El Gran Castillo de Arena (5 Bedroom)

GOLD STANDARD CERTIFIED!

El Gran Castillo de Arena, the "Great Sandcastle", with its thoughtful design, beautiful décor, location, and overall commitment to excellence, is regarded as one of Belize's finest beachfront villas.

This private home is located just 4.5 miles north of San Pedro Town in the sought-after Mata Grande area, the closest location on Ambergris Caye to the fun and famous Secret Beach. With its 3 separate living areas within the home, it is perfect for your multi-family vacation with large areas to gather and private spaces to unwind and relax as well. We know these days you may have to work as well so we have 60Mb Fiber.

It has been said by past guests that our best feature, hands down, is our caretaker, William. He and his loyal and friendly dogs, Tonester and Lady, live behind the house on the property. He is here to assist you with anything you need. Marvin is William's assistant; he takes great pride in keeping the grounds and beach looking immaculate!

The 'Sunset Tower' is the third-floor patio with a 360-degree view of paradise. Rejuvenate your body after soaking up the Caribbean sun with a refreshing plunge in the 4' deep dip pool. The patio furniture and tables, along with the shaded pergola, offer a fantastic spot for dining while viewing the beautiful turquoise Caribbean waters or breathtaking sunsets.

The upstairs master suite features a spacious air-conditioned great room with soaring ceilings. It is tastefully decorated with an earthy Mayan theme in rich jewel tones with comfortable rattan furniture and locally carved mahogany tables. The beautifully designed, fully-equipped kitchen has a dining and breakfast bar area that seats up to 10. There is plenty of room for the whole gang to gather. The master bedroom with a king bed has an en-suite bathroom. The second bedroom has a king bed that can be converted into two twins for versatility. There is also a second full bathroom in the upstairs unit.

The downstairs suite features a fully equipped kitchen, a living area, two bedrooms featuring split kings for vesatiloity and a bathroom. The dining table, along with the breakfast bar, provides seating for seven.

The hideaway suite connected to the south side of the house features lofty ceilings, a living/dining area, kitchenette, a large bedroom with a queen bed, and a full bath.

As soon as you book, we will provide you with our constantly updated Mobile Guest Guide. Our Mobile Guest Guide is loaded with information, including listings for numerous restaurants, bars, and activities. Our Mobile Guest Guide is integrated with GMaps making it easy to find your way around town. Each listing is linked to TripAdvisor; we’ve even linked the menus to many of the restaurants. The Guide is also searchable, so you can easily find the nearest Seafood or even Vegetarian options. We offer full concierge services and can arrange everything for you so that all you need to think about is having fun. So, just let us know, and we’ll book all your tours, in-country flights, and arrange golf cart rentals with no add on booking fees.

All towels, linens, iron/ironing board, and a hairdryer are provided for your convenience. A washer/dryer is also available for use with a 7-night stay or longer.

Enjoy direct access to the beach right out the door. Across the white sandy beach lies your private pier with a thatched palapa and swim deck. The dock is perfect for snorkeling, sunbathing, or trying your luck at reeling in your fish dinner.

On the beach is your own private thatch-roof palapa to keep you cool and shaded while sipping your favorite libation at the "Carpe Diem" bar. A warm-water shower to rinse off after your day's excursions is conveniently located right outside your front door. Situated in the tropically landscaped backyard is a BBQ grill to cook that fresh catch of the day.

Included are bicycles, kayaks, snorkel gear, beach games, beach toys, baby needs and much more. CAS5

Vacation Rental Reviews

• Friends Vacation

  Stayed 4 days ending in March, 2024

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  Joanne R from MEDIA, PA recommends this vacation rental

  The house, the view and management team were all amazing! Great to be picked up at our dock for all our snorkeling adventures. Restuarant next door a big plus! We should have stayed longer!

  • Manager Responded on 4/13/2024

    We're delighted to hear that your stay at El Gran Castillo de Arena was amazing, Joanne! It's wonderful that the house, the view, and our management team all contributed positively to your experience. Having snorkeling adventures pick you up directly from your dock and enjoying the convenience of the nearby restaurant certainly is a great bonus. We wish you could have stayed longer too and we hope to welcome you back in the future!

