A private island in the Bahamas that was owned by investors such as Shakira and fellow music industry star, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, is for sale for $30 million. Found in the Berry Islands, the stars intended to turn Bonds Cay into an artists’ retreat that would be built along with luxury homes and hotels; however, that didn’t end up happening.
The investors snapped up the island after it went up for sale in 2006 for $16 million.
“Bonds Cay is on the market for the first time since the investors reportedly purchased it,” according to Mansion Global. “No records or reports have surfaced of the group selling the island, and [the website] was unable to confirm who the current owner of the island is, when it last traded or the last sold price.”
Bonds Cay Is ‘Breathtaking’
Found in the northern Bahamas, the Berry Islands are a cluster in which Bonds Cay — which stretches for 4.25 miles — is located.
A popular spot for sport fishing, the area is home to billfish, blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, wahoo and tuna. Mansion Global also notes that “[t]he island is … the exclusive habitat of a species of land snail discovered there in 1921.”
“Bonds Cay is one of the most breathtaking private islands in the entire Bahamas with 650 acres of untouched beauty, from powder‑white beaches to turquoise shallows that stretch for miles,” said listing agent Gavin Christie of Corcoran C.A. Christie Bahamas, according to Mansion Global. “It’s incredibly rare to find an island of this size that remains entirely pristine.”
The Island Offers ‘Extraordinary Vision Without Compromising Its Natural Beauty’
Shakira and the other investors had intended to build “a unique year-round resort community with an arts and culture program that was central to the overall development,” according to Rafael Viñoly Architects, the company that was set to bring the project to life.
“For Bonds Cay, a privately owned island in the Bahamas, Rafael Viñoly Architects was commissioned to design a master plan for the entire 4.25-mile-long island and to provide concept designs for individual villages,” they explained. “The main village, titled the ‘Citadel,’ would be nestled in hills at the northern tip of the island, flanking a marina and retail area built into a natural cove. The village would be comprised of five distinct clusters, with private residences surrounding a hotel and a club, a sports complex, an amphitheater, or one of two art galleries. One of the clusters was devoted entirely to artists-in-residence studios. Garden paths throughout the village would encourage pedestrian circulation and would be sheltered from the sun by palm trees and neighboring buildings.”
As of now, Bonds Cay features bungalows that are meant for glamping and boasts a beachfront bar. Anyone visiting the island needs to get there by hopping on a boat, seaplane or helicopter.
Going forward, the island’s future is unknown. Christie explained, “Whether it be a world‑class resort, an exclusive residential enclave or an ultra‑private family retreat, the scale of the island allows for extraordinary vision without compromising its natural beauty.”
“Bonds Cay feels wonderfully remote, yet it’s only 37 miles from Nassau and 155 miles from Fort Lauderdale,” Christie said. “You get absolute privacy without sacrificing convenient access.”
