Locally known as the “Island of Lovers” (Ilha dos Amores), this island lies opposite the parish of Gondarém, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Cerveira.

Ilha da Boega is recognised for its heart-shaped outline and secluded natural surroundings.

Natural retreat

The listing on the specialist property platform Private Islands markets the estate as an undeveloped natural retreat, with no buildings or infrastructure and access available only by boat or helicopter.

This promotional description suggests several potential uses, including a luxury private estate residence, eco-friendly cabins or an exclusive nature retreat.

However, these suggestions do not mean that such developments have already been approved by the authorities.

The property is currently owned by Blue Crow Capital, a Portuguese investment fund management company based in Lisbon, which acquired the island in November 2021 for €1.2 million, making the recent asking price a substantial increase on its previous sale value.

Tourism plans

Aside from its potential as a private retreat, Ilha da Boega has also been linked to medicinal cannabis production.

Rui Teixeira, Mayor of Vila Nova de Cerveira, confirmed that the island holds authorisation from Portugal’s National Authority of Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed) to cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes.

As reported by Jornal de Notícias, Blue Crow Capital also acquired a minority stake in Portuguese medicinal cannabis producer AceCann in 2024, a company focused on supplying the European market.

The mayor also disclosed that maritime authorities had contacted the municipality over alleged thefts of cannabis plants from the island, but no further details about the incidents were provided.

Environmental restrictions

Despite the possibilities described in the sales advertisement, any plans to transform the island would face several legal and environmental restrictions.

According to the mayor, several public bodies oversee activities on Ilha da Boega, including the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), maritime authorities, and the Vila Nova de Cerveira council.

He explained that permitted activities are currently limited to agricultural use and restoring existing buildings, while any additional development would have to comply with applicable planning and environmental regulations and obtain approval from the relevant authorities.

This means that proposals for tourist accommodation, new buildings, or other leisure facilities cannot simply proceed on the basis of the opportunities described in the property listing.

Whether the next owner can turn that natural setting into a tourism or residential project will depend on the environmental and planning restrictions governing the site.

Set The Portugal News as your preferred source for news on Google

GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google