Tu Casa at Mary Lee's by the Sea

Please find property details below, and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions before booking!

Discover Tu Casa at Mary Lee’s by the Sea, an eclectic four-bedroom, five-bathroom oceanfront home ideal for ocean, hiking, and mountain biking fans. Since 1967, Mary Lee’s has been a charming vacation rental. Tu Casa features a blend of vintage decor from the original apartments with new furniture, modern ACs, and a classic 20-year-old kitchen, creating a unique retreat for large groups.

Tu Casa offers access to a public dock, an oversized balcony with views of the Caribbean Sea and Gilligan’s Island, and a Water Sports Shack with kayaks, paddle boards, an ice maker, fridge, and coolers. Gilligan's Island is a 10-minute kayak ride away, and Bosque Seco de Guanica trails are a 5-minute drive. The home accommodates up to 12 guests if all mattresses and futons are used. Enjoy a complimentary 5 pm late check-out on Sundays.

IMPORTANT NOTE: SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

For your safety, surveillance cameras are in use on this property. Cameras are located in common areas and outdoor spaces. Please be aware that footage is for security purposes only and is not actively monitored. Exterior cameras face the entrance, balconies, terraces, public docks and common areas.

Please read the following before booking:

LINEN REQUEST FOR FUTON & QUEEN SOFA BED.

The property sleeps 8 in 4 beds. If requested in advance, we can set up the full-size futon in the master bedroom for 1-2 more guests and/or the queen sofa bed in the 4th bedroom for another 1-2 guests. Please let us know when you book if you want either or both setups. Note that there's a $25 extra person fee per night for each guest beyond 8.

INTERNET AND CABLE

Tu Casa has high speed Wi-Fi throughout the property and smart TV's with satellite TV in all bedrooms.

KAYAKS AND PADDLE BOARDS: Tu Casa has a water sports shack, which includes four 2-person kayaks and a large paddle board that is great for beginners. Life vests are included and must be used every time you head out on a kayak or paddle board per Coast Guard regulation. The water sports shack also has floaties, an ice chest with ice for guest use, and small coolers for your kayak adventures. All of this is included in the nightly rate.

BEDROOMS OPEN DIRECTLY TO INTERIOR PATIO

The only bedroom with direct in-door access to the main home is the master bedroom. The other three bedrooms are accessible via the interior patio. This is important to note if you are traveling with young children since you may not want to have them sleeping in a room that is accessible from the patio.

WATER SHOES

Water shoes are available in the water sports shack and should be worn when entering the water. The shoreline has rocks you’ll need to walk over to reach the kayaks. Parents should be cautious with children on these rocks. Beyond them, the sea has a grass floor where you can wade barefoot, though many prefer to keep the water shoes on.

STAFF ON SITE

Our property keeper and house keeper will be at the property during the day cleaning common areas, doing yard work, and maybe even offering a complimentary clean (weekdays only pending availability). The property keeper has as separate apartment below the house and may spend the night on occasion.

USE OF THE PUBLIC DOCK

The dock is yours to use as much as you like but the dock is not private.

GETTING AROUND AND PARKING

Renting a car is a must when staying at Tu Casa. There are no taxis or Ubers. There is space for 3 vehicles in front of the property.

LIVING AREA AND KITCHEN

You’ll enter Tu Casa into a classic kitchen with 20-year-old wood countertops, a vintage backsplash, and all the essentials for cooking for large groups. It features a cascading countertop for seating and a center island. Next to the kitchen is a 10-person dining table with assorted chairs and a reading nook that separates the dining area from the living room. The living room has a 70-inch flat-screen TV with Direct TV, seating for 8, and a shelf with books and board games.

OUTDOOR AREAS

There are multiple outdoor spaces for your enjoyment. Tu Casa has a large wood deck with spectacular views just outside the master bedroom, dining room, and living room. The deck has 4 lounge chairs, an outdoor seating area for 8, and a 4-person dining table. The front interior patio has recently renovated landscaping with fountains (originals from Mary Lee’s), cacti, flowers, and a 3-person sofa ideal for outdoor reading. Downstairs by the Watersports Shack, there’s a large deck with seating, an outdoor shower, and access to a public dock.

BEDROOMS

The master bedroom has a King bed, sofa, 65-inch TV, and an extra-large bathroom with a two-person shower and make-up vanity. The 2nd bedroom has a cozy layout with a King bed, 65-inch TV, a reading chair, and a dedicated bathroom. The 3rd bedroom has a Queen bed, a 65-inch TV, and a dedicated bathroom. The 4th bedroom is basically a studio apartment with a King bed, Queen sofa bed, 65-inch TV, 4-person table, kitchenette and a dedicated bathroom with shower and tub.

AMENITIES

Tu Casa includes paper goods, garbage bags, and bathroom amenities to get you started. You may need to buy some more of these items at the grocery store if you are staying for more than 3 nights but feel free to reach out to us first just in case we have extra supplies at the property. We include bath and beach towels for 12, 6 beach chairs, and 2 coolers at the kayak rack.

HOUSE RULES

Quiet hours are from 10:00pm to 8:00am. Please keep noise levels down during these hours out of respect to the neighbors. Breaking this rule can result in having your reservation cancelled.

Check-in time is at 4:00pm

Check-out time is at 11:00am except for Sundays which have a complimentary late checkout of 5pm.

Guests can use water equipment at your own risk and indemnify Mary Lee's by the Sea and the owner from any accidents that may occur. Always wear like vests when kayaking.

NO SMOKING: Smoking is strictly prohibited. A smoking fee of $500 will be charged if violated.

NO PETS: No pets are allowed at any time. A $300 fine will be charged if violated and you will be expelled from the property.

The host will not pay for a hotel, vacation rental, or transportation expenses incurred because of an interruption in water or electrical service. If water or electricity is interrupted for more than 3 hours, guests have the option of canceling their reservation and requesting a refund for the nights not used. Under no circumstances will we refund consumed nights.

All bookings are contingent on signing a rental agreement that will be sent upon booking. It must be signed within 48 hours of booking or before entering the property, whichever happens first.

Maximum occupancy of 10 adults/children at all times. This includes visitors.

Max. occupancy is strictly enforced and exceeding it may result in immediate cancellation of booking or being expelled from the property.

Towels and linens must only be used for their intended purpose. Do not stain them with food, grease, or any other substance. Do not use towels to clean up any mess. Stained towels/linens will be charged.

Subletting not allowed

THINGS TO DO

Guánica, PR is definitely off the beaten path but that doesn’t mean there aren’t many things to do. Here are some of our favorites:

Kayak to Gilligan’s Island. It is gorgeous and just 10 minutes away. We recommend leaving before 10 am before the wind picks up. Kayaking to the island is against the wind, and the way back is with the wind. So if you leave early you can get there easily without fighting the wind. If the wind picks up while you are there, it will push you back to shore.

Hike or mountain bike the Bosque Seco de Guanica trail. The Bosque Seco is a State Park that is unique in the United States. The dry forest, beaches, and cliffs you will find are very picturesque. We recommend doing this early in the morning before it gets too hot.

Check out the bioluminescent water from the public dock. This doesn’t happen all the time and you need a new moon (no moonlight). Head down to the dock when it gets dark and splash the water. If you are lucky, you’ll see some pretty cool bioluminescence.

Do a day trip to Playa Santa, enjoy the beach, and have lunch at Umami. This white sand beach is a 15 minute drive away. It gets crowded on the weekend so this is an ideal activity for weekdays where you will have the beach almost to yourself. Umami is open for lunch and early dinner from Thursday to Sunday and they take reservations.

Visit La Parguera for dinner and nightlife. One of our favorites is the Yacht Club at La Parguera for dinner and from there you can stroll downtown for live music, drinks and dancing. This is about 30 minutes away.

Hit Copamarina Hotel for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is 5 minutes away from the property and a great option if you want nearby food and drinks.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly recommend that all guests purchase travel insurance, especially during the peak months of Hurricane Season, which are July to October. Travel insurance is inexpensive and will reimburse travelers for most expenses associated with canceling travel outside of the cancellation window; however, this will depend on what the coverage purchased covers. Make sure to review and understand the options before purchase. Disclaimer: we are not associated with any travel insurance companies.

INTERACTION WITH GUESTS

The Mary Lee's by the Sea staff is eager to ensure everything about your vacation is 5-stars. We will share recommendations on things to do and places to eat prior to your arrival and we are available to provide suggestions for any other activities you may be interested in doing during your trip. Most importantly, you will have a dedicated Property Manager to resolve any issues that may arise during your stay. We want to make your experience the best it can be!