We and our family (total of 10) were able to vacation in a beautiful, very well-attended and cared for property. It was paradise. The property allows for privacy when wanted and for togetherness when wanted.

Eight of us stayed at the property and we will be back for sure. The location was what you would think of a tropical paradise with the sun rising off the dock every morning! The island is nice, the reefs are full of life, not like some of other tourist places. Everyone is friendly and being right next to Johns Escape, we felt like we had a hotel bar. The staff on site was beyond accommodating, William was great, and for anyone visiting, ask William to give his coconut presentation! It was a great trip!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Everything was great. William was on top of everything. The man can cook too !!!

William and Marvin (caretakers) were amazing. They both made sure we were entertained with hermit crab races, water toys and volleyball. Their coconut presentation was so cool!!! William is an amazing chef!!!!

We really loved the house, especially the various nice outdoor spaces. The pool/deck, dock and beach bar were all great. The views of the sea and the reef were extraordinary, as were the sunrise & sunset. The swimming / snorkeling isn't great and the water is often pretty murky by the beach and the dock. But, we loved using the SUPs and kayaks. Also loved watch the many rays swimming around and jumping and also saw a pod of dolphins go by very near the dock. The house definitely has everything one could need and the caretakers (William and Marvin) were very helpful, yet not intrusive. William did a great information session on the coconuts and also barbequed my fish and lobsters that I caught. The house and grounds are very clean. You can certainly tell the difference between the condition of the beach at El Gran Castillo -vs- some other properties along the beach that had lots of washed up trash. It was also VERY convenient to have the restaurant John's Escape next door(named after John Mcaffee who used to own the property and lived in the house next door...see Netflix for lots more info on that). We had a few good meals from there, got side dishes to go with my fish and lobster and bough cases of beer from them. Highly recommended! Simon at Sunrise was a great property manager, made everything go very smoothly with the flights, golf cart, etc and booked a great fishing trip for me. Overall, it was a fantastic stay. It was just two of us, but the property certainly would be great for a much larger group. There are 3 separate living areas, but the prime one with great views from inside and out is on the upper level.

Our group of six had a wonderful stay and very much enjoyed the property and amenities. We were extremely comfortable and able to make great meals, enjoy the awesome rooftop pool area, corn hole, kayaks, and lounge on the pier. William and Marvin were very attentive to our needs and helpful with information. They made our stay very enjoyable and loved the hermit crab ninja warrior race on our last day! The only issue we had with the property was the single-bedroom unit had a very funky smell so none of us were able to stay in the unit.

Relaxed, secluded just enough....excellent time, services requested were always on time.......

This property exceeded our expectations in many ways. Stunningly beautiful views. Exceptional accommodations with countless amenities. The interior design of the house fit the needs of our 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 quick and convenient to get to restaurants, attractions and downtown. The on-site team, William and Marvin, are 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 VRBO 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!!!

We just got home from our stay at El Gran Castille de Arena and we already want to be back there. Everything about this place was incredible- the location, the amenities, the caretaker William (and his dogs)- everything! We're already talking about our return trip and I really can't imagine staying anyplace else.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: 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.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: 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!

Our rental experience with this property was fantastic from start to finish. The management group was in frequent contact with us to coordinate our arrival and provide updates to the Covid policies in Belize. They also helped us schedule our on site spa day which was a huge hit with our party! The house was beautiful and offers a great floor plan for multiple families as each area has its own kitchen and living area to allow for individual down time. Finally, the views from the rooftop pool area are breath taking!

Our rental experience with this property was fantastic from start to finish. The management group was in frequent contact with us to coordinate our arrival and provide updates to the Covid policies in Belize. They also helped us schedule our on site spa day which was a huge hit with our party! The house was beautiful and offers a great floor plan for multiple families as each area has its own kitchen and living area to allow for individual down time. Finally, the views from the rooftop pool area are breath taking!

Everything was perfect! I rented this house and another one almost next door for our family and friends to stay at for our beach wedding. The property management company and Simon were outstanding to work with! And, the staff at the house, William and Marvin were awesome!!! Everyone went above and beyond to help set up for the wedding, literally building a wedding venue on the beach! I can’t say enough about the generosity of the Belizean people, William and Marvin in particular!

Our family had a great week relaxing, playing, and enjoying the sunshine! Simon and Elena were very responsive to questions and flexible when adjustments to excursions were needed. William and Marvin were very accommodating and personable! It was great to get to know them and learn more about their culture and the island. The house was immaculate, beds were comfortable, and had enough space for our group. We were able to snorkel, dive, fish, and kayak. There was a dolphin who would swim by the pier a couple of times a day! Chef Alex prepared a few meals for us at the house and we went to a few restaurants. We drove golf carts to "Secret Beach" which was beautiful with shallow water and incredible views. It wasn't really our scene, but I'm glad we went! It was a wonderful week! Would definitely stay here again!

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!

We really had a great time at El Gran Castillo de Arena. The house was immaculate and very comfortable for our group, which ranged in age from 8 to 78 years old. The beach area and hammocks were awesome, as was snorkeling off the docks. Although there is some seaweed, snorkeling from the end of the dock was really nice, lots of fish! We did some line fishing too, which our teenage boy really enjoyed. We even saw a ray and a nurse shark. William and Marvin were exceptional and helped with all our needs. William was able to get us fresh lobster (thankfully it was lobster season, so delicious!) and fresh fish the week we were there. He is also very caring and helped us get to a clinic when one of the boys fell on his wrist (all was okay!) Simon is also very extremely responsive and made booking our stay and excursions so easy. We did a couple of excursions and were graciously picked up and dropped off right from the dock. I loved the rooftop pool, it was so relaxing to go up there for a quick dip and sun bathing. Also, the star gazing was amazing! Overall, the house had all the right ingredients for a wonderful family vacation!

We really had a great time at El Gran Castillo de Arena. The house was immaculate and very comfortable for our group, which ranged in age from 8 to 78 years old. The beach area and hammocks were awesome, as was snorkeling off the docks. Although there is some seaweed, snorkeling from the end of the dock was really nice, lots of fish! We did some line fishing too, which our teenage boy really enjoyed. We even saw a ray and a nurse shark. William and Marvin were exceptional and helped with all our needs. William was able to get us fresh lobster (thankfully it was lobster season, so delicious!) and fresh fish the week we were there. He is also very caring and helped us get to a clinic when one of the boys fell on his wrist (all was okay!) Simon is also very extremely responsive and made booking our stay and excursions so easy. We did a couple of excursions and were graciously picked up and dropped off right from the dock. I loved the rooftop pool, it was so relaxing to go up there for a quick dip and sun bathing. Also, the star gazing was amazing! Overall, the house had all the right ingredients for a wonderful family vacation!

This was a great place for our girls get-away!! Being right on the beach was so relaxing. Carolyn and her staff were wonderful. This is on our "return to" list.

Great Property, Carolyn and her team were excellent. Fun time for all!

What an amazing Trip! We are group of nine friends in our 30’s on a No Kids Trip in early June. This place was amazing! Getting here: Carolyn was kind enough to make or assist in making almost all of the arrangements from how to get to the island, golf cart rentals, excursions etc. It was so easy and seamless you would think we were on an official tour. We flew Mayan airlines- a quick 15 minute flight from Belize City and you don’t even need to leave the international airport- just go through customs with your bags and boom you’re ready to board the next flight to the Island. El Castillo de Arena: The photos do not do this home justice! It is split up almost like three separate living spaces. We spent most of our time in the large second floor kitchen area and the rooftop pool. We were able to use the rental equipment such as kayaks, snorkels ad even coolers for the boat trips Carolyn helped us arrange. William and Marvin- the caretakers were amazing and so helpful and we enjoyed spending a little time getting to know them. In fact Marvin knocks on the door one morning with US$100- he found under the garden hose on the side of the house- it turns out it had fallen out of my brother’s pocket the day before. The gentleman selling tamales and burritos came down the beach every morning – super awesome! Nearby: There are plenty of bars and beaches a short- bumpy but very fun golf cart ride away. Be sure to bring a portable speaker to have tunes while you cruise the island- just don’t forget the bug spray. Every restaurant we went to had amazing food- the closer you get to the town center of San Pedro the less expensive it becomes. Everyone on the island is so friendly and take a lot of pride in their home and are happy to share all of their knowledge and love of Belize. We arranged tow boating days with Genie from Coral Reef divers- had an amazing time! Don’t miss the Catamaran sailing! I could go on and on about how wonderful our stay was. Thank you Carolyn for making El Castillo de Arena the obvious choice for us! Its really was an UnBelizeable experience.

