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Entire home

Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool!

Beachfront villa with private pool and kitchen

Photo gallery for Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool!

Pool
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
TV
Interior
Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool! provides laundry facilities and more. Active travelers can enjoy kayaking at this villa. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 9

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Pool
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool!

Description: Rara Avis is a beautiful island retreat comprising three unique buildings: a two-level stone great house, alongside master bedroom cabanas on both the east and west.

Upon arrival, you'll park above the great house and descend into a beautifully sheltered garden courtyard, where tranquility awaits. The upper level of the great house boasts an expansive great room designed for relaxation and entertaining, featuring living, dining, and kitchen areas, as well as a convenient half bath and laundry room.
Inside, you'll be captivated by the elegant native stonework, soaring cathedral ceilings with exposed beams, charming terra cotta tiled floors, and carefully selected furniture complemented by native artwork. Step out onto the impressive 450 sq ft sun deck on the south side and soak in breathtaking views that take your breath away.

External stairways guide you to the lower level, where two inviting bedrooms, a shared bath, and a serene deck await. The pool, nestled in a beautifully landscaped garden setting in front of the west cabana, invites relaxation, while additional private sun decks—including two off the great house—offer the perfect spots for sunbathing. Courtyards, gardens, and inviting walkways gracefully connect each building and the pool area, creating a seamless experience.

Location: Strategically located on a spacious lot in the peaceful southwest corner of Hart Bay—just a quarter-mile from Great Cruz Bay—Rara Avis offers unparalleled privacy and serenity. This property sits at the end of a private drive, where you can relish the soothing sounds of the ocean waves. Immerse yourself in peace while being just minutes away from the vibrant dining, shopping, and nightlife experiences in Cruz Bay. The villa faces southeast, bathing your decks in sunlight from morning to late afternoon, and providing spectacular 180-degree views of St. John's pristine south coast.

Living and Dining: Inside, the living and dining spaces exude the charm of a centuries-old Spanish or Italian villa, featuring a fusion of antique and designer furnishings that strike a perfect balance of comfort and style. Enjoy the spacious deck through screened sliding glass doors that encourage a refreshing indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
Host meals at the mahogany dining table that comfortably seats 6-8, or opt for al fresco dining on the sheltered garden patio, perfect for enjoying the Caribbean air.

Kitchen: The kitchen caters to your culinary needs with a 4-burner stove and oven, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher, microwave, blender, coffee maker, toaster, and a curated selection of dinnerware and cookware. You’ll also find a gas barbeque grill for delightful outdoor cooking.

Bedrooms: Accommodations include two spacious cabanas—one featuring a king bed and the other a queen—offering the ultimate in privacy and picturesque views, each with a tiled bath and a charming private deck ideal for serene morning coffee. The lower level of the great house promotes intimacy with two guest bedrooms (twins that convert to a king) sharing a bath and a convenient half bath located off the kitchen.

Rara Avis captures the essence of Caribbean living, surrounded by captivating natural beauty and effortless elegance.

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Pool/Spa

  • Communal pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the villa: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed
  • Note from host: No smoking is allowed on the premises.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Casino nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

The property is non-smoking. This includes outside on the decks and the surrounding grounds of the property.
No functions, wedding/receptions, etc. are allowed at the property. The rental is only for the guests reserved and paid to stay at the property.

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Children Welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking is allowed on the premises.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
49248

About the neighborhood

Map
Cruz Bay, St John

What's nearby

  • Chocolate Hole - 1 min drive - 0.3 km
  • Great Cruz Bay - 3 min drive - 1.2 km
  • Cruz Bay Beach - 6 min drive - 3.5 km
  • Virgin Islands National Park - 7 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Trunk Bay - 18 min drive - 8.8 km

Getting around

  • St. Thomas (SPB-St. Thomas Seaplane Base) - 62 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Woody's Seafood Saloon - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Sun Dog Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Tap & Still - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Snorkels Pool Bar & BBQ - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Roti King Foodtruck - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool!?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool! located?

Situated on the beach, this villa is steps from Rendezvous Bay and 2 mi (3.2 km) from Virgin Islands National Park. Chocolate Hole and Chocolate Hole Beach are also within 5 minutes.

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Caribbean Cottage with Breathtaking Views and Your Own Private Pool! Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 23 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 23 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 23 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 23 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Courtney S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise with a nice breeze

What a beautiful piece of property! We were skeptical about not having an air conditioner but the trade winds and the open doors/windows made for the perfect sleeping weather. Check in process was a a breeze as well. We had a younger adult flying in on a separate flight and on a routine call from The property manager, she offered to meet my young adult and help her find the way to the property! THAT is going above and beyond. Luckily, all the flights landed around the same planned time and we didn’t have to go to plan b. The ground at Rara Visa are lush, mature and absolutely beautiful. We met 2 iguana friends on property as well. A small hike down the waters edge was nice- rocky but it was a nice adventure. The property was conveniently located close to the grocery store, downtown, and other beaches. If we come back to St John’s - we will stay here again!
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Barbara E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heather Roberts and Family and Barbara Entwiste

We.ve been there 4 times now. ALways great!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robin K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Et in Acadia Ego

St John, the way it used to be!Rara Avis is a glimpse of life in USVI from the past.A prefect view, witha perfect layout for a faily who wants individual privacy and a place to celebrate together.The photos do not do it justice.It would be impossible to capture the sheer spirit of Rara Avis.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Melinda I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas vacation

Beautiful stunning views and spacious property
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Quinn S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect home for a large family!

Perfect stay! Came with my parents and my 5 teenagers….plenty of space for everyone to have privacy and not be on top of each other. Great gathering places to all come together. The best view you could imagine. Open air living spaces was a dream. The pool though small was perfect for a nighttime dip under the moonlight. Oh and the location!!!!!!!! …..drove all over the island and this home is perfectly located. All 8 of us loved this home and stay!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Susanne C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Rara Avis

The view is as advertised and is spectacular. However, the property needs a lot of upgrades and cleaning. Screens are very dirty and need to be cleaned. Dishwasher, oven and dryer do not work well. There is no air conditioning which is a problem. The furniture is run down. It seems like it's been quite awhile since the Owner has inspected their property. Even the decorations on the wall are rusted. We will not book at this location again. The Property Management company, Caribbean Villas was great to work with though. We ended up moving our last 2 days to the Westin and had a very enjoyable time there.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Michelle S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girls trip

We had a great time and moved the lay out of the house. View and breeze was marvelous. I would like to make 2 comments if constructive feedback…the house was dirty. Obvious places had not been dusted and mopped in some time. It would also be nice if there were enough beach towels for all of us. Overall a lovely stay! Thank you
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

William M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

family getaway

secluded, quiet, just the wave sounds of the ocean bay
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

brad b.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a location!

Amazing views and a short drive to town. We liked that there were two structures separate from the main house for use as bedrooms. Air conditioning in the bedrooms would be a welcomed addition. The breeze was lovely, but we stayed during an unusually warm week. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

Jennifer M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rara Avis

I would not recommend staying here during the rainy season. The rain blew in on us while we were sleeping in the bungalow. Had to reserve another villa for our stay. Property is beautiful and if you are used to not having AC then you would probably be good. I live in the south and I am used to ac so we couldn’t sleep. House has everything you need for the week. If we hadn’t gotten wet while sleeping we may have stayed the whole week. It did rain a lot during the week we were there. Beautiful views.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Luke H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Staying for a friend’s wedding on St John

Very peaceful and easy to get to from Cruz bay. As advertised and a wonderful place for a group to stay
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Heather O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

We loved the layout of this property. The main house with kitchen, dining room, and living room is open and airy. It was perfect even on the one rainy day for hanging out and playing cards. The separate cottages are very close and on level ground with the main house providing privacy and ease. The downstairs bedrooms were equally comfortable for our boys. The path to the beach was a hidden gem, the pool and decks lovely.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

John W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely the best property we have stayed in yet, in St. John!!!

Would definitely rebook !
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

William O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful views

Our group of 8 loved this location. The views and breezes were incredible. Falling asleep each night to the sounds of the waves was so relaxing. There is no air conditioning, but we were perfectly comfortable. Location very convenient to Cruz Bay, but also very private. Would happily go back again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

James G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Property was amazing, view was awesome.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Megan G.

