The best private islands available to buy now

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

With a deep natural harbour, miles of white sandy beaches and more than 174 hectares covered in lush tropical foliage it’s no surprise that in the noughties Royal Island was earmarked to become one of the Bahamas’ leading resorts. In 2007 it was given approval for a large marina and an 18-hole golf course, but the financial crash meant they never came to fruition.

Some initial development did get underway, however, and the island is already equipped with five beachfront villas. The shoreside accommodation blends in with the vibrant foliage and each retreat has a wraparound balcony and direct access to one of the island’s untouched white-sand beaches. A Welcome Centre has also been completed, with spa rooms, a gym, and a restaurant. Adjacent to the community buildings there is also an oval pool, which overlooks a protected, curved bay.

Located 65 kilometres northeast of Nassau, it is just a 15-minute boat ride from North Eleuthera, which has its own small airport. With so much untapped potential here, it might be tough for a new owner to decide whether to keep Royal Island as a private kingdom or create a tourist empire.

Royal Island is listed for sale with Christie's International Real Estate Private Islands for $45 million.

The very last island left to develop on Curaçao has now come to the market – and it’s up to you to decide whether to turn it into your own private getaway or maybe an exclusive resort. In Southern Curaçao – away from the hurricane belt – Spanish Water Private Island is an untouched 2.9-hectare plot located within Spanish Water Bay, with its several residential communities and marinas. Largely undisturbed by humans since pre-Columbian times, it is home to flora found nowhere else except Curaçao’s Christoffel National Park.

Previously classified as a conservation habitat, it is now a Restricted Development Area, with requirements including a permanent green zone between existing development lots and the unobstruction of natural channels to ensure rainwater reaches the mangroves. For now, the island is only accessible by boat, but in their development project the current owners have included plans for a birdwatching tower which would double as a helipad – and the 16-kilometre trip from the airport would require just five minutes of flight time. “The current development plan would convert the green island into a residential community consisting of 10 luxury villas and one or two marinas, complete with a lighthouse,” says Ray Seijs of Sotheby’s International Realty. “All the research made by the different island institutions, and by the owner group itself, for the island infrastructure and residences, is available to the buyer,” he adds. “These extend to sun and wind measurements, utility costs per villa, construction time frames and methods including megayacht marina installation options.” Included with the island is a 482-square-metre landing situated within the gated community of Jan Sofat nearby, which can be used to facilitate transportation, with permits to build a jetty and car park.

For mooring, the buyer will be spoilt for choice. To the east of Spanish Water Private Island lies Santa Barbara Plantation, a gated community with an 18-hole Old Quarry Golf Course, a Peter Burwash tennis complex and the soon-to-be 1,200-hectare Sandals Resort and its two marinas. And directly opposite is Seru Boca Marina, with 135 slips for 30-metre yachts, and the Barbara Beach Marina, with 12 slips accommodating boats up to 68 metres, which has already been visited by 69-metre Spectre, 45-metre Blue Ice and 66-metre Hampshire.

Spanish Water Private Island is listed for sale with Sotheby’s International Realty for $8.8 million.

Located in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state, Isla Maná is surrounded by the emerald waters that give the Costa Verde coast its name. Only three kilometres from the port of Bracuí, and a three-hour drive or 20-minute helicopter ride west from the city of Rio itself, Maná is part of an archipelago of 365 islands in the fashionable bay of Angra dos Reis, known for its white beaches and amazing diving.

Hidden within the tropical greenery covering its 6.2 hectares is a series of properties: a 120-square-metre main house, four bungalows, a caretaker’s house and a boathouse, all offering scope for development, either into a grand private residence or a boutique tourism venture. The main house comprises a living room, two bedrooms, a dining room, an impressive kitchen and a dramatic wooden decking area for al fresco dining. The four bungalows each serve as a private suite with a bedroom, bathroom and breathtaking ocean views. The bungalows share an additional decking zone, with covered dining area, leading on to a bar at one end and the glittering waters of the Atlantic at the other. Pathways connect the main house to this area, snaking through lush flora and linking the island’s buildings to a helipad and dock. Maná also has its own solar-powered electricity network, stone-carved freshwater pool and palm-fringed landscaped lawn for sunbathing or enjoying a barbecue while sipping a caipirinha.

