Pet friendlyAsk Smoking allowedAsk Suitable for childrenAsk Suitable for the elderlyAsk Wheelchair accessibleAsk
Description from the manager
Exotic vacation experience at this 100 acre nature preserve near Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya adjacent to Mayakoba just south of Cancun.
Casa Vela is a handcrafted, all-hardwood home that accommodates four couples in luxurious privacy in four master suites, each with unobstructed views of the ocean on one side and the forest on the other. One suite has a king size bed, living area, enormous dressing area, full bath with standalone marble tub, separate shower and toilet rooms. The other suite has a king size bed, living area, full bath with separate shower and toilet rooms, and as a bonus, a sleeping loft with two single... beds for families with children. The two remaining bedrooms each feature 2 queen size beds. We also have wireless Internet throughout, and large flat panel TVs in each suite.
We can arrange for you to engage a chef to manage some or all of your meals, or you are welcome to cook using our fully-equipped and modern kitchen, which has marble counters and a commercial cook top and oven.
Dine outside under the romantic three story palapa, or take a quick snack at our eat-in kitchen table or the pass-through bar area.
As noted above, the bedrooms and the palapa are graced with lovely hardwood furniture custom made in our workshops. Because of the owner’s preference and the fire hazard, we are strictly non-smoking throughout the Villa, inside and out. Please do not book the villa if you are a smoker.
The white sand beach is at your feet, and there are ecological walking and biking trails, passing through diverse Eco-systems: forest, jungle, and mangrove. There are over 20 deer on the property.
The adjacent fresh water spring-fed rivers are lovely for snorkeling and provide refreshing exercise, swimming against the current - or row a half mile upriver and float back down, Indiana Jones style!
Being off the grid and solar powered, we prefer guests who can work with that, understanding that the house is cooled by natural breezes off the ocean, supplemented by ceiling fans, not by air conditioning. Guests are encouraged to conserve energy while they are visiting, turning off the ceiling fans, TVs, and lights when they are not in use.
After settling in at our house, you might want to go for a refreshing swim in one of the spring-fed rivers (“cenotes”) just 100 meters up the beach to the left when you leave the house. You can swim in the first river or walk across the bridge to the second river, my favorite, or just wade into the tranquil open area between the two. These rivers are home to many varieties of fish, and offer great snorkeling.
It is also a lot of fun to walk in the other direction up the endless, white sand beach. Once you pass a few hotels you arrive at our favorite beach in the area, in front of the Fairmont Mayakoba golf course. Bring your beach towel, and take a swim in the gentle surf.
For exercise and family fun, we supply two stand-up paddle boards, two kayaks, and table tennis (ping-pong). The best time to paddle is early in the morning when the water is flat and the wind has not yet picked up, so try to take advantage of that each morning. It is really easy to learn to paddle. On my recent visit, I brought my swim mask and paddled into the second river and all the way up to its source, took a swim there and then drifted downriver, lying down on the board, using my mask to see underwater and enjoy the scenery. I also paddled over to the third river, near the point to the north, and went up to its source, spotting a tremendous assortment of native birds.
We have a few Laser sailboats and sometimes host a sailing school for high school kids after school and on Saturday mornings. Experienced sailors among our guests are welcome to use the Lasers, or hire the instructor for private lessons.
Part of the experience at Rancho el Porvenir is the interaction with Alberto, a noted breeder of rare birds, and his wife Gloria, a licensed biologist who works full-time as a consultant to various hotels and developers on environmental matters. You can reserve some time with Alberto for a fishing trip or a snorkeling tour to the nearby reef on “La Valentina”, his fishing boat, or just invite him over for a beer and chat about the local flora and fauna, including our spider monkeys, parrots, iguanas, tejones and butterflies.
Alberto can suggest visits to the Mayan pyramids, like Tulum (an hour south), Coba (an hour and a half southwest) or Chichen-Itza (under three hours west). There is an enjoyable excursion by boat through the canals of the Si’an Ka'an Biosphere, with the starting point just south of Tulum.
We have a SkyTV satellite dish supplying a 55” flat panel TV in one bedroom and 42” flat panel TVs in each of the other three bedrooms, all on hinges so they can be turned to watch from bed or from the sitting areas. There are also music channels on the TVs, or you can connect your iTunes library on your laptop, iPod or iPhone to our portable BOSE speakers via Bluetooth or your own cable.Read more
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Casa Vela
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Villas of Distinction
Professional manager Listed since May 2012
Office location in: New York, New York
Call: (800) 472-7921
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Casa Vela
Vacation Rental in Playa Del Carmen,
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