ISLA MUJERES ISLAND VILLA: CARIBBEAN OCEAN & CANCUN BAY (Sunrise & Sunset) Views

My husband and I spent a week here with our 4 teenage kids. This place is like a little slice of heaven. The pictures are for real...views are AMAZING, especially upstairs at sunrise (we were only home at sunset one day and it was rainy, but I'm sure that is gorgeous too!) The whole layout is set up to maximize water views from each room: Master BR, Living/Dining/Kitchen & back outdoor spaces. Only the 2nd BRs and BA do not face the water.

The house itself is comfortable and charming. Our kids are older teens who loved that the king-size beds in each room meant they had plenty of space - they hate having to share queen beds. Double vanities in the hallway between rooms also made it easier for everyone to get ready with only one bathroom. The only kind of odd thing (which you can't really see from the pictures and I didn't see noted in other reviews) is that the master bath is completely open to the BR and does not have a separate/enclosed toilet area.Toilet sits adjacent to the glass shower wall, so there isn't real privacy there.

For our stay, we purchased the welcome package, which I highly recommend. We pre-ordered a few basics from the grocery list and everything was stocked for us: beer/drinks/mixers, coffee, snacks (most meals we ate out, so didn't need much more than that). And the fresh homemade guac that everyone talks about was SO delicious!

Guillermo "Mee-mo" was at the house to greet us on arrival. He was very friendly and showed us around the house, how to set up the safe, gave recommendations of where to go/see/eat on the island (side note: food everywhere is delicious!) We did not get to meet Monica but communicated with her via WhatsApp during our stay. She was responsive and helpful.

The golf cart rentals were delivered shortly after we arrived. NOTE: Park inside the gate instead of on the street. We learned this after having gas stolen more than once. Our family absolutely felt safe on the island, but apparently they do have a problem of people stealing gas from the carts. Luckily, when we did have issues, Monica contacted the cart rental agency for us and they were promptly resolved. ALSO, if you have to call a taxi be aware they are on "island time" :) It was almost 20 mins each time the told us 10, so plan ahead if you are trying to catch the ferry.

Location was perfect for us as we wanted to avoid crowds. Punta Sur fits the bill. Quiet area, close to great food & fun. Overall, Casa Vaya Vida is a terrific place!

We've stayed at Casa Vaya Vida a number of times in the past 10 years, and every time we're there we have to talk ourselves into leaving. The second you walk into the home, you'll feel immediately at home. This doesn't feel like a second home, this feels like a primary residence -- with every detail thought through, from design to function.

The beds are incredibly comfortable, though we spent most of our time on the lounge chairs overlooking the water, and around the table under the covered porch playing games. (There are plenty to choose from if you need a break from the sun!)

Being on Punta Sur, you're slightly away from the hustle and bustle of North Beach, which we loved. A short walk to the sculpture garden, and some of the best sunset views. If you rent a golf cart, you're only a 15 minute ride to the other side of the island.

The owners have plenty of suggestions of where to eat and what to do, but we especially recommend:

Capitan Dulche > Beach Club, Mid-Island (Only a 5-7 minute drive via golf cart). Massive pool, and great place to jump off the dock and snorkel (we saw angel fish, butterfly fish, a leopard ray, and color-changing cow fish!!)

Lo Lo's > Book a private dinner in Lo Lo's garden! She offers a Chef's Tasting Menu, and it's seriously some of the best food on the island. Make sure to reserve in advance!

Qubano >> Vivian has one of our favorite restaurants on Isla -- her Cuban sandwiches are to die for, and we dream about both the Tostone and the new Cuban nachos. She also caters!

Mar y Monte >> A relative newbie in La Gloria, you'll have options for everything from delicious fish, to... boar! Food from the sea and the mountains, exquisitely prepared.

We are counting the days until we can return to Casa Vaya Vida, our Caribbean dream home!

I feel like we lived our best lives at Casa Vaya Vida! The house is amazing. The views are spectacular and the pool is perfect. We stayed a week with our 10 month old son, family and friends and had a blast. I woke every day to sounds of the ocean and with a cool dip in the pool. We’ve been to Isla many times but never stayed on this part of the island and now are wondering why we waited so long. It was perfect. Quiet and relaxing but also walking distance from a couple of restaurants, bars, snorkeling and the amazing cliff walks at Punta Sur. Monica, the property concierge, was great. She helped us schedule massages at the house that were exceptional and she had groceries, beers and guac ready for us when we arrived. OH and the best part was the beds! We have traveled all over Mexico and have come to expect the beds to uncomfortable and hard but these were the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in…and they were all king sized beds. The kitchen is great for cooking and the patio is perfect for dining al fresco. There are also two other beautiful outdoor areas but we could never tear ourselves away from that beautiful teal ocean view. If you go, to Isla do yourself a favor and stay here, get a golf cart and explore the island. Also spring for having Monica set up the groceries and massages for you. It was reasonably priced and exceptional. I can’t say enough about Casa Vaya Vida. We’ll definitely be back!

This is our second time staying at this property and we just need to figure out how we can get back more often. The home is beautiful, it has everything that you need. I love the kitchen and its great for cooking. The views never get old.

Monica, the lady that oversees the property was so kind and very helpful when it came to reservations for massages, transportation and answering any and all questions that we had.

Do yourself a favor and get to Isla Mujeres and enjoy this great home.

We celebrated an anniversary with two other couples and our stay was absolutely incredible. The pictures do not do it justice. The view from the back patio was stunning, especially at sunset. The kitchen and outdoor grill area were perfect for making dinner at home, with plenty of seating to dine or just hang out by the pool. The beds were very comfortable and every room had a king sized mattress! The location on the island feels very low key and safe. The house is walking distance to The Joint (our favorite breakfast spot), snorkeling, zip lining, a beautiful sculpture garden, and a few little roadside shops. We loved the relaxed nature of the southern part of the island while still being able to enjoy downtown within golf carting distance. This was by far one of our favorite vacations and we will definitely be back. Thank you for letting us enjoy your lovely home!