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• Beautiful Home & Location

  Stayed 7 days ending in March, 2024

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  Robert L from Great Falls, MT recommends this vacation rental

  We recently spent a week with 3 other couples at El Gran Castillo de Arena. This home and the staff was wonderful and the location is beautiful!
  
  The home was clean,quiet, and comfortable. We enjoyed gathering at the rooftop deck/pool for the views, at the dining room table for card games, the palapa for Williams demonstrations, and the hammocks for rest! The convenience of Tropical Escape restaurant/bar next door was an added bonus.
  
  We all enjoyed William's crab races, his coconut demonstration and will treasure his "appreciation" gifts forever. William and Marvin were very accommodating and helpful when we had needs/questions.
  
  Also, the property managers were very helpful with assisting us with our Tropic Air flights to and from the island, transportation to and from the airport and golf cart rental. The property guidebook they provided was very helpful in planning for our stay!
  
  We hope to come back and would highly recommend this property!! Thank you so much for your hospitality and contributing to our awesome Belize vacation!

  • Manager Responded on 3/18/2024

    Thank you for your wonderful review, Robert. We're thrilled to hear about your fantastic experience at El Gran Castillo de Arena with your friends. It's heartening to know that the home met all your expectations in terms of cleanliness, comfort, and tranquility, and that you all made the most of the various gathering spots, from the rooftop deck/pool with its stunning views to the. Tropical Escape has made an excellent addition to the neighbourhood and has been highly recommended by many of our guests. We're so pleased that William's crab races, coconut demonstration, and gifts left a lasting impression on you and your group. William and Marvin, like all our staff, strive to ensure our guests' needs and questions are met with the utmost accommodation and helpfulness. We're also glad to know that we were able to play a significant role in streamlining your travel arrangements and that the property guidebook was a valuable resource for planning your stay. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you back for another visit. Thank you for choosing El Gran Castillo de Arena for your Belize vacation, and for highlighting the hospitality that contributed to making your experience awesome.

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• Palapa Heaven!

  Stayed 5 days ending in February, 2024

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  Ward B from Atlanta, GA recommends this vacation rental

  We could not have been more pleased with El Gran Castillo de Arena! The location was fantastic (peaceful, yet convenient). The set up was ideal (we had three couples and each had private spaces plus a great common area to gather). The house was immaculate, well equipped and well maintained. The setting and the grounds were amazing (beautiful sand and water, with multiple palapas, each with their own feel and ambiance, plus the roof top pool for a quick dip). William (on-property manager) and Marvin made sure that we had everything that we needed (from kayaks to hammocks) and anticipated things before we knew we needed them! Simon (property management company) patiently answered all of our pre-visit questions and helped us schedule all of our local transportation and Elena helped us with booking excursions. We could not have asked for anything more!

  • Manager Responded on 4/13/2024

    We're thrilled to hear that your stay at El Gran Castillo de Arena exceeded your expectations, Ward! It's wonderful that the location provided the perfect balance of peace and convenience, and that the setup was ideal for your group, offering both private spaces and a communal area for gathering. We're glad that the cleanliness and amenities of the house, along with the stunning setting and grounds, added to your enjoyment. William and Marvin's attentiveness and proactive service, along with the support from Simon and Elena in managing your transportation and excursions, seem to have truly enhanced your experience. We strive to anticipate and fulfill our guests' needs, and it's gratifying to know we succeeded. Thank you for choosing El Gran Castillo de Arena, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable stay in the future!

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• Fabulous Place

  Stayed 7 days ending in February, 2024

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  Gina H from N/A, CO recommends this vacation rental

  We were a group of five couples. This home fit us perfectly. It has the most beautiful view. Sunrise was magical. Simon the main contact, is fantastic in getting all your needs set up before you get there. The two caretakers are amazing and will help with all your needs during your stay. Loved it and will book again. The only downside to this place is the beds are super hard.

  • Manager Responded on 2/18/2024

    We're delighted to hear that El Gran Castillo de Arena was the perfect fit for your group, Gina, and that you were able to enjoy the beautiful views and magical sunrises. It's great to know that I was able to assist with your needs prior to arrival and that our caretakers were helpful throughout your stay. Your satisfaction and plans to book again are the best compliments we could receive. Regarding the beds, we appreciate your feedback and understand the importance of a good night's sleep. We want to inform you that we will be replacing the mattresses shortly to ensure a more comfortable rest for all our future guests. We're committed to improving based on our guests' experiences and thank you for bringing this to our attention. Thank you for choosing El Gran Castillo de Arena, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable stay.

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• Wonderful house on the beach

  Stayed 7 days ending in December, 2023

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  Amy N from Sparks, MD recommends this vacation rental

  The house was clean, convenient and was great for our family of 6 with plenty of personal space. William and Marvin were incredibly helpful and we LOVED the dogs. The rooftop pool was great for a dip. We used the paddle boards and kayaks too. I would recommend renting a golf cart to get around and flying in on the small plane. The Tropical Escape nextdoor was a pleasant surprise with good food and yummy cocktails. Don’t forget to pack the bug spray and suntan lotion!

  • Manager Responded on 1/5/2024

    Amy, we're thrilled to hear that your stay at El Gran Castillo de Arena was a hit with your family. It's wonderful that the house met your cleanliness and convenience needs and provided enough space for everyone. We're delighted that William and Marvin were helpful and that the pups added to your enjoyment. It sounds like you made great use of the rooftop pool, paddleboards, and kayaks, which is fantastic. Your tips about renting a golf cart and flying in on the small plane are much appreciated by future guests. We're also glad to know that Tropical Escape next door enhanced your experience with their food and cocktails. Thank you for the reminder about bug spray and suntan lotion – essential items for any tropical vacation! We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back to El Gran Castillo de Arena in the future.

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• Absolutely perfect!

  Stayed 7 days ending in December, 2023

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  a guest from Hurricane, UT recommends this vacation rental

  Pulling up the house and property are better than advertised. William and Marvin were always available for anything we needed. We are huge dog lovers so having them on the property was the icing on the cake.

  • Manager Responded on 12/24/2023

    We're thrilled to hear that your stay at El Gran Castillo de Arena exceeded your expectations, Deric. It's wonderful that William and Marvin were readily available to assist with your needs, contributing to a memorable experience. We're also delighted to know that the presence of our lovable pups on the property added an extra layer of joy to your visit. Thank you for choosing El Gran Castillo de Arena, and we hope to welcome you back again soon for another fantastic stay.

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• The Grand Sand Castle

  Stayed 7 days ending in June, 2023

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  Gwen H from Concord, CA recommends this vacation rental

  Seven of us had a very comfortable week-long stay at this idyllic, spacious and modern beachfront villa. There were more than enough beds to accommodate everyone, on multiple floors each with their own kitchens and bathrooms. Oh, and the best feature is the rooftop pool!!!
  We pre-ordered some food to have on hand for our arrival, arranged golf carts and even scheduled some tours all through the Sunrise Vacations management team. Talk about convenient!
  Not to mention there is a lovely bar & restaurant just next door, if you don't feel like cooking. Secret beach is just on the other side of the island, and it's a quick ride into town for shopping, dining or whatever excursions you'd like to take.
  The property comes with an on-site caretaker and a groundskeeper, and their concierge-like service cannot be matched. They were so helpful and kind, that it felt like we'd made new friends by the time we departed. Can't wait to visit again!

  • Manager Responded on 8/2/2023

    Thank you for such a wonderful review of your stay with us. We're delighted to hear that you found our villa to be idyllic, spacious, and well-equipped to meet your needs. It brings us great joy to hear that our rooftop pool was a highlight of your stay! We're also glad to hear that our management team was able to ensure your stay was convenient and comfortable, assisting with everything from pre-ordering food to arranging golf carts and tours. The proximity to the beach, the local bar & restaurant, and the town are indeed some of the highlights that our guests love. Your kind words about our on-site caretaker and groundskeeper truly mean the world to us, as we pride ourselves in providing excellent service to our guests. We are so grateful for your kind words and for recommending us to other travelers. We can't wait to welcome you back to our property!

