Casita Limon

1-3 guests 1-3 guests
1 bedroom 1 BR
1-2 beds 1-2 beds
1 bathroom 1 BA
1BR
Low Season
$58/nt
High Season
$72/nt
Holiday
$92/nt
Highlights
  • Around the Corner from town and beach
  • Private Home in lush garden setting with fountain
  • Wifi Internet
  • Classic Mexican Architecture
  • Rooftop Patio Palapa 360-degree view
  • Front gate 200 ft. from Yah-Yah Cafe, @YahYahCafe
Description

 

Casita Limon in Sayulita is a striking, artist-designed and -constructed home that sits on a beautifully landscaped hill only three blocks, five minutes walking, from the beach and plaza (town square.)  A free-standing, fully-furnished home with terraced gardens, you will enjoy the peace and serenity of a private home. Though, Mexicans love a good party and a few fireworks, so Sayulita is not always a quiet, tranquil place - ;-) There are also neighborhood roosters and ChaChalaca birds who make noise at times, just to be aware.

This elegant modern colonial features a ceramic tiled kitchen and bathroom with a beautiful walk-in tiled shower and a comfortable wide loggia (porch) with traditional Mexican ambiance that overlooks gardens and valley.  The dramatic rooftop area with palapa (thatched) roof and traditional equipale furniture provides a wonderful spot in which to relax and take in the 360-degree view above the tree tops with long vistas and a glimpse of ocean waves.

With twelve-foot ceilings and Mexican decor throughout, the spacious bedroom has a queen-sized bed and ceiling fan and the living room area can accommodate 1-2 smaller children on the built-in couch.  (The house is great for 1-2 adults, perfect for a couple, good for a family with one small child and doable for a family with 2 small children.)  Casita Limon is completely equipped with linens and towels as well as a convenient large kitchenette with four-burner stovetop, refrigerator/freezer, blender, coffee pot, toaster, dishes/pots and pans, bottled water...  all the things to make "mi casita, su casita."  (We also now have a small safe for your valuables, but only bring what you need!)

The landscaped garden features a private outdoor shower (in addition to the one in the bathroom) to wash off the ocean salt as well as a large Mexican Cantera stone fountain.  The casita features a shared and shaded walk up from the street which puts the home among the trees and birds.  There is no need for a car; everything is literally steps away.  Casita Limon offers everything you'll need for a memorable Sayulita experience:  comfort, convenience, lush surroundings and the experience of living in a true neighborhood..

Yah-Yah Cafe has moved to 200 feet from our front gate:  great neighborhood hangout for good coffee and super fresh food like breakfast bowls and bagel sandwiches. 

Come to surf, sun, hike, swim, shop in wonderful local stores, ride horseback and experience the wonderful cuisine and ambiance of a small Mexican town.

Sayulita is a special place; we think Casita Limon is too.

Strict House Rule:  No smoking or fire of any kind on the entire property. Includes vaping and grilling. Non-adherence may result in forfeiture of reservation; the palapa roof on the third floor is an extreme fire risk.

Please contact us via the form with any questions and to arrange your stay.

Amenities
Garden Garden
Jungle Jungle
A/C A/C
Garden Garden
Wifi Wifi
Beach Essentials - Beach Chairs Beach Essentials - Beach Chairs
Views
Garden Garden
Jungle Jungle
A/C & Cooling
A/C A/C
Pool & Outdoors
Garden Garden
Show all amenities
Calendar

Pricing Details

Rates do not include 16% IVA

Winter (Nov-April):  $72 / night......$445 / week

Summer (May-Oct):  $58 / night......$345 / week

Holiday:  $92 / night......$575 / week

The month of February:  $78 / night.....$495 / week

50% non-refundable** deposit due at time of booking, Balance due two weeks prior to arrival.

No Smoking Please (includes entire property; sorry, no exceptions) and Pet Friendly with Permission.
Four-night Minimum Stay.  Check-in:  4pm; Check-out: 11am.

**Deposit will be refunded if dates are re-rented.

Long-Term rental available, Summer only.


