Villa Cayo

A mixed review. The villa we stayed in was very good - decently equipped kitchen, lovely grounds, away from the hustle and bustle of town. There was a great little outside grill to cook on. The concierge, was friendly enough, but not a problem solver. We are not very demanding guests, just were looking for a little stronger recommendations for things. He was responsive, but the initiative was definitely on us. And even more clarity on how to be prepared for excursions that they pre-booked for us. Access to the grounds also seemed a bit off. There was a pool, but seemed more attached to the main house and there was not signage or indication of the best way to get there. And that made going there feel like we were intruding on the main house. On the The Villa Cayo website, the owners talk highly of guest commitment. So I was looking forward to saying hi. Our drivers said great things about Ms. X, and that we should hear some of her stories. But...while we saw her and her husband around, we were never greeted or sought out to visit (five night stay - one day we never even left the property). So that felt a little less welcoming too. Quick to invoice, slow to be welcoming. The companies that they worked with for adventures were indeed good. Belize Cave Expeditions were great We did Cave tubing/ziplining and a trip to Tikal. So, while I think the physical components and the outside providers were great, the house side of the experience was lackluster. Lastly, advice for the traveler. Villa Cayo offers packages, including the option to get picked up from and taken back to Belize City rather than rent a car. When we were penciling things out, seemed like a good idea. BUT...Villa Cayo is located well outside of town and there is no safe way to walk into town - busy road, pretty hilly, and a couple miles. You are isolated and need a driver each time you want to leave. One of the options Villa Cayo offered was the chocolate and green iguana project tour in San Ignacio. That was priced at US$100. For all the other trips, most fees and entries were included. But this one, the $100 was only the driver. We were in his vehicle for ＜30min total for the day and then we also had to pay out of pocket for the two tours. We could have gotten a cab into town for US$10 and about the same back. The locations of the in-town tours were about 5 minutes walking from each other - San Ignacio central is small. Long story short for this paragraph - unless you don't mind paying for cabs and drivers, rent your car in Belize City - we paid more for the transfers and into-town rides. (Although, we learned A LOT from both drivers to and from the airport, and that was worth a lot).

Our stay at Villa Cayo was nothing short of fantastic. I would go so far as to say it is the best accommodation option in Santa Elena. From the breathtaking views to the immaculate interior of the villas, every aspect exceeded our expectations. Marlon was the first member of the Villa Cayo team that we met, and what warm welcome he gave us! Beyond his kindness, he thoroughly impressed us with his profound knowledge of Belize and its history. Marlon knows the country inside and out, and I would highly recommend booking a tour with him—it is a must! His knowledge and passion is unparalleled. We asked him a million and one questions about Mayan civilization, Belizean history, culture, and more, and he had an answer for each one. Honestly, my biggest regret from our trip was not spending more time with Marlon. He's truly awesome and we are planing to return just to explore more with him! Special thanks as well to Luis for ensuring our stay was flawless. His attention to detail and commitment to guest satisfaction were evident throughout our time at Villa Cayo. He made us the best breakfast, and was quick to respond to our emails/WhatsApps. Luis ensured we were safe no matter where we were. He connected us with Mr. G, which made transportation to/from town for dinner or the grocery store a breeze. We were so happy staying at Villa Cayo, which is peaceful, quiet, and truly a slice of heaven in Santa Elena. We woke up every morning to have coffee with the birds and watched sunset every evening after a day of adventure. The beds were comfortable, everything was new and clean, there was AC, the shower was awesome (hot & great pressure), and the little touches in the villa made it special. If you're looking for a perfect blend of comfort, hospitality, and jungle in Belize, Villa Cayo is the place to be!