Villa del Mar, Belize Beachfront Rental Lodging, Ambergris Caye, Caribbean

My wife and I became the owners of Villa Del Mar in January 2011. We are in our mid fifties, from the U.K., and had been searching for a holiday/retirement home for about five years. Our travels had taken us to Bahamas, Caribbean, Florida Keys, Gulf Coast and Belize.

For some reason we were inextricably drawn back to Ambergris Caye. The friendliness of the locals and expat community, the climate, the quality of the fishing snorkeling and diving all influenced our final decision. We have experienced staying in rented accommodations on both the southern and northern coasts. And had a natural preference for the latter. When we realized that property was available at Los Encantos we seemed to find our ideal spot.

The Villa

Villa Del Mar is one of four private villas that make up the Los Encantos community. It is set around manicured gardens, a beautiful swimming pool ,overlooking the Caribbean Sea. You will know you are in paradise the moment you step out of the boat onto your dock.

Villa Del Mar has three bedrooms, four full baths, and a great room that includes a dining area, kitchen and a living room. Each room has A/C and ceiling fans.

We have found this villa to be perfect for one, two or three couples needing complete privacy. The living area in the great room connects to the fourth bathroom, which allows this room to provide additional sleeping space on an inflatable mattress, which is provided.

Bedrooms

The lower level features two (2) master bedrooms, incuding one with a king and the other a queen size bed, both very comfortable with soft sheets and lots of pillows. Bedrooms have plenty of storage space for your belongings, small refrigerators for drinks or midnight snacks, and have a private entrance onto the lower verandah. Just open the door and walk a few steps onto the sand of the front yard and to the beach for a swim.

Each master bathroom has large closets and an abundance of towels. Enjoy the experience of showering in a jungle environment in the enclosed shower overlooking bougainvillea and other tropical plantings. Both baths are finished with beautiful hand painted Mexican tiles and sinks.

The third bedroom is upstairs with two twin beds and a private bath that also features hand painted tiles and sinks.

Great Room

A vaulted ceiling of Belizan hardwoods spans the living, dining and kitchen area. It is breathtaking! The living room area is decorated in bright Caribbean colors with works of art by several Belizan artists. This quiet getaway retreat has all the modern conveniences, satellite TV, DVD, VCR and CD player. Many "beach" books are also available to curl up with when you have returned after a day of adventure.

The kitchen is fully equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, oven, dishwasher, and all the necessary small appliances, (coffee maker, toaster, blender, etc). There is a host of pots and pans and place settings for ten (10) people.

The tap water used throughout the villa is potable (so drinking the tap water is not a problem). It is rainwater that is collected from the roof during the infrequent rainstorms and stored in a cistern under the house. We ask everyone to use this water carefully during his or her stay. Also provided is a 5 gallon bottled water dispenser with water in the kitchen for your cooking and drinking needs.

Across the front of the villa is a covered verandah where you can sit & relax with your morning coffee watching the sunrise over the Caribbean Sea. The table and chairs on the upper verandah make it a perfect spot for your breakfast, lunch and evening relaxation.

TRANSPORTATION

The trip from Belize City International Airport to San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye is made almost exclusively by air- either Tropic or Maya Island Air. Reservations can be made in advance over the Internet. The planes leave every hour and the flight takes about fifteen minutes.

A ferryboat also runs between Belize City and San Pedro.

One complementary trip between San Pedro's airport and the villa is provided for your arrival and departure as part of your rental agreement. A taxi will meet your plane and take you to a grocery store and then to a boat dock where a water taxi will then take you by boat to the villa (about 4 miles). Or, if you wish to have someone else do your grocery shopping, the Internet site of Lagniappe Provisioning will stock the villa prior to your arrival.

To make your vacation a relaxing visit all transportation and adventures in Belize can be easily arranged.

Transportation options are:

Water Taxi - Water taxis are privately owned boats and provide the most flexibility. Call from the list in the villa to make arrangement.
Island Ferry - Scheduled service is provided between San Pedro and the resorts and restaurants on the "North Side". It will stop at Los Encantos if you call ahead of time; or you can walk (about 15 minutes) to Journeys End, a nearby resort, and catch it there.
Golf Carts - Golf carts have become a popular means of moving around Ambergris Caye. They can be rented by the hour, day or week. A valid drivers license is all that is required. We now have a cart road (path) that will take you between the Villa and San Pedro. Rentals can be arranged in town or from the villa. Golf carts can damage the beach. Please use the carts on the beach only when necessary. Your respect for the community and the environment is always appreciated.
Bikes - Bicycling is very popular on Ambergris Caye. There are several bike rental companies in San Pedro Town. Our management company can help you with your rental.
Walking - Walking gives you the opportunity to see the island's resorts and homes at your own pace. There are lots of places to stop, rest, or get a Belikin (Belize beer). Walking is one of our favorite things to do!

