Vacation Rentals by Owner

Home away from home in a most breathtaking location

Guest: Lau74 (Strasbourg, France)
Date of Stay: 05/05/12 Review Submitted: 05/21/12

Casa Paloma is a truly beautiful property, which is extremely well maintained. It has all one may think of at home (dvd, cd player, fully equipped kitchen, immaculate bathrooms), plus the most magical views of the Caribbean. Xcalak feels remote and is indeed a perfect place to disconnect from all. The sea is just amazing and feels like the private swimming pool of Casa Paloma....The house is very well located, close enough to town, close to diving activities, close to restaurants if lazy to cook at home. The caretakers are wonderful people, who make sure everything is in order during the stay. The owners are very responsive and make any logistics so easy to coordinate. Thank you Casa Paloma for an unforgettable experience, we will definitely be back soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

I really enjoyed my stay and I am pretty fussy: So much so I have booked for 3 months next year

Guest: dereek (London)
Date of Stay: 12/08/11 Review Submitted: 01/12/12

Coming from England I wasn't sure if my money would be safe, but everything has worked out very well and I have even been reimbursed for a few things I bought for the house. I think I can say you are in safe hands with Tom. The description is accurate and the house clean and well kept. The house is beautiful and well maintained and the caretakers are lovely and hard working. The place is beautiful and you have your own beach and sea. The house is quiet and out of town, but not isolated. The kitchen is fine by Mexican standards and better than most locally, but this is Mexico not the US. We have baked cakes, made bread and cooked up some splendid meals and there are plenty of sharp knives, frying pans and now even bread and pie tins, so no complaints there. By english standards I would say rental kitchens in the US tend to be poor, but by US standards I would say this is at the top end. There are two kitchens, one up and one down! Each bedroom has its own shower and toilet. Transport is useful to get to the Leaky Palapa for dinners which are excellent and run by two Canadian women. It is as much social club as bar and restaurant. Diving is great at Xcalac dive shop, I can't vouch for the others as I haven't tried them.. Food comes to the house 3 times a week by truck. Vegetables and basics are either available from the truck or in the shops in town. Real coffee is not on sale nor is meat, although chickens are good and there is fish and lobster galore. Bring other stuff from a supermarket at Carillo Puerto or in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. I believe Rosy will cook for you, if asked and paid. She asked me if I needed washing done, for free! Don't forget to tip her when you leave if you think she has done a good job. I can't think of anything wrong to say about the place, even the price is good! So if you fancy a quiet holiday on the Carribean in a simple Mexican Town and you like diving or fishing... I can't see why you wouldn't come here it is apparently as good or better than the competition in Xcalac. Xcalac is at the end of the world and quite basic, Cancun it ain't! No TV. No Phones cell or otherwise!!! but on the other hand there is internet most of the time in the house. I recommend it.

Owner response:Our British guest has objectively given his review of our piece of paradise...he will have stayed in Casa de Paloma for a month and 1/2 so he has had ample time there to base his comments. Tom

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

I Can't Wait to Go Back!

Guest: Linda G. (Williamsburg Ma usa)
Date of Stay: 11/26/10 Review Submitted: 12/05/10

My friend and I just returned from staying at this house for the week. It met all our expectations and then some. We had the upper level and our bedrooms were on opposite ends so we had our privacy. We even had our own balconies. The caretakers house is directly across the quiet dirt road and are very willing to help. They keep the property and the rooms very clean. Though their English is limited we had someone near who could help with translations a couple of times. We had considered a couple of other places but we are glad we picked this place as it is very attractive and has a homey feeling unlike some that are very stark. We also like the small town; it might not be for everyone but if you want to relax you can easily do it there. We went swimming and snorkeling every day and read several books. It was heaven. People say Mexico in unsafe to travel but I did not feel in danger or insecure. We just used common sense, On the drive down from Cancun (where we spent the first night) we saw lots of military along the road doing some random checks and they are even seen occasionally on the road in Xcalak but we were told they are looking for drugs being smuggled in - there was never ever any sense of a gang presence. I felt secure with them they (and they seemed very bored!). And 99.9% of the local people were very friendly which is always a plus. We also met nice people on vacation; Canada, Ireland, the U.S. I am already thinking about going back....

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Paradise Found at Casa Paloma, Xcalak

Guest: Melody (Eugene, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 11/14/10 Review Submitted: 11/18/10

We concur with the statements of the previous reviewers. This villa is incredibly well designed and equally well maintained, perfect for two couples traveling together in that each of us has our own private bedroom/bath with wonderfully comfortable king-sized bed. Rosa and Cecilio were delightful, and we were doubly lucky to be here at the same time as owner Tom, a most gracious and generous host. Highlights--in addition to taking Tom's ocean kayaks out to the reef, snorkeling off the dock, and feasting at Leaky Palapa--included buying lobster and fish fresh off the boat at the village beach in the mid-afternoon. We do recommend that you follow the advice of Tom and our fellow travelers, in that you stop at a supermarket in one fhe last large towns before you set out on the long, straight, smooth road to Xcalak. Be sure to pick up butter, cheese, milk, salsa, chips and other staples and then hurry on to Casa Paloma. The hot fresh tortillas, delivered via motorbike, are not to be missed!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Casa de Paloma

