At El Castillo de Bella, wake up to the community coming alive, with roosters crowing and horses wandering by just outside your door. Embrace the vibrant culture, from music to history. Enjoy cooking in the new and fully equipped kitchen or savor local foods nearby. Don't miss out on Bio Bay tours, horseback rides on the beach, and exploring stunning beaches. End your day on the rooftop, soaking in the magnificent sunset. Refresh your spirit amidst the sights, sounds, and experiences of Vieques. The space We are Morgan & Craig, your future hosts for an unforgettable vacation experience. After years of falling in love with this beautiful island, we finally decided to make our dreams a reality and purchased a property in Vieques. While we are unable to be here as regularly now as we'd like, we are delighted to share this wonderful property with others who can appreciate the low-key, wild vibes of the island. El Castillo de Bella is located in the north-west corner of Esperanza, considered the tourist town in Vieques filled with small shops and restaurants on the lively beachfront Malecon. It is about a 12-minute walk (or 5-minute drive) to town and an 8-minute walk to the closest beach (Coconut Beach). It is situated in a vibrant neighborhood, providing the experience to be a part of the local community. The home is an elevated solid cement construction on one level, with stairs to enter the building and access the roof. Just recently fully renovated in 2023 and early 2024, the property comes fully equipped with all that you need to enjoy a day in or a day at the beach. Rooms: ⭐ 2 bedrooms - 1 with a queen bed, 1 with two twins (max capacity 4) ⭐ Open floor plan living room, workspace, and kitchen with eat-at bar ⭐ 1 1/4 bathrooms - 1 with a sink, toilet, and shower (accessed off the kitchen), and 1 small bathroom with a sink and toilet (accessed off the queen bedroom) Amenities: 🔹 Personal check-in from experienced property manager who will assist with setting you up for a fabulous vacation 🔹 Fully equipped kitchen with a stainless-steel refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, gas stovetop, Ninja air fryer, Cuisinart coffee maker and grinder, and Ninja blender. All the cooking implements, pots / pans, and more to help prepare nice meals at home or reheat leftovers. Note: this home does NOT have an oven. 🔹 Air Conditioners (mini splits) throughout - one in each bedroom, and two in the main open area. 🔹 Fans throughout to help circulate air 🔹 Dependable wireless internet 🔹 High-capacity washer & dryer 🔹 Propane BBQ grill 🔹 4 Tommy Bahama backpack-style beach chairs, towels, Sport-Brella beach umbrella, some beach toys, 2 sets of snorkel gear, 1 big kids life jacket, 1 puddle jumper life jacket, 2 coolers of varying sizes 🔹 Small selection of games, puzzles, and books for rainy days 🔹 Pack n Play (available upon request) - note that while we are baby friendly, this property is not baby proofed. 🔹 Yoga mats 🔹 Hair dryer 🔹 Porch with seating perfect for enjoying your morning cup of coffee or watching the local horses wander down the street 🔹 Initial supply of toilet paper and shampoo / soaps provided 🔹 Tastefully decorated 🔹 Rooftop views for days (coming soon: rooftop seating!) 🚫 No Smoking / No Pets 🚫 To maintain the comfort of future guests (especially those with allergies or sensitivities), this property does not allow pets or smoking. Thank you for understanding and adhering to these rules. Guest access Guests have access to all spaces with the exception of any locked areas. Attempted entry to any of these areas will incur fees. Thank you for understanding. Other things to note Hurricane Season: June 1st through November 30th is Hurricane season. Guests intending to visit during this time are responsible for getting on and off the island at their own expense, including expenses incurred of any cancellations due to booking during known Hurricane season. Utilities: Vieques experiences occasional power, water, and internet outages so this is to be expected when booking. This is an island with fragile infrastructure systems. If this does happen, they are often restored in a few hours, so we ask for your patience. If it is taking longer to restore, reach out to us and we will see if we can identify when service will be available again. Refunds will not be extended in these cases as they are beyond our control. Sleep Enhancements: Vieques is #blessed with a healthy chicken population and as such, be prepared for the dawn chorus of roosters. While closing windows and running the AC does help to minimize the noise, their crowing may still be audible. To help you rest peacefully, we've placed sound machines in both bedrooms. If you are a very light sleeper, we recommend using earplugs to further block out unwanted noise. We’ve provided an initial supply but if those are gone, they are often available for purchase in the markets or the hardware stores (Rosa’s Depot or Commercial Florida). Similarly, we’ve installed light blocking shades in the front bedroom windows to help darken the room. Neighborhood Sounds: Our property is located in the vibrant barrio of Esperanza. This neighborhood offers an authentic experience, complete with the typical sounds of a bustling area, ranging from home construction to music. While this is beyond our control, our thick cement walls, windows, AC units, and sound machines do help to minimize their impact. If complete peace and tranquility is on your agenda, we recommend exploring mid-island and north shore options. However, please note there is no escaping the roosters in Vieques! 😉