Although it’s name sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, there is nothing artificial about this beautiful brazilian island. This island is literally awe-inspiring, as is its location. The sea surrounding the island is crystal clear. The island is 98,000 square meters in area, with a circumference of 1,250 meters

The island falls under ZCVS zoning, meaning that it’s a conservation area for wildlife. Per regulation, you can build on up to 50% more of the existing square footage (the current square footage is 5,770 square feet).

The 5,770 square foot house was designed by the architect Claudio Barnardes. All taxes and fees are rigorously up to date, with no debt owed to any state agency, municipal, or federal.

Please inquire for further details

In a recent article The National blames screen icon Marlon Brando for the explosion of the private island market.  For whatever reason the hottest properties on the market right now are Private Islands.

The national highlighted three Italian properties that are grabbing a lot of attention. Here is what they had to say.

Today, private islands are a cottage industry, complete with magazines, blogs and agents specialising in such properties. Sales and listings create worldwide buzz, especially when a celebrity is involved.

Only about 800 islands around the world are available for private sale, according to industry estimates. Prices vary widely, and it is often difficult to track true ownership.

But with supply limited, some islands immediately attract attention when they come on the market, which is why a new listing for three small islands off the coast of Italy, near Positano and Capri, is sure to generate speculation and interest.

The pedigree of Li Galli Islands dates to Greek mythology, and there are Roman ruins on the largest island. The islands have had only three owners, including the late Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev, in modern times.

The main island, which has reportedly hosted film stars such as Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Anna Magnani and Sophia Loren as well as Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of the assassinated US president John F Kennedy, features three villas, a private grotto, a desalination and power plant and a heli-pad.

The €195 million (Dh989.5m) price tag includes the Villa Tre Ville, a 2,900-square-metre estate on the mainland once owned by the director Franco Zeffirelli. The villa features 19 suites, two kitchens and accommodation for 17 staff members

To read the full article click here. http://www.thenational.ae/business/property/three-islands-for-sale-with-a-lot-of-buzz

I recently posted an article about three Italian Islands that recently came on the market. The Wall Street Journal picked up the story and provided a little more information on these exlusive island properties.

Currrently among the most expensive islands on the market the three private islands of Italy’s Amalfi coast and a nearby home once owned by Franco Zeffirelli are for sale at $263 Million.  Representatives for Italian hotelier Giovanni Russo, who owns the island notes that, ”He’s enjoyed it for his lifetime and now he wants to live the rest of his years traveling,” says representative J. Gary Peters of Triangle Capital. The islands, named Li Galli, were owned by Rudolf Nureyev for 26 years until his death. The largest island has three villas and a stone tower with a cumulative 13 bedrooms. There’s also a helipad, boat storage, three swimming pools and two 30-foot boats.

Source: the Wall Street Journal.

You don’t need to travel to the Caribbean for a luxurious private island getaway. If you live in the UK they are numerous private island hotels virtually in your back yard.

The Financial Times recently featured five islands hotels in the UK.  The following are a couple of the islands that they highlighted.

Isle of Eriska, Argyll, Scotland

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Just off the Argyllshire coast, this 300-acre island, reached by road bridge, is home to a luxury boutique hotel. Built in the Scottish baronial style with oak panelled rooms and roaring log fires, the hotel has 17 rooms in the main house and seven suites in the grounds. Look out for seals on the deserted beach, play a round of golf, or follow one of the nature trails. From £170 per person per night, half-board.

http://www.eriska-hotel.co.uk

Burgh Island, Devon

Just 250m off the Devon coastal resort of Bigbury-on-Sea, this 26-acre island can be reached by foot at low tide. At other times a “sea tractor” ferries guests to and from the island’s art deco hotel, a former haunt of Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and Wallis Simpson. Doubles from £360, half-board.

http://www.burghisland.com

Though it is just a short boat trip from the mainland, this peaceful island at the entrance of Loch Moidart feels like a world away. Once leased by the writer JM Barrie, who wrote the screenplay for Peter Pan here, it is now owned by Richard Branson’s sister Vanessa. The beautifully furnished main house can cater for parties of up to 11 adults and eight children. From £10,000 per week.

http://www.eileanshona.com

To see all of the islands visit FT.com

After the tragic earthquake in Haiti last year many engineers and designers are looking for ways to prevent this disaster from happening again.  One amazing alternative housing concept that has been proposed comes from world famous architect Vincent Callebaut.  His coral reef design is a floating housing concept designed to house up to  1,000 Haitian families. Built upon seismic piers off the coast of the mainland, the prefabricated, modular units can be fit into a wave-like matrix as space is needed. Each family would have a plot of land to grow their own food, and their passive home would minimize energy usage, while renewable energy sources would make the entire project carbon neutral.

