For those searching for the seclusion of an island but quick access to city life, Hacienda La Perla on Isla Contadora off the coast of Panama could be just the place.
The eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom abode is being offered without reserve in an auction by Concierge Auctions on Wednesday. The current listing price is $3.95 million.
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With more than an acre of property on the ocean, Hacienda La Perla “is rustic and remote,” said Jacqueline Moldawer, project sales manager at Concierge Auctions. “It’s in the jungle, surrounded by white sand beaches and turquoise waters.”
Spend days jet-skiing, snorkeling and hiking, but nights getting to know Panama City, which is about 90 minutes on the ferry, or a 20-minute flight from the island’s air strip.
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“It offers the proximity of big city life and the high-end amenities you expect, but it’s just a quick trip to this gorgeous, serene and exclusive island,” Ms. Moldawer said.
The house is at the highest point of Isla Contadora, which is part of the Pearl Islands archipelago in the Gulf of Panama. From the home’s multi-level terrace, residents and guests can look out onto the gulf and the Pacific Ocean beyond. As an added bonus, the ocean breeze cools things off and keeps bugs at bay, Ms. Moldawer said.
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Other features on the grounds include a freshwater swimming pool with a swim-up bar and access to the beach, a Jacuzzi and two cabanas with wet bars. There’s also a caretaker’s cottage on the grounds, as well as detached laundry facilities, a garage and workshop.
And what can’t be seen: The property has its own well and underground cisterns, plus a purification system to provide clean water year-round. There’s also a generator that can power the whole place, Ms. Moldawer said, and the home’s Wi-Fi actually supplies the service to the whole area.
The house was fully renovated by the current owners in 2005, who created a palatial pad while adding necessities like the water and filtering system. The couple has children and grandchildren in Florida, according to Ms. Moldawer, and want to take their vacations closer to the family.
Inside, the home, which is being sold turnkey, has “bright tropical decor,” Ms. Moldawer said, with an open floor plan and glass doors for seamless indoor-outdoor living. The kitchen and dining rooms open up onto the outside area, which has its own bar and a half-bathroom.
There are five en-suite bedrooms upstairs. The master suite has floor-to-ceiling windows, custom walk-in closets and access to the terrace. An office is adjacent, which also has terrace access. There’s also a nursery, as well as a detached guest suite.
Panama City is accessible to major airline hubs in the U.S., Ms. Moldawer pointed out, and its Central Time Zone means no one has to lose a day in transit. There is also income potential for the property. “There are only a handful of properties on the island that offer rentals, but the demand is there,” she said.