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Beachfront House in Quaint Fishing Village - private beach!

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Property grounds
Exterior
2 bedrooms, free WiFi, bed sheets
Fridge, microwave, stovetop, coffee/tea maker
Dining
Reviews
9.6

Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 62476 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Pet friendlyPet friendlyPet friendly
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • Outdoor SpaceOutdoor SpaceOutdoor Space
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning

Explore the area

Map
El Cuyo, Yucatan
  • Popular LocationEl Cuyo Beach2 min walk
  • Popular LocationDel Cuyo Catholic Church13 min walk
  • Popular LocationEl Cuyo Lighthouse14 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Beachfront House in Quaint Fishing Village - private beach!

Tana Pepem, or 'House of Butterflies' in Mayan, is a spacious beachfront house ideal for families or friends wanting to relax and enjoy nature. Only 2.5 hours from Cancun, it is easily accessible from its international airport. Perfect for long meals, beach walks, shell seeking, bird watching, and dreamy sunsets. We are taking extra cleaning and disinfecting precautions for you to have a safe stay.

El Cuyo is a small, non-touristic fishing village in the uppermost tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, within the natural reserve of Río Lagartos, close to several Mayan ruins, cenotes and colonial towns. We recommend renting a car in order to tour the area and feel the culture. It is a very safe and quiet town that allows visitors to witness and live rural Mexico. All restaurants serve local cuisine, seafood being the specialty!

The house is built so that all rooms have a view of the ocean. Kitchen and living room look out to the outdoor beachfront terrace equipped with lounge bed and hammocks. The downstairs bedroom is in the back, but built on a higher level with indoor ocean view windows. Upstairs bedroom is completely private with its own oversized terrace with lounge bed, dressing room and bathroom.

There are many fun activities at El Cuyo, including swimming, kite surfing, tours to see flamingos, salines, shark-whales (July to Sept), fishing, ATV rentals, and many other outdoor activities.

Keywords: Beach House

Property manager

Yahaira Gavidia

Languages

English, French, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Kitchen island
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster
  • Water dispenser

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Shampoo
  • Shower only
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • One pet total (up to 20 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: May smoke terrace or balcony.

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Meal delivery service

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • Near a hospital
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the ocean
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Bicycles on site
  • Water sports equipment on site
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • 1 unit
  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Bicycles
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Locally-owned and organized tours and activities
  • No plastic coffee stirrers
  • No plastic drinking straws
  • No plastic soft drink bottles
  • No plastic water bottles
  • Recycling
  • Reusable coffee/tea filters
  • Reusable cups
  • Reusable tableware
  • Unit size: 2,476 square feet
  • Water dispenser
  • Water-efficient showers
  • Water-efficient toilets

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 12:00 PM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Welcoming dogs only
1 total (up to 20 lbs per pet)
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: Dog House as Part of the House. Additional pet fee

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Safe and Low-Current Ideal for Young Children.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Beachfront House Quaint Fishing Village El Cuyo
Beachfront House Quaint Fishing Village
Beachfront Quaint Fishing Village El Cuyo
Beachfront Quaint Fishing Village
front House Quaint Fishing ge
Beachfront House in Quaint Fishing Village

About the neighborhood

Tizimín

Located in El Cuyo, this vacation home is in a rural area and on the beach. Holbox Ferry and Paseo Kuka Beach Path are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and El Cuyo Beach. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Visit our Tizimín travel guideOpens in a new window
View more Vacation Homes in TizimínOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • El Cuyo Beach - 2 min walk
  • Del Cuyo Catholic Church - 13 min walk
  • El Cuyo Lighthouse - 14 min walk
  • El Cuyo Viewpoint - 4 min drive
  • Cocal Beach - 5 min drive

Getting around

  • Cancun Intl. Airport (CUN) - 172 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪La Conchita - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Casa Mate Restaurante - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Naia Cafe - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪La Negrita - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪El Bucanero - ‬19 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Beachfront House in Quaint Fishing Village - private beach! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 20 lbs per pet.

What time is check-in at Beachfront House in Quaint Fishing Village - private beach!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beachfront House in Quaint Fishing Village - private beach!?

Check-out is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Beachfront House in Quaint Fishing Village - private beach! located?

