Boathouse - Waterfront Accommodation on Cortes Island

Loved the rustic charm with a great mix of creature comforts. A little slice of heaven on Cortes.

This house and location is absolutely a gem. I love the island lifestyle and beachfront exposure. Perfect for families or couples to relax and explore Cortes Island.

Over the years our family has stayed at the Boathouse several times. It is one our most favorite places on the planet - the setting is spectacular and Martha is a marvelous host. This is not Disney Land ~ if a family or couple or small group of friends is looking for a place to get away, contemplate life, enjoy the splendor and wonder of nature, there is no better place on the planet. Although there are many things to see and do on Cortes, more than anything else we enjoyed getting up and having a cup of tea or coffee on the deck, taking in the scenery and when the tide is out exploring the sea bottom. Several times we harvested oysters right off the beach at low tide and roasted them over an open fire - for what was some of the most delicious sea food we've ever tasted. The boat house provides an extraordinary opportunity to live comfortably in and around the natural world and to experience the land and sea in a what that is unforgettable. My wife and I (and our children) when asked, "...what is our favorite place on the planet, out of all the places we have been?" say, Martha's boathouse on Cortes Island.

We recently had booked a week at this property and were forced to check out early due to a carpenter and sugar ant infestation. While the place is amazing in location and has the potential to be 5 star, the 3 star might be generous. On arrival we came to realize that the property is a false two bedroom listing. As a family of 5 with young children, the second bedroom is a loft, which is accessed by a steep and unsafe ladder. This makes the second bedroom unusable for young families or anyone with mobility or safety issues. I mentioned that the listing is fairly inaccurate, to which the host stated she had requested the ages of my kids the week before via text to which she stated I didn’t respond. However two months prior I had given her all the information on kids ages etc via email, at her request. To which the host said I never gave her the info. ( which was false) Our host did however make a floor bed next to the bed in the upstairs and only bedroom in which my kids slept on. My wife stayed beside our newborn. As my wife was up frequently at night, she would see 20 or more carpenter ants coming up the baseboards each night. Upon our arrival Martha and my family did see a carpenter ant, to which Martha stated she had never seen an ant before. We killed at least 100 before I found the source and plugged the hole in the floor. Our trip lasted a few more days, until my daughter went up to her floor bed to take a nap and to our disgust there were sugar ants on the floor, the kids floor mattress, the night stand, window and under the bed. Each of us killed at least 20 ants a piece. We then had enough, we packed up in 2 hours with three kids under 6 and raced for the last ferry. We spoke with the host, told her the situation. She was apologetic and stated she understood. She also mentioned she would be happy to reimburse us for 3 nights. We are still waiting for a response or refund and can no longer reach the host. While we were waiting for the last ferry off the island, the host stated she saw no ants. She proceeded to take pictures and send them to us. She eventually mentioned that she didn’t believe there were ants and that we both must be right. For those of you with young kids, I assured her that it was not fun or easy packing up with three kids, one a newborn and that our decision was made out of fact and not just because. I also mentioned I didn’t expect a refund, but she insisted. I guess I will end with this. The location of the property and property have the potential to be one of the most beautiful you will ever stay. Unfortunately there is a major ant problem to which the owner is in denial. Also the 2 bedroom is not accurate. If you chose to stay here , be aware of these issues.