Everything about the house was awesome!! William and Marvin met us on the dock the evening we arrived to help with our luggage. They are a true asset to this property. We can't say enough good things about them! They also have the cutest and well-behaved dogs (Soldier and Lady). There was plenty of room for all 11 of us. The house is air-conditioned throughout with nice ceiling fans to help circulate the air. The kitchen is well stocked. The pool was very refreshing but small. The rooftop has AMAZING views! It's a nice golf cart ride into town but beware of the mosquitoes! They are everywhere! Another thing I will add, is the restaurants close around 9 PM. You won't be disappointed with your stay here. We will be back to San Pedro - you better "Belize It."

Returned to our previous destination and were as happy as before. Love staying in this house. Its wonderful for many people with a fully stocked kitchen and rentals and the dock. William and Martin are also awesome and extremely helpful. Thank you!

We just returned after a great week... Carolyn was outstanding to work with along with Melvin and Marvin... My wife cried that she wasn’t able to take the dogs with her they are amazingly sweet! Very relaxing week... Thank you and we hope to come back soon.

We had an absolutely wonderful time at El Castillo de Arena. From the time we arrived, to the 6 am departure, we were treated wonderfully and enjoyed every moment at the property. We were a party of 11 (3 separate families) and there was plenty of space for the entire crew without feeling like we were cramped. The top floor was the main residence where we fixed most of our meals together, but there were two other residences (a one bedroom and another two bedroom) which provided the necessary solitude, so we didn't get too much "relative humidity". The backyard was the perfect oasis for the littles to play in the sand, or the adults to bask in the sun on the loungers, with the entire area fenced. Carolyn and Ted truly have a beautiful rental with all of the conveniences of home. The golf cart rental, which Carolyn set up for us, was a must if you plan on traveling into town on occasion. They provided us with snorkeling equipment and kayaks to explore the reef. Last, but certainly not least, was Marvin, our caretaker. He was absolutely the best!! He helped us with everything and answered any questions that we had. He helped the men spear fish and lobster at the reef, and showed the kids how to fish off the dock. It was an absolutely wonderful vacation, and with any luck, we will be able to return in the near future.

Being our first time in Belize we really appreciated the guidance and expertise that came from the home owners. Carolyn had a great guide for us and answered all our many questions. She arranged for taxi service to & from the airport for our group of 7 (5 adults and 2 kids) and we were warmly greeted by the house's caretaker William and his sweet dogs. The house was well equipped for our group and we LOVED the soft sandy beach in the fenced in backyard. It was so easy for our kids to play outside! Every day we took advantage of the kayaks (Marvin was wonderful to help us out with those) and the rooftop pool. Both Marvin & William were so friendly and professional and having them on site made us feel at ease. William gave us a presentation on Coconuts. We loved it! Having coffee in the mornings and Rum Punches in the evening on the pier and patio while enjoying the breathtaking view never got old. We loved having golf carts to explore the island and venture out for dinners. We really enjoyed the quiet of the area we were in but also liked the opportunity to drive to the busier areas. We loved the location, food and reasonable cost of the Dive Bar. Our favorite adventure was spending the day out with Lucky Devil (Tony's guys) where we speared lobster, snorkeled and they prepared a WONDERFUL meal with our catch on a private beach area. By far our favorite memories. We were sorry when our week came to an end and hope to return again.

Great location, great amenities - 10 of us stayed so comfortably, used every bit of the house - the plunge pool on the roof, the palapa bar and the palapa on the end of the dock. Amazing time making memories! William is a great host - Blue Hole snorkel tour a must - beautiful moonlight over the sea each night!

