House Manual & Directions for Casita Mistica

Off-Grid Casita Caribbean Views: Welcome to Casita Mistica, Monte Carmelo, Vieques, Puerto

Rico

Please read carefully: Here is the

Please read carefully:

Navigation Tips:

● If you rent a vehicle it must be a 4x4 is for access to the driveway on the property. No exceptions!

● Use Google Maps and search for nearby guest homes. Steep hills marked in red and pink.

● The property is located off HWY-997 in the municipality of Monte Carmelo.

● Golf Cart parking at the top of the hill BEHIND Carmelo Guesthouse.

● Taxi drop off BEHIND Carmelo Guesthouse and walk down steep hill to Casita

● 10-15-Minute walk from Carmelo Guesthouse. Walk DOWN steep hill and TURN

RIGHT. Follow the road down to until you see La Casita.

Route

Options:

● The road to Casita is a loop.

● The longer, more scenic route is going down the hill by Villa Tessa Rose Guest House: It’s a steep paved hill; use map to the left and photo bottom left for reference. Follow road all the way down the hill and follow dirt/gravel road down and around and back up to Casita.

● The shorter route is to go down the steep hills behind Carmelo Ridge Guesthouse Route: Gravel hill, can get gnarly; use caution! Pictures above on page 3.

Full Loop Route Guidelines:

● Go DOWN by Carmelo Ridge guesthouse and UP by Villa Tessa (based on wet/dry conditions).

● Caution: Do not climb the hill near Carmelo Ridge guesthouse without a 4x4.

Nearest Store and Essentials:

● Mambo store off HWY 997 is the nearest.

● Stop there before heading to the house for ice, snacks, water, etc.

Wet Conditions and Parking:

Parking: If it's wet or you don’t have a 4x4, park by Carmelo guesthouse and walk down to Casita. With a 4x4, either route is manageable unless it's extremely rainy—exercise caution; no rescue if issues arise.

House Manual

Be cautious as there is no fire insurance coverage.

Key Management:

● Don't lose the key! The key is located in a black magnet box located behind the house on the propane tank.

Water:

● Buy drinking water. The closest store is Mambos General Store.

● The water comes into the kitchen from a hose connected to the rain barrels. It is gravity-fed into buckets for usage.

●

● The sink faucet isn’t currently working because the water pump upstairs needs repair. The pump needs a seal, seals aren’t available, the whole pump needs replacement. If you can provide this essential to Casita talk to the host about work/trade.

● There is a Water Storage Cube BPA Free Collapsible Water Container with Spigot to use in the meantime.

● We recommend filtering the rainwater before using it unless you are flushing the toilet. You can drink from this filtration system in emergencies only. Use the LifeStraw Gravity fed family system to filter. Circled in the picture below.

Solar Lights and Fan

● Solar lanterns and string lighting.

● We have a solar fan with USB outlet, charge the panel during the day on the deck or in the yard.

● You can plug in an American USB charge cord into the front panel of the solar fan to charge phones.

● The yellow hanging lights and the solar panel on a hanger are not hooked up.

Pit Toliet:

● To flush the toilet fill a 5-gallon bucket about halfway to ⅔ full and pour it down.

● Use grey water for flushing, and watering plants; avoid attracting pests.

Screens

● Keep screens and shutters in good condition.

● Screens slide in and lock into the window frame. Be careful with them. They are a new addition.

● Loft shutters can be unlatched and taken down to reveal full view. Put them back on before checking out.

Respectful Usage:

● Use the house with great respect and trust.

Smart Practices:

● Keep windows open during the day, and closed at night.

● Lock windows and doors with a key lock.

● Close front doors when leaving to prevent rain damage.

Security Measures:

● No specific help is available; be cautious.

● Avoid leaving valuables unattended.

● Have a flashlight/headlamp for navigating around casita roads at night.

Trash and Cleanliness:

● Take all your trash with you.

● Dumpster at Colmado el Mambo General Store

● Tidy Casita to avoid issues for the next guest.

● Leave the property better than you found it.

Critter Prevention:

● Regularly sweep and wipe down surfaces.

● Take food scraps away to deter bugs, iguanas, and rats.

Chemical Use:

● Use eco-friendly dish and laundry soap.

● For longer stays over 1 week pour ½ cup bleach into cistern tanks to prevent algae.

Laundry:

● Use a laundromat in town or handwash.

Essentials and Supplies:

● Buy drinking water.

● Queen air mattress and mattress topper provided. Sheets will be provided but if you want to bring your sheets and travel pillow, you will save our house cleaner from doing laundry. Just make sure to let us know!!

