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Cabin

Watching kiteboarders is almost as much fun as kiteboarding.

Southern Baja offers hundreds of miles of secluded beaches.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.8

Exceptional

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2111 sq m

Popular amenities

Hot tub

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Ocean view

Explore the area

Los Barriles, BCS

ExotiKite Kiteboarding School9 min walk
Los Barriles Beach11 min walk
Buena Vista Beach12 min drive
San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur (SJD-Los Cabos Intl.)60 min drive

Most relevant reviews

8/10 Good

Quaint, charming and tranquil. Renting a quad important, made for a lot of adventure and easy to drive to restaurants . ...

Darlene

Mar 23, 2024

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Dining Area

About this property

Great Ocean Views, Fast Wi-Fi, Pickleball, Near Beach, Kayaks, Bikes, Snorkeling

'Rapunzel's Tower' is a 1200 sq. ft., private Casita (guest house) with enchanting views of the turquoise sea and the rolling mountains of Los Barriles. 3 miles from town, it is the perfect get-away from the hustle and bustle of the States.

Each night you will drift off to sleep with the sound of the ocean, and in the morning you will wake up to spectacular sunrises.

A 4 minute walk down a magical, meandering arroyo path brings you to a tranquil beach with great snorkeling reefs, kayaking, wind-surfing, kite boarding and fishing.

The casita features dramatic high ceilings and arched windows. Smooth Saltillo tiles add Mexican charm and beauty.

The cozy bedroom and full bath are located on the third floor, and offer amazing views. Downstairs is the kitchen/living room, and the first floor features a huge garage.

Right out the front door is a family-sized stone hot tub! There is nothing better than relaxing in the stone bath at night with a cool drink while looking at the sea and the stars.

The two outdoor patios offer beautiful views of the sea of Cortez, and provide a great place for meals, basking in the sun, or just reading a book. Since we are located in the banana belt, the winter temperatures are much warmer than other areas of Los Barriles.

Share our recreational 'toys': 2 mountain bikes, and 2 kayaks.. One kayak is set up for fishing, and the other is good for touring or wave riding. These goodies are all free!

Windsurfers, kite boarders, surfers and scuba divers: lessons and rental equipment are available. Standup paddle boards are also available at a local rental shop.

If you love pickle ball, we have beautiful new pickle ball courts about five minutes from our house. If you haven't tried pickle ball, we highly recommend it. It's great fun! Classes and equipment are available at reasonable prices.

If you’d like to play guitar, no need to bring your own, we provide a beautiful acoustic guitar.

Since we have been coming here for the last 30 years, we can direct you to our favorite beaches, mountain bike trails, fishing holes, snorkeling reefs, kayaking trips, private surf breaks, restaurants, and other secret spots. We love helping our guests have a great vacation!

Kite boarders: our Casita overlooks Turtle Cove, one of the least crowded kite boarding launches. This beach provides one of the few wave breaks in the area. North Beach, another popular kite boarding beach is located 5 minutes south.

Turtle Cove also features the best snorkeling reef in Los Barriles. You will see hundreds of tropical fish just a few yards from shore.

Kayakers, our secluded beach gives you a perfect starting point for your ocean adventures. Imagine beginning your day paddling among hundreds of beautiful Manta rays. Whale and dolphin sightings are also common and can provide kayakers with the thrill of a lifetime.

Fishermen! We know who the good skippers are, and can get you a discount on a boat. Excellent guide service is available for fly and surf casting fishermen.

If you would like to rent an ATV, we can recommend the best rental agency. For getting around town, and exploring, an ATV is all you really need. It's also just a lot of fun! One of our favorite adventures is an ATV trip to the waterfalls. Pack a picnic lunch and swim in the secluded pool, surrounded by beautiful rock formations. Most of the time you'll have the whole place to yourself.

If you're a fishermen, an ATV gives you a huge advantage in chasing down those rooster fish. Racing down the beach in pursuit of feeding game fish is an adrenaline producing experience!