My family stayed at El Castillo de Arena for a week in June and could not have been happier. The house is absolutely beautiful and had everything we needed for our time there. We spent most of our time under the palapa, out on the dock, and in the rooftop pool! We loved the location...far enough north of town to have privacy and quiet, but walking distance to several great bars/restaurants and a 20 minute drive into San Pedro. William and Marvin, the caretakers of the house, made this trip extra special. They went above and beyond! They helped us fish off the dock, showed my kids how to catch bait, opened coconuts for us to drink, and the list goes on and on. It would have been a very different trip had they not been there, and having them there is a key reason to rent this house!!! Additionally, the owner was great to work with. She helped us organize our trip in advance, from excursions to transportation. She helped us book an excursion with Lucky Devil tours, which was a major highlight of our trip! They took us snorkeling, reef fishing, spear fishing for lobster, and swimming with the sharks, plus they prepared a beach BBQ for us with our fresh catch. The guides, Sebastion and Marco, were fantastic. I highly recommend staying at El Castillo de Arena if you are visiting Ambergris Caye!!!

April 5th to the 13th,2018 Words cannot describe this amazing home. Carolyn the owner was so awesome to work with, and had everything set up for us upon our arrival, we took Tony's private water taxi fro Belize city, after being picked up at the airport by George and grocery shopping. The water taxi was awesome. The house accommodated our group of 8 very comfortably. The house is beautiful, inside and out. Our golf carts were delivered the day after we got there and our mode of transpotation for the week. Several great bar/restaurants walking distance from the house. We had Auoura and her husband come in and cook us a fantastic meal ( recommended by Carolyn) they are beautiful people and the meal was delicious. Trips to Secret beach for fun in the sun, trips into San Pedro for shopping. And last but not least the Care taker William was outstanding, a wealth of information and warm, caring always there to make sure we were making the best of our vacation, as well as his helper Marvin. We fell in love with the dogs Tonster and Lady, enjoyed the roiftop pool to cool off and see the sunsets. Beach bum rentals next door where we had free use of all the equipment, Tony's signiture tour was a full day of fishing, snorkling, private beach lunch and swimming, very well worth the money. I could go on and on about this fabulous home . The pallapa bar outside was our daily hangout. We definitely will be back. So to Carolyn and Ted Morran, thank you so very much for everything. And William and Marvin for taking such wonderful care of us. Till we see each other again, Don't stop Belizan. Oh and if your lucky enough you will get to see William's coconut demonstration. Sincerely, Dan and Ellie Ken and Diane, Cindy and Mark, Mike and Lori. P.S. would give it a 10 star

Incredible beach front and dock. Thee separate complete living quarters Beautiful property. Great distance from town for peace. William the caretaker was great

We had such a wonderful time visiting Belize and staying at El Castillo De Arena. It was definitely home away from home. Nothing was lacking. For a whole week, we seamlessly moved in. A perfect fit for all 8 of us! The rental equipment made getting around so easy and fun. We enjoyed biking into town, kayaking and snorkeling out front on the reef and walking to the restaurants. The perfect setting for sunrise and sunsets. Believe me... I took my fair share of pictures. My only regret is that I didn't have more time to spend with our lovely host. We shall just have to go back!

We rented this house for 2 weeks. I had read other reviews and I have to agree with the 5 star ratings. I will try not to repeat the other comments. I had 10 people the first week and 8 the second. Carolyn was very helpful in making sure we had everything we needed, starting with having the taxis at the airport and the golf carts at the house. The taxi drivers were very friendly and stopped at the grocery store in town so we could get some things for Monday. The first night (Sunday) we had Aurora cater dinner for everyone since our arrival was late afternoon. The meal was excellent and she and Evan even did the dishes. The weather during our stay was fantastic. Most days were windy enough to cool us off and we didn't even notice any bugs. William and Marvin were around most of the time to help with anything we needed. We did several day snorkel trips costing from $75 to $125 per person. The best snorkeling was to Mexico Rocks. The roads out of San Pedro are very rough and getting to places take a little time. Some of our group would bike into town or over to secret beach. Most of the time they would beat the golf cart. Having the snorkel gear and kayaks available was very nice. We would take the kayaks out to the reef (about .5 miles) and snorkel anytime we wanted. All in all everyone in our group had a great time.