Imagine a private community basking in the warm waters of the southern Caribbean, with gardens of finely-manicured shrubbery and tropical flowers, detailed with towering palms and fronted by mango and coconut trees. Now add a pool complex, a marina, restaurants and bars, a fitness facility and tennis courts and you might call it paradise. We call it Isla de Oro, the "island of gold".

The Island of Gold was built on purpose as a place for the old elite to itself from the problems of the rest of the country ...a private oasis of peace and calm. Swaying palms line the beach beyond the Grand Pool Terrace. The Beach Club is a self-contained separate haven, hidden away from the world at the end of a four-mile stretch of road that ends up at the club's entrance. It is a safe harbor in country that has undergone its share of bad politics in recent years. Within the gates of the Club, you might as well be on a whole different planet.

The Beach Club is right on a stunning palm-fringed beach, with a grand and peaceful view directly over the water: Front-row. The location was chosen for the white sand, beautiful water, and absolutely breathtaking views. Coconuts fall from the palms and are free for the taking.

Our condominium is the only beachfront highrise in Rio Chico ("Little River"), a Caribbean beach city that has for years been a convenient weekened escape for traditional Caracas families. Right on your doorstep is our very own marina. Have them get a boat ready for you. Then go shopping by boat, or tour some of the nearby coves, secluded beaches and deserted islands. The 'Canales' part of Rio Chico fills up as weekend takes over. Here, the lifestyle of jetski, powersurf and other watersports rule.

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Rio Chico is on the northernmost coast of South America, facing the Caribbean Ocean, approximately halfway between the attractive tourist spots of Aruba and Margarita Island. Rio Chico is an hour and a half driving from the capital, Caracas -- and only 1,500 miles from Miami, Florida. Nearest international airport is Caracas, with 2 hours and 45 mins flight time from the USA. On the freeway, drive time to Caracas is about an hour.

ABOUT THE COUNTRY Venezuela has the largest Caribbean coastline of any country in the world: 1,748 miles of Caribbean mainland coastline, without even counting the islands (plus another 626 miles facing the Atlantic, again plus the islands). It is a scant half-hour flight to tourist hotspots Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, and Trinidad & Tobago. Miami, USA, is less than three hours away. Apart from its striking nature and high proportion of beauty queens, the country is currently known for being a political mess. At the current time, as you read this, it is easily one of the biggest contrarian bets for anyone seeking to capitalize on market downturns by securing undervalued assets when others are down for the count and forced to panic-sell. In real estate, as in life, one man's panic = another's opportunity. [ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ]