Casa Santa Maria was the perfect get-away for our group of seven. The drive from San Ignacio is an adventure, so be sure to follow the directions that Jim provided. From the second we arrived, we were in love. Lucy greeted us with fresh fruit juice and the best smile ever! She made us feel both completely at home and pampered. We opted to have Lucy prepare our dinners. The food was DELICIOUS! Each breakfast and dinner was special. Eating meals on the beautiful outdoor table with a view of the jungle and the Macal was surreal. On our first day, we took a short walk down to the river and paddled around in their kayak. It was absolutely idyllic. We were shaking with crocodile fear on the first day, so didn't get in the river (we later learned that we had nothing to worry about!) We took the pontoon boat trip. There is no rating high enough to do it justice. Our guide Luis was knowledgeable about everything Belize - politics, plant life, and the animals. He was able to answer every question we had and found us iguanas, orchids, bats, and birds. He got us up close and personal with waterfalls and lead us on a short hike to the most beautiful waterfall. Lucy prepared lunch and Luis grilled it on the pontoon. Lucy scheduled our tour of Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave. The tour was awesome and even more so because of our amazing guide (Glise of Belize Family Adventures). Other guides were not nearly as nice or knowledgeable, so trust Lucy! The house and the view are even prettier in person than in the pictures. I can't wait to go back!