A very special place. Photos and descriptions don’t do Casa Pelicano justice. When our group of 7, including 2 toddlers, entered the premises, it is safe to say we were all a little awestruck. Floor to ceiling windows and doors in the open plan living/dining room and kitchen with high ceilings make it a light, airy and yet comfortable space. It might have been a bit tight if we all wanted to watch TV at the same time due to the limited seating in the living room. But that never proved to be an issue because we spent most of our time on the expansive terrace which can be accessed from any room, all of which are west facing. The 4 ensuite bedrooms are down a wide corridor in their own wing and are very quiet. Each is a good size and all are slightly different but nicely appointed. Favourites were the “master” at the end with the dual aspect view and the “double-double bunk bed” room with actual stairs between them which even the 2 yr old could use without difficulty.
The terrace itself is a highlight. It has multiple levels and wraps around 2 sides of the house which sits on a promontory, so offers what is a nearly unencumbered 270 degree spectacular views of the surrounding ocean, beaches and distant countryside. It provides a perch to watch the bird life during the day, truly wonderful sunsets and starry skies at night. There is a wide overhang along the length of the house which provides welcome shade for most of the day. The different seating areas on the various levels along with the excellent wifi coverage allowed people to spread out and do their own thing when it suited them. The soothing sound of waves breaking on shore promoted a relaxed, calming atmosphere and lulled us to sleep at night while a waterfall from the whirlpool to the pool level adds to the ambience. The infinity pool is big and deep enough that adults and kids alike enjoyed themselves.
The way the house is nestled on the beautifully landscaped property also offers a fair degree of privacy. A portion of the upper terrace can be seen by those using small parking spot just outside the wall at one end, who tended to be the occasional surfer or people watching the sunset. They were never loud or close enough for it to be at all bothersome. It was like our own little piece of paradise.
The kitchen is large and well appointed and we fixed a few meals of our own which we enjoyed outdoors, on the live edge dining table. However, there are some very decent restaurants within a short walk should you opt to eat out. Coco Loco on the beach was a family favourite and the closest to the house. One thing to keep in mind if anyone in your party has mobility issues is that the stairs near the house to access the beach are steep and uneven while going the long way around still requires navigating steep hills and rough sections of road. Golf carts can be hired locally but should be reserved well in advance during the busy season.
Max, the host, was very responsive and helpful from start to finish. Arrangements he made for rides to and from the airport were very much appreciated. We also found the caretaker, Reynaldo, to be a real gem. He lives in separate accommodation on site, so was there to greet us and get us settled in upon our arrival. He was also available most days if we needed his assistance for anything. He was primarily responsible doing the housekeeping, tidying up the yard, cleaning the pool and, on occasion, stepped in to wash and fold our laundry since we weren’t allowed to operate the washer and dryer. Despite being around a lot, he was never obtrusive and it was nice not having to deal with such mundane matters ourselves while on vacation.
The only minor quibble we had with our stay was that there was only one door key and gate fob between all of us. This made it a challenge to coordinate arrivals and departures when we were doing things separately.
All in all, just a really lovely place to spend some quality time on vacation.
