Had a magical stay at the Sea Jewel Beach Villas, where I celebrated my 40th birthday with eight of my friends. It was the perfect place to chill and connect, and the vibe was just my style. It is not a luxury villa — the house is a bit dated and there are bugs because you are in the jungle —but it is well kept and clean.
The grounds were simply amazing. We loved the pool, and the beach-viewing platform. You have direct beach access and just need to walk a few steps away to reach a sandy area where it is easy to go go for a swim. From the photos, I was a bit worried that the beach and ocean would feel closed off, given the gates, but it absolutely was not. We experienced the beach fully from the villa. We also loved the feeling of security that came with a gated villa — we were able to lounge in the pool late at night without feeling like others could access the space. The grounds crew made us feel safe as well.
This place is secluded — a bit in the middle of nowhere — so perhaps not an optimal choice for those wanting to be in the heart of town. Also, I gave the owner some feedback that I would have preferred some more proactive communication, particularly around the chef services as I was planning a birthday dinner the evening we arrived. I ended up using Uxata chef services instead, and it was perfect.
Thank you, Daniel, for an incredible stay and a magical birthday experience!
Tips
- Bring ecofriendly sunscreen and bug spray
- Bring reusable water bottles — the house has a big water dispenser that you can use to fill your bottles
- Either pre-arrange your transportation or rent a car — car rental will likely be cheaper if you plan to go out
- Be mindful that the staff on premises do not speak English. You can reach the owners via the app, and they are accommodating
- There are dogs on the premises so if you have any aversion, tell the owners in advance so they can be locked up
- Bring ziplock bags to house any food you want to keep in your rooms — food attracts ants. We had issues with ants in the bed after food was left in a room.
- Be mindful that this is not a luxury accommodation (and nor is it at that price point) — it is completely lovely and magical, but you are in the jungle, there are bugs and the house itself is fairly dated (but clean and comfortable)
- Hiring a chef service - either thru the villa or Uxata - is recommended. There are no restaurants “right around the corner” — the closest are about a 15 minute drive away.