Nestled on the beach, this El Cuyo vacation home is within a 15-minute walk of El Cuyo Beach, Del Cuyo Catholic Church, and El Cuyo Lighthouse. Cocal Beach and El Cuyo Viewpoint are also within 2 mi (3 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 38 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

John S., Carbondale, CO

Liked: Cleanliness
Beach front residence
The house was very nice well furnished, comfortable furniture , 3 hammocks, nice beach lounges, water was 60 yards from the house on a beautiful uncrowded beach. House staff responded quickly for requests for laundry and supplies. Very quiet and enjoyable.
Stayed 11 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul A., Chicago, United States

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic view of the ocean
The property was exactly what I was hoping for. More than enough space, beautiful view, and nicely isolated.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

kimberly l.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
Very accommodating home rental with easy accessible path to beach. Inside is as listed. Could use some deep cleaning and replacement of the beach lounger and umbrella. Luckily there were other beach chairs available. Dining table was especially nice , it was well made and light to carry in and out the large barn doors to the outdoor patio. Plenty of shade and sun based on your preference. Recommendations to the owner: small table and chairs in the upstairs bedroom for guests to take out onto porch. I understand with the winds these cannot stay outdoors. Bottom line, wonder location! Easy walk into town and to the pier. Would recommend and stay again.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann Marie F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful stay in El Cuyo
We so enjoyed our stay in El Cuyo. The house was just as described and in walking distance to several places to eat. We enjoyed our coffee on the patio and our walks on the beach. We will be back ! Thank you for your beautiful home in this magical town.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Larry B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great beach location
We enjoyed our stay very much, and the location on the beach is outstanding if you like a wide expanse of comfortable beach mostly to yourself. We had come from Puerto Morelos which is also known for good beaches, but not only was El Cuyo much more private, the beach itself was much better for walking and swimming. There were a few negatives. The air conditioning is in bedrooms only, but there was usually a strong breeze though the house so it remained mostly comfortable in the living room and kitchen in February. The house next door is very close, so if you happen to have loud neighbors (during our stay this was not a problem) you will be bothered. And the road to town is in horrible condition. It is a bit less than a mile into town so it can be walked, but if you drive you will not be moving much faster than walkers due to constant potholes. But overall a very nice stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristi W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful house and beach!
We loved the slow pace of El Cuyo and the friendly people. House is super cute and spacious with the beach right at your front door.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

8/10 Good

Carol A.

Liked: Cleanliness
The location is great. Right on the beach and an easy walk to town.
The house is cute and we love the upper deck facing the ocean. Also the lower patio is nice with hammocks and the day bed. Yahaira, the owner answered all of our questions and made sure that Sara (the rental manager) was available to address any house issues. We did loose power several times during our stay which affected our water supply but Sara had somebody come to fix the problem. Other then that we had a wonderful stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

8/10 Good

mary d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beauty and tranquility
Our small family had an amazing week in El Cuyo! From the beginning we felt well received and relaxed... Yahaira was very responsive, providing timely answers to our many questions. The house is clean and modest, with a basic kitchen. The highlight is the big doors in the living room and upstairs bedroom that open onto a surreal beach view! The beach, town are beautiful and charming. Lots to discover if you take your time and poke around. We made day trips to Ek Balam (and cenote) and Holbox. A very special place where we now have fond family memories.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lauren S.

Liked: Cleanliness
We love el cuyo and casa pepem!
Fantastic home located closer to town than we thought! Great spot on the beach and the house had everything we needed! Thank you for winch a great experience!
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Hope L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to stay
Loved the extra touches of having the boogie boards, hammocks, and several bath towels for us to use. Great communication and would enjoy staying again.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Patricia R.

Liked: Cleanliness
A little gem in El Cuyo
Very well located, far enough from the centro that yellow house is the perfect place to enjoy El Cuyo. I attribute 5 stars overall rating because of the amazing service from Sara and Gaby the house managers. For having rented houses many times in El Cuyo and where else in Mexico, this was far away the best service I never had. My only comments would be attributed to some little issues in the kitchen but I’m sure the owner will make sure solving them shortly and the fact the patio of the house on the left side when facing the sea is almost overstepping on to our patio. That house is quite big and can accomodate groups of 8 peoples + There were some noise issues (loud music, late night drinking party on the patio), mostly on weekend when the house gets rented. Overall I will rent that house again knowing I will have to deal with the possibility of having noisy neighbors.
Stayed 12 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Carol A.

El Cuyo
Beautiful back patio and rooftop deck. Great location on the beach. Cute house. Nice little town. Water heater breaker kept tripping and this led to cold showers. Have to keep pumping water so you don’t run out. Stove top burner needs replacing.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Renee B.