Guest: Mike and Ginette (Sudbury,On. Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/01/10 Review Submitted: 04/06/10

My husband and I were fortunate enough to spend a month at this slice of vacation paradise. Casa Paloma is shining with hardwoods, loaded with decks that have wonderful views and windows that allow the almost-constant sea breezes in so that we stayed comfortable and sleeping like babies at night. The fine white sand, the sunshine and the incredible turquoise water took care of the rest!! We snorkelled off the dock and with Captain Luis. We took day trips to Majuhual,Chetumal and to Belize .Fly fishing daily was easy, just a short walk or drive down the beach to flats loaded with Bone and Permit.My husband also took weekly fishing trips to Chetumal Bay with Captain Jose.The fishing was incredible,chasing Bone, Permit and Tarpon. We enjoyed our weekly suppers at The Leaky Palapa,,fish burgers and fish fingers at Toby's,lobster mango pizza at Costa de Cocas and outdoor chicken night with Moses at the Mayan Village.We bought homemade tomales, hot tortillas and large jumbo shrimp off the venderos that drive the beach road, as well as fresh fruit and veggies.Last but not least is the care we received from Rosa and Cecilio. They are cheerful and friendly and went out of there way to make our stay pleasureable. We will return!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Samantha Wallace (Greenville, SC)
Date of Stay: 10/05/09 Review Submitted: 10/05/09

If you are the type of person that considers yourself (and proudly) more "traveler/adventurer" than "vacationer", and if the thought of an all-inclusive, cookie-cutter, herding with the masses experience gives you the willies, there...simply...is...no...better...place than Casa de Paloma!! Fortunately I'm one that falls into the category best suited to enjoy an experience like the one it offers, rustic, off-the-beaten-path, beautiful, quiet, remote. You bump into people who very purposefully picked this spot on the earth, not because it was a deal on Orbitz. In many ways you are literally and figuratively at the end of the line, at the bottom tip of the Yucatan, just miles from Belize. It's a good 5 hour trip from the Cancun airport and there's no trace of Cancun when you arrive. (By the way, I highly recommend making the long car journey part of the experience, including a possible stay at some mid-point going or coming depending on your arrival into Cancun. See Tulum, visit a cenote, make it leisurely. It's not a drive to make after dark, simply because it's so remote.) This is the land of seriously amazing fishing, world-class diving, fantastic snorkling right off the dock and the opportunity for complete unplugging. We love to cook and it wasn't hard to find a plethora of fantastic, fresh ingredients to work with...the fishermen sometimes come right up near your dock (if you don't catch them yourselves) and the "veggie truck" rolls by once a day. Town isn't far so you can get what you need. Speaking of town, as a serious foodie, the restaurant Leaky Palapa has few equals; make your night out (or two) reservations there. The home is beautiful, well designed and well appointed. The private beach, complete with lounge chairs, hammocks, fine white sand and a little mangrove "island" that our boys adored exploring, is exquisite. And I would be very remiss in not mentioning the doting, yet very respectful care that you will receive from the lovely caretakers Rosa and Cecilio. Xcalak and Casa de Paloma are, without a doubt, a huge slice of my personal heaven.

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Guest: Claire15 (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 10/02/09 Review Submitted: 10/02/09

I was fortunate enough to experience a piece of this vacation heaven on a "free pass" as one of the owners is my best friend from college! At the onset of our adventure to Xcalak, I was a complete stress-ball, swept up in the intensity of my fast- paced, blue-chip job. Normally it would take me about 4-5 days to finally relax. At Casa de Paloma, it took one morning. Everything the destination offers is genuine and natural--no commercial gimmicks. It's literally this quaint, beautiful, well-built house, the beach and you! It is quiet and removed from mayhem which I had not experienced on a previous vacation up until my time there. The sea breeze was soothing and silky the way it poured into my bedroom window, and I couldn't believe my view every time I passed by the window--the Yucatan Peninsula! I would typically prefer to scuba, but definitely took the opportunity to snorkel 50 yards from the house and had the most wonderful time! I was in the water about 6 minutes before finding a giant sea turtle, which I attempted to shadow for about 30 minutes until I discovered what must have been a 25-pound parrotfish. There is a plethora of sea life activity just 10 strokes off the dock! If you are used to being active on your vacations, is it easy to step away from Casa de Paloma for a thousand choices of day trips with resources nearby to help you get there (on a small budget!) We scooted over to Belize in less than two hours by boat to enjoy a day of shopping, cold beers and fish tacos. It was a perfect-sized day trip-- completed with a cherry on top by returning to our little piece of heaven in Xcalak to see the incredible sunset while sipping homemade pina coladas on the back balcony. This vacation home offers a splendid chance to unwind in an incredibly beautiful environment that I could not have dreamed up in a 100 years. A must visit!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/09 Review Submitted: 10/01/09

This is paradise. Beautiful home, well furnished, fantastic care takers, secure, private with lots of fishing, diving and great local dining. Think Old Man and the Sea and visit one of the last sanctuaries left. Great deal as well. My highest recommendation.

