In Benque Viejo Del Carmen .You'll find Macal River and Che Chem Ha within 3 miles (5 km) of this vacation home. Benque Viejo House of Culture and Poustinia Land Art Park are within 12 miles (20 km).
Xunantunich Mayan Ruins - 45 min drive - 14.0 miles
Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins - 48 min drive - 20.6 miles
Green Iguana Conservation Project - 49 min drive - 21.1 miles
San Ignacio Market - 50 min drive - 21.3 miles
Belize Botanical Gardens - 58 min drive - 19.7 miles
Getting around
San Ignacio (CYD-Town Airstrip) - 45 min drive
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 manager
Jim Hagen - Owner, On-site Manager - Walter Browning
Languages
English
Similar properties
Hidden in the Jungle - Amazing wildlife- Waterfalls close to Ruins
Hidden in the Jungle - Amazing wildlife- Waterfalls close to Ruins
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)
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
Pets
No pets allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome.
Important information
You need to know
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 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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.
Frequently asked questions
How close is Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. to the airport?
This vacation home is 14.1 mi (45-min drive) away from the San Ignacio (CYD-Town Airstrip) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.
Does Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. have an airport shuttle?
Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.
Does Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. offer free breakfast?
This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.
Is there a casino at Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away.?
No, there is no casino at this vacation home.
Is there free parking at Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away.?
Free parking is not available at this vacation home.
Does Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. have a pool?
This vacation home does not have a pool.
Does Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. have a spa?
There are no spa services available at this vacation home.
How close is Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. to downtown Benque Viejo Del Carmen?
This vacation home is 7.3 mi away from Benque Viejo Del Carmen.
Casa Santa Maria - Jungle River Retreat, Off-The-Grid, Seclude Get Away. Reviews
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers 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.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 13 reviews
10 - Excellent
10
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 13 reviews
8 - Good
2
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 13 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 13 reviews
4 - Poor
1
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 13 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
9.8/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Roberta H.
Feb 23, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
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.
Roberta H.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
4/10 Poor
Jeff & Val R.
Feb 8, 2025
Jeff & Val R.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025
8/10 Good
James B.
Feb 6, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
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!
James B.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2025
10/10 Excellent
Clifton O.
Dec 6, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
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!
Clifton O.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024
10/10 Excellent
Katie N.
Mar 15, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
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.
Katie N.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
10/10 Excellent
Shannon V.
Dec 17, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
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.
Shannon V.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
10/10 Excellent
ken I., Idalou, texas
Mar 1, 2020
Liked: Cleanliness
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!
ken I.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2020
10/10 Excellent
Lorie G., Canada
Apr 13, 2019
Big place
Nice big clean place for 2 people. Lucy and Marcos are great hosts. Thanks Jim
Lorie G.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2019
8/10 Good
Zac P., Where do you live?
Jan 7, 2019
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!
Zac P.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
10/10 Excellent
Alvin F.
May 27, 2018
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.
Alvin F.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
10/10 Excellent
Tamara M.
Jun 18, 2017
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.
Tamara M.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2017
10/10 Excellent
David D.
Mar 24, 2017
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 .
David D.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2017
10/10 Excellent
masha s.
Feb 11, 2016
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 !