FAQs
Where are you located?
Villas Punta Custodio is located about 65 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, on the Riviera Nayarit, a secluded stretch of tropical beaches undiscovered by most tourists. It is between the well-known landmarks of Sayulita and San Blas, near the tiny fishing village of Platanitos.
How do I get from the Puerto Vallarta airport to Villas Punta Custodio?
1. Scheduled Transportation - Our rental manager, Ismael Franco, who speaks excellent English, contracts with a safe and reliable van service: the driver will meet you as you exit the airport customs area and will drive you to your villa. He will be happy to stop on the way for you to use an ATM, buy sundries such as sun block or bug spray, liquor or other incidentals at one of the big-box stores. One-way rates are reasonable: 1-3 people: $140 USD; 4-6 people $170 USD; 7-9 people: $195 USD. Prices may vary somewhat based on the price of gasoline. Pick-up service must be pre-arranged with Ismael. His email is: frabais03@gmail.com. His cell number (from the U. S.) is +52.1.327.103.0258
2. Renting A Car - There are many rental services available. We prefer GECKO Rent A Car. Its staff are fluent in English and its rental vehicles are in excellent condition. They have larger vehicles for groups of four or more and a selection of vehicles well suited for travel in our area. A word of caution: if you are unfamiliar with driving in Mexico, the roads are poorly lit and often have no shoulder. As you near Villas Punta Custodio, you’ll be in farming country, sharing the road with tractors, pedestrians, loose livestock and bicycles with no lights or reflectors.
3. Taxi - We do not recommend a taxi service, they often are not familiar with our location.
4. Driving Directions - See Location
Is the water safe to drink?
Our water source is clean and is tested frequently. We feel comfortable bathing and brushing our teeth with it. Out of an abundance of caution, the villas are always supplied with 5-gallon containers of commercial drinking water which is used for cooking and drinking. Use as much as you like. All fresh vegetables are soaked in a tasteless disinfectant.
Is there internet access
Most of the villas have free in-house WiFi internet, with adequate download speeds for email and light browsing. Streaming movies or videos, downloading music or gaming online may rapidly exhaust the data package. If you plan on consuming significant data for streaming movies, videos, downloading music or online gaming, an additional fee can be added for acquiring more data. If you plan to run a heavily Internet-dependent business while you are at Villas Punta Custodio, high-speed Internet connectivity cannot be guaranteed.
Do U.S. cell phones work there?
Most U.S. and Canadian cellular carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint) "piggyback" over the local cellular networks (TelCel, MoviStar, lusacell). Coverage along mountainous parts of the highway system can be spotty.
What about medical care for emergencies?
Basic first aid supplies, including EpiPen, are available at the Gatehouse. There is a good emergency care center in La Peñita, 45 minutes south, where the staff is familiar with "tourist emergencies." For serious conditions, Puerto Vallarta has several well-equipped modern hospitals and access to excellent, English-speaking medical staff, including most specialties. By U. S. standards, medical care in Mexico is almost ridiculously inexpensive.
What about bugs?
The biting varieties are mosquitoes and no-see-um or jejenes (appropriately named, they are almost invisible and their bites are similar to a mosquito). The jejenes do not carry any disease but are numerous at dawn and dusk, and their numbers vary with the tides and phases of the moon, so bring insect repellent. Various flying insects breed in the summer and can be numerous at night. All other insects that you may encounter, particularly in the summer months may be bizarre but are harmless. Villas Punta Custodio strives to be a pesticide free environment.
Are the electric outlets the same as in the USA/Canada?
Mexican power outlets and voltages are identical to the USA/Canada, 110v standard plugs.
Is the electricity supply reliable?
We are located in rural Mexico and are, in fact, at the very end of the high-tension power lines. There are frequent brief outages — seconds to minutes — and infrequent brownouts and blackouts. Villas Punta Custodio has a backup generator, so in the event of prolonged outages, you will have power for lighting, water pressure, small appliances, floor and ceiling fans, Internet, charging for cell phones, etc. What you will not have is air conditioning, as using the air conditioners exceeds the generator’s capacity. Prolonged outages are unusual except in the rainy season (June through October), when windstorms and lightning strikes knock out the power lines.
What about tipping?
