“Pura Vida” is Spanish for “pure life,” a philosophy that encourages the appreciation of life’s simple treasures. Start with the morning sun bathing the hills across the lake in golden color & watch the drama of a brief afternoon storm pass, leaving the air clean & fresh. Enjoy the haunting calls of the loons, the lake breezes & sounds of the waves against the sea wall. Laugh around the table, savoring a meal with loved ones. Relax by a bonfire & watch the stunning colors of sunset bleed into the deep sapphire of twilight as the stars twinkle. In the colder months, snuggle up by the cozy fireplace & relax to the view & sounds of the waves outside. Curl up in a comfortable bed and sink into slumber, ready for the next day's adventures. There's something kind of magical about the light, the breeze, & the sound of the water here. Pura vida!
If your desired dates are already reserved on Pura Vida's calendar, or if you need another cottage for extended groups, you may want to take a look at Halcyon Cottage (VRBO #3089096), located right next door!
No pet fees for visiting dogs! However, it is required that all dogs including day visitors *must be disclosed* when booking, & guests must adhere to the pet rules & maximum dog numbers. No other pets permitted; particularly no cats due to family allergies. Dog visit requirements: Maximum of 2 dogs total including day visitors, <75 pounds each, must be up to date on all vaccines & especially flea/tick treatment prevention, *dogs are not allowed on the beds/furniture, *dogs must be crated if left alone in the house (or else must accompany owners when going out), all poop must be disposed of appropriately.
AMENITIES:
With the increasing use of artificial intelligence by online booking sites, we are unable to control the occasionally inaccurate identification of property amenities by the website AI *in searches.* If there is a particular amenity that you are specifically seeking as important to your stay, please confirm that we have written it here in the description text or we have provided a photo, or else inquire with us to confirm before booking.
INTERIOR:
* Air conditioning
* Gas fireplace for the cool season
* Roku Smart TV, Blu-Ray/DVD player, & small DVD library (No cable; use the TV Roku to access your accounts or bring other streaming access)
* 2 Desks for remote working & WiFi with internet speeds sufficient for streaming or virtual meetings (Download: 100Mbps, Upload: 5 Mbps)
* Standard major appliances, dishes/tableware/glassware
* Other kitchen appliances: Microwave, toaster, blender, hand-mixer, waffle-maker
* A variety of coffee-making methods available including drip, steeping, French press, & Moka pot. No paper filters needed, just bring your favorite grind!
* Fresh, clean bed sheets bath towels with professional interior cleaning between each rental
* Great selection of games
EXTERIOR:
* Gorgeous lakeside dining on the deck
* Beautiful sunset views & water sounds
* Lakeshore firepit for small bonfires
* Great fishing right from the dock (bring your own gear)
* Only 10 steps to a small shale beach for gradual water entry & easy kayak launch
* Weber propane barbecue
* Two kid-sized sit-on-top kayaks
* Two adult-sized sit-in recreational kayaks
* Two 10’ stand-up paddle-boards
* One vintage 2-person Grumman canoe
* Life jackets
* Deck & dock in easy-on-bare-feet composite decking
* Boat hoist for safe boat storage (*Boaters please see important information at the end about having a boat at the cottage*)
Additional description: While life on the lake is most magical during the warmer months, the cottage is snug throughout the year & provides a front row seat to the natural dramatic beauty of the effects of winter storms on the lake. The beautiful indoor gas fireplace makes it even more cozy! Some guests have even likened a visit here to staying on a boat (minus the rocking!) with the sound of the waves lapping at the sea wall heard from even inside the house!
Just 2 steps up to the front door from the gravel parking area. There are no cliffs or long staircases to navigate; step out onto the over-water deck from the house itself, with a few additional short steps down to the dock & water. The deck is perfect for relaxing at any time & you'll be drawn there over morning coffee, to bask in sun & lake breeze, for a sunset libation, or to stargaze over hot chocolate!
The open floor plan on the main floor is full of light. A full bathroom with a shower/tub combo is on the first floor & 2 bedrooms (BR1 has 1 queen; BR2 is small but has a bunk bed (upper twin & lower full). Please note that while sturdy, maximum bunk occupancy is either 2 adults (1 each level) or 3 children. An open staircase leads to a second floor with a half bathroom & loft-style open space with a queen bed. Beds have comfortable memory foam mattresses. Recently updated decor features a comfort-oriented, eclectic, contemporary style. The house is small in square footage, but comfy & well-appointed (think urban loft meets peaceful lake cottage). Eco bonus: Heat and AC is provided by an efficient heat-pump system & all electricity supplied to the property is 100% solar generated, purchased from a nearby solar farm. Aside from the gas fireplace and range, the house is run by the sun!