You are welcome to help yourself to our bountiful fruit trees. Imagine fresh grapefruits, oranges, limes, papayas, and mangoes right outside your front door.

If you need more space for family and friends, Casa Turtle Cove is right next door, and will sleep up to 9.

If your family includes an infant, we can provide a crib, just let us know in advance.

Please let us know if you would like delicious Mexican meals prepared and delivered to your table. Just give us a couple of days notice.

Come relax and let your hair down in Rapunzel's Tower!

"Promise only what you can deliver. Then, deliver more than you promise."

Keywords: Casita (Guest House)

Property manager

John or Camilla Ford

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Hot tub

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Ocean view

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)

Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Los Barriles

This cabin is located in Los Barriles. ExotiKite Kiteboarding School is a local attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Los Barriles Beach and Buena Vista Beach. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain biking.

Los Barriles, BCS

What's nearby

ExotiKite Kiteboarding School - 9 min walk
Los Barriles Beach - 11 min walk
Buena Vista Beach - 12 min drive
La Ribera Beach - 34 min drive
Punta Colorada Beach - 43 min drive

Restaurants

‪Smokeys Grill n Cantina - ‬7 min walk
‪Bay View Bar and Grill - ‬12 min walk
‪La Fogata - ‬10 min walk
‪Lazy Dazes - ‬4 min drive
‪La Playa restaurante & bar - ‬16 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Great Ocean Views, Fast Wi-Fi, Pickleball, Near Beach, Kayaks, Bikes, Snorkeling pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Where is Great Ocean Views, Fast Wi-Fi, Pickleball, Near Beach, Kayaks, Bikes, Snorkeling located?

Situated in Los Barriles, this cabin is within a 15-minute walk of ExotiKite Kiteboarding School and Los Barriles Beach. Buena Vista Beach is 4.1 mi (6.6 km) away.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.2/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

8/10 Good

Darlene

23 Mar 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication

Quaint, charming and tranquil. Renting a quad important, made for a lot of adventure and easy to drive to restaurants . We were able to drive to Tres Palmas pickleball resort right down the road and watch the championship matches. Quadding on the beach was fun and a led us to get closer to the Kite Boarding enthusiasts. It was a great time for us. John was especially helpful with any questions I had. .

Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Steven T.

25 Feb 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

1st Baja trip

Super convenient to nearby Barilles, friends at Playa Norte, great morning whale watching from the balcony. Private and safe!

Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

beth d.

18 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Private getaway with Gorgeous Views

The hosts were excellent! Went above & beyond, even offering to help when we got sick! The views did not disappoint and the 1 bedroom, with private bath and separate downstairs kitchen/sitting area was all appointed very BaJa style…. Which was perfect! Had everything you would want in a home away from home 🏡

Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Judith P.

9 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweet casita, terrific views.

Unusual but very sweet 2-story casita. Sliding doors on both levels open out to views southeast over the Gulf; sunrises particularly gorgeous. Great base for exploring Baja Sur in multiple directions. A number of restaurants in town with tasty Mexican food. Overall a great find; helpful and friendly owners in adjacent home.

Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Farrell N.

10 Mar 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Location

Easy access to beach!

Stayed 21 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

John H.

23 Feb 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

the tower

As advertised. Great location.

10/10 Excellent

Michael G.

17 Dec 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spectacular

Amazing view of the Sea of Cortez

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kelly L.

1 Mar 2019

Beautiful views. Loved listening to the Rays slapping against the water. Had a wonderful experience

In the kayak being joined by a pod of dolphins!

Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sue F., Iowa City

7 Feb 2019

Sea Breezes and Kayaks

This Casita was very clean and welcoming with huge widows that let in sea breezes and lots of light. The kitchen had everything we needed. We enjoyed the outside tables and had breakfast outside everyday. The kayaks were taken to the beach so all we had to do was walk a short distance and hop in for a fun paddle around the bay. We enjoyed calm seas so paddled every morning. There is a beautiful coral reef right off shore where we saw lots of colorful fish from the kayaks.

