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Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away.

Photo gallery for Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away.

A wooden deck with chairs overlooking a lush green forest.
A wooden two-story building with a green roof, surrounded by dense tropical vegetation.
A bedroom with a wooden ceiling, a bed with a blue and white bedspread, wooden floor, and a large window.
A wooden cabin with a sloped roof, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and a small staircase leading to the entrance.
A wooden staircase leading to a covered area with a tiled floor and wooden doors.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Internet access
  • Breakfast for a fee
  • Refrigerator
  • Washer
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Cedar Suite

1 Double Bed

Mahogany Suite

1 Queen Bed

Negusta Suite

1 Double Bed

Santa Maria Suite

1 King Bed

Studio Suite

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 3

Lower Room - Shared

Toilet · Shower only · Outdoor shower

Santa Maria Private

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away.

The Casa Santa Maria is a 3,000 sq. ft. retreat, located in an Eco-village on the Macal River features 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, full kitchen, and an optional full meal plan. The house is powered by solar energy and has eco friendly water and septic systems. The property requires 4 wheel drive vehicle to access, but our manager can coordinate all local tours including ruins, horseback riding, Pontoon Boat excursions, etc.

Bedrooms include a Master (queen), Main Floor (queen), Studio (queen) and two lower floor hotel rooms (double). The house features two outdoor covered decks and a jungle view to the Macal River.

The Eco-village features a number of trails, gardens and look out locations of the Mayan Mountains.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)
Check out before 1:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 786048
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 indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the neighborhood

Benque Viejo Del Carmen

Benque Viejo Del Carmen is home to this vacation home. Poustinia Land Art Park and Sa'c Tunich are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Ajaw Chocolate & Crafts and Bol's Cave Museum. Benque Viejo House of Culture and San Ignacio & Santa Elena House of Culture are also worth visiting.
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Map
Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo

Getting around

  • San Ignacio (CYD-Town Airstrip) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Five Sisters Restaurant - ‬89 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-out at Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away.?

Check-out is at 1:00 PM.

Where is Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. located?

Situated in Benque Viejo Del Carmen, this vacation home is within 3 mi (5 km) of Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Macal River, and Che Chem Ha. Benque Viejo House of Culture and Poustinia Land Art Park are also within 12 mi (20 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The home is spacious, beautifully appointed, and thoughtfully designed for comfort and relaxation. Surrounded by a true mecca of wildlife, it offers a peaceful, immersive experience in nature while still feeling well cared for and inviting. From morning wildlife sightings to quiet evenings in a serene setting, it was a memorable and rejuvenating stay. We would happily return and recommend it to anyone looking for a tranquil jungle escape.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Secluded getaway

The property was a perfect getaway from our busy lives. Secluded deep in the jungle, we enjoyed a week among nature seeing birds, monkeys, quash, and other animals. The meals cooked by the staff and the nearby tour guide, Robert, were also worth it!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
First - this is an amazing place - the location, the view, the house, the wildlife. Definitely add the meals in during your stay. They are delicious! And it is easily a 45 minute drive to any restaurant. The drive down to the is challenging to say the least. Go slow! Definitely booked the tours through Robert and jungle eco tours. They are well worth it!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fun in the jungle!

Jim was extremely responsive leading up to the trip and Walter and Lucy were perfect hosts once we arrived! Definitely coordinate to have Lucy cook your meals while there, no doubt! And use Robert to coordinate any trips. They have you covered no matter how you want to spend your time there.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Welcome to the Jungle

If you’re looking for a jungle paradise getaway, this is the place to go. Staff are incredible and quickly became the highlight of our stay here. They accommodated us as much as they could and shared their love for their passions and their home-country which made our family fall in love with the place. The drive in is a bit of a rough adventure so I wouldn’t recommend getting there after dark.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful home in the heart of the jungle

This property is very beautiful in an even more beautiful setting. Walter (property manager) was extremely responsive to requests and Jim the owner was quick to answer messages. Our entire family enjoyed this property. A few things to note the road getting there is extremely rough, when they tell you that 4 wheel drive is required that is not an overstatement. You will want to make sure you have everything you need before you head to the house because getting into town is not a small feat. But if you come prepared it really is a once in a life time experience, you will be serenaded by howler monkeys and other wildlife.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Remote Jungle Escape with Stunning Wildlife and Adventure

