This property is beautiful and unique! We stayed for 6 days in mid-March and loved it. We were looking for a place off the beaten path, where we could enjoy tranquility and seeing lots of animals. Casa Montezuma was perfect for that! The amount of animals that came to visit the house was incredible: coati mundis, tons of capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, agoutis, variegated squirrels, iguanas, lizards, white-throated magpie-jays, hummingbirds, butterflies… Howler monkeys were “howling” (it sounds more as if there was a dinosaur in the area) several times a day. It was amazing to wake up to the sounds of nature (be ready to wake up very early… like 4:00am with the song of the chacalala and a bit later the howler monkeys). You will get used to go to bed early and wake up early… But it’s so worth it! It’s the best time to see animals and the temperature is cooler. If you are a nature lover, this is the place for you!
The house is airy and open. Bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen are all screened, though, so animals cannot get inside. We barely so any mosquitoes, as it was the dry season. I was actually surprised by the lack of bugs. Most of the structure is made of almond wood, which is strong and beautiful. The three levels are fun to hang out different times of the day and observe animals.
The house is very clean and has everything you need (including beach towels and beach blankets). The beach is just a few minutes walking down the road (a very quiet road). We mostly had the beach all to ourselves. Going to places nearby, like restaurants, supermarkets or interesting spots, is easy by taxi (there is also a local bus that runs several times a day). Your hosts, Tito and Donna, will lend you a cell phone with a list of taxi drivers. Luis was our driver for most of our outings… but he was more of a tourist guide! He gave us plenty of information about the area, he stopped on the way to cut some sugar cane or get cashew nut fruit from the trees. He also recommended the best local restaurants. Our trip wouldn’t have been the same without Luis’ guidance.
Donna and Tito were great hosts! Very flexible and accommodating. They also gave us recommendations and were available any time we had questions. They were never intrusive, though.
Thank you, Donna and Tito for providing a wonderful stay. Your house is a jewel and we are already missing it!