Chuburna

"We thoroughly enjoyed our month at this wonderful beach house in the village of Chuburna. If complete decompression from the hustle and bustle of life then this is the place. The people in Chuburna are friendly and we loved spending time with them. We fished with a local fisherman and got a feel for how many of the town residents make their living. Every Sunday we made sure we purchased chicken from a local man who marinates the whole chicken and grills it over mesquite for a very modest price. There are plenty of small locally operated restaurants to choose from and if you want to cook at home there are several small markets for vegetable and fresh tortillas. For meats and your bigger shops, Progresso has several supermarkets with pretty good variety. The pool is fantastic and was a hit with everyone. Being oversized it remains cooler because of the depth and water volume. You can sit in the pool and enjoy a wonderful 180 degree gulf view. We enjoyed the sunsets and watching the fisherman returning each evening with their catch. Gina, the owner is a very good communicator and was a pleasure to work with. Veronica and Marti were hands on property managers that live locally and make your stay so enjoyable. They helped with arranging my fishing trip, transportation, set us up with Emiliano, our great massage therapist and found a special treasure, Candi who helped with the house, laundry and with preparing great poolside lunches . You have many day trips to choose from when you are down there. Mayan ruins, Merida, flamingo watching are just a few of your choices. Take advantage of meeting the local people to make your visit even more memorable. We spent five weeks at this villa and can't wait to return."

"The house was wonderfully equipped for our long-term stay (Linens, cookware, china, even paper products). The house is spacious and has plenty of comfortable furniture both inside and out on the huge, covered patio. The CD and DVD players that were advertised did not work, nor did the TV in the second bedroom. However, The large flat-screen TV (satellite) in the living room had both USB and HDMI ports to accommodate most any electronics you bring with you. The beach is beautiful, and for most days through the winter, practically deserted. Sun tanning in the loungers can be either on the beach or on the front deck. The house is 1 1/2 km from the village of Chuburna where we would walk to buy supplies or to stop at a restaurant for a drink and wonderfully generous "botanos" (Mexican version of tapas). It is cheap and easy to move around using the small vans (combis). We made at least one trip to Progreso each week for more extensive shopping, and one trip each week to Merida for its culture, sightseeing, or to take a tour to the many nearby, spectacular Mayan archeological sites. We also did 3-day side trips to the nearby cities of Valladolid and Campeche. Everywhere we went, everyone we met was unfailingly friendly, courteous and helpful. People back home could take a lesson from these wonderful people. This was a terrific choice for a long-term stay. It was quiet and peaceful and we got to feel like we were part of a community. Yet, we were only a few short kilometers from any social or cultural activities we might desire. If you are looking for a high-energy vacation surrounded by tourists like yourself, go to Cancun. If you want a beautiful and relaxed setting that is much closer to the "real" Mexico then this is the place for you."