Sanchita Sivaraman steps inside this beautiful Grenadines estate complete with private beach and sparkling lagoon...
Settled on the hillside of Palm Island, Villa Almaviva is a sanctuary for superyacht enthusiasts who yearn for privacy and peace. With 270-degree ocean views, Union Island, Carriacou, Petit St Vincent and Petit Martinique can all be spotted from its lofty position.
The nine bedroom, nine bathroom villa is one of eight privately owned properties on the island. The main house’s wide terraces make the most of the spectacular vistas, while a cascading infinity pool has views down the hillside to a golden beach below. The fully furnished house has a simple décor in a neutral palette with touches of Caribbean flair. All bedrooms come with built-in closets, showers and AC.
Within the estate sits Rum Cottage, a three bedroom beach hideaway with a covered patio and access to a small lagoon. “Apart from the generous surround veranda, my favourite feature would be the Rum Corner Lagoon,” says Michelle Bess Bellegarde, CEO of St Vincent and the Grenadines Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s great for children, with the ocean just beyond.”
Villa Almaviva is well-equipped for its remote position, with a back-up power generator, desalination facility and about 14,000 gallons of reserve water storage. The property is being sold with a boat, car, staff quarters and workshop.
Bellegarde reports that the real estate market is on the rise in the Grenadines, with Argyle International Airport, which opened last February, making the islands more accessible than ever before. “We’ve long been a secret destination for the well-traveled but as sailing enthusiasts and others seek out a more authentic
Caribbean experience they come to explore our islands,” she says. “What’s more, they stay.”
The Lowdown
- Less than 10nm away, the island of Canouan has a new marina, which can accommodate yachts up to 100 metres, and an airport that welcomes private jets.
- Golf lovers can venture to Canouan’s championship course, which was designed by Jim Fazio and offers a dramatic route along rolling hills and the ocean edge.
- The 12,000 acre sand-bottomed lagoon of Tobago Cays Marine Park is a short cruise away and is home to Horseshoe Reef and a large population of sea turtles.
Villa Almaviva is for sale with Sotheby’s International Realty for $4,495,000, sothebysrealty.com.