DEAN RECOVERY UPDATE (January 08):

On Aug 21, 2007 Mahahual has suffered a direct hit from category 5 Hurricane Dean.
Rebuilding efforts are well underway and Mahahual will emerge from this disaster more beautiful –though quite different- than before. All communal services –shops, restaurants, electricity, phone, internet, etc., are functioning in the village and most of the Costa Maya is showing its beautiful side again. An uninterrupted tourist business will be crucial for the recovery. So please, come and visit.
We have been very lucky that our house has suffered virtually no damages. No seawater or sand got into the house. The impact of Dean on our property is mostly noticeable as loss of plants and trees. We have been making good progress in our continued effort to replant and to restore the beach and jungle areas of our property. As this is work in progress, it is not depicted here on this website. If you are interested in renting, please inquire.

DESCRIPTION

We invite you to rent our vacation home on the Costa Maya while we are away (which is most of the year). Relax far from mainstream tourism and enjoy activities like swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, or bird watching.

Our two level 1000 sq. feet home features two upstairs bedrooms a large downstairs kitchen, dining and living area. A rustic spiral staircase, crafted around a tree trunk from tropical hardwood by a local artisan-carpenter, connects the two levels.

This house is designed to accommodate 4-6 people. The two bedrooms each have a double-sized bed and a rollout bed. Linens and towels are included with the rent (one set per week). Windows and doors are screened to keep bugs out. The beds are additionally set up with very fine mosquito nets (pavilions). The house has two bathrooms, each with warm water shower. Outside of the house is a third shower for washing off salt water and sand. In the kitchen area you will find a propane cooktop with two burners, a gas refrigerator, and cabinets with all the essential kitchen ware including a mechanical fruit press for preparing fresh orange juice and 5-gallon jugs with purified drinking water. A solar-electric system provides electricity (12V direct current) for lights.

On the seaside, a very large balcony, shaded by a palm-thatched roof is attached to the house. In the morning, the sunrise over the Caribbean Sea can be enjoyed from this balcony. This is our favorite place for hanging out and catching a fresh sea breeze during the noon hours. An accessible roof terrace is ideal for private tanning during the day and for spectacular stargazing during the night (hence the name of the house).

Our 50,000 sq. feet beachfront property is located 5 miles south of Mahahual along the Xcalak beach road. This is close enough to Mahahual for easy access to grocery shopping and restaurants but far enough to be undisturbed from tourist activities within town.

Our private white coral sand beach area is 200 feet long. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is in swimming distance in front of our beach. The reef breaks the waves and this make swimming and snorkeling very enjoyable, even for a beginner. Our area is one of the finest snorkeling sites in the Mahahual region. A very rich variety of colorful coral fish, lobsters, and large conches can be observed here (for underwater pictures use this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/jungrudolf/SnorkelingSchnorchelnInMahahualCostaMayaMexico )

We have two kayaks and some snorkeling gear in the house, which can be used with no charge (we recommend however to bring your own high-quality snorkeling gear).

While constructing the house we took great care to fit the house naturally into its environment. The beach area in front of the house has many palm trees. The back of the property is mainly a lush jungle, mostly sheet palms and beach grape but also with flowers including orchids and tropical hardwood trees.

There are therefore often interesting animals to watch. Among birds there are Hummingbirds, Toucans, Parrots, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Orioles, Chachalacas, Yucatan Jays, Frigate Birds, Pelicans. In addition, Iguanas and other large lizards have made their home around the house and many species of crabs including very large hermit crabs can be found everywhere.

A full-time caretaker maintains the property and lives in a casita in 40 yards distance from the main house.

For more pictures, use this link:

http://www.xcalak.info/phototour/cieloestrellas/pt00-uk.shtml