About Casa Almaviva

Case Almaviva is a beautiful, fully-staffed, beachfront villa located just 22 kilometers south of Tulum beach. The four-bedroom villa sleeps up to eleven people and features a swimming pool, a roof deck, and a private chef who will prepare all your meals.

Getting Here

Where exactly is the villa located?
The villa is located in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, a protected nature reserve next to the Caribbean Sea. It’s 21.5 km from the entrance to Sian Ka’an, which is located at then end of Tulum beach. It typically takes 50 to 80 minutes or more to drive to the villa from Tulum depending on road conditions.

Click here for the map.

How far is the villa from the airport?
You have two airport options, Cancun (CUN) and Tulum (TQO). From CUN, the drive is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, and from TQO, it’s 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on road conditions.

Can I get a late check-in?
Our check-in time is 3:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. and late check-ins, when permitted, incur a $100 surcharge. We ask first-time visitors who are self driving arrive before sundown, which can range from 6:00 p.m. in winter to 7:30 p.m. in summer. This because there are no lights or cell service on the Sian Ka’an road, and late at night there is very little traffic. When booking flight, your international flight needs to land five hours prior to arrival at the villa if coming from CUN, or 4 hours prior coming from TQO. (Allowing for immigration, customs, and car rental.) If your flight scheduled that it will put your estimated arrival past check in time, we encourage you to stay one night in Cancun or Tulum on your way in.

What are the driving conditions on the roads?
The road from the either airport to Tulum is a multi-lane paved highway and is a very easy drive. The road from the highway through Tulum beach is a narrow paved road with lots of pedestrians and can sometimes have a lot of traffic. The Sian Ka’an road is a dirt road that gets re-graded just once a year, and the schedule is unpredictable. For about nine months out of the year, this road is in rough condition with many potholes. You will want to drive carefully and leave yourself extra time to get to your destination.

Should I rent a car or get an airport transfer?
The vast majority of guests rent a car because it gives them freedom to take day trips without paying and waiting for expensive taxis. Transfers from Cancun Airport are available but costly. You can check prices at Canada Transfers. We recommend renting a sturdy vehicle and making sure your quote includes the required Mexican liability insurance. This is a costly add on that is not covered by your home insurance or credit card.

Do I need a 4x4 or SUV for the notorious road in Sian Ka’an?
You will need a sturdy car with some clearance. Four-wheel drive is not required.

Amenities

Does the villa have air conditioning?
The four bedrooms have air conditioning, but the open-air living room does not. The villa is usually quite cool in the evenings and at night, especially when there are breezes coming from the sea. The large palapa covering the living area keeps the main living area shaded at all times. Casa Almaviva is an off-grid, eco-friendly villa. We generate our own electricity with 40 solar panels that store the power in a very large battery array. The battery is used to keep the villa powered at night. We have a backup generator times when the power demands of the air conditioners exceed the battery capacity. We require that guests only use the air conditioner when in the bedrooms and that they keep the thermostats set to 23°C or higher. This ensures that the batteries can be fully charged during the day and that the use of the generator, which creates air and noise pollution, will be minimized. This is a typical policy for off-grid villas and hotels throughout Tulum.

Can I use the internet for a video meeting?
We have Starlink satellite service, which is usually fast enough for video conferencing. The service can be affected by overcast weather.

What channels are available on the villa television?
We offer Sky Satellite TV with a wide range of channels including sports and movies.

Dining & Drinking

What does it mean that meals are served “family style”?
At Casa Almaviva, we prepare a single entree at lunch and dinner. For vegetarians or other restricted diets, the chef will work to provide an alternative variation. At breakfast, when eggs are served, guests will have their choice of preparation.

Can you accommodate special diets?
With advance notice we can accommodate guests with allergies or other health-related concerns, as well vegetarians and pescatarians.

Can I skip the meal plans and make my own food?
No, the meal plans are required for all guests. Casa Almaviva is a full service villa and the delicious chef-prepared meals are one of the most popular parts of the experience we provide. Though snacks are provided, you are welcome to bring in your favorites.

Does the meal plan really include unlimited beverages including alcohol?
Yes, we have a full bar of quality spirits, including tequila, mezcal, vodka, rum, gin, and whiskey, as well as beer and wine. For special occasions we also offer a selection of premium wines and spirits for a supplement. Try Chef David’s famous, enormous margaritas.

