Mary has transformed mundane beachfront housing into tropical paradise villas. Mary is warm and welcoming to this end-of-the-road, must-see treasure. Literally and figuratively Guanica is a long way from San Juan!

Good value and comfort. Clean too. Location of apartment was nothing special but there were wonderful beaches and snorkeling just down the road by car.

We stayed for two nights and loved it. This is a unique property and one of the most memorable - in a good way - places I ever stayed. Stayed in La Contenta, which is a spacious apartment and includes a fully equipped kitchen and a full covered porch overlooking the water and islands. There's also a separate outdoor eating area. The apartment was so delightfully decorated that I took photos before letting anyone drop their bags. We stayed with 3 teenage/adult children and there was plenty of sleeping room for them. Note that only the bedroom is air-conditioned but there are fans in the other rooms and it was not uncomfortable, particularly since there is low humidity here. The property would be ideal for smaller children as well since there are mangroves to explore and iguanas that bask in the sun. There is no swimming beach but there's a large public one a short drive or longer walk down the road. There are two docks on the property from which you can rent kayaks or be motored over to Guilligan's island. This is much better than the ferry because it's the same price ($7 RT) but you don't need to wait on line and can schedule a pick up when you like. The owner (and decorator) is a lovely and remarkable woman. When the other staff has left you may need to knock on her door to get assistance, but this gives you a chance to take a peek into her gorgeous living area!

The day we spent on Guilligan's island was one of the most enjoyable of our trip - it's a jewel. If you can find the pathway through the eastern part of the island to the entrance to the main channel, you can float with the current to the central lagoon through the mangrove lined channel. Many people snorkel, others just relax in the water. You need to bring food (Mary Lee's lent us a cooler) as there are no services other than restrooms if you plan to spend the day there.

Because Mary Lee's is at the end of a 4 km windy road and there are no restaurants nearby other than at the nearby resort and the snack stand at the ferry (great empanadillas), make sure to stop at the Economart or other shop in Guanica before driving the last part, especially if you arrive later in the day. A note on driving in Puerto Rico - I was expecting the worst but was pleasantly surprised otherwise. We drove all around the island over a two week period and found the roads to be very good and the drivers not at all aggressive or inappropriately speedy. True many of the off-highway roads are narrow and you sometimes you feel that they can't fit two cars, but they generally can. Once you get used to this, driving is fine.

All in all, Guanica is well worth the drive and Mary Lee's is absolutely a delightful place to stay - we will be back!

My husband and I stayed at Mary Lee's for our honeymoon. To start, if you are a person who prefers full amenities like that of the Hilton or Ritz this is not the place for you. If you enjoy the hustle and bustle and lights of the tourist towns stay away. We knew that we would be far away from all of that and was what we were seeking for our honeymoon. The drive to Mary Lee's was a 2 1/2 hour drive from San Juan via the autopista. My husband had already experienced the driving in Puerto Rico so he was comfortable with the drive but I wouldn't suggest it to everyone. I myself wouldn't drive while there. Once in Guanica you will see that it is a small, old port town with run down homes and men who tie their horses to the light poles. The drive to Mary Lee's is an adventure in itself. 5 miles of twisting, narrow roads mainly occupied by locals who are so comfortable with the drive. They don't even flinch as they fly at you at much higher speeds than are legal just to barely miss your side mirrors as they pass. Some are even brave enough to walk these roads and you will often find a line of stray dogs making their way up the road or an iguana or 2. Mary Lee herself is a wonderful lady. After some confusion with our room reservation she upgraded us to Tranquila a beautiful 2 bed, 2 bath guest house that can fit 10+ people. We were 1 of 2 reservations on the property the week we stayed making it like we had the resort to ourselves. There is not a beach right outside the house but you could swim if you wanted to. The sand right off the shore is such that you sink immediately and there is a lot of sea grass but you find that everywhere there. We did go swimming one night but it wasn't my favorite. I would definitely suggest buying a pair of swim shoes. We found ours at the local Kmart the 2nd day after our feet were badly cut and swollen from so many cuts from rocks and shells. We chose to kayak to Gilligan's Island everyday for a small fee. This is about a 1 mile trip each way so beware but there is a ferry available down the road or boat rides through Mary Lee's By The Sea as well. My husband and I chose to go to the back side of Gilligan's Island which was vacant of other vacationer's making it our "own little private island" as we have told many people. Get snorkeling gear! There is so much to see on the ocean floor....tons of conch shell, fish, sea urchins, crabs etc! One day we wanted to see what it was the waves were breaking on about a 1/2 mile into the ocean so we took a hike to find a coral reef. It was simply beautiful. Be sure to stock up on tons of sunscreen as the sun is blaring by 2 or 3 in the afternoon but there seems to always be a breeze going to make things a little more comfortable. Kayak the mangroves or even be brave and walk through them. One day while walking through a 5 ft. iguana crossed our path to meet up with another HUGE iguana friend. There is not much in the way of nightlife in Guanica. We did visit some local restaurants (Blue Marlin) and met and talked with some really great locals. One night we stopped into Copamarina Beach Resort just a minute down the road for dinner. Most nights however we got a bottle of wine and some snacks and hung out on the boat dock enjoying the evening breeze and all the beauty. Mosquitoes are EVERYWHERE!!! At last count I had 30+ bites and this was with using OFF bug repellent. But...my husband rarely used repellent and barely had a bite on him. As a side note my husband and I (Verizon Wireless customers) did not get cell phone coverage while at Mary Lee's. After traveling a few minutes down the adjacent roads we received enough coverage to get an extended coverage. Most of the island does not support Verizon service very well. This was heave to us though! Not have phone, internet, cable and the hurry of the tourist happenings was just what we were looking for. Like I said, this is not the Ritz, it is an older guest home with few amenities but not lacking in charm and beauty. I was so sad to leave and in doing so left a little piece of my heart there. We experienced a little piece of heaven during our stay and will be sure to return! Words can't truly express just how beautiful this place is in all the surroundings!