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Guest: Alex Beck (Avon, CO)
Date of Stay: 09/30/09 Review Submitted: 09/30/09

Great house for any type of group in Xcalak. Ive brought groups of fishermen here for the past two years and we love Casa Paloma. The fully stocked kitchen makes a great place to rally everyone together at the end of the day, share stories and even cook some of our catches. The balcony is a great place to spend a morning, evening or the whole day. Walking distance to Tierra Maya which has amazing food and a small bar. Rosa and Cecilio (caretakers) are always on hand should you need anything.

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Guest: Jeff Welsh (camdenton, mo 65020)
Date of Stay: 09/29/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/09

How do you describe the best vacation of your life? The house is stunning with spectacular views that simply take your breath away. You are right on the gentle surf with the melody of the protected bay relaxing you to the very core. The house is tastefully and beautifully decorated with plenty of furniture for several families to enjoy. The bedrooms are huge with private baths and they are so comfortable and inviting that you are sure you are sneaking into the secret hideaway of the rich and famous. Each bedroom has a private deck and the family room has a HUGE deck that we all congregated on to eat and relax. Beachcoming is a favorite pastime and we found more conch than I have ever seen before. You must call Victor and get him to take you fishing. We had a 30+ bonefish day. Here is our note to the owner after our return: I wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you that we are back and that we had a great time. Your home is beautiful, and both families could not believe what a great experience Xcalak is. We made it to San Pedro with Victor, we ate at the Leaky Palapa with John and Mary, and had three very memorable fishing trips with our new best friend Victor as well as discovering the little paradise called Tierra Maya. Victor said to tell you that he had never had four bone fish doubles in the boat before and that we fished an area he has never taken you to. We absolutely killed the bonefish that day. Our son Jack lost a tooth while there and was fortunate enough that the American tooth fairy could get in touch with the Mexican tooth fairy on her blue tooth and get him $20 pesos. He had a great time playing with the boys, and we fell in love with that family. I don’t know how the boys did it, but you would hear them playing on the beach or kicking the soccer ball and talking like normal; somehow they understood each other!..amazing. John and Mary took the girls to Bird Island one day while the boys went fishing. They came over nearly every day and were very nice to let us use the pier; Victor picked us up there daily.Status report on the house: No problems, We replaced everything we borrowed with the exception of two barracuda lures which I will get for you now that I am home (We lost two of Victors and I gave him two of yours figuring I would get you new ones). Other than that, the house was perfect. We left Rosa a big tip and gave the boys lots of toys and clothes. They were really great.Thanks again! What a great p

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Guest: Zach3 (St. Louis, MO)
Date of Stay: 09/29/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/09

Great vacation house. Perfectly located on the beach. Far enough away from town to be quiet, yet only a short drive or walk from town and restaurants. Amazing local restaurants (Coco's, Toby's, Leaky Palapa). Great fishing, go see Capt. Victor, he's the best. House and beach are kept in A+++ shape by Rosa and Cecilio, some of the nicest people in the world. House is amazing with huge comfy beds and a nice ocean breeze at all times.

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Guest: Aly Sowers (Oak Park, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/29/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/09

Casa de Paloma is one of those rare, wonderful places where you can truly relax. I've visited Xcalak every winter for 8 years. The food is wonderful--I've had some of the best meals of my life there--prepared at home and out. The snorkeling is easy, right off of the dock and you can see sting rays, turtles and beautiful tropical fish. The fishing is also wonderful (I can get seasick) but fishing inside the reef and in the Bay of Chetumal is easy for me and you can catch grouper, yellow tail and snapper and eat them that evening. The caretakers, Rosa and Cecilio are so friendly and wonderful--they take great care of you during your stay. What you can't capture on the website is the near-constant sea breeze, the brilliant sunshine and the millions of stars you see at night--it is truly paradise.

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Guest: Amy Gustafson (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 09/29/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/09

Casa Paloma is such a tranquil, wonderful getaway. This home is beautifully built and a perfect layout for rental usage, whether renting one level or both. The layout is thoughtful with the bedrooms with bathrooms en suite on either side of the large kitchen/dining/living area, beautiful balcony and fabulous views. Enjoy reading a book in a hammock, chasing iguanas nearby, diving or fishing with one of the local operators. A vacation here can be as low key or adventure filled as you want to make it.

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Guest: Angela Lavezzo (Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/29/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/09

My family stayed two years in a row at Casa de Palomas. Both times we rented the entire house. The house layout and amenities are fantastic, the caretakers, Rosa and Cecilio are great, and you can snorkel right off your own private beach. We vacation quite often to Xcalak and this is our favorite villa by far.

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