Cho’hol: Colonial Jewel

in Santa Ana District of Merida

Tucked away behind protective custom-designed wrought-iron doors, the renovated colonial jewel called Cho’hol sits quietly hidden from the street outside. The tall ceilings of the front sitting rooms provide for a cavern-like quiet and coolness… a refreshing change from the streets outside.

Here is a simple vacation home rental that is both comfortable, easy to keep clean and perfectly located for a trouble-free vacation or home-away-from-home.

The front living area is connected by a light-filled gallery to the rooms in the back of the house. The gallery has a ledge that runs the entire length… a perfect place for displaying art and artifacts that is naturally lit with indirect light by skylights up above.

The gallery hall opens into the dining/sitting room, to which the front bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette are all connected. Another bedroom is in a separate building in the back with its own bathroom.

All the bedrooms and the living room are air conditioned with mini-splits. The bathrooms feature Talavera-tiled walls and details, as does the kitchenette. Each bathroom has a spacious shower, toilet and sink.

The front bedroom features a tall ceiling with a clerestory window, air conditioning, a ceiling fan and a mosaico tile floor.

The back bedroom is smaller, but features a built-in closet, air conditioner, ceiling fan and polished cement floor and it opens into the garden.

The kitchen is small but extremely serviceable, with a small refrigerator, a four-top stove, a microwave and a sink. (All dishes, utensils, glasses and towels are also provided). Just outside of the kitchen is a bodega with a stacked washer/dryer. Also the roof terrace is a lovely way and place to line-dry your clothes in the Yucatan sun!

Outside, between the two buildings, is a small garden with two fruit trees, a fountain and a staircase up to an airy bamboo-topped roof terrace with a view to the sunrise. The terrace is gated against intruders, but if you like to roam, the roof is available as extra space and it is safe.

A covered patio downstairs provides a place to sit and sip a cup of coffee if you don’t want to go all the way to the roof. And behind another arched wrought iron door, a bodega for storage.

Last year, this house was rented by a visiting Fulbright scholar from Pennsylvania. Here is what she said about this house:

"I just have to again say that I simply adore adore adore this little casita!!! I am so amazingly happy here and think that I am truly blessed to be living in this amazing space. "

The house is small, but perfect. It has everything you need!

Rates: Low Season

• $50 Nightly
• $275 Weekly
• $700 Monthly

Rates: High Season

• $60 Nightly
• $350 Weekly
• $950 Monthly

Gas, garbage, water and Cablemas (for TV and internet) are included. Electricity must be paid by the tenant. (Electricity bills vary, mostly based on air conditioning use.) A cellular phone with minutes can be provided if needed, but tenant must purchase their own phone cards after those minutes have run out. Cleaning and gardening are performed every two weeks. We require a $200 USD cleaning deposit, refundable when you move out and leave the place spotless!

If you are interested in renting this house, please contact us at meridacasitas [at] yahoo [dot] com.