A Wonderful Week at Casa de Acacia and Akumal Sur

Guest: Harry (fresno, ca)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 11/23/11

we've been back a month and I finally have the time to write about our wonderful vacation experience and what a great time we had at Casa de Acacia on our Mexican Riveria vacation. the house was great! the 3 rooms worked out perfectly for our party of 7. the 3 girls in the downstairs room with the queen and single beds, two adults in the other downstairs room, and my wife and i in the upstairs master. the kitchen was great. and maggie was an awesome cook. her 3 meals consisted of 2 shrimps and 1 fish meal, with soups to die for. and we loved the roof/patio and the view from it (it was a full moon!). the snorkeling off your beach was super, with a great assortment of fish and beautiful coral. and the kids enjoyed kayaking around the reef. we were so glad to be 80 miles away from Cancun and the hustle and bustle. we loved the town of Akumal and snorkled there several times, with everyone loving to see turtles!! plus, stingrays and a wide assortment of beautiful fish. and we loved the fruit smoothies, and bakery goodies at the Turtle Bay Bakery in Akumal. we spent 1 day in cozumel where we rented 4 mopeds and went around the island stopping at beaches to snorkel! our biggest adventure was travelling nearby into the jungle and swimming at Cenote Xunaan Ha. we went 3 times!! each time bringing with us another member of our party. we also thoroughly enjoyed traveling to Tulum, and swimming at the beautiful beach there. but I must tell you Pete that your suggestion to rent a van was invaluable! the best advice possible. we would have been sunk without our own tranpsortation, especially with 7 of us and one of them 80 yrs old! we were able to be foot-loose and fancy free and go anywhere, anytime. thanks again for your hospitality of your wonderful akumal sur home, and we definatley look forward to renting your place again and doing more exploring of mexico, including a drive to Chichen-itza and snorkeling with whatle sharks!

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

Sixth wonderful vacation at Casa de Acacia

Guest: Susan Hardage (Marietta, Ga. 30064)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/28/11

When I walk through the door and see the beautiful view of the bay I always say "I'm home". This year I actually went out and snorkeled in Akumal Sur and Akumal Bay. Had a huge sea turtle swim under me about 6 inches away. Now that was a once-in-a-lifetime event! After 5 previous vacations at Casa de Acacia, we still find new exciting things to do along with our favorite activities. This year we tried some new restaurants and visited Tulum. The ziplines at Aktun Chen were even more fun this year. Our group of 50 and 60 year olds were hanging upside down flying through the jungle. Great guys at the ziplines kept us safe but let us have fun. But the best activity of all.... seeing three sea turtles coming on the beach to lay their eggs. We would bring chairs down to the beach every night and just watch, wait and soak in the peacefulness of the waves and wind. Exciting and relaxing. We felt very safe and secure at the villa. The guards walked the beach all night making sure everything was okay. Sweet Maggie made a feast for us on our last night. Chicken, Shrimp, rice, black beans, guac, salsa...and taco soup! The villa smelled devine while she cooked. You can expect the house to be spotless, the pool to be clean and the beach to be "raked" each morning. Now that is a dream come true. Even though there were two TVs, we never turned them on. It was like being in our own safe paradise while the world was possibly falling apart elsewhere. What a relief to not be blasted with all the problems of the world whether imaginary or real. A refreshing calming way to recreate. Would I go there again? You betcha!! Have I already started planing next years trip? Yes! Thank you Pete for allowing me to feel totally at peace in this beautiful slice of heaven. I really miss just watching the water and getting lost in a lovely dream.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Happy Memories

Guest: Linda (Boyce, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 02/12/11 Review Submitted: 04/02/11

My husband and I, along with my son, his wife and their two sons, enjoyed a perfect week. We have stayed in houses all over the Caribbean and this was the best by far. Others have been more elegant, others with better views, but this one had everything. WE loved our day at EXPLOR and spent two days at the beach club at Ana y Jose in Tulum. The Loha Restaurant in Akumal was great as were all the others there. The snokeling on that beach was fabulous and one morning we saw over 20 turtles!! I want to go back!!!!!

Owner response:Exactly right, Linda! We don't claim to be the most opulent nor elegant home on the coast, but we have the views (ocean), the location (our own bay, the nearby cenotes, and the close-by ruins) and we have the beach (white sand from our door to the shore). With all that, it's pretty hard to go wrong with a vacation home. pete

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

Great Stay! Pictures do not do it justice.