Doesn't Get Any Better!

The property is not only beautiful and clean - its huge! Meryle met us at the ferry dock and we followed her to the house. She was wonderful and very helpful. This property is great for multiple couples or a larger family because every room/cottage has its own bathroom, balcony, and an ocean view. No one would have to settle. In the evening, you can open up the windows and shutters and have an amazing breeze from the ocean. We will definitely be staying here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Kathy L., South Berwick

Beautiful view

Our group all agreed there are many positive attributes to the property! The view is breathtaking , we loved the large open living area and having separate bedroom bungalows for privacy was a plus. The property managers were helpful and friendly!! We ran into a maintenance guy who asked us what we thought the property needed to make renters stay more comfortable. Overall Rara Avis is a nice property but in desperate need of updates. We come to St. John 1-2 times a year and would consider staying there again. It would be more enticing if some updates were done such as new sliding screen doors, dyer, bathroom plumbing and furniture.
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Jeffrey M., A small town in New Hampshire

Excellent location, property showing its lack of maintenance, so add a bit of age to the photos.

The good and then the "needs improvement": GOOD: Caribbean Villas as the rental agency -- very responsive, polite, accurate, helpful, friendly. Use these people for your rental. The property is on a private lot directly above the ocean. No noise other than the surf. And a short drive to Cruz Bay, where one can find everything, but from where one can disappear in 5 minutes back to the solitude of this place. Beautiful views. Watch the sun come up in the morning. Great breeze off the bay, flows through the main part of the house. Nice layout with two lower bedrooms and two separate cabanas. Nice to have coolers, beach chairs and beach towels in abundance. NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Property seems to show a lack of regular owner engagement and maintenance. One sliding door does not lock; we replaced three burned out light bulbs (including two of three fairly obvious deck lights); two of four stove burners did not light without manual intervention, coffee machine broken (but promptly replaced by Caribbean villas because that WAS an emergency); DVD player had no remote, no pause, no fast forward, forcing us to enjoy endless previews before our beloved Pirates of the Caribbean; no opener to puncture a can (for that pineapple juice for pina coladas); a door handle fell off; a shower handle fell off. House furnished with a dozen island music CDs, but the CD player was broken. Get the picture? My bet is that Caribbean Villas would have responded well to much of this, but who wants repair people every day when the next thing happens or is discovered? NOTE: There is a beach below the property, accessible by a foot path. It is rocky and we saw no one swimming there -- just a few surfers on a couple of days. So -- nice to look at, but don't think of it as "beach" in the sense of, "Let's go down for a swim." The small pool is nicely shaded part of the day, but that means that the renter will need to scoop out a lot of leaves on a daily basis. Not a huge chore, but not for everyone. OVERALL: We had a good time, because we are used to home maintenance, and could shrug off the growing list of minor annoyances -- but that might not be everyone's cup of tea. We would happily rent this property again, IF the owner decided to reinvest more of the rental income for (a) renewal and (b) upkeep.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Judi R.

A Wonderful St. John Gem

Wonderful rental in St.John , perfect for couples traveling together . We visited with two other couples and each of us had our own private spaces. One couple took the downstairs bedrooms in the main house and the other two stayed in the cabanas on each side of the main house. The house has a very beautiful ocean sunrise view with doors that open to both the main deck and courtyard area. Great court yard with tons of space . Kitchen had everything you could imagine for cooking and a gas grill to BBQ. Bedrooms have nice linens and towels and the entire home including cabanas is decorated very tastefully. We loved our stay at the Rara Avis in St. John and would definitely recommend to others.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lisa F.

Great House in St John

We were invited by frequent St John visitors to join them for a week in this lovely spot. Really nice place for a family getaway or a few couples. The main living space is open and breezy with great views of the bay. The two separate cottages are each perfect for a couple and more private. Ample space for a rental car (or two!) in a carport. Well lit at night. Comfortable beds and adequate bathrooms in each bedroom. Nice towels and beach towels, lots of beach chairs to take on your snorkeling expeditions. Service was pretty good, given this is the islands - the dishwasher was broken and the appliance repair guy, promised the next AM, never showed. But when a toilet stopped up they were there to fix it fast. Coffee maker died, too, but they do that. All in all, we loved it and would come stay again - still gets our 5 stars.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Kaye M.