Very Relaxing
We enjoyed our stay at this home. It is situated right on the beach with a lovely view of the water from the lower patio and the upper balcony. We slept out under the stars on the upper balcony and it was beautiful. The house was clean and convenient. The kitchen was supplied adequately. A number of people have mentioned that town is a 10 minute walk, but I have to disagree. I guess they walk a lot faster than we do, as I would say it's more like 20 minutes or even a little more. And then when you are in town, there is the time walking around if you are going anywhere. We were glad to have a car so we could drive to town when we needed to and walk for pleasure when we wanted. We found plenty of fresh produce at a small produce store on the main street. They also had fresh chicken on occasion. There is also produce available at a number of small stands around town and in the small general stores. There is a meat store that is now on the main square, but the choices were somewhat limited. We got some excellent Chorizo there. They have cheese, although we didn't try it as we had brought ours with us. There are two bakeries with bread and pastries, and lots of tortillerias if you want fresh tortillas. The best dinner restaurant is El Chile Gordo. The meals are prepared by an amazing Chef named Oscar and served by his partner Kathy. Kathy has a website elcuyo dot net which is very helpful. They are open at 4 PM Thursday through Sunday. Go early to get a table. Naia Cafe is the best place for breakfast and lunch. Delicious and fun outdoor setting. We enjoyed the quiet setting for eight of our eleven days. The other three were when neighbors with three barking dogs moved in and were very annoying. Thank goodness they weren't there the whole time, as it would have ruined our stay. The internet was broken for a couple of days, but the managers were helpful and got it fixed, after that it was fine. We used the WiFi at the Naia Cafe while it was out. The owner and the managers were always helpful and available when we needed them. I hope we can come back again, we enjoyed the house, the town, and the ocean. Enjoy! Renee
Stayed 11 nights in Jan 2019

8/10 Good

Katrine E.

Beautiful!
This property is great! Check in went smooth and we enjoyed our stay. The view is amazing! Everything you need is in the house for you the only thing we were missing was spices in the pantry but you can easily bring your own. We will be staying here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Christi G., United States

So relaxing and amazing access to the beach
This house was amazing for accessing the beach - literally out the back door. We had so much fun lounging around, shell collecting on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and watching the kite surfers when the wind picked up. We went with our two kids (8yo and 7yo) and we all had an awesome time - there were so few people out on the beach you literally felt like you had miles of it to yourself. We ended up in El Cuyo on a whim, and so glad we did! Like others said, the internet was spotty - worked fine for the first 2-3 days and then stopped working probably the night that the entire town's electricity went out for a couple of hours. Not a big deal, but if you're relying on it to triage work emails, etc., then make sure to get a roaming plan before you go. Sara and Gabriel were helpful in getting some laundry done, connecting us with a fisherman to take us on a boat ride, and even hooking us up with a machete to cut open coconuts. There is a portable A/C in the downstairs bedroom now, which makes it much more comfortable for sleeping (the upstairs room gets plenty of breeze from the ocean). Definitely recommend doing your shopping in Cancun before coming here. Tizimin is the closest place with a large grocery store if you want anything substatntial. You can find some fresh fruits and vegetables near restaurante Tibaron and apparently restaurante del pato will sell you fresh fish but we never got there. Naia café had great coffee and what looked like delicious breakfast and was just down the road from the house.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Michael P., Oxford, OH

Great house, great location, ultimate relaxation!
We were looking for a remote place to stay and have a true getaway from our normal daily lives! We found it in El Cuyo at Tana Papen! Perfect house for tow couples, beach front, comfortable and very clean! The property caretakers, Sara and Gabriel were spectacular and very helpful during our stay! We had a terrific experience and would def recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2018

10/10 Excellent

Emily H.

Family friendly!
Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the "Butterfly" house. With two young children (3 & 5), our idea of a relaxing vacation is slowing down and enjoying them while they are little. The house offered everything we needed to do that. Some highlights included a boat trip out to the estuary to see the flamingos and the short walk into town for dinner or a trip to the bakery. Mostly, we played in the backyard or on the beach. We will definitely be returning!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2017

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

lovely place on a quiet beachfront
Lovely modern house in a very quiet village, popular with kite boarders and beach walkers--and a world away from Cancun! Spacious, gracious and cool, the house had fabulous views of the gulf from an upstairs bedroom, and protection from the winds on the lower terrace. Bring wine, coffee and cheeses as desired, but be prepared for fresh local seafood. WiFi was a bit sketchy for our tele-commuting son, but worked fine with some tweaking. We loved it!
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2017

8/10 Good

Catherine G., Washington

Wonderful and Charming Stay on the Beach
We spent ten days in El Cuyo, a nice little fishing village about a 2.5 hour drive from the Cancun airport. Before our trip I had many questions which Yahaira was great about answering in a timely manner. We had a little trouble connecting with the rental caretakers when we first arrived, but that was because our cell phones didn't work. But Sarah and Gabriel showed up about 15 minutes after we arrived and got us settled in. They checked in on us almost daily, and even offered to give us a tour of the town. The house is great! Lots of room and all the cooking utensils we needed and it was very clean. The location is great, especially if you do not want to do the touristy thing. The house is located down a quiet (bumpy) road, and almost every time we swam we had the entire beach to ourselves, as far as we could see. Swim towels are provided for you, as well as towels for your showers, sheets and dish towels (I was impressed that they even provided new bars of soap and a new scrub pad for the kitchen!). The only suggestion I have is that they provide more fans. We had four, but two didn't work very well. I realize that Mexico in July is very hot, but with no air conditioning the downstairs room was very hot at night. We even kept all of the doors and windows open at night but the air just couldn't get back to that room. But other than that, the rental was wonderful and we loved our very comfortable stay. We took some day trips to the ruins and cenotes and enjoyed some of the small quaint local restaurants. The locals were very nice and we had a wonderful vacation.

10/10 Excellent

Julian B.

Great town and Great house.
There is always a bit of mystery that comes along with renting a place online. When we found the house on the edge of the small village of El Cuyo, we were not only pleased to see that it was on the beach, but also that the shoreline was beautiful. Our family has rented homes on the gulf coast of the Yucatan closer to Progresso, (Chicxulub, Uuymaytin, San Bruno) and the beach at El Cuyo is clearly the finest. You will likely have a car if you got to El Cuyo in the first place, but the drive to town on the sandy road is slow, pleasant, and not very far at all. You could walk along the beach to town in about ten minutes. The house is lovely. It is homey, but well cared for, and the two bedrooms ( one upstairs and the other in the back of the house) offer a lot of space and privacy. The bathrooms are clean and the water is hot; the kitchen is spacious with more than enough utensils, crockery, microwave etc.; the bedrooms have good sheets, blankets, and the towels that are provided are quite nice. There was one standup fan, but perhaps a second fan would make the upstairs bedroom a bit breezier on the hot nights. Yahairia answered our questions quickly on email and her kind and friendly neighbours, Sara and Gabriel, got us set up with our keys, organized a day trip to Isla Holbox with local fisherman, and helped us with a laundry service. We do not speak much Spanish and their English was good enough to help things move smoothly. I would recommend this home to anyone who wants to take it easy for a few days or more. Things are quiet in the house and "El Cuyo" is a friendly and proud town without the trappings of many tourist destinations. The town square was full of families and music each evening. You can walk the beach to the edge of town and it goes on for about 20 km without any development. Clean and no seaweed. The swimming is great. The water isn't too rough or deep ( we saw dolphins in the morning) and the birding in the area is terrific (parrots, falcons, loads of flamingoes). There are two small and simple restaurants in town, but we cooked every night. There is a good bakery ( it opens in the evening, but not in the morning) and every corner seems to have its own stores selling basic goods. For a big grocery shop, head to the supermarkets before hitting the highway. A very nice drive to El Cuyo after leaving the double highway; ranches and villages along the way. Hammocks and surf at the end of the drive. A special place.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2016

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Great open concept house right on the endless, secluded beach!
Everything went smoothly. The drive from Cancun to El Cuyo is about 3 hrs. Remember that there is a 1 hr time difference between Cancun and the rest of the Yucatan. Load up on groceries at a Walmart or something in Cancun and off you go. The roads are paved all the way to El Cuyo. The house is exactly as advertised. Great view on the ocean, lots of places to hang hammocks, day beds, and chairs to lounge on. The two bedrooms are spacious and there are several options for cots, hammocks, cribs on the available floor space. Fresh bath and beach towels were waiting for us. We were 4 adults and 3 kids and all found places to sleep. The kitchen has most of what you need and the gas stove worked well. Microwave, toaster, blender, coffee maker, fridge/freezer all worked well. The sandy front yard is great for lying around or the kids to play in...like living in a sand box. There are lots of beach toys and a couple of little pools for the kids to use. There are also umbrellas and a sun shelter available. Ceiling fans keep you cool, but the wind did that for us mostly. The beach is truly endless...you'll turn around out of fatigue before you run out of sand. There are no rocks in the water and the water stays shallow for a while (I see why the Kite surfers love this area). Sarah and Gabriel greeted us and showed us the house and recommended some day trips. We went to Ek Balam Mayan ruins (about 2 hrs away) which were great and not nearly as crowded as Chichen Itza. The adjacent cenote is fantastic to swim in. We also drove the bumpy road from El Cuyo to Las Coloradas seeing pink flamingos and secluded beaches along the way. Five minute drive back into town for any shopping or restaurants (Conchita is good, and great for kids since there is a small playground for them to use while you wait for your food) Overall, great stay (only 6 days for us unfortunately). The house has a great calming energy...will stay longer next time. Yahaira is very prompt with communication and details.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2016