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• Girls Getaway @ Gran Castillo !!!!

  Stayed 4 days ending in March, 2023

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  Kimberly H from Las Vegas, NV recommends this vacation rental

  Girls trip 2023! We had a great time. The views are spectacular. William & Marvin were great! If you book this rental you will not be disappointed! Say Hi to Choppo~

  • Manager Responded on 4/25/2023

    Thank you for choosing to stay at our property for your girls' trip in 2023. We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time and that you found the views to be spectacular. We're glad to hear that William and Marvin were great - we're proud to have them on our team. We're delighted to hear that you would recommend our rental to others, and that you're confident that they will not be disappointed. It's always great to hear positive feedback from our guests. We will definitely say hi to Choppo for you! Thank you for staying with us and for taking the time to share your experience. We look forward to welcoming you back for another great stay soon!

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• Ambergris Caye gem

  Stayed 14 days ending in February, 2023

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  Janet P from Buckeye, Arizona recommends this vacation rental

  El Gran Castillo was a fantastic home for our group of 9. The layout was perfect for all of us to meet together but also gave us plenty of privacy for each of our families when desired. Can't begin to say enough wonderful things about William and Marvin, the caretakers - both were so nice and helpful. Simon, at Sunrise Management was awesome as well. He really helped us negotiate our comings and goings and quickly responded to all my questions. Loved being right there on the water where we could paddle out to the reef and snorkel on our own. Our group of both kids and adults had a fabulous time there.

  • Manager Responded on 3/12/2023

    It was an pleasure to read your review of El Gran Castillo Janet! I'm so glad to hear that you had a fantastic time during your stay and that everything met your expectations. I'm delighted to know that I was able to help you negotiate your comings and goings and answer any questions you had during your stay. I'm always here to make sure that our guests have the best possible experience, so it's great to know that I was able to assist you in any way I could. I'm also happy to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful location of the home right on the water. I loved seeing your snorkeling, kayaking and mainland adventures on YouTube. It's great to know that both the kids and adults in your group had a fabulous time during your stay. Thank you for choosing El Gran Castillo for your vacation and for taking the time to share your experience. I hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future!

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• Paradise

  Stayed 5 days ending in December, 2022

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  Stephanie B from Willow Park, TX recommends this vacation rental

  Great space, awesome beach and best caretakers ever.

  • Manager Responded on 12/27/2022

    Thank you for staying with us Stephanie, it was our pleasure and it's great to hear that you had such a good time at the villa.

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• Awesome getaway !!

  Stayed 6 days ending in December, 2022

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  John P from Weatherford, TX recommends this vacation rental

  Everything was great. William was on top of everything. The man can cook too !!!

  • Manager Responded on 12/27/2022

    Thanks so much for staying with us John, we're thrilled to hear that you had such a good time. We hope to see you back again in the future!

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• Absolutely Amazing

  Stayed 8 days ending in May, 2022

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  a guest from Fairview, PA recommends this vacation rental

  This property exceeded our expectations in many ways. Stunningly beautiful views. Exceptional accommodations with countless amenities. Beautifully maintained inside and out. The interior design of the house fit the needs of our 9-person party (3 generations) perfectly. The exterior design of the house is striking while at the same time subtle so it does not disrupt the beautiful natural surroundings. The location is great - we had everything we needed onsite, but for the occasions we wanted to venture beyond the property it is fun and convenient to take the golf cart to restaurants, attractions and downtown. The on-site team, William and Marvin, are great. Lovely warm personalities and fantastic hosts who helped provide a very comfortable stay and helped create many very special moments throughout our stay. Simon and the rest of the team with Sunrise Property Management is the most thorough, professional, knowledgeable and service-oriented group we have ever worked with over many years of rental stays. Excellent communication and so proactive to prepare us for our international travel and plans for our visit well before arrival, and ready to help with anything (excursions, transportation) throughout our entire trip. This property deserves more than 5 stars. We give it ALL the stars!!!

  • Manager Responded on 6/13/2022

    Thank you so much for all of your kind words Grainne, it was such a pleasure hosting your family and we hope that you'll all be able to join us again the future.