Great Location, Great Open Spaces

Rara Avis was a very interesting property, and we are glad we stayed there. We loved the closeness to Cruz Bay (ferry, shops, restaurants) and the beaches on the North Shore. We had considered a couple of places near Coral Bay -- we ruled them out because we were arriving early evening. With being new to driving on the left, we didn't want to have to drive from the ferry dock in Cruz Bay to Coral Bay in the dark, on the left... Later in our trip we went to Coral Bay, with it being off-season, there wasn't much open over there. We are so glad we chose Rara Avis and Cruz Bay off-season! Rara Avis has wide open spaces. The front of the home facing Hart Bay has huge sliders, the rear has large folding wooden doors and a large window in the kitchen. When we were "home" we kept these open all the time to let in the sea breeze, and the occasional bird and lizard. It was very warm when we were there, and there is no air flow nor ceiling fans in the bedrooms in the lower level of the main house. There were only 4 of us so we used the Cabanas detached from the main house for our sleeping quarters. The pods had ceiling fans and large doors in the front, windows in the back for air flow. It was still warm at times trying to sleep. No A/C in the main home nor the cabanas...that's OK, we opened everything up and let nature in -- literally! We would snorkel during the day at the many beautiful beaches or hike the park, come back to Rara Avis, take a swim in the pool, get cleaned up and pick a Cruz Bay restaurant for dinner. Then we would come home and sit on the beautiful, spacious deck of the main house with adult beverages and watch the moon rise and stargaze. There are lots of deck options, and patio seating areas to choose from (private or group spaces), lots of hidden nooks. There are two outdoor showers, a nice bar-b-q grill, and a very well appointed kitchen. There were beach chairs and coolers available for our use, a washer and dryer, beach towels... The pool could use some maintenance, the tile coping was missing in places, and the furniture in the living room could use some updating. It worked fine for our needs, and is a nice place, but elegant and fancy it isn't! DO NOT Rent Rara because there is a beach and water access, that is not the draw for this property. The beach area wasn't merely rocky, it was piles of coral, not even good for walking much less swimming. We were a little disappointed on that front. We would stay here again.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jo J.

Rara Avis is a dream spot.

This was our second time at Rara Avis. In 2013 we brought a good friend who had cancer and it was a trip of a lifetime for him. This time, we brought three other friends and had a wonderful time too. The constant white noise of the waves in Hart Bay are a blessing to my ears and I forgot that I have tinnitus. The privacy of the lovely courtyard makes it a wonderful place to sit and watch the stars. Rara Avis is a comfortable villa with nice beds and amazing sunrise views over Ditliff Point. The two cabanas offer another level of privacy for couples that is wonderful. The pool has gradual steps that make it easy to get in slowly. The kitchen is well stocked with dishes and utensils and the gas grill was a nice bonus. Rara is also an amazingly nice spot to view the many flowering plants and fauna. St. John is a peaceful spot to go for rejuvenation from a stressful job.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rara Avis is a rare find!

Rara Avis is truly a hidden gem. I have been staying at Rara for about 15 years, both with my family and now as an annual trip with my friends. The house is spacious enough to sleep 8 people comfortably. There are 2 private villa bedrooms that provide privacy. The open kitchen/living/dining room all look out onto a breath-taking ocean view. The house is situated overlooking Hart Bay which provides for exceptional views. The porch off the living room is perfect for lying out with coffee or a cocktail and reading while listening to the waves. You truly could not find a more beautiful place to vacation. You can also walk down the trail from the house to the private beach below. You will feel as if you are the only person on Hart Bay. If you want to be in the action of town it is only a 10 minute drive away. On top of the the price is unbelievable! You cannot find a better price on St.John-- believe me, I have looked! Anyone who is lucky enough to stay at Rara, I know it won't be your last time.