My husband, twelve year old son, sixteen
year old daughter, and I spent a week at
this wonderful condo. Everything was
just as described - and then some. The
condo is comfortable, spotlessly clean,
and beautifully decorated and has
everything from towels to beach pails.
We were warmly greeted by Estela, who is
a lovely person and a pleasure to speak
with, and given plenty of information on
local attractions. There is a great
deal to do in the immediate area - I
would particularly recommend snorkeling
at John Pennekamp State Park, but you
could also enjoy yourself thoroughly
without even leaving the property. My
son would have been happy just staying
at the lagoon, which is stocked with
tropical fish. The pool was great, and
the sunsets from the balcony and point
were incredible. Estela had our deposit
for us on the day we left and wanted to
know if there was anything she could
improve on. Honestly, I could think of
nothing, My entire family had a
wonderful vacation.

What a wonderful condo! Very clean, very bright and everything you needed was here except your toothbrush and bathing suit. Great grounds too. Estella called the night we got in to make sure everything we needed was there. First time that's ever happened when we visited the keys. I would heartily recommend this tropical paradise to anyone wanting to visit the keys!

What a wonderful stay we had this past
week (December 30, 2012 -January 6,
2013) at Jose and Estella's Condo at
Kawama Yacht Club in Key Largo! The
condo was so spacious, and EXTREMELY
clean, which we very much appreciated!
Jose and Estella were so very kind and
helpful in getting us organized on the
front end with all my questions, and
then giving us suggestions for what to
do when we arrived. I really have to
say how very nice these folks are: I
truly felt they hoped our stay at their
place would be a wonderful experience,
and they did all kinds of things to help
make that happen. I highly recommend
this property as an excellent place for
families. We enjoyed the tennis courts,
the ocean, the pool, and all the other
local activities. So much to do - and
then the wonderful home to come back to
to unwind and enjoy. Thank you Jose and
Estella!

Very nice and clean unit with all appliances working. Nice location on the ocean side of Key Largo. Would rent again.

What a beautiful place! Kawama itself is
a lovely location. Although it is older
construction, things are well cared for,
and the newly renovated marina is
gorgeous. Good location with fresh
seafood market, grocery store, major
chain drugstore and Mrs. Mac's
restaurant just down the street. Jose
and Estela's unit #503 was clean,
spacious, well stocked with everything
we needed.It was totally quiet,
obviously well insulated. Neighbors were
very friendly and helpful. Our teens
enjoyed evening swims in the warm, clean
Oasis pool. No one objected to their
games of catch or tag, or the noise of
their conversations at 8 o'clock at
night. Our only regret was having to
leave!

We chose Kawama Yacht Club (KYC) because of all the features available in the complex but we want to return because in addition to the great location, Jose & Estela, the owners, genuinely care that their guests have a good time during their stay. You can’t find a better value for the price either.

The unit had everything we needed so we could pack lighter. Because each bedroom had a bathroom attached, it was like having two separate mini-suites for privacy purposes. My mother was able to use her walker in the unit & there were 2 elevators available. Each morning we spent on the balcony with coffee enjoying the view overlooking the marina, ocean and wildlife preserve. It felt like we had the entire complex to ourselves.

The complex has nearly every imaginable amenity – ocean, beach, pools, marina, tennis courts, fishing pier, snorkeling in the lagoon, playscape for kids. The shady lagoon was an especially beautiful place to stroll around. Gorgeous, big parrot fish came up to the dock to feed and we even found a tarpon while snorkeling.

There are no restaurants or bars on the property but there were plenty within a short driving distance. If you enjoy cooking your own seafood without having to catch it, Key Largo Fisheries is a fresh seafood market three blocks from the entrance to KYC. All the local restaurants get their fish from the fishermen’s catches that come in here each morning. Pennekamp State Park, Dolphins Plus, Theatre of the Sea, dive boat operators and other attractions are all within close driving distance. Key West made an excellent day trip.

Whether you use KYC as a home base for seeing the rest of The Keys or decide to stay on the property your entire stay, you will be pleased you chose to stay with the Penabads!