Payment Formats Accepted
Paypal
Personal Check
Reviews
4.8
37 reviews
Cleanliness
4.8
Location
4.8
Facilities
4.8
Value for money
4.8
Comfort
4.8
Staff
4.8
Total Score:
The Best of All Worlds
A one minute walk transports you from a lush, secluded, garden paradise to the vibrant, bustling hub of Sayulita life. Despite being moments away from all that is Sayulita nightlife, this property rises above the fray and is dead quiet at night. The space is well stocked with amenities, clean, comfortable, and visually lovely. Both the front porch and third story palapa are magical places to soak in beauty in peace, the tinkle of the fountain soothes the soul, and an outdoor shower overhung by palms and flowers is a particular delight. Birds and iguanas abound to keep you company as you relax in paradise.
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Stayed: May, 2023
Wonderful Casita!
+ Very private (we stayed when the owners were not there and it's hard to get an idea of layout from the photos, but it is both secure and tucked away), lovely roof area for coffee & drinks (not too many drinks with the stairs though!), wonderful outdoor shower, excellent AC which we definitely used to sleep in June humidity, good wifi for video calling (make sure to connect to the extension network & it stopped once but unplugging/plugging back in fixed it). A lot of space for the price. - Close to town (which is great for walking) but be aware that neighboring apartments will have loud music to late (4am). It was no problem for us with a loud fan going to hide it with white noise as the bedroom is also furthest from noise, but extra light sleepers should be aware. Others things to be aware of for most places in Sayulita: don't drink the tap water (drinking water is provided), sewer systems can't take toilet paper, electricity went out once for us in the rain for 1/2 day (not sure how common), washer/dryers are uncommon so you need to use a laundromat. Overall though I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with Casita Limon.
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Stayed: June, 2022
Response from Owner/Manager on 06/14/2022

Tim, thank you so very much for your kind review; I think the detail is great and helpful for prospective guests. I’m so sorry that you experienced noise from a neighboring house but that it is not at all common. During the winter season, we experienced that type of noise about 2-3 times. Thanks again and please come back sometime!

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Amazinghouse
Amazing house. Super humble. Well decorated. Comfortable. Has everything you need. stunning yard with tons of greenery. Close to all of the restaurants, bars, and beach. Given it’s a party/beach town the music pumps until 2 or 3 in the morning most nights. But, it wasn’t too bothersome, overall. And during the daytime it’s absolutely relaxing and lovely. Host was very friendly and responsive. Highly recommended it!
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Stayed: March, 2022
Amazingg place!
Would stay here anytime when visiting. Location is distanced enough away to not be disturbed while sleeping, but still a very close walk to the main square and super convenient for the beach, especially if carrying a surfboard etc. It really is like staying in a private jungle, especially with the rooftop, outdoor shower, and porch! All inquiries was responded immediately when asked questions and was extremely helpful!
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Stayed: March, 2022
Muchas gracias
Every step to this gorgeous one bedroom is worth it. It is like being in a tile decorated tree house. Nice view. Fully equipped kitchen. Plenty of clean water. Feels secure and safe. Temperature is easy to regulate. nice location in Sayulita. perfect value. And climbing to the roof top view was a sweet bonus. stunning in the afternoon light. Very attentive host.
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Stayed: March, 2022
Highly recommended
We loved our stay at Casita during our stay in Sayulita. The location was very close to downtown, just 2 blocks and to the beach. It felt safe and tucked away. It was open and freshly ventilated and clean. It was perfect to have AC but hardly used it as the temperatures were mild. We will definitely try to stay here again next time we visit.
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Stayed: March, 2022
Adored my stay thank you
One of my preferred places in recent history: You’re around corner from town and restaurants and shops but the house is a little tucked away on a hill so that you have an escape. The place is well stocked and comfortable and easy place to call home while bopping around town and hitting the beach. Highlights include a stunning kitchen, an outdoor shower, and exceedingly kind and responsive hosts.
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Stayed: February, 2022
Amazing rental!
Maria and Jim’s home is absolutely gorgeous. Such great Mexican charm and they were very thoughtful with keeping the place stocked with all the supplies needed. Their dog Pepper is adorable and my pup was obsessed! During a town-wide power outage, Jim came by and gave me a headlamp.

