Casa Encantada.A Private Waterfront Estate

Description from the owner

Spend your vacation at a spacious, beautiful, pet friendly home on 200 ft. of tropically landscaped waterfront. Coconut palms, orchids, frangipani surround you. This is not a canal home or a condo. Mangroves and an intimate, private sandy beach on the Manatee River are rare if not impossible to find and make a perfect retreat that your friends, family and water loving dogs will fall in love with. This spacious, beautiful home on the Manatee River has never been offered as a vacation home before. In the town of Palmetto, a virtually undiscovered "old Florida" historic town just across the "Green" bridge from Bradenton, you will drive down 6...th Street under huge oak trees with hanging Spanish moss. Enter the private gate and begin your one of a kind vacation.

Facing due West on secluded Hookers Bay, just 5 minutes by boat to Tampa Bay, the sunsets are unsurpassed and are a daily main event. As you sit on the deck under the huge banyan tree, enjoy a glass of wine or your favorite cocktail as the show begins. Every evening, thousands of birds fly by at the first hint of dusk, heading home to Emerson Point, a bird sanctuary just 2 miles north. Great blue herons, spoonbill rosettes, sea gulls, cormorants, night herons, skimmers, egrets, pelicans often stop by for a snack of baitfish right on your beach, just feet away from you. The thought of all of this wearing you out? Just lay in the hammock where even in a good rain, the banyan will keep the rain drops away.

Right about now is the beginning of the perfect fishing time, usually signaled by a pair of dolphins, Mary Kay and Lola, who routinely cruise through, running fish out of the water, a true spectacle to watch. Hookers Bay is known as the best fishing spot between the Manatee River and Tampa Bay. Snook, redfish, trout, flounder - no boat required. The Manatee River is named that for a reason. Your "front yard" is a legally protected manatee feeding area. Want a closer look? Wade out in water as shallow as waist deep and watch from as close as a foot away. Or you can see them from shore as they come up for air. And don't forget to keep the tradition of ringing the bell at the last glimpse of the setting sun.

Relax at your private tropical lagoon pool with a beach entry, waterfall, baja ledge and swim up cocktail table with relaxing jets. You'll enjoy sunbathing on the spacios pool deck, relaxing in a hammock or sitting under the fan in the shade of your own private tiki bar.

Fish, kayak, swim, bike to the marina for lunch. Take a 20 minute ride to Anna Maria Island. Visit the historic fishing village of Cortez. Rent a boat or hire a captain to take you to Egmont Key, Fort Desoto, or many of the waterside restaurants nearby. But first you will have to drag yourself away from Hookers Bay, a tough thing to do!

The home itself is large with an amazing cook's kitchen. Two refrigerators,wine cooler, granite countertops, two sinks -- even someone who doesn't cook will want to! Fix a cocktail at the wet bar. Eat in the dining room that seats 12 while watching the water outside the oversized sliding glass doors. The screened porch offers shelter if an afternoon shower happens or casual dining with family and friends. Lounge in the living room beside the fireplace or entertain friends in the open kitchen/living area. Watch the big screen t.v. or listen to music on the stereo from speakers in most rooms. There are no stairs - one story only. This home is easy to reach with reasonably priced flights from just about anywhere to Sarasota or Tampa. As cliché as it sounds, this is truly paradise in your own private waterfront home! Discover the "real" Florida! BOATER'S PACKAGE. Exclusive, unlimited use of our 20ft Bennington Pontoon Boat, $500 per week. Or select the CAPTAIN'S PACKAGE which includes the pontoon plus our fun 10 1/2 ' hardbottom zodiac for zipping around the bay, fishing and exploring.Read more

Additional Location Information

Luxury tropical waterfront home on 200 ft. of waterfront. This home is located in a small old Florida town but is the ultimate in amenities and surroundings. Two nearby marinas offer great restaurants that you can boat to. Bikes can take you to downtown places to eat. And the river offers access to Tampa Bay, Anna Maria, water activities and much more. Get to the beach in 20 minutes but enjoy your own private beach and lagoon pool if the crowds don't suit you.

Location Type River, Tropical, Waterfront

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

Rates vary for holidays such as 4th of July, Christmas etc.
BOATER'S PACKAGE 22 ft. ultra luxurious San Pan pontoon with 90 hpr 4 stroke Yamaha motor
CAPTAIN'S PACKAGE adds 10 hard bottom v hull zodiac with 10 hpr motor

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• Loraina /Matt
  Grosse pointe

  Paradise is here!! Have your meals delivered so you never have t

  Left on 11/14/2012 for a stay in October 2012
  
  

  This house is amazing! You will never want to leave! We had the best time of our lives for that magical week .
  Below is what we wrote in the guest book . We thought it expresses how we felt while at Casa Encantada.
  Captain Julie and Pamela
  Magical ,amazing, manatees, dolphins , meeting the two of you.
  Wow! And then to have the most perfect wedding in the same spot on top of that!! The two of you have a vision that goes beyond genius.And thoughtfulness that goes beyond ordinary hospitality . All our family will remember and quite frankly have to try to top this experience. My two sisters , Beautiful new wife and I all agree we have to do business from this house, on the condition that
  Whatever the business is , we have food and drinks delivered everyday! We are so sad to leave, and can't wait to come back!We will be in touch . Hopefully have more engaging conversations with you two.
  Much love,
  Matt and Loraina

