Pérola do Indico (‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’) the Portuguese called it, but it will always be just Paradise Island to those who have enjoyed its isolation.

About 3km (2 miles) long and roughly 500m (547yd) wide, from the air the tiny island resembles an athletics track. The 100-room hotel was derelict for decades, but the ever-optimistic staff sometimes offered visiting ‘yachters’, or day-visitors from Inhassoro, a meal on the veranda, and talk of a time when their padrão, or former Portuguese boss, would finally return.  

Rani Resorts www.raniresorts.com have acquired the lease and plan to begin reconstruction of the iconic 1950’s art-deco hotel soon.