Simpson Furones International and Emporia Capital announce a new residential condo project called Gemini Villas on Contadora Island.

Isla Contadora in Panama’s Pearl Islands, is the most developed of the 220 island and islet archipelago. Located just 40 miles south of Panama City, it is a 20-minute plane ride or a 90-minute ferry ride on a comfortable 64 passenger catamaran.

The airstrip on Contadora serves multiple daily flights to and from Panama City on Air Panama and Aeroperlas. The Sea Las Perlas catamaran ferry runs round trips Thursday through Monday with Tuesday and Wednesday available for charters.

There are four restaurants, three small grocery stores, two resorts and several B&B’s.

Golf carts are the primary mode of transportation around the idyllic tropical isle and walking from one end of the island to the other is an easy stroll.

The island is surrounded by gorgeous light sand beaches and blindingly beautiful turquoise water. If you are into game fishing, the Pearl Islands are one of the top destinations globally. A large part of the year, the Pearl Islands are also one of the world’s great whale watching sites.

Isla Contadora is the most prestigious vacation home location in the country for Panamanians. For this reason, there are very few new residential properties available on the island. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity.

Simpson Furones International and Emporia Capital announce a new residential condo project called Gemini Villas on Contadora Island.

Contadora has a long history dating back to Pre-Colombian times. In 1513, the year Balboa discovered the Pacific, he was told of a chain of islands off the coast, naming them for the abundance of saltwater pearls that were harvested there. Contadora, which means “accountant” in Spanish, is the name given to the island where the pearls were catalogued prior to shipment to Spain.

With the Spanish conquest of the Americas, the gold route from Peru to Spain via Panama resulted in a long pirate history of seeking treasure in Las Perlas.

In the 1960’s and 70’s, the island began development for the international jet set and the ensuing Contadora Hotel became the tropical playground for celebrities such as John Wayne. The island later became the weekend getaway for the Panama elite, with the construction of high-end residences, and for a period of time was the home of the exiled Shah of Iran in 1980.

The US TV show Survivor found the Pearl Islands so inviting that they filmed three separate series in there, an unprecedented total for one country.

The island is experiencing a revival, with the government of Panama dedicating money to bring the infrastructure to 21^st century standards.

Due to the prestigious nature of the island, very few opportunities exist in Contadora for new residential properties. Discover the Gemini Villas and the treasure that is Isla Contadora.

www.simpsonfurones.com                www.emporiacapital.com

Published August 3, 2011

“Survivor” belles grace Contadora – and new island condos are planned

Weekend festivities on Contadora Island are at a peak as scantily-clad Europeans zip about in golf carts between shoots for an upcoming edition of the popular reality television show “Survivor” currently being filmed there. Helicopters with side-mounted cameras are busy capturing the beauty of the Pearl Islands Archipelago. 

Meanwhile, the managing partners of Emporia Capital, having injected capital into the Kalu Yala eco-village in eastern Panama, are planning a move on the most visited island in Panama´s Pacific – Contadora. This chic getaway for well-to-do Panamanians and international jet-setters is the site for Wayne Stanley and Chris Martins’ latest venture. Working closely with green development experts Jennifer Simpson and Keith Furones, Emporia Capital will soon reveal its mid-island duplex offer – well-thought out condos which encompass innovative designs and green building techniques. 

Simpson Furones International and Emporia Capital announce a new residential condo project called Gemini Villas on Contadora Island. 

Simpson Furones International, a commercial interior design, project development and construction management company, with an emphasis on green building, has teamed with Emporia Capital, a private equity real estate company focused on Panama.

Their latest project is the Gemini Villas, an initial series of four residential condos on Contadora in the Pearl Islands, available in 2012.

Spacious 2-bedroom with study or 3-bedroom units will offer luxury tropical living previously unavailable on the islands. Features include energy and water-efficient amenities, high quality, low maintenance materials and conveniences including inverter technology appliances, water purification systems, and cool roofs. 

Follow our weekly updates for more information.

www.simpsonfurones.com             www.emporiacapital.com

On October 25^th, Simpson Furones International was honored with a Corporate Good Citizen Award by the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama (AMCHAM).

The awards program was created in 2010 by the AMCHAM Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and in 2011 six companies were recognized for their service to the community.  Simpson Furones International was awarded in the Small and Medium Business Enterprise category for their work in helping to establish the Panama Green Building Council. Other award recipients were Banco General, the Panama Canal Authority, Panama International Packers, AES and UP Cargo.

In October 2009, the initial steps were taken to create a Panama Green Building Council (PGBC) under the direction of the World Green Building Council. Jennifer Simpson, along with Alessa Stabile and Carla Lopez, formed the first Organizational Committee, creating a framework for future development. Jennifer Simpson implemented an aggressive membership drive and established the events framework consisting of monthly evening networking and corporate sponsored events, Lunch & Learn activities and Green Tours of best practices in Panama. 

Between March and October 2010, the PGBC membership grew to over 80 company and individual members making it the fastest growing GBC in the world, which at that time consisted of 81 countries.

Jennifer Simpson now functions as Senior Adviser to the PGBC. In addition, she is the Director of the AMCHAM Environmental Committee which holds monthly presentations on current environmental issues in Panama. Her partner, Keith Furones, continues to devote his efforts to the sustainable harvesting of tropical hardwoods working with a broad range of stakeholders from lumber operations to international NGO’s and indigenous populations.