Please note, because of idiosyncrasies of our right-on-the-water location & county waste water system restrictions, the house does not have a washer/dryer or dishwasher. Property outdoor amenities like the watercraft & some outdoor furniture are seasonally stored & *not available* during colder months (usually late Oct to mid May; exact dates are weather dependent & not guaranteed).
Parking at the house is limited. There is room to park *3 regular cars* OR *a combo of 1 large pickup/SUV with 1 car combo* on the property. Over-parking will prevent normal traffic flow on the one lane road & is not permitted - violators may be towed. Please message us to discuss options for overflow vehicles.
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NOTE: We do not ever rent outside of professional booking websites that verify our ownership. If you see this property advertised on c*****list or elsewhere, those listings are scams.
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CHECK-IN: Check in after 4:00 pm; check out by 10:00 AM. We genuinely empathize with the challenges of travel logistics & wish that we could accommodate alternatives, but the scheduled times that we must guarantee our cleaners do not permit early arrivals or late departures.
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OCCUPANCY: Property use is strictly limited to the maximum occupancy of 6 registered guests. We will consider authorizing small numbers of occasional/temporary day visitors, but no parties, reunions, or sustained use of the property by unregistered visitors - we are not able to accommodate consistent extras or larger numbers of people because of off-grid septic logistics, general space limitations, parking & other neighborhood impacts. Please message us to discuss if having day visitors are part of your travel plans. Any approved visitors must abide by all house rules, including speed limits & parking restrictions.
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INSECTS/SPIDERS: Bugs are a natural part of lake life & a healthy ecosystem. We do our very best to keep them out of the house, but because we are so close to an important water source, use of chemical sprays must ethically & legally be limited due to environmental impacts. To reduce the insect numbers that sneak inside, make sure to keep doors & screens closed, especially at night.
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BOATING/BOAT HOIST: Overnight in-water docking is not allowed as Cayuga Lake is a big lake with a lot of fetch; waves can be large & unpredictable and conditions change quickly. **When not directly observed, boats/PWC must either be on the hoist or stored on their trailer.** If you wish to rent a motorboat during your stay, boat rental companies will often deliver by water directly to the cottage & pop the boat right into the hoist for you! Monohull motorboats & PWC only; hoist cannot accommodate pontoon boats, sailboats or catamaran/trimarans. If you have a larger boat (>22’ hull) please message us with your boat type prior to booking so we can determine if it will fit safely in the hoist. Use of the boat hoist must be requested & agreed to by us >7 days prior to arrival or it will not be powered & available for use. Any guest wishing to use the hoist must be fully responsible for its safe use; on-site training is not available. *No space for on-site trailer storage. Prior boaters have had very positive experiences with launch & storing trailers +/- boats at both the Long Point State Park launch (to the north) or nearby Don’s Marina launch (to the south). Hoist access is a courtesy only; in the unlikely event that the hoist is not available for any particular booking due to damage/malfunction/service delays, guests will need to store the boat on its trailer or return to rental facility and re-launch daily.
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SECURITY: Three exterior security cameras are present (front door; parking area; boat hoist. Guest privacy is important to us; no camera covers private areas.
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CANCELLATION POLICY: Refund in full for any cancellation requested within 48 hours of website reservation (check in date >2 weeks away) or within 24 hours of reservation (check in date 7-14 days away)
* Please note that our cancellation policies are date-specific and vary seasonally, with less flexibility in the very busy summer months. If you have concerns about the potential for last minute weather/illness impacting your travel, we do recommend looking into travel insurance
GRADUATIONS AND CORNELL REUNION EVENT BOOKINGS - The cottage is an easy drive for Ithaca events & a great place to relax away from the chaos! 3 night minimum. Full refunds in the event of ceremony cancellation.
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Please note that as a navigable waterway, the waters of Cayuga Lake may be enjoyed by boaters, hunters and fishermen; any on-water proximity is out of Host's control.
