Boat International, Buy Me An Island, September 2022

September 2022 boatinternational.com

THE ADVENTURE ISSUE

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VOYAGE

Sea Spa

Poseidon Spa at St Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas, Crete

Buy Me an Island

Georgia Boscawen discovers an unblemished island off the Panamanian Pacific coast looking for revival

Where is it?

Set within the flower-studded gardens of the St Nicolas Bay hotel in Agios Nikolaos in

erfectly 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?

With its own farmhouse, caretaker’s house, four bungalows and a principal residence, Isla Porcada 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

Crete, with a view of the tranquil Aegean Sea.

PHOTOGRAPHY: VLADI PRIVATE ISLANDS/WWW.VLADI-PRIVATE-ISLANDS.DE

P

Why the hype?

An island favourite for more than 20 years, the resort’s voluminous spa has two suites and six rooms spread across two floors and offers an impressive menu of Elemis and Cinq Mondes experiences. Opt for Aphrodite’s bath and you’ll get your own stone-lined cave and outdoor saltwater spa pool.

The main residence is one of seven houses on the island

ointment infused with a distillation of locally oregano-like plant that grows only on the island. Good for opening the respiratory system and reducing both digestive and muscle tension, it’s billed as a natural antidote to the stresses of modern life.

Best by boat Drop anchor in Elounda Bay, a natural harbour once fought over by the Venetians and Ottomans and site of the renowned Spinalonga island. Nearby Agios Nikolaos

Fact file Agent Vladi Private Islands, vladi-private-islands.de USP A 1,000-hectare self-sufficient island primed for development Celebrity neighbour Philanthropist Louis Bacon owns nearby Islas Secas

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The signature massage uses a beeswax grown herbs, including Cretan dittany, an

to see you jet back to Miami in three hours.

With a backdrop of Panama’s rainforestdraped 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.

Location 8°07'11.7"N 81°43'20.7"W

A 12km-long beach stretches along the Pacific

What to have?

marina accepts yachts of up to 70 metres. stnicolasbay.gr