I am very particular about wine. Can I see your wine list or request particular bottles?
We provide quality wines with our meal plans, but cannot guarantee a particular brand or vintage. Wine lovers are welcome to bring their own wines which we will gladly serve with your meal.

I don’t drink alcohol. Can I get a discount on the meal plan?
No, we do not offer discounts for not consuming particular food or beverage options.

Policies

Will you match prices on airbnb and VRBO?
Yes. The prices listed on airbnb and VRBO change daily based on demand. We will match those prices without a booking fee. Some restrictions apply. Price-matched bookings must be paid in full at the time of booking, but 50% is refundable if canceled at least 30 days in advance of the arrival date. Holiday bookings have a seven-day minimum, whereas other bookings have a two-day minimum. Prices are guaranteed for 48 hours from the time you receive a booking agreement. Bookings are confirmed by signing the booking agreement and paying the nonrefundable deposit.

What are your payment terms and refund policy?
For direct bookings at our published rates, we require 50% at the time of booking and the balance 30 days before arrival. For bookings made less than 60 days before arrival, we require 100% at the time of booking. Cancelations at least 30 days prior to arrival will receive a 50% refund if they are paid in full. If the government closes or evacuates to Sian Ka’an (usually due to severe weather) a full refund will be provided for the rent and meal plans that you are unable to use.

Is Casa Almaviva a good place to stay if I am going to the music festivals in Tulum?
No, most of these festivals start late and end in the early morning. We recommend finding more convenient accommodations in Tulum, since driving late at night in Sian Ka’an can be dangerous and if you break down it’s possible you may be stuck for hours.

Can I host a party?
While you are free to dance all night with your registered guests, we have a strict no-party policy at Casa Almaviva. However, you may invite up to four visitors for lunch or dinner, by notifying the owner in advance. Visitors cannot stay overnight, and you cannot invite additional guests for a party. (Meals for guests are charged by consumption; see your booking agreement for details.)

Special Considerations

Where do the staff live?
The staff lives in separate quarters on the property and will afford you plenty of privacy. There is always at least one staffer available if you need assistance. At mealtimes and during the day, the staff will be taking care of your group and the villa. In the afternoons and at night they retire to their quarters.

Is water near the villa good for swimming and snorkeling?
This area is well known for it white sand beaches and crystal clear Caribbean waters. It’s perfect for swimming, especially on days when it’s not too windy. The Mesoamerican Reef system lies 400 meters from the shore, a 25-minute swim with fins.

Is the beach rocky or sandy?
The beach near the villa is sandy and so is the floor of the sea. Most guests sunbathe in the private, sandy back yard of the villa with a beautiful view of the sea. We offer a sun bed and lounges on the pool deck. When the tides and conditions permit, you can stroll two kilometers up the beach. Rarely will you see another human.

Will there be sargassum on the beach during my visit?
Sargassum is an unpredictable, periodic, and seasonal natural occurrence on the Maya Riviera. Most of the time there is little or no sargassum on the beach or in the water. Sometimes thick mats of sargassum travel from Brazil across the Caribbean and wash up on the beach, where it dries in the sun and decays. This can sometimes produce a sulfuric odor that can be bothersome, especially for people with respiratory issues. Occasionally the sargassum will be so thick that it’s not practical to enter the sea for swimming. That’s why we built a pool for your enjoyment. There are also public access points within a few kilometers of the villa that may have no sargassum. The nature boat trips also offer swimming and snorkeling options in the area that are free of sargassum year-round.

Are there insects?
Casa Almaviva is in the jungle and insects can be an issue. The good news is that there are many months of the year when insects are minimal. Even during the times they are out in force, it’s typically just for a couple of hours starting at dusk. Casa Almaviva provides organic bug spray but you are welcome and encouraged to bring your own. We often fog the villa between guest visits, and provide fans and use anti-insect candles and bug zappers to lessen their impact.

Events & Promotion

Can I host my wedding at Casa Almaviva?
If you are having a private ceremony attended by only the people staying at the villa, this is possible. Contact the owner to discuss details. We cannot accommodate large parties with outside guests.

Is commercial photography permitted?
Commercial photography is possible. Contact the owner to discuss details.

Do you do collaborations with social media promoters?
We offer social media promoters a discount code to advertise on their sites. We will pay a commission on the rental of any guest who uses that code. We do not offer free or discounted lodging in exchange for promotions. Contact the owner for details.