My husband & I stayed in Jose and Estella's lovely condo March 19-April 2nd. 2011. The view was fantastic, watching the sun set over the Nature Sanctuary and watching the activity in the Atlantic Ocean from the porch. The porch was a great peaceful place to read. It was shaded until middle afternoon and quiet. The Tower swimming pool was very nice. The condo was clean and well supplied in the kitchen as well as the linens. The full size laundry room was very handy. We had excellent fresh fish & shrimp from Key Largo Fisheries (not opened on Sun.) just 5 minutes away. I wanted to take it home with me. The Pilot House Rest. is a fun place to go with good seafood and it is in the same vicinity as the condo. We enjoyed a beautiful drive to Key West and excellent restaurants along the way. We found a surprise when we found Bluewater Potters in Key Largo. The pottery was exquisite! We were disappointed that we did not get to go snorkeling or do the Glass Bottom boat at John Pennekamp Park, a reason to return. We did walk the trails there and they were fun. If you are looking for a quiet place to get away and relax with excellent sea food, Jose's condo is the place to be.

Beautiful home and views. This condo is very clean
and nicely decorated. Jose is a very pleasant person
to do business with, he is a man of his word. Great
location to every possible activity you would like to
do. We vacationed with our 4 adult children and this
unit #503 was more than spacious and
accomodating. Thanks Jose for letting us share your
paradise get-a-way! We'll be back... Joyce & Lou
Jacobs

We stay in Penabad’s unit April 26 – May 7. It was our 3rd stay in Unit 503 at Kawama Yacht Club. Since 3 years we spend there 2-3 weeks every year when we are in Key Largo with our disabled child. Unit 503 is very good place to stay. Kawama Tower is very calm and quiet place. The unit is on the top floor (there is an elevator of course). Condo is very comfortable (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room and full equipment kitchen, balcony and laundry). Unit is extremely clean, very well equipped, very well furnished with all you need for your vacation and it has a beautiful view of ocean, marina and sunset. We feel there like at our home.
We enjoyed all amenities and swimming pool area, Kawama Beach with Tiki and of course child’s playground.
There are a lot of attractions, shops and restaurants just a few minutes away from Kawama Yacht Club.
Jose and Estela (the owners) they are very special people, so friendly and helpful. They greeted us so warmly and made us feel very special indeed!
We would highly recommend this condo to anyone. We will definitely come back again if we can.
Jose and Estela we want say THANK YOU SO MUCH! for your help this year.
Michal, Hania and Emilia from Poznan (Poland)

My husband and I spent a week in Unit 503 at Kawama Yacht Club beginning January 23, 2010. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The unit was very spacious, well stocked (better than most others), very clean and had a lovely view of the sunset as promised. More importantly, the owner - Estela - greeted us so warmly and made us feel very special indeed! We would definitely recommend this property to our friends.

We spent a week in this condo December 4-11, 2009 and it was fabulous. It was extremely clean and all so beautifully decorated. It is so much nicer than what the pictures portray. The Kawama complex is great and in close proximity to all nearby attractions and restaurants. My husband and I really enjoyed all its amenities and great ocean views from the balcony. We especially enjoyed watching the sunsets every day. What the owner’s claim of having great sunsets is so true. The unit is very well equipped with all you need for your vacation and your home away from home. From linens to towels, kitchen utensils, it was all there. The owners are a delight to work with. Jose made it very easy to reserve the condo. I don’t know how Jose managed but our deposit was refunded and arrived 1 day after our arrival back home. I would highly recommend this condo to anyone visiting Key Largo and the Florida Keys. We will definitely come back again and this time bring the grandkids.

Owner-Supplied Testimonial
Great condo, great vacation!
PatriciaB Florence, Italy
Review Submitted: October 5, 2009 Date of Stay: September 2009
My family and I just returned from a wonderful and relaxing vacation in Key Largo. Choosing the right place to stay was of utmost importance to me as I was traveling with my 7 month old baby, my parents and husband, and I must say that this condo was the right place! The condo unit had everything we needed from the baby's crib to every type of kitchen utensil that my husband needed for cooking (he is the chef in our family!). The condo and all its amenities were very well maintained.

The location of the condo was beautiful. As we drove into the private community we were very impressed by all the greenery. The condo also offered amazing views of the water and breathtaking sunsets.

Having a security guard at the gate was also a plus. Knowing that only authorized people were allowed on the property offered peace of mind.

Parking was never a problem. There was plenty of parking during the day and at night.