You can expect to get excellent, personable and cheerful service from your housekeeper (ama de llaves) and we hope that you will honor it with a generous gratuity. $5 a day per guest is what we recommend if your service was as we expect it to be.
Is the community pool heated?
No. It is far too expensive to heat an outdoor pool of this size over the winter months. However, the water temperature, even in winter, rarely dips below 75° F.
Are the private pools at the villas heated?
Most of the villas have their own pool, check rental amenities to confirm if your villa has one. The villas have individual policies regarding heating the pool. You can inquire with the owner about heating the pool; there is an additional cost to heat the pool.
Does Villas Punta Custodio host large gathering, such as weddings?
We do not host any large gatherings. Our experience has taught us that they are often loud and infringe on the on the tranquility of others visiting the Point. Additionally, our infrastructure, especially our septic system, is designed only to meet the capacity of the individual villas collectively. As a result, we strictly enforce the maximum number of guests allowed at any single villa. If you have rented a villa with a capacity of 8 adults and arrive with 9, 10 or more, your reservation will not be honored. This policy is strictly enforced.
Can I use credit/debit cards?
Major U. S. and Canadian cards are accepted at the big box stores, and in many tourist stores and restaurants in and around Puerto Vallarta, but once you are well north Puerto Vallarta, the economy is pretty much cash only, in pesos. Some enterprises will take dollars, but at a poor exchange rate. Most ATMs will accept your ATM card and convert your dollars to pesos, for a fee.
Is the ocean safe for swimming?
Except for the large boulders at the base of the cliff, the beach is fine sand and rock-free. The beach slopes very gradually to the breakers, a good distance away, leaving small secondary waves that meet the shoreline. It is very comfortable to play and walk at the shoreline. You will find many areas safe for children and less experienced swimmers. However, this is the ocean and deserves upmost respect. Tides can impact the safety of the beach and can influence the current flowing in and out of the estuary.
Are villas private homes?
Yes, they are all private homes. Villas Punta Custodio is a small gated community. We are a unique group of neighbors who have created and jointly manage this beautiful place for true enjoyment of all its wonders. We are community of homes, not a resort. Our community is founded on mutual respect, while we live in close proximity, we cherish our privacy.
What are the seasons at Punta El Custodio?
High season is November to May. There is rarely rain and the temperatures are moderate. December and January may bring a few brisk days, with daytime temperatures in the low seventies Fahrenheit. By April, things warm up, flowers bloom and the butterflies come out. June through October are for those who appreciate the raw magnificence of summer in the tropics. The air is moist and warm with expected temperatures more than eighty Fahrenheit. The rainy season comes with magnificent thunderstorms and incredible sunsets and the vegetation bursts out in brilliant green. The whistling ducks come up to nest on the palms and iguanas other reptiles, big and small, come out of hiding. Brilliant stars and 100 watt fireflies light the nights. This is a season for many insects, which you may find interesting or appalling.
Are surfboard rentals available?
The office at Villas Punta Custodio rents surfboards and boogie boards. The surfboards are not high quality, so if you are a more experienced surfer looking for high quality rentals there are companies like Wild Mex Surf and Adventure in Sayulita, they rent surfboards, SUPs and boogie boards. They will deliver to your door before you arrive and pick-up after you have departed. If you like, surfboards can also be rented at GECKO car rental. Both have websites to review their rentals, wildmex.com and geckorentcar.com
Can I bring a pet?
We discourage pets as a general rule, but special exceptions can be made. Ask the individual homeowner. If you end up bringing a pet, it must be leashed or otherwise restrained when outside the rental property, but within the compound. Pet owners, not our staff, are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. Please do not bring a dog if it is likely to create a noise nuisance.
Is the electricity supply reliable?
We are located in rural Mexico and are, in fact, at the very end of the high-tension power lines. There are frequent brief outages — seconds to minutes — and infrequent brownouts and blackouts that can last hours and, rarely, even days. Eight of our homes share a 48 kW generator, so in the event of prolonged outages, you will have power for essentials: lighting, refrigeration, water pressure, small appliances, floor and ceiling fans, Internet, charging for cell phones, etc. What you will not have is air conditioning, as using the air conditioners would exceed the generator’s capacity. Prolonged outages are unusual except in the rainy season (June through October), when windstorms and lightning strikes knock out the power lines.