Guest: Canadianmom (Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/30/11

We stayed here with 4 adults & 5 kids over the March break. What a place! We never did use the guest house, I never even went in it. We had 2 adults stay upstairs, 2 adults stay on the main level and 5 kids in the 2nd bedroom on the main level. We had the double bed from the guest house brought in and made one big room of beds for the kids. Our kids all said this was their dream house. It is in a secured neighbourhood with a dozenish homes. We decided to not rent a car & we got along just fine. We walked to Akumal a couple of times via the beach, walked out to the main road, flagged down buses & took taxis. We did not find this inconvenient at all & it cost us less than renting a car. The main level kitchen is actually just a fridge and sink, but perfect for keeping the beer/juice boxes cold! The second level has a kitchen, dining area, bedroom, balcony & 2 bathrooms. The views are amazing! The upper outdoor level also has breath taking views. We all commented how it would be the perfect spot for a hot tub :) The house has air conditioning but we never used it. The breeze you get through the house from the patio door is amazing. We had brought door stops with us because we were staying in a hotel prior to coming to the house and I am an extra cautious mother. I am glad we had them because the ones at the house needed replacing and the doors slam HARD due to the breeze, we ended up leaving them there. At night time we would turn off all the lights and wait about 10 min & then let the kids go out to look at the crabs all over the yard. It was a great memory. Maggie seemed very nice, but did not speak a word of English and we do not speak a word of Spanish so we were not able to communicate with her. She did cook us garlic shrimp one night (I pointed at the menu) and it was very good. The pool - I am surprised we did not have any injuries over the week. It is very pretty to look at but I cringed every time the kids jumped in due to the design. One day at 3pm the neighbour came over & said they were trying to nap & our kids were too loud at the pool(they were only as loud as you would expect 5 playing kids to be). We were very embarrassed & brought the kids the few meters to the ocean. We told Kristen (manager) & she advised us to go about our business as long as we were at a normal noise level we should not worry about it, so we didn't :) Kristen is GREAT & very helpful. We hope to return one day. We loved the secluded location. What a great vacation!!

Owner response:Thank you, Jodie for your thorough review--we very much appreciate our guests' input. We also are happy that you felt comfortable moving sleeping arrangements around to suit you. Maggie & Jorge have been our best caretakers to date--and they do understand finger language. We always try to keep an English/Spanish dictionary in the home, but we also find that the Google translator on our laptops works quite effectively. I apologize for the pool--yours is the first comment on its shape. It is intended to have a larger hexagon added in the future, when/if we have some consecutive-week vacancies. For now, we just like to use it to cool down and soak, and its size has been ideal (and safe) for our grand-kids (6, from 11 to 2) to learn to swim. I'm glad you are adventurous enough to have made it work without a car. I have tried explaining that to many guests, but most prefer to get their own vehicle. Thanks for your support. pete

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Wonderful casa in a wonderful location.

Guest: Kym (Vancouver, Washington)
Date of Stay: 11/20/10 Review Submitted: 12/13/10

Our family spent Thanksgiving of 2010 at Casa de Acacia and loved it! The beach is beautiful, quiet and clean. The house has plenty of seating in the sun and shade, as well as plenty of locations for dining and sitting, both inside and out. The house was well equipped, including plenty of snorkel gear for all 5 of us, as well as a 2 person kayak. We had considered Casa de Acacia for previous visits, but had not chosen it because it was in a gated community and not part of the main area of Akumal and they did not have a pool. They have added a pool, and we didn't find it inconvenient to not be in the main area of Akumal as we had a rental car. We really enjoyed the beach, pool, house, and location.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, sightseeing, families with young children.

Fourth Vacation in Paradise

Guest: Susan Hardage (Marietta, Ga. 30064)
Date of Stay: 06/19/10 Review Submitted: 07/13/10

My 4th vacation at this wonderful villa. It just keeps getting better. Maggie keeps the house clean as a whistle. Kirsten,the manager, is always available to answer questions and give suggestions of where to eat have fun. Casa de Acacia is completely intoxicating. Sitting on the porch watching the ocean, walking along the white beach, watching the sunrise and sunset from the roof top..peaceful, beautiful, relaxing. It just doesn't get any better than this. I'm working on plans for next years trip to Akumal. Hopefully we will stay two weeks this time. Everyone we have taken to Casa de Acacia falls in love with it. My husband and I are looking forward to returning to the peaceful embrace of this beautiful villa. Susan Hardage Marietta, GA

