Inside a gated, guarded community with volcano views from every room
Location: Antigua, Guatemala, Central America (Thirty miles from the Guatemala City airport.)
Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms + No additional sleeping rooms avail, 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 6)
Keywords: House
This fully equipped home is located in a gated community with 24 hours guards. It is walking distance to all points in Antigua including ruins, the mercado, the central plaza, shops, Spanish schools, hotel swimming pools and a great variety of restaurants. Antigua is an expatriate community located in the coffee growing region of the Panchoy valley. The house is part of Residenciales Ermita Santa Lucia, just off of the Alameda behind the Santa Lucia Church. A quick walk to the central market and five blocks to central park.
Rather than being just a rental property this house is a home that is occasionally made available for rent. It is comfortably and completely furnished with pepper in the pepper grinder, light bulbs in the lamps, sheets and towels, fresh coffee and breakfast items available for your arrival and lots of art by local artists.
Located at the end of the "calle" this house has neighbors on only one side and has volcano views from almost every room. Light and airy with a large, lush garden. For swimmers there are a couple of pools nearby which you are welcome to use for a nominal charge.
The house has high-speed internet (wireless too), speakers for your iPod or iPhone, internet radio and a full-time housekeeper Monday through Friday (who keeps the house spotless and also can also cook, babysit, do your laundry and/or help you with your Spanish). We can help you with airport transportation as well. The neighbors are friendly and come from here and there. A great place to explore the Mayan culture, watch the bouganvilleas grow or just kick back with a good book and a bottle of Chilean wine.
MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY 6 PERSONS
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer : Housekeeper will do your laundry
- Dryer : Housekeeper will do your laundry
- Linens Provided
- Garage
- Wood Fireplace (2) : Additional wood available in market
- Beds
- King Bed : Screens on the bedroom windows
- Queen Bed : Screens on the bedroom windows
- Twin/Single Bed (2) : Screens on the bedroom windows
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV : English, Spanish, German, French. Two flat screen televisions.
- DVD
- Video Library : There are a few DVDs in the house
- Stereo System
- Music Library : Speaker system for iPod or iPhone and internet radio.
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : Gas cooktop and electric convection oven, microwave, dishwasher, coffee grinder, Cuisinart, all gringo necessities
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher : Housekeeper will do dishes.
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio : Second floor patio has unobstructed volcano views, privacy as there are neighbors only on one side.
- View/Location
- Mountain View : Volcanoes actually
- Communications
- Telephone
- Cell Phone : Pre-paid, Q25 card supplied, more cards can be purchased in town. Cheap to call anywhere.
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Gated community with 24/7 guards.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly : Well-behaved children are welcome! The house is furnished with some expensive art and other furnishings. There is a small pond in the garden
- Smoking Not Allowed : There is a spacious garden and upstairs terrace where you can smoke.
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Swimming
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Horseback Riding
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Colorful markets, Mayan culture, Volcano climbs, swimming at local hotels, Antigua Cooking School (classes in English). Swimming pools within walking distance for minimal fee.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
$1200/wk .... $1800/two wks .... $2000/3 weeks...$2400/1 month
Higher Rates for holiday periods ... Christmas, Semana Santa
SECURITY DEPOSIT due upon booking.
Rent is inclusive of utilites, water, cable, housekeeper
Payment by PayPal or personal check accepted
ONE WEEK MINIMUM
MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY 6 PERSONS
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2004
That's me in the middle, the "gringa." The occasion was the inauguration of a rural community library in an indigenous village in northwestern Guatemala. These ladies wanted their picture taken with the gringa. And then they asked when their library might have internet. One could wonder what they plan to do with it.
Why the Owner Chose Antigua
I have been going to Guatemala for years and have always found the weather to be about perfect, the people friendly and helpful and prices of everything eminently less than in northern California. I bought the lot and had the house built on a whim and when I am there enjoy getting involved in improving the lives of the less fortunate. A few dollars goes a long ways towards changing someone's life in Guatemala. There is a great variety of restaurants and many interesting people around town. One need never be idle.
The Unique Benefits of this House
Most people who have stayed in my house talk first about Estela, the "muchacha," who treats everyone like a honored guest and keeps the house immaculate. She is a wonderful cook and will cook for you if you like or take you shopping in the mercado and teach you how to cook local dishes. If you want to just sit upstairs on the terrace with a cup of the world's best coffee or a glass of wine and stare at the volcanoes you can do that too.