Recommended Supplies:

● Microfiber towel set

● Bamboo sheets are a great material for the island. Casita has sheets and pillows, but we recommend bringing your own, it cuts down on the housekeepers doing laundry, and you get your preference. A light blanket or a personal travel blanket for each person staying.

● A travel pillow for each person (Nemo is a great option), eye masks, and ear plugs are highly recommended too.

● Nemo travel pillow, eye masks, ear plugs

● dr. Bonners soap

● Repel plant-based spray

● reef-friendly sunscreen

● Headlamp

● Bluetooth speaker

● essential oils, sage, and incense to repel bugs and create aromatherapy

● any solar power lights and battery box chargers for your backup

● hammocks to pack to the beach and for the porch

● a couple of your own trash bags

Getting Supplies:

● Visit Colmado Mambo for basic groceries.

● Supermercado Desquento offers a better variety of supplies.

● Propane delivery available; contact Vieques Gas.

Yard Maintenance:

● Monthly yard maintenance; respect wildlife.

Departure Checklist:

● Gently tidy everything you’ve used dishes, utensils, including toilet.

● Place the key where you found it.

● Store any essential items you got out back where you found them.

● Secure water hose by stove.

● Make sure the stove top propane is turned off.

● Lock doors, shutters, and trap doors.

● Make sure everything inside and outside is secured, especially mosquito tent netting, very important.

● Please take all the trash with you.

HELPFUL LINKS

ISLAND DIRECTORY

Vieques Insider: Connecting Visitors to Vieques Nov/Dec 2023

Safe travels!!

Thank you for respecting Casita Mistica's guidelines for a pleasant stay!

HAVE FUN! Make sure to go to bio bay & the Ceiba Tree!

Tag us on Social media @casitamistica ContactSuzanna / 720-621-0586 WhatsApp: SizzleSuz / 720-621-0586

Getting To Vieques From San Juan

There are two ways to get to Vieques, Puerto Rico: by air or by sea. Here’s everything you need to know about how to reach the island.

Flights to Vieques, Puerto Rico

The fastest, easiest and most reliable way to get to Vieques is by plane. Several airlines fly to Vieques (VQS) from San Juan, Isla Grande and Ceiba on the main island of Puerto Rico, as well as from neighboring islands like Culebra, St. Thomas and St. Croix. The trip offers breathtaking bird’s-eye views of the Caribbean Sea. Each plane carries up to 7 passengers, so be sure to book ahead of time to guarantee your seat.

Keep in mind that most Vieques-bound airlines charge extra for luggage that weighs more than 25 pounds. The surcharge is typically $1 per pound above the limit.

Several large airlines offer the option to book your Vieques connection as part of your initial reservation. That way, your luggage is automatically transferred, saving you the trouble of leaving the terminal, trekking to the baggage claim and waiting on another security line.

From San Juan International Airport (SJU) to Vieques Airport (VQS)

It takes about 30 minutes to fly from SJU to Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Tickets start at $109 each way.

Book your flight directly through these airlines:

○ Cape Air

○ Vieques Air Link

○ Air Sunshine

From Isla Grande Airport (SIG) to Vieques Airport (VQS)

Flights from Isla Grande, Puerto Rico to Vieques take approximately 17 minutes. The Isla Grande airport is about a 10-minute car ride from San Juan International airport (SJU). The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has a kiosk outside of SJU baggage claim to provide information and transportation service. Taxi vans in Puerto Rico are called publicos and can seat up to 9 people. Cabs cost about $20 per carload.

Tickets from SIG to VQS start at $72 each way.

Book your flight directly through these airlines:

○ Air Flamenco

○ Vieques Air link

From Ceiba Airport (RVR) to Vieques Airport (VQS)

Ceiba is about a 75-minute drive from San Juan and a taxi will charge approximately $115 per carload.

Flights from Ceiba, Puerto Rico to Vieques take about 7 minutes.

Tickets from RVR to VQS start at $40 each way.

Book your flight directly through these airlines:

○ Air Flamenco

○ Vieques Air Link

Ferries to Vieques, Puerto Rico

Ferries run several times a day between Fajardo, Puerto Rico and Vieques. Fajardo is located 37 miles southeast of San Juan. Driving from San Juan to Fajardo takes about an hour, and cabs cost roughly $100.

Ferry tickets cost $2 per person.

Ferries typically take about an hour and a half to reach Vieques, but the duration can vary based on weather conditions.

Ferries often depart later than scheduled. Vieques residents get priority when the boat is full, so visitors might get bumped to a later trip or the next day during particularly busy travel times.