Hi, this is Karen and Steve and we are excited that you are interested in renting our condo for your family vacation, gathering with friends or a much needed getaway. Initially from the US Northeast, we moved to Charlotte, North Carolina after marrying in 1991. In search of even more warmer weather to eventually spend the winter months during retirement, we recently purchased our condo to enjoy a couple weeks per year until then and offer the rest of the year to guests like you to enjoy.

Before we met, we had both been to Cancun and started enjoying the beautiful beaches and friendly culture from day one. Including our honeymoon, we have been on several cruises and found Mexico to be one of the most affordable Caribbean locations. We also went to Acapulco years ago and, hands down, the Caribbean side of Mexico is by far the better coast with white sand and crystal clear, calm waters....just like the pictures you see.

We have two kids, Alex who is 19 and Lauren who just turned 16. They have been traveling with us to the Mexican Riviera for the past 8 years.

Please our reviews of local attractions in the Travel Guide section.

Steve or Karen purchased this condo in 2015

About 15 years ago, with Cancun building up rapidly, we headed south and stayed half-way between Cancun and Playa del Carmen near Puerto Morales. The town was quaint but the water and beach quality could have been better. So when we returned with the kids 7 years later we tried south of Playa del Carmen and completely fell in love with the area. The area is great for calm, blue water, snorkeling from the beach, the only marina between Cancun and Belize and short drives to the major attractions - Tulum, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, several excellent and cheap cenotes (inland fresh-water snorkeling and scuba diving locations).

Last year, as we were driving back from Tulum to our hotel in Playa del Carmen (again with the kids), we saw the gated entrance to Puerto Aventuras and decided to check it out. We drove and walked around and just fell in love with the community feel. It was a nice change from the big resorts we stayed before where you had to get up early to claim a beach or pool chair only to be surrounded “100’s of your closest friends” and wait in buffet lines for the same food served day after day.

The Puerto Aventuras “town center”, just a few minute walk from the condo, boasts many affordable restaurants and shops. Everything is in walking distance - a beautiful marina, convenience store, a couple of public beach accesses and golf. We could picture ourselves staying here for extended periods of time and short trips. When we were back in the Riviera Maya the end of February we looked at a lot of condos and Secret Waters was clearly the one which stole our heart. When we walked in the front door we could see right through the condo to the wall of sliders that overlooks the lush gardens, expansive pool and the dolphin lagoon. It was bright and airy and we knew that we had found our future “home”.