10/10 Excellent

Margery D., HR

Wonderful location and stay
We had exactly the vacation we were looking for---quiet and peaceful. I didn't wear shoes for a week! The beach was lovely, the water warm, the house was plenty spacious for 2 couples and we loved the big open doors and outdoor patios. Sara and Gabriel were lovely and helpful. Our son enjoyed the kiting. Loved the little town. We'll be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2016

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen G.

Fantastic, family friendly escape
We spent a week in early 2/16 at Tana Pepem & were delighted to find it situated among a row of mostly empty regional vacation homes on the shore. The home was a 2ish hour drive from Cancun through jungle small towns, some of which were celebrating Carnival as we drove through. We found the house easily and enjoyed a delicious home-cooked meal waiting for us by special request when we arrived; Sara and her husband Gabrielle welcomed us warmly and Sara gave us a tour of town the next day. Tana Pepem was clean, with modern updates and basic, beach appropriate furnishings and linens. This is a family vacation home in Mexico, not a luxury condo, and if a simple bar of Rosa Venus soap sounds refreshing and you don't mind running the water lowering switch daily to refresh rain water in the plumbing, this may be your beachside haven. The downstairs room was equip with a playpen, cot and twin beds, perfect for our 2 year old, and the upstairs is situated with glorious views of the ocean from room and balcony. We enjoyed having toys and kid pools for the shady beach yard, private sunning areas within the yard, and a very short path to our very own beach. The water was warm enough for us far northerners to swim every day, but winds are strong, and kiteboarding or kite-flying are good options for choppy days. We experienced a strong rainstorm one night, lost power and discovered a couple of inches of water had blown in from the balcony --viva la adventura! You can request maid service, laundry service and/or meal preparation, and if we did it again, we might request dinner and housekeeping every 2-3 days and laundry service once to keep up with the inevitable sand, garbage removal, toilet paper/napkin/garbage bag supply needs. Our only disappointments were that there were no back stock of these items or purified water, and that the shower heads need replacement or deposit removal. Sara was very helpful. El Cuyo is off the tourist route during winter, but offers an outdoor restaurant, El Conchito, street vendor foods, fresh produce vendors, bakeries, fish monger's shop, fisher's collectives, and mini-marts. It is easy and pleasant to walk the beach to town and shop. People are friendly but it is helpful to know some Spanish. We took 2 separate day trips, one to Ek Balam & cenote and Tizimin for groceries/liquor/ATM/gas, and one to Chichen Itza/cenote Habiku/lunch. They were both doable day-long trips, with much faster travel than Google Maps indicate.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2016

8/10 Good

ashley e., Paradise ca

Wonderful unique vacation
Recently returned from December trip to El Cuyo. Probably one of our best, most memorable vacations. Vacation not without challenges though. But worth it. Departed from Tulum after recouping from 6 days at 5 star AI resort. Pros: One of the nicer villas, stunning endless remote white sand beach, shells, dolphins, long relaxing days, internet, sweet care providers, very responsive owner, friendly locals, fresh fish, authentic. Cons: Mosquitos, gulf waters v. Caribbean, mosquitos, sparse supplies/food available in town, mosquitos. Our family speaks Spanish, and I can not imagine traveling to this location without the benefit of being able to speak with locals. Visited panaderia, tortilleria, fish vendor, even house to buy hard alcohol. Visited Holbox (Luis M. in harbor was our guide- highly recommended) and cenote by boat. Really extraordinary. Probably was the contrast of us coming from resort to villa - some days felt more like camping, but we enjoyed it thoroughly. Earley family Northern California
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2015

10/10 Excellent

Hagen F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect rest
A place to be
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024