Source: Inhabitat

Although many dream of owning a private island, it is not always economical for the average individual. It is for that reason that more and more private island parcels are coming on the market.

One of the most recent parcels to come on the market is a 1.4 acre parcel on Long Cay in Belize. Included in the purchase price of the property is a recently built cabin and car. The cabin which sleeps 8 includes a fully equipped kitchen, high velocity ceiling fans, maintenance tools, hot water propane tank, water purification system and pump, and a power system to ensure self sufficiency on your island property.

What is really amazing about this offering is the price…Just $95,000!

For more information visit Private Islands Online.

Guillemots now on eggs!

Puffins starting to settle

Male Blackcap - migrants on the move

Sunday 10th April Comments: Each year I seem to report we've had 'another record quick start to the season' and here we go again as more record fall. This year the Shags were off to a flier (no pun intended) as eggs were laid on 23rd March and yesterday we discovered the earliest ever Guillemot eggs! It’s a stunning start and no doubt the question will be raised as to why we have had such an early start to the season but we may not really know the answers to the quick start. Certainly the settled weather is helping and long may it continue. On the islands, the warden team are happy as each day brings something new and exciting whilst visitor numbers are increasing slowly with the onset of fine weather and the Easter holidays. Migrant birds are moving through on a daily basis whilst the breeding seabirds are establishing themselves on the cliffs and island 'tops'. Its all go as Spring is well sprung.

Seabird highlights:

Eiders – starting to inspect nest sites on islands

Shags – settled on many pairs on nests

Guillemots – first eggs on 9th April – the earliest ever laying date on the Farnes!!

Puffins – settled on islands with nest scraping and copulation noted

Sandwich Terns – increasing daily with a peak of 175 on 9th April

Common Tern – a single on 6th April was our earliest ever

Kittiwake – nest building across the colonies

Migration Highlights

Sand Martin 13 north over on 8th April - first of the year

Swallow 6 over on 7th April - first of the year

Chiffchaff – first of the year arrived on 3rd April

Willow Warbler – 2 - our first of the year arrived on 10th

Gadwall - a rare bird on the Farnes (Graeme Duncan)

Wednesday 30th March comments: It’s the build up to the big day – where opening to the public on Friday and we’re ready. We’ve worked hard getting the new interpretation ready, the Chapel polished, the boardwalks up to scratch and the jetties scrubbed. Its time we saw some friendly faces from the mainland. However the wardens have read the script but the birds haven’t – predictably the Auks have disappeared for a few days whilst everything else appears to be scarce apart from the Shags – some are now on three eggs! On the migrant front, a first-summer Iceland Gull roosted on Knoxes Reef whilst three Gadwall lingered around the Kettle – an unusual sight for the Farnes. Sandwich Tern numbers have peaked at 13 in the roost whilst common migrants such as Wheatear and Goldcrest continue to move through.

It is no secret that the world`s big hotel chains are opening resorts in some of the smallest regions of the world. Historically the domain of  boutique island resorts, regions like the Maldives and Seychelles are seeing an influx new high end resorts operated by some of the worlds best hotel brands.

Recently it was announced that the 111 villa Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort and Spa opened on Silhouette Island the largest private island and third largest island in the Seychelles.  Just a 40-minute ferry ride from the main island of Mahé, the resort becomes the second Hilton Resort in the Seychelles.

“We are delighted to add Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa in the Seychelles to our portfolio,” Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, said. “Recognised as one of the world’s leading leisure destinations, the Seychelles offers a combination of unique wildlife, cultural heritage and beautiful surroundings for our guests to enjoy. Travellers now have two great Hilton Resorts offering premium experiences across these picturesque islands.”

The rooms comprise of 30 garden villas with private terraces, 63 beachfront villas, which open onto white sandy beaches, 17 deluxe villas with private pools and one presidential suite with a private lounge and swimming pool. With five restaurants, guests are able to choose from an array of dining options, from Italian cuisine under the stars to international wines and cocktails at the pool side.

The resort’s Aquum Spa allows guests to unwind in treatment rooms built on stilts, amidst the rocks which emerge from the island jungle. Resort facilities include a water sports centre featuring scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing, a swimming pool, tennis court, library lounge, island boutiques, a medical centre, Wi-Fi internet and a DVD library.

Source: 4 Hoteliers.

Many island owners are looking at ways to make their islands more sustainable and environmentally friendly. One way island owners achieve this is through the integration of their architecture into the natural landscape.

Mandarin Oriental has taken this approach to the next level on their new island resort in the Turks and Caicos. The 8 villas in the the on the island pay homage to the hyper sensitivity of the location’s unique natural setting. Situated on Dellis Cay, the villas are designed to integrate nature as a major component of their material palette. The architecture was kept as simple as possible, ensuring that residents are able to fully take in the changing sky and surrounding vegetation.

