A real-life Love Island! Heart-shaped paradise between Spain and Portugal goes on sale for €6 million

When you think of Love Island, chances are your mind jumps straight to ITV’s hit reality show, where singletons couple up in a luxury villa in the hope of finding romance.

But what if, instead of sharing a swimming pool with a group of contestants, you could have an entire island to yourself?

A heart-shaped paradise nestled between Spain and Portugal has gone on sale for a staggering €6 million, offering a rather different take on the famous television show’s romantic escape.

Known as A Boega, or Ilha dos Amores (Island of Love), the picturesque island sits in the River Miño, which separates Portugal from Spain’s Galicia region.

And while there may be no dramatic recouplings or surprise bombshell arrivals, this real-life Love Island certainly has plenty of intrigue of its own, with a colourful past involving smugglers, ambitious luxury developments and even medicinal cannabis.

A heart-shaped island with a colourful past

Located in the Portuguese municipality of Vila Nova de Cerveira, directly opposite Goián in the Spanish municipality of Tomiño, A Boega is an unusual property in a particularly picturesque location.

The island covers approximately 41 to 50 hectares, depending on the source, and stretches for around 1,400 metres along the river.

Its distinctive heart-shaped outline has earned it the nickname Ilha dos Amores, making it an eye-catching prospect for anyone dreaming of escaping everyday life.

However, its history is far less glamorous than its romantic appearance might suggest.

For much of the last century, the island was used for agricultural purposes, with crops including maize and livestock farming. It was also associated with smuggling, which was once commonplace along this stretch of the Spanish-Portuguese border.

From luxury golf courses to a theme park

Over the decades, A Boega has attracted plenty of ambitious investors, but none of their grand plans has come to fruition.

In 1978, hotel businessman Flávio Amorim purchased the island with plans for a golf course designed by renowned American architect Robert Trent Jones.

Another proposal followed in 2007, when Spanish group Artagón wanted to transform the land into a luxury tourism complex featuring a hotel, exclusive homes, a marina and golf facilities.

More recently, a theme park called Porto Boega was presented in 2023, with American studio Storyland Studios involved in the proposal. The plans included attractions, accommodation, shops and restaurants inspired by Portuguese culture.

However, the project never progressed to a formal planning application with the local council.

The surprising cannabis connection

Perhaps the most unexpected chapter in A Boega’s story is its connection to medicinal cannabis.

According to Portugal’s official government gazette, Diário da República, the island has authorisation from Infarmed, Portugal’s medicines regulator, to cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Its owner, Portuguese investment company Blue Crow Capital, also holds a minority stake in AceCann, a Portuguese medicinal cannabis producer.

The company acquired the island in November 2021 for €1.2 million. Its current asking price of €6 million represents five times that original purchase price.

Could you really build your dream island home?

While the property listing promotes the island’s potential for an exclusive residence or eco-friendly accommodation, prospective buyers should not assume they can build whatever they like.

The local council has highlighted significant environmental and urban planning restrictions, with permitted uses essentially limited to agricultural activities and the restoration of existing buildings, subject to the necessary approvals.

Environmental groups on both sides of the river have also opposed previous large-scale tourism proposals, arguing that the island’s biodiversity needs protecting.

For now, this unusual property remains on the market for €6 million.

Whether its next owner dreams of a secluded private retreat or has another ambitious vision, one thing is certain: this is a real life love island!