Casa Duna is a safe, beautiful and self-contained oasis. An easy two hour drive from the Los Cabos international airport to your private paradise. Join family or close friends in a your exclusive main villa and separate luxurious casitas on the dunes above the the beach, with every room having oceanviews. One and a half acres of protected private and walled gardens of native flora with pools and a hot tub for your own use. You will be the only residents, and all will be thoroughly cleaned to the highest hygienic standards before your arrival.
Main house - Max 8 adult guests/2 children - $850/night
Beach Casita - $250/night (only rented to guests of the main house)
Mountain Casita - $200/night (only rented to guests of the main house)
Saturday to Saturday rentals from November till March. Exceptions available at times so please ask if needed.
Enjoy the beachfront from your own property, or enjoy walks and swims across twelve miles of continuous and gorgeous beach that is never crowded. Spacious decks and balconies with extraordinary 360 degree views of sea, cactus forest and mountains. Enjoy peerless bike trails through the cactus and dunes, rarely seeing anyone else on them. Paddle SUPs and kayaks in the vast Bahia de la Ventana, and learn or advance your kiting skills. Cook your own meals in a gourmet kitchen, grill them outside, or make your own pizzas in outdoor brick woodburning oven. if you want to be adventurous, choose among many local restaurants with tables adequately distanced.
You could happily never leave the property, or you could explore a different location each day, each uncrowded even before the pandemic. This is decidedly not the density and sprawl of Los Cabos.
See a picturesque restored silver mining town; enjoy a spectacular sheltered harbor with a dramatic beach and quiet and spacious restaurants ; go deep sea fishing in some of the best sport fishing locations in the world ; swim with whale sharks or sea lions from a private chartered boat; see a magical colonial town with art galleries and craft shops ; hike to a desert waterfall with a swimming pond under it, or natural hot springs ; snorkel or scuba dive in the northernmost coral reefs in the Pacific ; hike the arroyos and deserted beaches in one of the largest uninhabited Islands in the world ; ride mountain bikes on engineered trails in the mountains overlooking the bay ; drive or charter a private boat to a beach often listed as one of the most beautiful in the world...
Stay safely at home in paradise for an entire week...Or combine that with safe and near private excursions.
There is nothing quite like it anywhere.
Casa Duna is located on beautiful South Beach in the friendly and laid-back Baja fishing village of La Ventana. The property consists of the main house and two casitas on one and a half acres. Over 6000 square feet of patios and shaded outdoor areas with a protected solar heated pool.
***Main house maximum capacity is 8 adults.
***We have the best internet available in town.
***Our mountain casita is typically occupied by the onsite caretaker. Windows are screened for your privacy.
***Solar heating system for the mountain pool that is always protected from the wind.
Designed by leading Santa Barbara, California architects Shubin & Donaldson.
THE AREA
It has breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez, miles of unspoiled soft sand beaches, the rugged and uninhabited Cerralvo Island (recently renamed Jacques Cousteau Island by the Mexican government for its pristine and protected beauty and its association with the late underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau, who called the nearby sea 'the world's aquarium'); mountains circling more than 270 degrees around you; and a huge Cardon (giant cactus) forest just behind you, with many huge specimens within your private walled property. And it is just a 10 minute walk along the beach to the center of the safe and picturesque La Ventana village, with fishermen's pangas (boats) lining the beach, casual and inexpensive restaurants with the freshest of seafood, simple and friendly bars (many offering excellent musical entertainment in the winter months) and coffee shops, small groceries, world-class kite and windsurf instruction, and even some spas.
ACTIVITIES
Launch your kite, windsurf, stand-up-paddle, kayak, or fish just feet from your front door -- or mountain bike, hike or off-road from your back door on miles of well-kept single track trails or jeep trails through a forest of thousands of huge seguaro-like cardon cacti, or through arroyos to remote beaches for snorkeling, or to an old lighthouse you can climb for views across the Sea of Cortez. World-class sport fishing right in front of you, for marlin, sailfish, dorado, roosterfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, pargo, sierra, yellowtail, and seabass. You can make arrangements with local fisherman to take you out (for a fraction of the cost of Cabo charters); surfcast, spearfish, or even fish from your surfboard or kayak; or take a whale-watching excursion; look for giant manta rays jumping from the sea, swimming turtles, or schools of dolphins; or even swim with whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea, almost always in the vicinity. Or just relax and enjoy the amazing views, bird watch, or walk for miles along the beach -- one renowned for sea turtle hatches. This region of Baja, land and sea, is famous for its many endemic species of plants and animals. You will see why Baja is recognized as a biological treasure in ways not easily apparent in highly developed and commercialized Cabo.
THE EXPERIENCE IS SPECIAL
Enjoy mountain and desert sunsets from the pools or several upper decks, soak in two hot tubs, one on an upper deck with gorgeous views, and swim in two pools -- a large pool in the large inner courtyard shielded from winter winds, and a smaller one for non-windy days off your front patio between you and the beach. In the ocean, there is soft sand under your feet and gentle waves for safe ocean swimming. And beautiful cactus and palm and flower gardens around the courtyard.