All villas are precisely oriented to make the most of their vaulted position above the treetops, and each individual project has been carefully planned to maximize performative and experiential qualities. Each villa channels prevailing winds to cool the interior spaces while framing sunrises, sunsets, and the path of the moon from one side of the structure to the other. Given the limited number of resources on the island, a mixture of passive and active green building strategies were implemented throughout the projects including large overhangs, cross-ventilation, the use of recycled materials, solar hot water heaters, insulating green roofs, and rooftop infinity pools that also serve as a rainwater collection tanks.

Source: Inhabitat

Ireland`s impressive landscapes are only enahnced when you pair them with the stunning beauty of their private islands.  One of the best known island retreats in Ireland is set deep in the heart of Mayfly Country on the Renowned Lough Corrib.

 Rabbit Island, a delightful 26 acre Island with a most charming and luxurious Fishing Lodge, is available for exclusive, short term Holiday and Angling Rental: Private, Serene, Magical; Your Own Fishing Haven is now available for bookings:

The property is accessed from Kennys Bay, a ten minute drive from Headford town: Galway is a half hour drive; Knock Airport an hour: Shannon one and a half hours.

The Accomodation Comprises: Living Room with feature fire place, french windows leading directly to the Verandah overlooking the lakeshore: Master Bedroom with En Suite, french windows leading to Verandah overlooking the lakeshore: Two Further Bedrooms downstairs, and two Upstairs Bedrooms with Shower Room: Pannelled Hallway, Fully Fitted Kitchen:

The Fishing Lodge dates from 1904 and has recently been extensively renovated and remodelled with all modern conveniences. There is a fine stone harbour with gated entrance to the lawns:

The Property can accomodate five persons comfortably: For bookings please contact: Helen Cassidy:

http://www.premierpropertiesireland.com
0035387 246 3748:

for more information visit private islands online.

Croatia`s Dalmatian Coast is consistently ranked as one of the world`s top travel destinations. As hotel costs climb in this island region budget travellers are looking for unique ways to explore this region.  Unique to Croatia is a large number of island lighthouses that are available for rent. One of the lighthouses to come on the market most recently is Savudrija, the oldest lighthouse on the Adriatic, built in 1818. It is also the most northern Croatian lighthouse, situated right next to Slovenian border and only 56 km south of Italian town Trieste.

About the accommodation unit Closest tourist center and famous destination for tennis lovers - Umag, is situated only 9 km away. The lighthouse also has a good traffic connection with the surrounding area. Its light signal can be seen from up to 17 NM or 32 kilometers distance, its building is 36 meters tall and there is a keeper living inside it.

Guests have one 4-bed apartment at their disposal. The sea is 30 meters away and there are many restaurants near the facility. The town Savudrija is generally known for its excellent fish and proscuttio, which is here dried in a special way so guests who stay at the lighthouse can choose between wine cellars that serve traditional Istrian dishes.

The lighthouse has a fenced garden with Mediterranean plants characteristic for this green part of Istria. There are stony beaches and many sport facilities around (tennis courts, football, handball, and basketball playgrounds, cycling and jogging tracks)

Beaches There are 30 meters of lush green garden with Mediterranean plants between the lighthouse and the stony beach in front of it. Favorable winds and mild sea currents are excellent for sea sports like windsurfing, and the clear sea and its clear bottom is wonderful for diving.

Transfer Savudrija has a good traffic connection to the rest of the Istrian peninsula. It is situated on a regional road St. Martin - Savudrija - Umag - Buje. The lighthouse is only 9 km away from the center of Umag from which there is a road leading right to the parking lot in front of it.

Check in: 13:00 h, check out: 10:00 h

The price of transfer is given for informative purposes only. Atlas d.d., Dubrovnik or adriatica.net, Zagreb cannot be held responsible should the price of transfer be changed.

Provisions Lighthouse guests do not have to carry food supplies with them, since there is fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish to be bought on the Umag market place. Other supplies are available in many town stores.

Interesting to know According to available information and local stories, the lighthouse Savudrija was built by count Meternich in 1818 for a beautiful Croatian noble woman in whom he fell in love at a Viennese ball. Unfortunately, the owners never got the chance to live together in the building: the noble woman died on the very day the lighthouse was finished and count Meternich never visited it again.

Notes Lighthouse guests do not have guaranteed privacy on the beach in front of the lighthouse since the beach and sea is accessible to tourists from nearby hotels as well.

For more information visit Private Islands Online. The island rents for 313Euros per week.

Ina Lejins of Coconut Island Travel sent me those notes on the 7th edition of Moon Tahiti.