Property Photos
-
- Inside a gated, guarded community with volcano views from every room - Travel to Guatemala and Vacation in a Home Rental
-
- Residenciales Ermita Santa Lucia, Calle del Espiritu Santo, 37A - Travel to Guatemala and Vacation in a Home Rental
-
- Spacious garden with seating, water feature and pond. - Travel to Guatemala and Vacation in a Home Rental
-
- The kitchen includes a gas cooktop and a convection oven.
-
- The master bedroom is on the second level adjacent to the terrace.
-
- Both the living room and master bedroom have fireplaces.
-
- Both full baths have spacious showers with volcano views.
-
- Master bedroom has king bed, DSL, fireplace, walk-in closet, volcano views.
-
- Queen bedroom on first floor shares bath with twin bedded room. Garden views.
-
- Twin bedroom has "tipica" decor.
-
- View from the terrace towards Agua volcano
-
- The house is decorated with local art including the handpainted cupola.
-
- Prime location at the end of the street in gated community.
-
- Estela at your service five days a week
-
- Have your breakfast outside in the sun.
-
- Fuego acting up - view from the terrace (using a zoom lens)
Traveler Reviews (19)
A little piece of Heaven!
Guest: Jake and Grace's Grandma
(Omaha, NE)
Date of Stay: 06/01/11
Review Submitted: 12/29/11
We stayed in this home in June and it exceeded our expectations in every way! The pictures do not truely reflect the homey feeling you get from this home, starting with the big comfy sofa to the great beds and huge showers. The views from the roof are outstanding and the flowers are incredible! It was a short walk to the market and central park. Antigua is a beautiful city and everything is easily accessable from the house. Estela, the house keeper, is a jem and a wonderful cook! We look forward to returning in the near future. Joan you have an exceptional home!
Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.
Amazing. Not just the house (it is) but the whole Experience!
Guest: Tony J.
Date of Stay: 06/01/11
Review Submitted: 12/29/11
My family and I spend roughly two months of every year in Guatemala and have stayed in a number of different locations. Antigua is by far our favorite location and Joan's house is by far our favorite place to stay. First - Joan is incredibly accommodating. Helpful at every turn, with great insights on the local culture, restaurants, tours, transportation, you name it - she is well-connected and an incredible resource. She's simply wonderful to work with and has been so flexible with us. The location is by far the best in Antigua for a furnished house. We've rented all over the city and to be able to walk easily to the Bodegona (grocery store), Market, restaurants, and central park is such a treat. The community is gated and incredibly secure. The guards at the front gate have been the same since 2007 when we started staying in this location. The neighborhood is a great mix of vacationing families and year-round residents who are friendly and helpful. They're all wonderful with our kids. Then, there's the house. Unbelievable. We've had guests join us at Joan's house over the past several years and we always here the same gasps at the incredible views of all three volcanos surrounding Antigua. The courtyard/garden is simply amazing - and very rare to find one of this size and so well appointed. Our children love eating meals in the courtyard and watching the fish in the pond. The house is so well decorated and equipped that it immediately feels like home. Our family spent two months there this past summer and wanted for nothing the entire time. We cooked meals for our family and another family staying nearby nearly every day and never found ourselves needing other cookware, dishes, etc... As soon as you think it's too good to be true, you get to meet the full-time housekeeper, Estella. She's simply amazing. She keeps the house impressively clean and organized and has a sweet and friendly spirit. Plus, she's truly a gourmet cook and she will not only prepare amazing meals for you, she'll shop for the food! Our children consider her part of the family and speak often of her when we're back in the States. Full-time house help is very rare in Antigua and her diligence makes the stay so much more enjoyable. We can't wait to get back!!
Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.
Could Not Have Been Better
Guest: The Roman Family
(Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/24/10
Review Submitted: 09/16/10
We recently spent 9 weeks calling this amazing house - home. All the other descriptions you will read below are accurate representations of what you will find here. I second every positive comment left by others. The only thing I can add that will truly capture our feelings is this - All of us, my wife, my 4 kids and even me (dad) cried when we left Estella, her 3 great kids, the house, Hugo (expeditionsguatemala.com), our teachers at CSA and the wonderful city of Antigua.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, families with teenagers.
