We are a family of 5, with 3 children aged 9, 13 and 16. The 'casita' really met our expectations : we were looking for an authentic experience in Mexico, far from the huge all inclusive resorts of the Mayan riviera. The village is peopled with Mexicans, Canadians and Americans. A short walk on a nice dirt path in the jungle will lead you to the nearby village of Chemuyil where you can buy your grocery or eat in nice restaurants. Two different cenotes are located within 100 meters of the casita, one is great for swimming as it is in open air and it looks like a natural pool in the middle of a natural garden, the other is more for snorkeling addicts as the major part of it is underground !
I particularly enjoyed walking alone on the beach (10 minutes walk through a nice path) and watch the sun rise in the morning, and even in the middle of the day during peak season ( we were there during the Christmas vacations) the beach was very quiet. We all enjoyed the waves during the windy days, and snorkeling on the coral reef which lies about 100 mts from the beach and is easy and safe to reach.
In Akumal, about 10 minutes drive, we had the chance to snorkel with big sea turtles and stingrays, without having to pay for a guide.
In Tulum, about 15 minutes drive, you can find a big "american style" supermarket, and of course the mayan ruins.
The casita itself is simple, but functional. We did not use the air conditioning, because temperature was really nice. We enjoyed our meals outside, listening to colourful birds and watching friendly iguanas basking on the top of the walls. Big plastic water bottles are provided since it is not recommended to drink water from the faucet in Mexico... All windows and doors are protected by iron bars, but once again the place itself is very safe ( but you never know...). We liked the decoration in the house, very ´local' and personal.
The only issue we had was with the internet, you have to plug a usb stick to your computer and recharge it from time to time as there is no wifi, but this only bothered our 16 year old teen... Cellular phones work very well if you really want to stay in touch with your relatives and friends !
The owners answered very quickly to our queries. We already look forward to our next vacation in the 'casita' ! Thanks Bill and Brenda !
