Casa Santa Maria sets a new standard for AWESOME for us! We just returned from an 8-day stay and I can tell you that my family just had our very best, most memorable vacation ever! If you want an extraordinary home with a stunning jungle view, and a very personal experience with the Belizean culture and people, than this is the place for you. Jim, the host/homeowner, quickly responds to emails and very helpful answering questions, giving information and suggestions – a top notch guy… Lucy, your on-site host/caretaker/activities coordinator and cook deserves a 500-word review all her own: She will greet you with a warm smile, a giving heart and the best home-cooked food in Belize. I cannot recommend strongly enough booking meals with Lucy. In addition to her tasty Belizean cooking, Lucy will assist you in booking your activities, securing guides or anything else you may need. She grew up in the area, knows it inside-out and is more than proud to introduce you to her home and culture. Thank you, Lucy, for everything you did for us!... As far as activities go, we easily filled 8 memorable days in the jungle and the surrounding area. I URGE, URGE, URGE you to take full advantage of the family-run Martz Farm (just 2 miles away). The Martz farm was the center of the coolest activities we had in the Jungle. There are several tours to choose from. We took a horseback ride to a “secret” cave, once inhabited by the ancient Mayans. You will experience the cave “Indiana Jones style” with Joe Martinez. It has been his favorite place since he was 9-years-old and he knows every chamber, every inch. It was one of the most memorable things we have ever done as a family. We also took the full day Martz pontoon boat tour on the scenic Macal River and swam in the waterfalls. You will get to know the members of the Martinez (Martz) family and it makes for a warm, personal experience. By the end of the week, the Martinez family was like our very own family… Surrounding area activities include cave tubing (very cool!), butterfly gardens, botanical gardens and San Ignacio market just to name a few… I highly recommend Casa Santa Maria to anyone – but please leave some days open for us – We all want to return!