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Entire home·Private host

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

Holiday home in Benque Viejo Del Carmen with kitchen and balcony

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

Terrace/patio - Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. (Benque Viejo del Carmen)
Property grounds - Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. (Benque Viejo del Carmen)
Interior - Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. (Benque Viejo del Carmen)
Exterior - Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. (Benque Viejo del Carmen)
5 bedrooms, in-room safe, free WiFi, bed sheets - Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. (Benque Viejo del Carmen)
Nestled in an Eco-village on the Macal River, Casa Santa Maria offers a tranquil retreat. Take in jungle views from one of two outdoor covered decks or explore trails and gardens within the village.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Breakfast available

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.

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.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Breakfast available for a fee
  • Chef service
  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Outdoor shower
  • Shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Stereo
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping on request
  • Safe

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)

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Policies

Check-in

Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 1:00 PM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk hours vary at this property
Guests must contact the property for check-in information
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
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

About the area

Benque Viejo Del Carmen is home to this holiday home. Poustinia Land Art Park and Upe Nai - Living Maya Immersion are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Ajaw Chocolate & Crafts and Bol's Cave Museum. Belize Botanic Gardens and Green Hills Butterfly Ranch are also worth visiting.
Visit our Benque Viejo Del Carmen travel guideOpens in a new window
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Map
Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo

What's nearby

  • Macal River - 5 min drive - 3.2 km
  • Benque Viejo House of Culture - 26 min drive - 18.3 km
  • Xunantunich Mayan Ruins - 36 min drive - 22.1 km
  • Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins - 41 min drive - 31.8 km
  • San Ignacio Market - 43 min drive - 33.2 km

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

On-site parking is available at the property.

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

Checkout 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 holiday home is 1.8 mi (3 km) from Macal River and 2.1 mi (3.3 km) from Che Chem Ha. Benque Viejo House of Culture and Poustinia Land Art Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

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

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 14 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 14 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 14 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 14 reviews

9.8

Cleanliness

8.6

Location

10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Melissa

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

10/10 Excellent

Clifton O.

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

10/10 Excellent

Shannon V.

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

10/10 Excellent

Roberta H.

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

8/10 Good

James B.

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

10/10 Excellent

Katie N.

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

10/10 Excellent

ken I., Idalou, texas

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

10/10 Excellent

Lorie G., Canada

Big place

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

8/10 Good

Zac P., Where do you live?

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

10/10 Excellent

Alvin F.

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
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tamara M.

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
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

David D.

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
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

masha s.

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 !

4/10 Poor

Jeff & Val R.

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025