Isla Maná is listed for sale with Vladi Private Islands for $3.5 million.

Located in Fiji’s unspoiled Lau Islands, Katafanga has all the credentials to become a world-class luxury resort. One of the last freehold islands in the South Pacific, it has had a considerable amount of groundwork put in place. There is already a ring road, runway, reservoir and staff housing on the 90-hectare site. Twenty high-spec villas are also under construction, leaving a new owner free to come in and complete the development with their vision.

At 1.6 kilometres long and only 500 metres wide, Katafanga is covered in palm trees and tropical vegetation and is surrounded by sugar- white beaches. But it’s the 2,000-hectare turquoise lagoon surrounding the island that’s likely to be the biggest draw for future visitors. Encircled by a vast, healthy reef, it’s home to schools of tropical fish and bioluminescent organisms which light up at night.

Katafanga is an hour’s flight from Nadi International Airport, and by boat, the island is just over 200 nautical miles from Port Denarau Marina. Fortunately, there is a natural 60-metre break in the coral reef, which will allow superyachts to pass through and enjoy a sheltered anchorage within the lagoon.

Katafanga Island is listed for sale with Vladi Private Islands for $17 million.

Sitting 300 metres from the shoreline, Isola delle Femmine is just a quick tender (or an ambitious swim) from the toe of Italy – but it feels like it belongs to another time and place. The 15-hectare island, which is being sold by one of Italy’s aristocratic families, boasts a landscape covered in mandrake, mallow and erba stella, and dominated by an old watchtower.There are many rumours as to how the oval- shaped islet got its name. The most popular tale is that 13 Turkish maidens were banished by their families for misdemeanours and ended up shipwrecked there for seven years. Although there is little evidence for this, there are plenty of relics from the island’s genuine history, including Ancient Greek and Roman stone basins and a well that dates back to the Middle Ages.

The old watchtower was damaged during the Allied landing in Sicily in the Second World War but could be used as the starting point for a new development. The island’s shores are predominantly white pebble but there is also a sandy beach in a cove, which provides the best landing spot for small boats. Depending on the plans, it might be possible for the new owner to apply for tax incentives and funding to help secure the future of Isola delle Femmine.

Isola delle Femmine is listed with Christie’s International Real Estate for €1.6 million.

Less than 50 minutes by boat from Miami and just 10 minutes by chopper from the city’s South Beach, Pumpkin Key is perfect for those seeking privacy without the castaway vibe. Lying in Florida Keys’ Card Sound Bay, the island also comes with dockage at the ultra-exclusive Ocean Reef club (just 10 minutes by tender), which has a private jet airstrip, two championship golf courses and 13 restaurants. The gated community is home to billionaires and celebrities.

The lush 10 hectare island has a main house, built in 1985, with three bedrooms and bathrooms and two caretakers’ cottages. Perfect for yacht owners, it has a 20-slip marina, which can berth a superyacht, and its own dockmaster office. It also has a tennis court that doubles as a helipad for easy arrival and departure.

Ripe for development, the new owner could create a family compound with several large bay-front homes or turn the island into a rival club, with 12 homes sitting on 6,000 square metre lots.

Pumpkin Key is listed for sale with Vladi Private Islands for $95 million.

Few private islands offer quite so much scope for combining the privacy of an island retreat with the luxury of having your superyacht nearby quite like Little Pipe Cay. This jewel of the Exumas island chain in the Bahamas spans 38 acres and offers access to no fewer than four pristine beaches surrounded by the crystal clear waters for which the Bahamas is known. Shallow draft superyachts can moor at the island's many private docks but, with five houses and cottages on the island offering nine bedrooms, the new owner should never be short of space for guests.

Carefully designed by its current owners, who bought the island over 15 years ago, key features at Little Pipe Cay's numerous homes include large terraces overlooking the ocean, a variety of hosting and entertaining areas, opulently decorated living spaces including formal dining rooms and bars, a spa, chapel and a staff village. A sea barn also offers plentiful storage for smaller boats, Jet Skis and other water toys while a large infinity pool offers an alternative sunbathing spot.

Little Pipe Cay is listed for sale with Knight Frank for $100 million.