Gorgeous house in a beautiful town
Guest: djm
(Lake Atitlan, Guatemala)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10
Review Submitted: 06/26/10
We stayed here for five weeks just recently. The house is amazing: comfy sofas, big screen TVs, fully equipped kitchen, two fireplaces, stunning decor, waterfall, garden, and a spectacular views of Volcan Agua. It is one of the nicest houses I've stayed in - and I've stayed in some beautiful places across the globe. We were 5 people and had plenty of space. And if we needed something the house is a quick five minute walk from the market, and ten minutes to the town square. Yet at night it was so quiet and peaceful. The owner is fantastic!! We had an issue that required us to stay in Antigua an extra week. The owner - who had just arrived back in Guatemala - moved into a friend's house to allow us to stay on at hers. That kind of thing doesn't happen everyday! We got to know the owner a bit and it became clear that she is not a "tourist" in Guatemala. She knows a lot of people and is helping out/working with the locals in a variety of ways. To me being active in the community is extremely important ... and it's nice to know your money will help out some of the region's less fortunate. In summary - just stay here! You won't be disappointed!
Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.
What a find!
Guest: Abuelos
(Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10
Review Submitted: 06/24/10
My husband and I came from Canada, to join our son with his very pregnant wife and our 3 1/2 year old grandson (who had been living at Lago de Atitlan). We rented Joan's beautiful house in order to be close to the hospital in Guatemala City where our daughter-in-law was going to have her baby. We could not have made a better choice. The house is absolutely stunning, and at the same time, incredibly comfortable. For us, having Estela there Monday to Friday was a godsend. She was never intrusive and always accommodating. She cooked many meals for us, which we really enjoyed - usually with enough left over for the following day. We have rented houses from VRBO numerous times, but this was definitely the top of our list. Joan is incredibly helpful, and on top of everything. She has fitted out the house with everything you could possibly desire, and then some. Her taste is exquisite. Her staff, including Estela, Alex, and Gregorio, are warm, friendly, and helpful. You can not go wrong with this rental!
Owner response:Thank you, Linda. It was a real treat to meet your family especially little Maya who had the good sense to wait until after Tropical Storm Agatha to make her debut.
Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.
An oasis
Guest: Fly Me Somewhere
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 03/31/10
Review Submitted: 04/10/10
I've trusted VRBO for stays all over the world. This home exceeded my expectations in every way. While many places are comfortable, few are the home environment this casa offers. Positives: Location, safety, tranquility, cooking equipment, laundry facilities, watching a volcano puff away, exceptional support from the owner Rough spots: For me, anyway, it was having staff come in and out. Just not used to the loss in privacy that creates. Really one of the more exceptional VRBO properties I've booked.
Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.
Guest: Robbie
(Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 03/06/10
Review Submitted: 03/06/10
If Joan hasn't thought of it, you probably won't need it! This home has everything, and more. Wonderful interior spaces, magnificent views, and lovely patio and rooftop gardens. Estela and Alexander took great care of us while we were in residence. We've traveled all over the world, and our stay here was one of the most memorable!
Recommended for:
Guest: Bonnie Newman
(Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico)
Date of Stay: 01/02/10
Review Submitted: 01/02/10
Joan has created a lovely home with all the comforts of a full-time residence. We have rented many homes in all parts of the globe and this property is at the top of the list. We did not have to buy one thing to complete her well-equipped kitchen. It was wonderful to come home to after a few days of exploring the Highlands and her staff always had a smile when we returned. Excellent.
Recommended for:
Guest: Julia Slatcher1
(Birmingham, MI)
Date of Stay: 09/05/09
Review Submitted: 09/05/09
We absolutely loved staying in this stunning home. Perfectly appointed, we would not have changed a thing about the decor, and Joan thought of just about everything, including a welcome book that was extremely helpful to reference throughout our month-long stay (not only about the house but with restaurant and tourist tips, etc.). The views in all directions are incredible, and the photos on this site do not do the house or the views justice. The location of the house is actually perfect - close enough to the historic center to be very convenient but very safe in a gated community and quiet. The courtyard of the house was a sanctuary - but only one of many in the house! It was an incredible place for our family (with two young children) to spend a month, including a husband who worked every afternoon from the master bedroom desk, looking up at the volcano views. Amazing. Wonderful value, highly recommended.
Recommended for:
Guest: Sissy and Peter Burke
(Costa Rica)
Date of Stay: 05/24/09
Review Submitted: 05/24/09
We have been to Antiqua many times and stayed at a wonderful B&B. This time we decided to try a renting a house and it was a super experience. The house is located within a comfortable walk to everything and the views of the 3 volcanos are unbelievable. This is a beautiful home with every possible amenity available. Alex and Estela make the house run smoothly and address every need from ironing to finding an open pharmacy on a Sunday. I highly recommend the experience of living in Antiqua in this very special home.
Recommended for:
First (10) of (19). View all Reviews | Write a Review
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #101956
There have been visitors to this page since the counter was
last reset in .
This listing was first published here in 2006.
Date last modified - Friday, February 10, 2012