I definitely recommend this lovely apartment! Perfect location.
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Stayed: February, 2022
perfect location!
Amazing location! Thanks.
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Stayed: January, 2022
Great home
The space was just as pictured, stunning and secluded despite being right in town. It was quiet, and the rooftop palapa was the The space was just as pictured, charming and secluded despite being right in town. It was quiet, and the rooftop palapa was the nicest space to enjoy. I did have issues with the WiFi, but communication with the host was excellent and they were actually in the process of transitioning to fiber optic to avoid any WiFi issues in the future. space to enjoy. I did have issues with the WiFi, but communicating with the host was awesome and they were actually in the process of transitioning to fiber optic to avoid any WiFi issues in the future.
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Stayed: January, 2022
Maria in Sayulita Mexico
Owner/Manager
Maria
Bio Please mention SayulitaLife
Meet the Owners Series: Jim Starkey and Maria Zache Starkey (Casita Limon) By: Stacey Elkins Will you please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself? We are Jim Starkey and Maria Zache Starkey (owners of vacation rental, Casita Limon). We have been together for 24 years, married for nine, and met at a punk bar. Jim was a photographer, journalist and director for a good-sized newspaper in the U.S. and has been a fine artist (oil paintings) all of his life. Jim paints many scenes of Sayulita and his work can currently be seen at Libreria Sayulita on Miramar. Maria worked for many years at fine art galleries before finally working in her degree field of political science (urban planning) as part of a community organizing team at a neighborhood association in an historic district, our former neighborhood. We did a massive down-sizing two + years ago and now live in a downtown condominium in an 1875 brick building. We drive each winter from the Midwestern United States with two cats and a dog (who Sara from SayulitAnimals matched us with) about 3,200 miles. We love seeing the sights in Mexico and the U.S. along the way and feel that traveling by car through the many ecosystems is a much more human method of making the transition each year. We have both done volunteer work with and for the amazing Sayulita organizations Pro Sayulita and SayulitAnimals, as well as work with Sayulita Life and Sayulita Magazine. The past two winters Maria has also helped to make mattresses for local, indigenous children from plastic grocery bags; this is an amazing project started in Sayulita by the tireless efforts of Carolina and Fernando Lazaro. What is it about Sayulita that made you want to buy a vacation rental here and how long after your first visit to Sayulita did you purchase your house/lot? We always had in the back of our minds that we would “retire” somewhere warm and had thought for quite some time that would be in the Caribbean. Slowly it dawned on us that we could drive to Mexico and that Mexico offered way more culture than just about anywhere. Sayulita has that unquantifiable “thing.” During our first visit in April of 2005, Jim met Barry DuMont of Galeria Gypsy on Marlin. Barry really liked Jim’s artwork and suggested that we come back for a show at the store. We did so in December of that year and both started looking at property online. It was not our intent to buy; it just seemed so right. Barry suggested we look at property with Israel Preciado and we Fruit Truck in the plaza painting by Jim Starkeyended up being Israel’s first real estate sale when we purchased Casita Limon. “Back in the day,” it was: Visit Sayulita / Buy Land. Then it became: Visit Sayulita / Buy a House. There are many, many stories around town from foreign owners (many of whom are now our friends) who purchased after their first or second visit to Sayulita. What is it about Sayulita? The people, the dogs, the roosters, the dirt and cobblestoned streets, the immediacy of life being lived, the beach, the ocean, the hills, the jungle, the food, the culture – we liked everything about Sayulita. There was also the comfort of the foreign community and being neighbors with like souls. I’m sure that over time, the influx of foreign owners has been at times challenging for the long-time national residents; this community has certainly changed Sayulita and not all change is good. Did you build or remodel your home? If so, please tell us one of the classic "you won't believe this" stories. We have added a second floor to our Sayulita home and several years later, added another room to the new floor. (Our house is now a duplex and we live on the second floor when in Sayulita.) Working with the Mexican architect and craftsmen was a delight, but we encountered a surprise when we first went to obtain the building permit."Your property is too small to build a home on". What? Our house is already there! When our property was divided and the first building completed, the minimum lot size was smaller. They did give us the new permit and in effect, “grandfathered” our house in. How long have you owned your home in Sayulita? We bought our home in 2005. Can you share with us some of the changes you have seen around town? Sayulita is cleaner, busier and more comfortable. Within one hundred yards of our home there are more than a dozen new structures. Because our neighborhood is hilly, it doesn't seem crowded. The beach is way busier. There used to be only one chair rental; now they cover much of the main beach. What in particular made you decide on this house rather than other listings available at the time? We loved the traditional architecture, the location, and an affordable price. Israel took us to see some other lots and we both kept saying: “What about that small brick house?” We hadn’t realized that the other had been looking at the same house online! Maria likes to joke that we would not have had the opportunity to buy our house had the real estate photos been better. They were taken in the middle of the afternoon and made the house look very