beauty. The main house, which is ready to move into, is located on the highest point of the island, affording 360-degree views on your very own tropical paradise.

Cave Cay is totally self-sufficient, with water and power supplied by a diesel generator, and the possibility to add solar power. You might be tempted to keep it all to yourself, but the island is fit to run as a commercial operation: approvals include a marina and a hotel with unlimited rooms. A clubhouse is also currently under construction, alongside a restaurant with shower and bathroom facilities, plus three guest houses with hotel rooms and suites. When it comes to further developments, plans have been drawn for 38 buildings totalling 70,000 square metres, including a three-storey houseboat with a marina shop on the ground floor and a two-storey residence overhead, alongside staff and maintenance buildings. It could be fully operational in six months, and all building materials and equipment are included. Also bundled into the sale price are a 36-metre landing craft and a dredger, and there’s a large excess of compact sand which could be sold to neighbouring islands. A team of six employees, familiar with the island, will make the handover process to the new owners smoother. Tempted? No one could blame you.

Cave Cay is listed for sale with Christie’s International Real Estate for $60 million.

As its name suggests, the five-hectare island of Ethereal, which sits less than a nautical mile away from the mainland town of Eretria in central Greece, is so beautiful that it has otherworldly qualities. Surrounded by crystal blue waters, its flora-covered shores are home to pomegranate, apricot, peach, almond and fig trees that were planted by its original owner. The island’s natural beauty hasn’t gone unnoticed – previous visitors include The Beatles, members of the former Greek royal family and the late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie.

The island is already equipped with two traditional Greek homes that were built in the 1960s. The main house has four bedrooms and extra guests can be accommodated in a bungalow on the largest beach. There is also a staff house with a further two bedrooms. Additional features include a picturesque chapel with hand-painted walls, and a Venetian-style stone tower, which previously served as a studio for the former owner, who was an artist. The island may feel like it belongs in another universe, but it is only 15 minutes by helicopter, or an hour’s drive, from Athens International Airport. It can also be easily accessed from the mainland by boat and has two piers on its west side that can be used for mooring.

Ethereal is listed for sale with Sotheby’s International Realty for €7.5 million.

Romantic long weekends in the Bahamas have long been a popular pastime among superyacht owners and if you fell in love with the yachting hotspot on your most recent trip why not put down roots at Darby Island? The 554 acre private island is located in the Exuma Cays, around 95 miles from Nassau, and boasts over 6.5km of white sandy beaches. The only development on the island consists of a 7,000 square foot castle built in 1938 by former owner Sir Baxter, which has the potential to be transformed into a stunning residence, while the island could also support an airstrip up to 5,000 feet in length.

Darby Island is listed for sale with Coldwell Banker for $39 million.