Casa Dos Cuervos - Hilltop villa, spectacular ocean and island views

We just returned from a week's stay at Casa dos Curvos. It was fabulous! Everything mentioned in the previous reviews is absolutely true. Yes, the road in is very rough, but definitely navigable and actually fun. We loved staying at the casa so much that we never made it to the Bio Bay or even out to dinner in the evening. When we returned from daily excursions to the many beautiful beaches or touring the island, we spent the evenings just enjoying the casa, the pool and the incredible grounds (imagine picking fresh lemons for vodka tonics!), and utilizing the fully stocked and equipped kitchen and grill for dinner (note: before shopping for food inspect the cabinets as you may find many "essentials" already there - Ben encourages their use and, of course, restock). The breeze that blows constantly on the hill is both cooling and refreshing, and the house stayed very comfortable throughout the day and evening (note: this comes from someone that does not tolerate warm sleeping temperatures well). I do not know if because of the breeze, the season, or something else, but we saw only 1 mosquito at the casa in the entire week. The island itself is a wonderful mix of amazing beaches (get to Navio if you have a jeep or walk to it), funky towns, good food, and nice folks. The horses roaming everywhere add to the scene, and try to be in town on the weekend to see Paso Fino horses and their riders "quick-stepping" their way through the streets. Overall, Ben has a magical place in Casa dos Cuervos. Don't miss it if you're visiting Vieques!

First of all, all the previous reviews are pretty much on the money, as is the listing data. What you can't really get a feel for from the listing and photos is the aura/vibe/atmosphere of the whole property (I don't want to get all "new age" here, but the property is an integrated whole - very serene). The house is very well maintained, but not new (no granite and stainless). It has a patina and has aged gracefully. Lots of artwork on the walls - it's someone's house, not a bland rental property. If it was all brand new it would seem out of place. The grounds are beautiful - mature plantings, great landscaping without being overdone or fussy. It helped that the island had had a lot of rain prior to our visit and everything was either green or flowering - beautiful, really beautiful. The "road" to the house warrants special mention. A few previous reviews have hinted at what an adventure is is, but they were being polite. Approximately 1/3 mile of pothole blighted paved road, and then the really interesting 1/4 mile of dirt path. The severe rain washed out sections of the dirt road (that had supposedly been recently graded). 4 wheel drive was an absolute requirement - partly for ground clearance, but mostly for traction on several steep sections with loose dirt/sand. Nothing scary, but its condition forced slow careful driving. This made getting from the house to the main road (route 201) an 8 or 10 minute drive. You are in Esperanza in 5 minutes once on the main road. If you accept "island time" when driving the access road you will find it adds to the experience and insures your privacy (it's just not a quick trip to get that bottle of wine you forgot, but not enough of a hassle to stop you from going). My wife and I went to Vieques to relax - both the island and the house exceeded our expectations. The house and land and view at the top of the island immediately caused the stress level to drop to zero.

PS: Ben, the owner, was a pleasure to deal with and has a great network of managers on the island to get you to the house and settled in.

Remember waking up on Christmas morning to find the presents you wanted waiting for you? You were pretty sure you knew what you were getting or hoping to get and you were so happy you couldn't contain the joy. That's what it feels like to drive up to this place. Seriously, how many adults get goose bumps about a place they have already seen photos of and researched diligently on-line? You know what you rented so why do you feel like a kid laughing at how great it really is? We just kept laughing and smiling the whole time.

Everything that previous reviewers have said is true about the responsiveness of the owner, the helpfulness of the property manager Colleen, the conditions of the property, the grounds, the view and the amenities of the villa.

What is hard to put into words is the appreciation you have for the vision of what has been created here and a sense of gratitude that you have an opportunity to stay. It’s personal and private. You have a sense of wonder that a place like this exists and the person who owns it is willing to share it with you. Every direction your eyes can look has been carefully planned and tastefully done.

One caveat, the road leading to the villa is not for timid drivers. You should be comfortable driving a 4WD in off road conditions. To be fair, it rained while we were visiting so the conditions may have been rougher than usual. We liked the added adventure of driving steep inclines then covering the backside of the hills that had deep ruts and holes. The first section has pavement, then it turns to dirt and has some more pavement strips later on, then dirt again. Hey, that’s how you get all that privacy! We had a Jeep Wrangler and had to drive carefully. I wouldn’t let that stop you from visiting but you should know to expect that and get a 4WD.

I already want to go back. I know what I want for Christmas, my own Casa Dos Cuervos.

After several years of separate vacations, and on our honeymoon no less, my fella and I wanted nothing more than a gorgeous location to hunker down for a week & cook, sun bathe, read & wander in to a town once in awhile. The Casa provided the ultimate version of our vacation vision. It's an adventurous ride to the property (yes, you most decidedly need to rent a jeep) and the views once you get to the top of the hill are so worth it. No one believes the pictures are real. The yard is perfect, and filled with creative landscaping and a huge variety of native plants. The house is a unique structure with a gigantic open floor plan, big beautiful kitchen and a separate bedroom full of windows and local art. Unless we were away, the doors and windows were always open, making the song of the coqui frogs or the swishing of palm fronds our constant mood-enhancing soundtrack. The pool is perfect for actual lap-swimming or lounging with a tropical drink.

Colleen, the caretaker, is a delight. She's easy to communicate with, provided tons of useful information about the island and made herself available during daylight hours. Ben also called to check on us, which was kind!

If you want peaceful luxury in a perfect climate, this is your place. You're just a bumpy (fun!) 10 minute ride from Esperanza and a little more than that to the island's myriad beaches and activities. Honestly, though, once you've got your groceries purchased, you won't want to leave.

Thank you Ben! Thank you Colleen! We will be singing your praises to other travelers and hope to return someday!