hot when it is really much more like an oasis. Another couple (who had stayed at the very same Sayulita vacation rental unit right before us, coincidentally) hemmed and hawed too long about whether this was the right decision / investment for them. Maria can remember lying under the Christmas tree that December looking up at the lights and ornaments, after our offer had been accepted and we had made the non-refundable deposit. Jim asked: “Are we doing the right thing?” Maria answered: “Do you ever really know? You just follow your heart and go.” We’ve heard many similar stories from homeowners in Sayulita. How would you describe the neighborhood your vacation rental is in? Our neighbors are divided equally between established Mexican households, rental properties owned by foreigners who visit occasionally, and owner-occupied rentals. Who is the most interesting guest you have hosted at your home? We had a delightful several-time renter who rescued an opossum that some workmen had thrown into the street. She took the animal and gave it a Reiki treatment. The grateful animal revived and went on his way. What are your favorite things to recommend your guests do while in Sayulita? Everyday things take on more enjoyment. A walk through town, sitting in the square, a trip to the store, an afternoon at the beach or dinner on a street-side table can all be an adventure. What do you feel sets your house apart from other vacation rentals in Sayulita? Although our casita is a short walk to the square and the beach, it is in a quiet and private setting. Many guests appreciate the traditional Mexican architecture, the lush garden and fountain, and that we’ve kept the modern conveniences to a minimum. We do offer wifi, but not TV or telephone, providing a true chance to unplug, if so desired. What advice do you have for someone searching for a home/land in Sayulita? Look for property or homes that aren't automobile or golf cart dependent. This is a walkable town. Enjoy it. Don't add to the congestion and spend your time and energy finding a place to park. Follow your heart. Encore Story Published about owner Jim Starkey: AFTER A CELEBRATED CAREER AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST, THIS ENCORE RETURNED TO HIS FIRST LOVE -- PAINTING As a youngster, Jim Starkey’s father was as apt to ask him not only “What happened in school today?,” but also “So, do you think you’ll ever amount to much?” He chuckles good-naturedly. “I don’t know if I have,” he answers, “but that idea of being worthwhile has always stuck and I don’t mean financially.” Meet a guy who earned his first dollar working as a pre-teen in a carnival and lost his mother at 17 and his father just five years later. By then, Jim was already an old hand at the newspaper business, as he started shooting photos as a “stringer” for his hometown newspaper in Downer’s Grove, Illinois while still in high school. But even as he completed a journalism degree at the University of Missouri and went to work at a career that spanned 37 years at The Grand Rapids Press (The Press), Jim kept one hand on the artist’s palette, leaning on classes he had taken not only through community education programs, but at the esteemed Art Institute of Chicago. He and his photo staff won awards during the 1970s and 1980s that garnered The Press national attention on numerous occasions. And these days, he still loves shooting black and white images that capture people and their personalities. What he’s accelerated since retiring from The Press in 2007, though, is his art – vibrant paintings that capture the work and whimsy of everyday people both here in Michigan and in the Mexican village of Sayulita, where he and wife Maria own a year-round casita. “When I was little, I made a lot of art on my own. I remember getting copies of “Arizona Highways” and I would sketch those photos with pastels -- the cacti and the sunsets and the highways.” As he matured, Jim realized that “I wasn’t enough of a go-getter to make a living at art…so I became a photographer.” During news meetings, he remembers “making little scales where I would grade places on their scenery, the food, how easy it was to get there and are the girls pretty. And after my first time to Sayulita, its score always ended up higher than anywhere else.” A bit of a maverick even at an early age, Jim appreciated a paint-by-number set given to him by his grandparents, but he ignored the number scheme in favor of laying in his own colors wherever he wanted. That technique persisted some, as his paintings reflect intense color, contrast and texture. While he and Maria winter in their Mexican haven, they also keep a place above the old Peck’s drugstore building in Grand Rapids at the northeast corner of Monroe Center and N. Division Avenue. They live above Jim’s studio, which doubles as a gallery he shares with other artists – a lively scene where passersby can watch artists in action while pondering a purchase or discussing a commissioned work. “Have you ever been to an art gallery where people are working?” Jim asks. “There aren’t a lot of places like that. And we really enjoy talking to people; we’re even a little giddy about it.” Of course, given the fact they’re located in the hub of downtown Grand Rapids, not everyone stops in for the sake of art. Every now and then, says Jim, someone comes in and asks, “Say, do you have some quarters for the meter?” ABOUT ENCORE Encore is a burgeoning national movement created to tap the skills and experience of those in midlife and beyond to improve communities and the world. Encore sets out to define this new stage of life. An Encore can combine work, service and social impact. Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Encore is leading the way in Kent County by seeking to inspire individuals in their 50s and beyond to engage in meaningful work and service that makes a difference. In addition, we seek to challenge organizations in our community to pave the way and increase their capacity for experienced talent by identifying innovative pathways and opportunities for service.
Rental and/or owner has been physically verified by a SayulitaLife.com staff member.