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• Incredible house, amazing service, 5 stars!

  Stayed 5 days ending in April, 2022

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  Maribel M from Bakersfield, CA recommends this vacation rental

  We had 8 adults here on a birthday vacation. There were so many extras booked from so many different people and they were all handled beautifully. The house is immaculate and has incredible views. It was amazing to have the house manager William on site for anything we needed, he truly goes above and beyond; just a gem. The two balconies provide amazing views. Each floor has a kitchen including the studio space. Next door is a full service bar that serves good and breakfast. Kayaks and bikes to use. Also I recommend you have the spa services come out and do a massage on the pier, truly amazing. Have your coffee and watch the sting rays jump from the water or just have the local pups nuzzle your toes. Honestly would stay here again in a heartbeat.

  • Manager Responded on 5/16/2022

    Thank you so much for choosing to stay with us Maribel, and for your wonderful review. We would love to have you stay with us again,

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• Amazing stay

  Stayed 7 days ending in April, 2022

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  Aron S from Stirling, ON recommends this vacation rental

  I really want to thank Sunrise Property Management and especially William and Marvin for making our already amazing stay in Belize even better. William and Marvin were amazing always there for any needs the property was clean and ready for our group with everything we needed. William went over and above helping us with tickets for the ferry, as well as many suggestions for great food and activities. The guys put on a great coconut display and treated us to an amazing crab race. If you stay in Belize you gotta stay here!

  • Manager Responded on 4/14/2022

    It was truly our pleasure to host your stay at El Gran Castillo de Arena. It is such a great place and William and Marvin do such a fantastic job of taking care of our guests. We hope to see you back in Belize one day!

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• Fantastic Family Retreat

  Stayed 4 days ending in March, 2022

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  Jacob H from Cypress, TX recommends this vacation rental

  I would recommend this property to anyone heading to Belize! Our family loved our stay and appreciated all of the coordination provided by the property management group. Everything about our stay was top notch. From William and Marvin ensuring everything was perfect for us each day to Simon and the management group setting up our on-site spa day (highly recommend). The floor plan is set up perfectly for families traveling together. Each living quarter has its own kitchen and living area for some individual down time. Had a blast and can’t wait to get back!

  • Manager Responded on 3/23/2022

    We're thrilled to hear that the villa met all of your needs and that we were able to provide the services to help make your vacation a great success. We can't wait to have you stay with us again!

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• Paradise on Ambergris Caye

  Stayed 7 days ending in November, 2021

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  Bethany M from Browns Summit, NC recommends this vacation rental

  El Gran Castillo de Arena is amazing! The home is beautiful, well equipped for all of your needs, and extremely clean. The reservation staff and caretakers, William and Marvin, are awesome! They made our trip so special, were always there to assist us, and made sure we had the best time possible on our trip. I can't wait to return!

  • Manager Responded on 12/3/2021

    Thanks so much for choosing to stay with us Beth, it was a pleasure having you stay with us and we can't wait for you to return!

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• Wonderful stay/Wonderful staff

  Stayed 7 days ending in July, 2021

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  Amy G from Albuquerque, NM recommends this vacation rental

  We had such a wonderful family vacation staying in this beautiful house. It was immaculate and well maintained. The staff was simply the best. Simon made booking our stay and excursions a breeze (they picked us up right off the dock for our mainland excursion). William and Marvin were attentive and helped with everything we needed. William was able to get us fresh lobster (thankfully it was lobster season, and it was sooo good!) and fresh fish the week we stayed. He even helped get us to a clinic when one of our teenage boys fell on his wrist (all was okay!). They really went above and beyond and we could not have been more pleased or impressed. We had a great time fishing and snorkeling right off the docks, and kayaking around too. We saw lots of fish, and even a ray and nurse shark. Very cool! The beach area and hammocks were amazing. The rooftop pool was refreshing and a great place to hang out too, and the star gazing was phenomenal! Overall, we enjoyed our stay so such and I would recommend most highly!

  • Manager Responded on 8/9/2021

    Thank you so much for your very informative review Amy. It was a pleasure hosting you and we truly hope that you'll be able to join us again in the future.

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