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

A+ peaceful, laid-back vacation away from crowds

Guest: WeLoveAkumal (United States)
Date of Stay: 07/05/08 Review Submitted: 07/13/08

Our extended family (six adults and four teenagers) just had an absolutely wonderful stay at Casa de Acacia! If you are looking for a holiday/vacation destination with your own 'private' beach, no crowds whatsoever, a still-quaint local village with the 'real deal' Mayan cuisine just a short drive (for everyone)/walk (for the adventurous)/swim (for the accomplished swimmer), home-cooked Mexican meals (Viva Maggie!), and the best snorkeling area in Akumal just steps out your door, look no further - this is THE place! Casa de Acacia truly is a slice of heaven!!! One of 20 or so private luxury villas lining South Akumal Bay, as a guest of the Casa you are one of the privileged few who can access this area. The entire stretch of beach is groomed each early morning by two young men, and is patrolled at night by a security guard who stations himself at the south end of the beach. The entrance to the private road leading to these homes is monitored 24 hours/day with a gate that is raised and lowered by a friendly young man employed by the home-owners' association. (Common sense precaution is always necessary - lock the doors/windows when leaving/down at the beach/sleeping - as you would/should at home). There is minimal/no wave action at this beach as the reef break is situated hundreds of yards from shore. Fabulous snorkeling for beginners - advanced! The majority of the bay is shallow enough to stand, but has wonderful coral formations/heads with many fish and other critters. We saw squid, octopuses, yellow tangs, rays, a very large eel, and many other colorful fish. Casa de Acacia has the best/easiest entry into the bay with a sand area in front of the house, but just a couple of flips of the fins and you're into the reefs. We snorkeled up at Akumal Bay and it didn't even compare to the quality of snorkeling right out our door. Maggie and Jorge arrive at 9 AM each day to tend the home and yard. Definitely take the opportunity to have Maggie prepare the 3 meals included in the rental fee - you will be in for a treat! While this home isn't on the "luxurious" side, it IS spacious, clean, and very charming. AC in all the bedrooms, overhead fans in each room. The two hammocks in the backyard were always occupied by someone in our group! Viva Casa de Acacia! We will be back!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, people with disabilities, sightseeing, families with young children.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/24/08

I went to the Villa with my wife and 3 other couples for a week. Yes we left the kids at home! We have been to the Cancun area 2 times before at an all inclusive and I have to say I much prefer the Villa for the simple reason of privacy. No one there to bother you. The location of the Villa is another plus. There are alot of things to do there if you wish. You are at the hub of activities. Everything is only a few miles away. My 2 favorite places were Yal-Ku Lagoon and Xcacel beach. Xcacel beach is the locals favorite beach becouse it has large waves and a cenote at the south end. Go on week days, there is hardly anyone there; on weekends the locals are there. Xcacel beach is located just north of Xel-Ha on the highway. The town of Akumal is a small charming town without commercial influence. Akumal has great eateries; for example Lucys and our very frequent stop Lol Ha beach bar resaurant. Make sure to order a Mayan Coffee after your evening dinner. Very relaxing atmosphere. We went to lots of places and to name a few good ones is Xel-Ha (get the all day inclusive!), Cozumel island, and a fun stop was Hidden worlds. I can go on and on. If you just want to stay at the Villa and relaxe it is a perfect place to stay. A clean beach and the house is cleaned every day as well as the laundry! I will not be going to a resort any time soon after staying at the Casa de Acacia!

Recommended for:

Everything and more

Guest: Butch33 (Saint Paul, Mn, Usa)
Date of Stay: 04/19/08 Review Submitted: 04/28/08

I thought that our stay at the casa was everything I expected and then some. The beach and sand was great for our 15 month old. Maggie's cooking was spectacular. Fantastic place.... thanks Mark

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/15/08

Our family reunion at the Casa de Acacia was a real treat, and rather well-priced I feel. With ages ranging from 3 and 4, through teens to parents and grandparents, the home and property accommodated us quite well, as did the nearby overflow Casita. Maggie cooked one excellent fish menu and was helpful in our need to find a hospital for a sick child. The location on the beach, and the view from the patio across the palm-shaded, sandy garden to the beach and water were lovely, and I would have no hesitancy in returning. All ages enjoyed the hammocks and chaise longues, and the wee ones especially enjoyed the splash pool, shelling, night time hermit crabs and occasional iguana visits. The large bird shadows that would suddenly appear belonged at least once to a frigate bird, and more often to the pelicans. And the Caribbean breezes were as balmy as ever, providing good memories and a good trip!

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