La Amada Residences, a new private collection of residences located within Playa Mujeres, Mexico, announced last week the launch of sales for its luxury mid-rise condominiums.

With a $6 million renovation underway, La Amada Residences will introduce an array of additional amenities in late 2017, including a new fitness club, upscale gourmet food shop and a new Beach Club.

The only residential offering in Playa Mujeres, the collection offers contemporary luxury with three kilometers of white sandy to the east and the Chacmochuc Lagoon nature reserve to the west.

Prices begin at the low $300,000’s and range over $1.3 million.

The 140 for-sale residences dispersed throughout five buildings feature terraces offering views of the lagoon, nature preserve and surrounding ocean; floor plans ranging from one- to three-bedrooms; and interiors spanning from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet.

Interiors offer marble flooring and luxurious stone throughout, solid custom wood cabinetry and high-end appliances such as Miele and Bosch.

Designed for its beach-centric location with a focus on architectural expressions of light and space, the collection of residences connects indoor and outdoor living with large glass sliding doors and outdoor spaces that range from expansive terraces to sprawling penthouse rooftop decks.

Owners and their guests will enjoy the privileges and conveniences of hotel living while having exclusive access to a full suite of concierge services and amenities, including private access to the newly renovated Beach Club with a blend of infinity pools, shaded loungers, a swim up bar with the best of contemporary Mexican design, two rooftop pools, tennis and paddle ball courts, numerous cabana and barbeque spaces, Owners Lounge, world-class gym, Marketplace Café, and a private lobby and office center.

In addition to the private stretch of beach and marina boardwalk, residents will also enjoy the many acres of pristine preserved wetlands that provide the backdrop for La Amada and is also home to a variety of rare and protected species.

“La Amada Residences has found a piece of virtually untouched Mexican landscape that combines the serene escape each of us long for with elements of adventure we never knew we were missing,” said Julie Quigley, Sales Director for La Amada Residences. “We are thrilled to launch sales on this piece of paradise and invite future residents to celebrate everything Playa Mujeres has to offer.”

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor

The post La Amada Residences Launch Sales in Playa Mujeres appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Choosing the right Caribbean villa is never easy.

Beach or hillside? What kind of staffing? Most importantly, what island?

But the Mango Hill Greathouse offers another vexing choice: stay for a week or stay forever?

That’s because this dreamy villa overlooking Christiansted Harbor in St. Croix is available both for short term stays and is on the real estate market for sale, listed by Coldwell Banker St. Croix’s

Built in 2006, this elegant Virgin Islands retreat has soaring 14-foot ceilings, a remarkable collection of Cuban art and an eclectic offering of West Indian antiquities.

It’s set across two houses, the Main House and the Guest House, with the former including three bedrooms and the latter one en-suite bedroom, along with a living room and bar.

Then there’s the party piece: 2,500 square feet of covered verandas with overhead fans and trade winds, perfect for sunset (or afternoon) cocktails.

If you’re renting, there’s a 24/7 concierge, Colette, who can answer questions and book everything from a personal chef to a poolside massage.

It’s just a 10 minute stroll to the nearby Shoys private beach, and a short drive to the Buccaneer Resort, home to a beautiful golf course, tennis club and spa.

Mot importantly, though, this isn’t an ultra-modern, out-of-touch villa. This is an authentically designed Caribbean home, one perfectly nestled in its natural habitat.

All you have to do is choose how long to stay. (You know which option we recommend).

For the Coldwell Banker listing click here.

For rental information click here.

— CJ

The post A Dream Villa in St. Croix appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Former Puerto Rico senator Hector Martinez Maldonado and Juan Bravo Fernandez, the former president of one of the largest private security companies in Puerto Rico, have been convicted of bribery following a four-week trial in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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A major new solar energy project has broken ground in Aruba.

The Sunrise Solar Park has gotten a green light for initiation, a project that will become one of the largest solar projects in the Caribbean region.

Sir Richard Branson was on hand for the ceremony, joined by Aruba Prime Minister Mike Eman, Tourism Minister Mike de Meza and President of the Board of Rocky Mountain Institute and Carbon War Room, José María Figueres, among others.

The 5.9 MW project is set on a 990,000-square-foot area in San Nicolas, with a construction time frame of eight months.

“We’re confident that in approximately 8 months the San Nicolas community and the entire island will exhibit a gem of a project,” said Francis Ras, division manager for technical affairs at WEB Aruba. “This groundbreaking is absolutely an historic event, for WEB, for San Nicolas and Aruba.”

“The solar park is going to be something that many of our youth will look up to and also be able to carry this vision for the next generation to come,” de Meza said.

The just under $9 million USD project will help Aruba in its goal of becoming 100 percent reliant on green energy by 2020.

It’s the latest undertaken by WEB Aruba, which is partnering with Spanish company ISOTRON to make the park a reality.

WEB has completed several solar photovoltaic projects on the island in recent years, highlighted by a 3.4 MW solar park at Aruba’s Reina Beatrix Airport.

“We have focused since last year to target the Caribbean zone, due to the potential in terms of solar irradiation and also due to the Aruba’s Government desires to ensure the independence, preservation of the environment and also diversify the energy resources,” said Manuel Ocariz of ISOTRON.

— Caribbean Journal staff

The post New $8.9 Million Solar Project Launches in Aruba appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Beauty isn’t seasonal.

So when you’re planning your summer vacation for 2017, you need to be thinking Caribbean. Because, contrary to the views of some, the Caribbean is just as wonderful a place to visit in the summer as it is the rest of the year.

You’ll find fewer crowds, often significantly better hotel rates and, yes, tropical breezes that will make your stay more than comfortable, with none of the things you love about the Caribbean — the beaches, the rum, the food, changing at all.

Yes, the Caribbean is a full-fledged summer destination, and we have you covered with some of the best islands to visit over the next few months, whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a trip with the whole family.

Barbados This is one of the Caribbean’s luxury capitals, but it’s also a place to let your hair down, making it the perfect cocktail for a proper summer getaway. Whether you’re on the island’s rum trail at distilleries like Foursquare and Mount Gay to checking out the squalls in the lovable surf town of Bathsheba, there’s something for everyone on the Caribbean’s easternmost isle. Hotels to Check Out: Colony Club, The House, The Waves, Atlantis Hotel.

The post The Best Caribbean Summer Destinations for 2017 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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