Enjoy drinks at the bar on the 3rd floor observatory level, and enjoy ocean, desert and mountain views as the sun sets, from seats in or near either of the pools, in the beachside or courtyard palapas, or by a firepit on the master balcony.
MAIN HOUSE
One grand master bedroom with a king bed, sleeping porch over the sea, sea, sunrise and desert views, large desk, dressing area, large ensuite bathroom with tub and separate shower, wrap-around porch with fire pit and hot tub. Two smaller master bedrooms with queen beds, direct sea views, balconies and private baths.
Beautifully furnished throughout, with local and global artwork. Outdoor sleeping patios to sleep under the stars. (It very rarely rains). Gourmet kitchen; large living areas with indoor-outdoor feel; fully air conditioned; your choice of outdoor and indoor dining areas; beachside and inner courtyard shade palapas; built-in outdoor gas grill, or make your own pizza (or breads/meals) in an outdoor wood-burning pizza oven; third floor observatory with a bar and jaw-dropping views; gymnasium with elliptical machine, recumbent bike and free weights; audio system with cable TV and Sonos; wireless internet; state-of-art security system; laundry room with washer and dryer; resident caretakers for your peace of mind and convenience (and gourmet meals if you wish) .
Sleeps eight in beds in the main house, six in the three beds in the three master bedrooms, and two in the gym. The gym, with access from outdoors and private access through one of the smaller masters, has a twin bed with a twin trundle under it. .
CASITAS
Lou's casita sleeps up to six, with small and private bedroom with queen bed, small separate room with double bed and bunk bed, sitting area, and bathroom accessed from either sleeping area. Spectacular sea and beach views with floor to ceiling windows that can be fully opened.
Casa Cardon, the caretaker's residence, is also available by special request. It sleeps 2, with a bedroom with a queen bed, sitting area with foldout for small children, kitchen and private patio with great desert views.
GETTING THERE
Rent a car at the airport, or we can have safe, courteous and reliable Cabo and La Paz airport pick-ups arranged for small or large groups. La Paz airport is just 45 minutes away (currently just flights within Mexico) . San Jose Del Cabo international airport is just under 2 hours away, and an easy drive. United, American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, and other airlines fly there with great frequency and good value from about 20 North American cities.
SPECIAL SERVICES AND LOCAL EXCURSIONS
Pre-stocking with food and drinks of your choice can be arranged, as can shopping be while you are there. We can arrange for an excellent cook for all your meals, or for just some of them, or what you catch - - Mexican gourmet by a superb trained chef, or delicious everyday Mexican, clean-up included. Professional massages and yoga instruction can be arranged at the house.
We can also arrange local guided excursions available to many fascinating locations (e.g, the Bay of Dreams with restaurants and a beautiful, wind-sheltered beach; Balandra Beach, by water or road, on most lists of the most beautiful in the world; world famous Espiritu Santos Island for exploration, deserted beaches, kayaking, bird watching or swimming with sea lions ; a desert waterfall and natural deep river pool for swimming or natural hot springs, both near Santiago off the road to Los Csbos; restaurants, shops and a fascinating mining museum in picturesque El Triunfo; art galleries, craft shopping, restaurants and Pacific beaches in the beautiful colonial town of Todos Santos; ancient pictographs; the beautiful waterfront malecon in La Paz, with excellent restaurants, an interesting whale museum, and a pottery where we bought many in our beautiful collection; whale viewing or swim with whale-shark expeditions; boat ride to sea lion colonies or to explore (or even hunt wild goats) on uninhabited island; coral reef scuba diving; coral reef snorkeling; surfing on the Pacific beaches, nearby mountain biking; fishing and spear-fishing, etc. ).
RATES
Weekly rates, far less than in Cabo, vary by season. There is no comparable property in the area -- and the area is unique.
BUILT TO BE GREEN
And if you're like most windsports enthusiasts and care a great deal about sustainability and responsible green design, Casa Duna was built to be sustainable and with minimal environmental impact.
-Solar pool heating system. The mountain pool is warm all year round by the sun.
-Extensive roof-mounted solar panel array generates electricity for use on-site; excess power is metered back to the grid for others to use.
-Solar hot water domestic heating.
-Lots of natural light reduces the need for artificial lighting. Windows are shaded and deep wall recesses reduce hot summer sun overheating the interior. South windows allow the low winter sun in to heat the tile floors.
-Extremely high insulation in walls reduces air conditioning cooling loss and exterior heat gain. Operable windows/doors on both sides of all rooms increase natural ventilation and reduce need for air conditioning.
-The basic construction material is an advanced Mexican-made material called Performwall, a recycled product with 85% recycled content. The insulation forms a full thermal break from interior to exterior, one of the best ways to minimize heat transfer.
-Waste-water irrigation system for the landscaping. All grey and black water is recycled and used for irrigating the plants.