  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Disabilities, Luxury, Families, Rugged

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• David
  Lexington, KY

  Perfection

  Left on 08/16/2012 for a stay in January 2012
  
  

  Stayed at the casa with my inlaws, wife, daughter, sister in law, and niece in Jan 2012. The house is an oasis. Something wonderful happens when you walk through that front door - stress melts, relaxation is everywhere and the house invites you to have fun!
  We have stayed all over the world, cruised, hiked, etc - nothing has compared to this very special experience.
  Capt Julie was an amazing host - helpful in every way possible.
  We do hope to return some day soon!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Families

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• Paradise Found
  Urbana, Il

  Excelent Vacation getaway

  Left on 09/03/2011 for a stay in September 2010
  
  

  We were here with our granddaughter and family. We like the house and scenery so much we are going back in Oct 2011 for 2 weeks and again in Feb 2012 for 2 weeks. Will definately keep coming back as long as Capt. Julie and Pam will let us. House is close to anything that a family member would need for an extended stay. Our 4 yearold Greatgranddaughter liked it so much she is bringing her 2 month old brother in Feb. Our little Yorkie loves the place.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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• Jann
  Alabama

  Serenity Now!

  Left on 06/23/2011 for a stay in June 2011
  
  

  Casa Encantada truly lives up to its name. It is positively enchanting. Driving through the canopy of huge oak trees, dripping with Spanish moss, as we approached the entrance, took our breath away. The home itself is absolutely amazing and there was nothing we needed that wasn't there. It's beautiful as well as comfortable, which lent itself to making us feel right at home and very relaxed. As you go out back, you feel like you are entering a Utopia. The pool and the Tiki bar, along with the palms and flowers, including frangipani, which is the flower used to make leis, made me feel like I was on a tropical island. We saw many herons, including one that walked right across the back yard, only a few feet away from us. When have you walked out in your backyard and seen manatees and dolphins? It's a sight to behold and we did this every day we were there.
  I will return as often as possible. It is beautiful, peaceful and serene. As I stood looking out over the water, whether I was watching manatees and dolphins or watching beautiful sunsets, I couldn't help but think that I had "reached out my hand and touched the face of God.”
  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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• Casey
  Georgia

  Couldn't have asked for a more perfection vacation!

  Left on 06/21/2011 for a stay in June 2011
  
  

  This home is absolutely beautiful! Inside, we found all the comforts of home and then some. The entire home is packed with comforts and conveniences you won't find at any hotel, resort, or condo! There are incredible views from every angle. When you step outside, the attention to detail in the landscaping is so nice. The tropical foliage, beautiful trees, the hammock under the banyan...all were just perfect. The views of the bay, and the little sandy beach area were great for our children! They played with sand buckets, found tons of beautiful shells, and caught more fiddler crabs than I could count. And...as though all of this wasn't enough, the pool is absolutely fantastic. There is not one ounce of detail that has been overlooked. The design of the pool is just beautiful and the lagoon style makes you feel like you are on your own private island. From the tiki hut, to your own personal cocktail table in the pool...we found ourselves there for hours at a time, every single day of our stay. This is the perfect pick for anyone who loves comfort, beauty, privacy, relaxation, fun, and awesome views while on vacation! Captain Julie and Pamela are awesome to work with; you can't go wrong here!
  
  

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• Margarita Iamele-Gosling
  London

  Perfection!

  Left on 09/28/2010 for a stay in August 2010
  
  

  Loved every minute of it, the house was so comfortable with every thing you could want. The best pool ever with beautiful views.
  We would love to come back to it some day.
  Julie has a delightful home.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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• Nancy & Chuck
  Boston, MA

  A Retreat in Paradise

  Left on 09/23/2010 for a stay in February 2009
  
  

  An unexpected surprise awaited us in Palmetto, FL. in the name of Casa Encantada This home was unlike any other vacation home we had rented. It was fully appointed with many amenities to help make our stay fun, entertaining, relaxing. or whatever we needed it to be The grounds of this home were beautifully manicured and its location on the Manatee River was a real treat because of the fishing and kayaking which could be done. Watching the sunsets from the lifeguard chairs, swinging on the swing which was situated on the arm of the enormous banyan tree,reading in the hammock, frolicking in the beautiful free-form heated pool, or just having drinks and snacks at the tiki bar were more of the amazing choices in which we could partake each day. Being outside was truly a feast for our senses because of the sunsets, the tropical greenery, the wildlife all around, and the decorative touches that make this home so much fun.
  
  This home was a delight on the outside but the interior was also fantastic. The gourmet kitchen was outstanding. Anything needed to make a gourmet meal was at your fingertips-other then the food of course. All that's needed are your home recipes, although the owner has a few cookbooks on the shelf available for use. Meals could be eaten in the spacious dining room, around the fabulous granite kitchen bar, or outside in the grill or pool areas.
  
  There were three bedrooms and two bathrooms which had been renovated. They were clean and fully equipped with extra bedding and towels for the bathrooms as well as beach towels for the beach area located at the river's edge.
  
  The owner of this home has made every attempt to outfit her home with a wide array of items that could make for a truly memorable vacation. Without a doubt, it was a very memorable time for us. We truly felt like we were living in a private paradise retreat.

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