5 bedroom villa, sleeps 10 in 3 suites, two floors. Perfect for family groups. 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 All of our guests are provided with a copy of our Mobile Guest Guide that provides a wealth of information about planning for your trip, travel to Belize, getting the the island, access codes and WiFi codes. The Guide is also fully integrated with GMaps making finding local restaurants, beaches and bars a breeze. Arranging flights from the international airport, filling out your Guest Registration form (required by the Belize Tourism Board), golf cart rentals, and excursions can also be arranged through the Guide. When you arrive at the home the air-conditioning and lights will all have been turned on for you. If friends and family need to reach you, they can call the cell phone we provide at no charge to you (you’ll receive the number before you arrive). When you arrive on the island, we will meet you at your arrival point (airport or water taxi) and guide you to complimentary arrival and departure transportation to and from the villa (maximum two taxis with five passengers per taxi each way). Our offices are open Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm. We are also available after hours for emergencies. Your villa includes a cell phone for local calls pre-loaded with $5USD of credit (more than enough for most guests over a week). If you have any problems at the villa during your stay our on-site caretaker can assist you with anything you may run into and will also bring you fresh drinking water and remove your garbage when requested. We are always available by email and respond quickly between 6:30am and 9:30pm Monday through Saturday and 10:00am to 9:30pm on Sundays. We are a full service manager and can assist with all of your needs. The Reef and Beach The Barrier Reef brings many adventures and much beauty. The ocean waves do not crash on the shore. They break on the reef. Because of this the shore line of the entire island is coral sand, and the first 300' or so of sea is a combination of sand and turtle grass. This is a critical part of the eco-system and is protected by Belize Environmental Laws. We are only a short drive from Secret Beach, in fact our neighbourhood is the closest reef side neighbourhood to Secret Beach. Restaurants/Bars The following are all within one mile of El Gran Castillo de Arena. Rojo Beach Bar is a casual spot that has been awarded the only restaurant and resort in the country with a Fodor’s choice 8 years running. They are located within a 5-minute walk north. Serving food from 12pm-3pm and 6pm-9pm. No reservations accepted or needed. Mambo at Mata Chica is located about a 7-minute walk north of El Castillo de Arena. They serve northern Italian fare with a tropical twist in an artistic indoor/outdoor setting. Open 7 days a week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They do take reservations. The Sundeck is a 15-minute walk on the beach to the north of El Castillo de Arena. You can enjoy local delicacies like curried chicken as well as their jerked chicken and delicious lobster and shrimp. Portofino and the Green Parrot Bar has smoothies and is a nice option for a close and casual snack. They also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are about 20 minutes walking to the north of El Castillo de Arena, or their boat captain, Mo, will be happy to pick you up at our dock. Sundiver Beach Bar is a small local bar serving local food, and it’s a fun time! Hours vary, but in high season they should be open every day until 7pm. Located 5-minute walk south. Rental cars are not available on the island, the clear majority of us drive golf carts. We can arrange golf cart rentals for you upon request. Please remember to take your driver's license with you whenever driving to avoid a fine, make sure you don't park against any red curbs and watch the street signs carefully as there are quite a few one-way streets in town. Your Mobile Guest Guide is fully integrated with GMaps so you'll never get lost. All guest amenities are included with your stay; beach towels, towels, linens, drinking water, paper towels, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, etc.