Whether you take a golf cart, bike or walk to San Pedro you will need to use the hand pulled tow across the small inlet north of San Pedro. There is a small toll ($1.00 US maximum) when crossing the cut. It is a great photo op!

THINGS TO DO

Belize offers a variety of things to do while you're on vacation. Among these are:

Snorkeling
Belize has the longest barrier reef in the Western hemisphere and the 2nd longest in the world. This area is famous for its excellent snorkeling and scuba diving! San Pedro Town has several dive shops that will plan your trips. One of the most popular excursions is a visit to Hol Chan(the marine preserve) and Shark Ray Alley, a destination for those who have always wanted to swim with the friendly sharks! Many other trips can be arranged to Mexico Rocks, Coral Gardens, Caye Caulker, Les Robles or the famous Blue Hole. Most trips are half-day excursions, but longer trips can also be arranged. You can rent all of your equipment if you don't want to bring your own.

Mayan Ruins
Belize is in the heart of the ancient Mayan civilization. Several excellent day trips are available to visit these magical places. You can choose to fly to Belize City and take a bus to some of these areas. Our favorite has always been to go by boat and arrive at the sites the same way the Mayans did. Boating up the Belize River and New River to the Lamanai site is particularly moving. Along the way you will see lots of birds, iguana's, crocodiles, and flowers. So take your binoculars and cameras on this trip! Information is available at the villa to reserve a spot on this exciting adventure.

Fishing
I am an avid saltwater fly fisherman and have been fortunate enough to have fished all over the globe from Oman to Seychelles to Cuba. Belize and the surrounding waters of Ambergris Caye now offer the solution to all my fishing needs. The beach area one mile either side of our villa have some of the best wadeable flats fishing on the Island. In addition there are several independent local flats fishing guides that can take you for a special day out at very reasonable rates.

Reef fishing guides are also available and this activity is great fun for a family group. Many of the reef fishing guides will offer a beach picnic lunch of the fish you catch. This fun picnic usually includes homemade tortillas, island vegetables, and secret Mayan herbs cooked over the traditional coconut husk fueled bar-b-que. The kids and adults alike love this! Be sure to get a few fish to cook at home over the villa bar-b-que grill. Herbs and spices are available at the local grocery.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The town of San Pedro (population 10,000) is still a very quaint little town, with sand streets and not a lot of traffic. Walking around the downtown, which consists of three main streets, Front, Middle and Back, is not only a visual treat with buildings painted in beautiful Caribbean colors and textures but also affords many fabulous shopping, dining and drinking opportunities. The Belizan people are friendly and helpful and all speak English. Everyone is happy to accept US dollars or Belize dollars for goods and services. Oh, shoes and shirts are not required!

If you feel the need to get to the BIG city, Belize City (population 60,000) is the place for you.One of the best ways to experience the city is to fly from San Pedro to the Belize Municipal Airport and hire a driver to take you on a tour of the city. It is a former British colony so lovely old architecture will be seen. Not to be missed on you tour is the new history museum, housed in the old jail. You might also enjoy the Belize Zoo. It is a beautiful little jewel. Belize City is quite a hustle bustle place; canals criss crossing the city streets and the interesting mix of people makes this a fun day trip.

To enhance a relaxing Belize vacation, we would suggest a massage. You can have the therapist come to the villa for a private session. Oh so decadent! There are also wonderful spas in San Pedro or you can try Maruba Jungle Spa on the mainland for a truly unique experience.

If you are staying a week or a month there are interesting activities and experiences to keep you occupied and entertained. There are jungle trips, cave tubing, bird watching, parasailing, eco tours and more. Our management company will be happy to help you schedule any of these adventures.

PROVIDED IN YOUR RENTAL:

One arrival and departure trip to and from San Pedro airport.
Maid service every other day.
Laundry service- if requested
Satellite TV
Bottled water
On site caretaker
Wifi available

We are uniquely fortunate to have top-notch friendly on-site caretakers. Sergio, Racheal and "little" Sergio, their son, live in the casita on the property.

Sergio keeps the grounds and beach in pristine condition. He will meet you at the dock upon your arrival and is available to answer all questions. Racheal is our housekeeper. She will also cook you a delicious Belizan meal if you request. She is one of the most delightful warm people you will ever meet! They truly make the Los Encantos experience very special!

OUR RENTAL RATES ARE:

1. Entire villa (maximum 8 people) $375.00 US per night plus 9% hotel tax, $425 Dec 15 -Jan. 5

2. One bedroom & villa (maximum 2 people) $275.00US per night (not available 12/15-1/5) plus 9% hotel tax Yes, you have the use of the entire villa during your stay.