We had a fantastic stay at this remote jungle retreat! The location is absolutely stunning—lush greenery, abundant wildlife, and the sounds of howler monkeys and birds all around. The property is truly off-grid, and we never needed to use the backup generator.The private trail down to the water was a great feature, though it’s quite steep, so be mindful of your mobility. The drive in is an adventure in itself—definitely bring a 4x4 with a low gear for the final stretch.The host and property manager were friendly, responsive, and very helpful. They recommended a local tour company, and Robert’s horseback ride and lake cruise were top-notch and very reasonably priced—highly recommend!The only small downside is that the house could use a bit of sprucing up. It’s nothing that would keep us from staying again, but don’t expect the same level of polish as a hotel at a similar price.Overall, we loved our stay and would absolutely return. If you’re looking for a unique, off-grid jungle experience, this is the place!
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Love Casa Santa Maria!

Such a lovely place and worth the 30 minute drive on a bumpy dirt road. It was heavenly and Iris was a wonderful cook! Belize is an excellent vacation destination. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Big place

Nice big clean place for 2 people. Lucy and Marcos are great hosts. Thanks Jim
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2019
Verified review

8/10 Good

Really cool property

Jim and Lucy were great in helping us coordinate our travel and stay at the Casa Santa Maria EcoLodge. I do recommend to bring ear plugs as the house is very loud and the generator is extremely noisy. As long as you can manage your groups energy consumption and behavior you will have a blissful time. Lucy is a great host and cook. We had excellent meals, tours, and service. Lucy even helped us track down some lost electronics a town over from another tour agency. Incredibly good service!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Absolutely Beautiful

Casa Santa Maria was the highlight of our 10 day vacation in Belize. Lucy was great and made sure we had everything we needed while we were there and made our stay very comfortable. The property is absolutely beautiful and you will not be disappointed.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Simply beautiful!

Casa Santa Maria was the quiet escape that we needed. The pictures do not do it justice. It's a beautiful cabin, tastefully decorated and nestled quite perfectly into the jungle landscape. Although our vacation got off to a rocky start, Millie made every care disappear. She took such great care of us - helping us plan and reserve activities, preparing delicious meals, helping with delivery of our lost luggage and washing our clothes so that we were clean. Jim was also the most gracious host. He made sure we had everything we needed and then some. I would highly recommend Casa Santa Maria to friends and look forward to returning in a couple of years.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2017
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 27, 2020
Tamara: It was a pleasure hosting your family! Millie was thrilled working you. I know you had a rough start, but I'm happy that we were able to assist you in turning it around! I have had similar experiences with missed connections and lost baggage, it can really deflate your vacation! All the BEST hope to host your family again in the future! Jim Hagen
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Exelent

This was a fabulous property the views are amazing. Lucy made you feel at home and a great resource for things to do places to go .
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful place, just beautiful

This is just dream come thru, place is gorgeous, i would say its even better than photos. Everything was very clean. We ordered dinners for all nights we stayed there, and Millie was absolutely great taking care of us, thank you so much! Food was delicious , the only regret, we only stayed 3 nights:( I miss Millie and the place. Jim, the owner, was very helpful and answered all my multiple emails with a few minutes of me sending them, even though some of them were not about the property, he helped with car rental recommendation, stores, etc Just a wonderful break from reality. Thank you !
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

About the host

Hosted by Jim Hagen - Owner, On-site Manager - Walter Browning

Host profile image
I'm a professional photographer in Canada. I'm a retired Sports Administrator/Marketing Director which included professional sports, university and the amateur sporting world.

Why they chose this property

I have developed the property as a "Creative Retreat" for artists, photographers and writers. Once construction was completed we had rental demands from many friends and visitors, thus we started to rent.

What makes this property unique

The property is located in the Belizean Rainforest and is truly off the grid. We are located in the Cayo District and have several excellent activities for guests. Our neighbour provides guided horseback riding tours and also day trips on the Macal River on a Pontoon Boat. The Macal River offers three waterfalls and swimming holes, etc. We also have a groomed trail from the house to the Macal River, were we also have a 16' canoe.

Languages:

English
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