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

henry b., London, Ontario, Canada

4 May 2018

Charming Los Barriles guest house

The tower is adjacent to a beautiful larger home overlooking Turtle cove 3 KM north of Los Barriles. It is perfect for a couple and is in a quiet residential area with easy access to the beach. We enjoyed using the kayaks and snorkeling. There is a wonderful pickle ball facility only 5 minutes away. Our favourite restaurant for dinner was La Casita. Theresa is a wonderful caretaker of the property. The sunrises and sunsets are a wonderful feature as the property is high above the Sea of Cortez.

Stayed 12 nights in Apr 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Kim A.

15 Dec 2017

Pretty place in a great location

Location, location, location are the strongest points of this vacation spot. As advertised it is just a 3 minute walk down a scenic path to a virtually deserted stone beach - where the snorkeling is excellent. We really appreciated the kayaks provided - they were great for touring and/or fishing. The nearby coast road is a great place for a twilight walk or morning jog or bike ride. The nights can be quiet enough that you can hear the owls hooting in the nearby desert - but the quiet was unfortunately often interrupted for long stretches by a chorus of barking dogs. The clear desert air and absence of street lights makes for incredible star gazing. The house and its location are very pretty however the furnishings provided in the "Tower" are basic at best. The caretaker (Teresa) was very pleasant and helpful.

Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mike N.

19 Nov 2017

Cozy and comfortable

John's "tower" rental is a nice little spot for a single or couple The second story is the bed/bath with a comfortable king size bed and ac. The lower level is the kitchen/sitting area without ac. If you close the shades around 9am but keep the sliders open it never gets too hot in the kitchen. In the evening a beautiful breeze comes down from the hills to cool things off. Sitting on the veranda in the evening with a cool beverage, the mountain breeze at your back, and watching the Sea of Cortez is a great way to end a day of exploring. There is great snorkeling within walking distance of the house, and even better snorkeling a short ride north of town. The fishing is awesome, and there are plenty of charter captains that charge very reasonable prices. Los Barilles is a wonderful little town with some great restaurants/bars, a nice little market and friendly people. I always feel safe here, even riding home at night. The only thing missing is a good propane grill or wood oven, I missed being able to cook outdoors. If you plan to use the kayaks for fishing you had better make other plans. Neither kayak is really equipped for fishing and the bigger of the two is missing the backrest, rigging and rod holder. They are fine for a quick paddle but not any serious fishing or touring. I believe you can rent a kayak at the hotel in town or down at Rancho Leonero. I fished one day with Francisco, his wife Teresa takes care of the house, and we caught some nice yellow fin tuna and dorado...YUM! She will even prepare a gourmet meal for you at a very reasonable price if you don't like to cook. I plan to come back to this spot as soon as possible, Baja is awesome!

Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Allison P.

14 Nov 2017

The property is beautiful, with wonderful views and fantastic aesthetics! Definitely as advertised.

The Casita was wonderful and perfect for the two of us on our mini second honeymoon. One amazing part of this rental not emphasized enough is the view and beauty of the sunrise as you're waking up. You can watch the ocean and skies transform from your pillow! Very close to town although we recommend something more durable than our VW Vento... The beach was within walking distance and had a variety of fish right there waiting for us. We had very pleasant experiences with neighbors and enjoyed the views and the area in general. The walk in showers and stone outdoor tub allowed for some relaxation and enjoyment. The only thing we would change was the firmness of the bed. However, our friends and family had the same experience, so it may be a Mexico thing to have a firm mattress.

Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lise P.

24 Mar 2017

Magnifique!

Nous avons passé deux semaines extraordinaires à la tour Rapunzel. Tout était conforme à la description et même plus! John réponds rapidement à nos courriels et intervient .Le wifi est rapide même sur les terrasses avec nos tablettes en admirant ce paysage grandiose. nous avons beaucoup aimé la chambre au 2 ème avec le lit king. Quelle surprise se lever avec le son des vagues et la vue du soleil sur la mer avec un ciel tout bleu... Spendide! Si on a d'autres questions Theresa vient faire son tour discrètement, et réponds à nos demandes. Elle est vraiment sympa et souriante! Los Barriles est une ville pittoresque où il fait bon se promener en vtt.. on a eu la chance d'avoir celui de John, on a eu beaucoup de plaisir à se promener partout. Il faut absolument se rendre à Punta Pescadero Paradise.. tout près sur le bord de la mer, un petit coin de paradis. Nous avons adoré notre séjour .. tout un dépaysement qu'on n'oubliera jamais!! We really appreciate! We enjoyed our stay. John is very nice, helpful and accommodating. We hope to come back, Thank you John

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Lindsay O.

21 Dec 2016

Casita!

Wonderful stay, nice quiet location. Sound does echo from the main house quite a bit, so you can hear the neighbors, but overall we were out of the house adventuring so much it didn't matter. John was extremely helpful, and prompt with communication. He provided a whole list of recommendations prior to our trip, which was excellent for a first time visit. We saw Theresa daily when she stopped by to check on the house, she was very kind, helpful and an excellent cook! The atv was a little older so took some work to get started in the morning, but once it was running it worked great. Overall the casita is wonderful, with a beautiful sunrise view, and we look forward to working w John again.

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jeff C., Phoenixville, PA USA

27 Nov 2016

Awesome property, great location, great owner

Just minutes outside Los Barriles proper, we stayed in the smaller casita of the Ford's, called Rapuzel's Castle. Beautiful, small and away from it all, a wonderful place for 2 looking to get away from it all. Located on a small hill overlooking the Sea of Cortez, this place has it all (which also means no TV- you won't need it with wifi access). Here's another hint, the housekeeper Theresa will cook you dinner too, as long as you arrange it ahead of time. She is a wonderful cook! Finally, I dealt with John Ford on numerous occasions via phone and email, and he was always accessible and extremely responsive to whatever questions/requests I had. A really nice guy to deal with! My wife and I loved the place and would most certainly rent off of John again. The experience couldn't have been better! Thanks John!

Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Laura S.

3 Nov 2016

Great views

Beautiful views, comfy bed, air conditioning in bedroom that was highly appreciated, good facilities in kitchen, only thing that could have helped was having air conditioning in the kitchen because it was in the mid to upper 90's and very humid

Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Allison V.

14 June 2016

Amazing

We had the pleasure of staying in the casita for two weeks in May. There are so many good things to say about it, I'll do my best to summarize. First of all the access to the water is unbelievable. If you are like us and just love the ocean and all it has to offer, this is ideal. It is a 4 minute walk, down a dirt road to the crystal blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. I would start my day with a morning swim along the coast, and as I swam along, I saw all kinds of fish as well as rays, it was unbelievable. There are two small reefs right off the beach that are great for snorkeling. One of the highlights was the leaping Mobula Rays, which you can watch from the balcony on the casita or up close an personal in a kayak. Having access to the kayaks was wonderful, we were able to paddle up and down the beach, finding different places to explore as well as paddling out and watching the leaping Mobula Ray show. The town of Los Barilles is wonderful, very low key and peaceful, with many good restaurants. Our two favorites were Piscis (next to Chapitos back alley parking area) and Cafe Maria (a bit tricky to locate, but there is a review on trip adviser that gives directions). We rented ATV's from Quadman and had great experiences exploring the arroyos and traveling along the road to Punta Pescadero (which has amazing snorkeling). Also took a trip to Cabo Pulmo for a dive adventure. Dove with Cabo Pulmo Diving (Pilu is wondeful), which was fantastic. Other than that, you can enjoy the solitude Los Barilles has to offer, it was a memorable and relaxing two week stay.

Stayed 14 nights in May 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

RON S., Melbourne, FL, USA

6 Apr 2016

Amazing Views

The tower is a cozy one bedroom unit with amazing views of The Sea of Cortez and the mountains, the morning sunrise and night stars are a great way to wake up and retire at night. The property caretakers Theresa and Fredrico are wonderful people, make sure to book a days fishing with Fredrico and have Theresa cook you a authentic Mexican meal, which was enough for two dinners for us (her homemade flan is to die for). We rented a side by side quad from Quadman for our stay instead of a car, had a blast driving the beach and exploring the area.

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

mitch m.

26 Feb 2016

Great Place to Stay

We rented the tower, but we were offered the main house, so first of all, it was quite a deal. The house was easy to find and only a 7 minute drive out of town. It was a very short walk to the beach and I made a lot of use of the Kayak, which was included with the rental. The woman who watches the place stopped by most days and was very helpful. All descriptions in the add were very accurate. One point I would add to their description. The nearby beach is somewhat rocky. We like to sit on the beach and swim, so we prefer a more sandy beach. If you go to the gas station just south of town and look across the street, there is a short road next to an rv park that goes to a wonderful sandy beach that is perfect for swimming, and has palapas for shade. Also, there is a wonderful little roadside shack restaurant just north of the gas station that had wonderful food, and much cheaper than the restaurants in town.

Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Karen D.

12 Dec 2015

Lovely, peaceful retreat!

Rapunzel's Tower was a delight. Just far enough from town to be quiet, but close enough to easily bicycle in. (Bicycles thoughtfully provided! :-)) The views are incredible and the property itself is gorgeous. We snorkeled off the beach right below the house and it was fabulous. Then we took some of John and Camilla's advice and drove to another beach just a bit further up the coast. It was even more perfect and completely deserted on the day we were there. Barilles is a great little town, particularly if you like seafood with your margaritas. We loved everything about our stay and will be back as soon as we can!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan E.

12 Aug 2015

Tranquil

My wife and I spent two weeks here for our honeymoon. The weather was quite warm. We usually went for a swim in the morning and the evening and spent the hottest part of the day either napping in the air conditioned bedroom, or driving into town for lunch. We had a great time and wish we could have doubled the length of our trip!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

29 Jan 2015

Absolutely perfect

Peaceful, relaxing, comfortable and so lovely. We snorkeled, hung out at the beach, read books on the balcony, and slept soundly in the starry silent nights. The casita is clean and well equipped, with nice design details. Los Barriles is sleepy and charming. Highly recommend El Pirata for seafood dinner. John was a responsive host. We hope to return regularly.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

john h.

29 Dec 2014

Los Barriles

We couldn't have asked for more. Views, location, and hosts were wonderful. Perfect couples retreat. We will come back again as soon as possible.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

20 Dec 2014

Beautiful casita with amazing views

It was great to wake up to a view of the sun rising over the Sea of Cortez. The Casita was very comfortable and a wonderful home base to walk to the beach down a pretty, little arroyo or drive a few minutes to Los Barriles. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, and sitting out on the terrace with views of the garden and the water was serene. The casita is situated in a way to maximize privacy from the main house and John was very helpful with local information when needed. Great getaway spot!

About the host

Hosted by John or Camilla Ford

We are a family of three (not including our pets!) We moved to Los Barriles from San Francisco when our daughter was 5 months old. We thought we would stay just 6 months, but doors kept opening, and we ended up building our house, working, and sending our daughter to school there. We now have more friends and connections in Los Barriles than in the States. We are currently living in Northern California because our daughter wanted to attend High School in the States. Now, we spend vacations only in Los Barriles. (At least for the next four years).

Why they chose this property

After renting for five years in Los Barriles, we decided to build a home. We loved the locations: the beautiful, winding arroyo leading to the sea, the proximity to the sea, yet protection from the wind, amazing view, and kind, peaceful neighbors. We had been visiting LB for vacations and for wind-surfing. It became a favorite of ours because how far away it seems, yet how easy it is to travel there. Plus, it has all the beauty and peace of other exotic places, but also all the conveniences.

What makes this property unique

John built the house so that each room would have a view. He wanted high ceilings so people could enjoy the space. The first trees we planted were fruit trees: mango, orange, lime, banana, and mandarin. The thing that made us fall in love with the place was the arroyo which we use as a path to the sea. We swim at least twice a day, so the path is well worn. We love to share our home with people.