There were plenty of activities for the whole family to engage in. My husband and I went snorkeling in John Pennekamp's coral reef a few times. It was magnificent! He then went deep sea fishing with a private charter. My parents and the baby enjoyed swimming in a beautiful tropical beach just a few miles away called Founder's Park. All these activities were just minutes away! The building also has a couple of lovely and well-maintained pools.

Shopping, activities, food, car rentals and more are within minutes from this terrific condo! I manage a conference center in Florence, Italy and for several years also managed a small B&B in Florence, and I give this condo unit 5 stars. Not only is the unit and location terrific but so is the owner! From my first inquiry to the booking to check-in to departure, the owner made every step super easy. He was very helpful, offered a lot of advice about the area and was very friendly and professional. I hope we have a chance to return to his home in Key Largo in the future.
Recommended for: Age 55+, Adventure Seekers, Girls Getaway, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway

Owner-Supplied Testimonial
Joe and Marie Catonsville, Maryland.
Date Submitted: August 04, 2008 Date of Stay: January 2008
We have vacationed for most of the past three winters in Key Largo, Florida in the Kawama Tower units at the Kawama Yacht Club, located on the ocean side of Key Largo. The Tower building is located adjacent to the Marina with the ocean beyond. This gated community also features Town Homes and Villas. We prefer the Tower condo units with elevator access and everything on one floor. For the last 2 years we have stayed in a unit on the the fifth floor, which is the top floor in the building. Our stays in this unit have been very pleasant. We feel this unit was a very nice upgrade from our first year in a third floor unit. It is spacious, quiet, and finely decorated in an aquatic theme. We appreciate the comfortable living room, master bedroom bed, and the tile floors throughout. Most balconies on the fifth floor offer an unobstructed panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. This unit's balcony faces southwest and provides morning shade and beautiful sunsets in the evening along with a view of the Marina and the ocean beyond. The sunset may also be enjoyed from the living room , sometimes while listening to the excellent stereo system.

The private pool, large lake, beach and peninsula which is surrounded by ocean waters have all added to our enjoyment.

We have thoroughly enjoyed the warm winters that Key Largo has offered us the past three years.

There are many fine restaurants nearby.

Our reservations are in for 2009 and hopefully we will be allowed to vacation in this winter paradise for many years to come.


Joe and Marie

Catonsville, Maryland
Recommended for: People with Disabilities, Families with Young Children, Age 55+

guest name: M/M Rauser

Owner-Supplied Testimonial
We absolutely love this condo. My wife, her friend and myself stayed for 10 days and enjoyed every moment. The condo is on the top floor with an amazing view of the mangroves and marina. The sunsets are spectacular. This is a fantastic place to relax in after an entire day of visiting all the wonderful places that Florida has to offer. And most of all, it was a pleasure meeting the hosts of this idealic spot in paradise.

-Walter, Ontario (wszar@sympatico.ca)

Owner-Supplied Testimonial
5/5 Kawama Yacht Club
Pepe Lopez Traverse City, Michigan.
Date Submitted: January 29, 2009 Date of Stay: December 2008
I would definitely recommend this property to a friend. It was clean, well-maintained, well-furnished, and and well-stocked with games, magazines, and just about every kitchen utensil you could ever think of. The balcony looks out over the tennis courts and has a lovely view of the sunset each evening. The tower is located just a short walk from the beach, the swimming pools, the lake, and the playground, so there is always plenty to do.
Recommended for: Girls Getaway, Families with Young Children

Owner-Supplied Testimonial
Unit 503 -- a great family condo and friendly experience”
Kawama Yacht Club

Jasper55
BostonMar 31, 2008
We're always a bit reluctant to book vacation condos directly from individual unit owners when we haven't visited the place before. But the owner of Kawama Unit 503 put us at ease from our initial email contact and throughout our stay. He was a friendly, helpful host who was an absolute delight to rent from. The unit was casual, comfortable and spacious for the three of us (2 adults and 1 child) and could easily accomodate a bit larger family. The unit was well-equipped with everything we needed for the week. We especially liked the washer and dryer -- no need to pack lots of clothing and beach towels. The pool is new, beautiful and clean. The complex is in a great location -- minutes away from wonderful restaurants (Fish House, Buzzard's Roost to name a few) and recreation. When in Key Largo, I wouldn't hesitate to rent Kawama Unit 503 again.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC