Castaway Palms

About Castaway Palms

Before you even set foot inside, the hand-painted life-size jaguar mural greets you — a crouching jaguar on ancient Mayan stone, staring straight at you through the wild garden, surrounded by heliconia blooms and jungle palms.This is your welcome to Castaway Palms. The main house is the warm, colorful, art-filled heart of the estate — and once you arrive, you will understand why guests never want to leave.— ARRIVAL —Look for the bold yellow pillars painted with 'Castaway Palms' — you'll spot them easily from the beach road. Pass through the warm honey-coloured hardwood gate and the world disappears. The pool wall stops you first — a breathtaking panoramic Caribbean beach scene painted in vivid colour: swaying palms, a beach cottage, tropical birds in flight, turquoise ocean. Follow the garden path through wild bougainvillea and the jaguar mural appears — life-size, vivid, and completely unexpected.There is parking space for up to 4 vehicles.— THE BEACH —120 feet of your own private Caribbean beach. White sand, coconut palms heavy with green coconuts, and water that shifts from aquamarine to jade to deep sapphire as it reaches the reef. An opening in the reef creates a natural bowl of warm, calm sand — perfect for swimming, shallow enough to stand and watch the fish right beneath your feet. Go for a morning swim, rinse off under the outdoor shower, and settle into a hammock with your coffee while the birds sing in the palms. Beach loungers and chairs are set up and waiting.— THE POOL —The oceanfront pool sits right on the beach behind its magnificent curved privacy wall — hand-painted with a panoramic tropical beach scene on the outside and a glorious golden-haired mermaid rides the painted waves on the poolside, where a built-in bench runs along the wall. Float in the pool while watching the real Caribbean just beyond.— THE SCREENED LANAI —The screened lanai is a world of its own — a beautiful shaded room open to the tropics, with hand-painted tropical bird murals across its walls. Sit inside the painting. Hear the ocean through the screens. Watch the coconut palms sway. This is where mornings happen at Castaway Palms. The screened lanai is reserved exclusively for main house guests.— MAIN LEVEL · 3 bed / 2 bath · sleeps up to 5 —The main house is warm and alive with personality. Arched picture windows frame the Caribbean like a living painting from the dining room and living area — golden yellow walls, colorful Mexican woven throws, ceiling fans, and hand-painted tropical bird murals throughout the lanai.The Master Suite has a king bed and a queen bed, both beneath a stunning hand-painted tropical mural covering the wall above you as you sleep. Open your eyes to ocean views every morning. A dedicated workspace for those who need to stay connected is also in the master suite.The Toucan Room has a queen bed beneath a gorgeous large-format painting of a toucan perched in tropical jungle leaves — warm terracotta tile floors, matching lamps, dark wood nightstands, a personal sink and mirror inside the room, and its own private bathroom right next door.The third room, a.k.a The Nook, is semi-private, separated from the living area by a half wall and has no door — a queen bed, perfect for families or flexible groups who want a little space without full separation. Both bathrooms have a built-in shower seat and all towels are provided. The fully equipped kitchen has Talavera tile details, gas range, full refrigerator, dishwasher, a wooden island with bar seating, and a sliding door straight out to the palms. The dining table seats 6 with the Caribbean framed in arched windows right in front of you.— THE REEF & OCEAN —The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — second largest in the world at 600 miles long — lies just 200 feet offshore. Snorkel, free-dive, kayak, paddleboard, or simply wade out and watch the fish beneath your feet. An opening in the reef creates a sheltered bowl of sand that makes swimming calm and magical even for young children. To the south, 500 metres away, is a famous fly-fishing spot for permit, bonefish, triggerfish and jacks. Spearfishing is world-class — bring your gear and ask the owners about the honey hole. A freshwater lagoon nearby adds even more fishing to the mix.— OFF-GRID COMFORT —The entire estate runs on a whole-house solar system with full electricity backup. The Caribbean trade winds keep things cool and fresh nearly every day of the year — air conditioning is available but rarely needed. Fresh rainwater cistern with UV filtration for clean drinking water. BBQ grill, Starlink WiFi, smart TV, and a full suite of water toys — kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, and boogie boards. Beach massage can be arranged before arrival — ask the owners!A weekly fresh food truck brings local produce, fruit, eggs and meats. Mahahual town is 15km south for restaurants, supplies and day trips.Taxi to and from the airport are available.Pets welcome (max 2, fee applies).A note on sargasso: Summer is the "off season" and sargasso often shows up, but we are fortunate that when it comes ashore, there is always clear water to the right of us for swimming, kayaking and snorkelling.— EVENINGS AT CASTAWAY PALMS —When the sun goes down, the estate comes alive in a different way. Light a campfire on the beach and watch the stars appear over the Caribbean — the night sky out here is something you will not forget. Or climb the rose-pink Stairway to Heaven to the rooftop and stargaze from the hammocks at palm canopy height, with the ocean stretching to the horizon one way and the lagoon the other, views in every direction. Main house guests are welcome on the rooftop (please note: the upper terrace is the private space of upper suite guests when both units are separately rented).— THE LOCALS —Dicey the beach dog will meet you at the gates. Kitty the garden cat moves on her own schedule. Both are very much part of the Castaway Palms family.Cast away from the world. Come home to Castaway Palms.Guests have full private access to:The entire main level — all three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, dining room, fully equipped kitchen, and screened lanaiThe oceanfront pool and pool deck120 feet of private Caribbean beach, including all loungers, hammocks, and chairsOutdoor showerAll water toys — kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, boogie boardsBBQ grillShared with upper suite guests when both units are rented:Beach, pool, and all outdoor areasWater toysThe Stairway to Heaven and rooftop — accessed via the shared stairway; guests from both units are welcome up top and we ask everyone to be courteous and respectful of one another's spaceFULL ESTATE RENTAL: Please inquire if you could like book book both our main and upper level! Upper level includes 2 king suites with attached bathrooms and an outdoor kitchen on the skydeck patio.Please note:The screened lanai is reserved exclusively for main house guests. The upper level terrace and suites are the private space of upper suite guests and are not accessible to main house guests.We manage the property remotely and are always reachable through Whatsapp messaging for any questions before or during your stay — we respond quickly and are happy to help with local recommendations, tips, and anything you need to make your trip special.For on-site needs, we have caretakers who stay at the property and are available to help with any practical questions or maintenance issues that come up. Please note that local knowledge will vary depending on who is currently on site — for restaurant recommendations, day trips, and area advice, we're always your best first call through Whatsapp.The beachfront neighborhood consists of one other rental homes and some Mexicans that live and fish on the beach. These are families and can be trusted. They are caretakers of properties along the beach. To the south about 500 meters is a famous spot for fly fishermen who love to cast into the waves for permit, bone fish, trigger fish and Jacks. If you LOVE to fish you have come to the RIGHT place!There is not public transportation that travels north of Mahahual. Taxis are plentiful in Mahahual. There is public transportation as far as Mahahual. Once at Castaway Palms , there is secured parking inside a fence.Look for the yellow Castaway Palms pillars on the beach road, and we will send you full directions upon booking confirmation.We recommend stocking up on groceries in town on arrival — a fresh food truck visits weekly with vegetables, fruit, eggs and sometimes meats, though service can be irregular.Beach massage is available and can be arranged before or after arrival — please contact us as early as possible as she books up. She is AMAZING.Pets welcome — max 2, fee applies. Please note that Dicey our beach dog and Kitty our garden cat are permanent residents of the property — any visiting dogs must be friendly with other dogs and cats. Guests are responsible for any pet damage.The third bedroom is semi-private with a half wall and no door — please see photos. It works beautifully for families and flexible groups but is not a fully enclosed room.The property runs on solar power with electricity backup. Like all homes in this area, water comes from a rainwater cistern with UV filtration — clean and safe to drink. Occasional brief power fluctuations can happen and are normal for the area.During sargasso season, we are fortunate that clear water is almost always available to the right of the property for swimming, kayaking and snorkelling.Text

Location

Castway Palms is located in Rio Indio, a half an hour drive north along private beach roads from Mahaual Mexico.

This location can be used to get directions from google maps, but we will also provide directions with local landmarks.

Reservation Information

Castaway Palms requires a 2 night minimum stay, with prices per night ranging from $225-$350 USD depending on the season and holiday schedule.Pet policy: We welcome up to two well-behaved, housetrained pets per stay with pre-approval and an additional cleaning fee. Pets must be current on shots as well as flea/tick treatment. Please note that for their safety, all pets should be brought inside at night. Please note we do have our own beach dog and cat! You pets must be friendly to other animals.Smoking: Smoking is never allowed indoors at Castaway Palms. It is permitted in specific areas outside. Please inquire with the owners.Cleaning fee: $75 per stay or $150 if pets are present. The house is cleaned after checkout and before the next guests arrive.Cancellation policy: 100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date; no refunds after that point. We strongly recommend that all travelers purchase trip insurance that covers pandemics, hurricanes, etc.Please Note: There are no sargassum seaweed barriers in this rural area north of Mahahual. Sargassum seaweed has a been a periodic problem throughout the Caribbean since approximately 2015 and we cannot predict whether there will be seaweed in the water or on the beach during your visit, nor can we give refunds for disappointing ocean conditions. We urge all potential renters to understand that if they are staying outside resort areas on the Caribbean, they are likely to encounter sargassum seaweed at some point. When seaweed is present in the water or on the beach in front of our house we encourage renters to visit the groomed beaches in town, where seaweed barriers in the ocean prevent the largest seaweed rafts from floating to shore, or to walk slightly north or south of the house along the beach until they find a clear entry point. If you are concerned that seaweed would ruin your enjoyment of your vacation, please rent a condo or hotel room in town or consider visiting someplace more developed like Playa del Carmen or Cancun.Refunds: We cannot provide refunds for conditions outside our control. This includes weather, road conditions, sargassum seaweed, etc.

Gallery

Castaway Palms is a beautiful location, ready for you to enjoy!

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