5-bedroom house in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize

Perched high above the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains fronting Vaca Lake, this custom-built 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom home was raised into the treetops to capture sweeping views from every angle. Step onto the wraparound verandah and watch Mountain Pine Ridge unfold before you, a wall of untouched rainforest stretching ridge after ridge to the horizon. Set on a 0.37-acre parcel along Riverview Drive in the Better in Belize EcoVillage, the property looks out over Vaca Lake, the crown jewel of Belize’s water playgrounds, fed by four thundering waterfalls, with the emerald Macal River valley and Maya Mountains rolling out below in every direction. Every detail of this home was carefully considered, from the vaulted wood ceilings to the 3,000 square feet of bright, open living space. The custom mahogany kitchen features a 5-burner gas range, a 15-cubic-foot butane refrigerator, and a second 19-cubic-foot electric fridge. The family room is furnished with hand-woven cane-peel couches over solid hardwood frames, and the primary suite opens onto its own private balcony through full-length glass doors. Ceiling fans are installed in every bedroom plus two more on the 700-square-foot deck. The home is fully off-grid, supplied by an 8,000-gallon cistern with its own filtration system, backed by a 13-HP water pump and a 300-foot hose that can draw straight from the river if needed. Septic is handled through an Eco Casts system for clean, low-impact off-grid living. Reliable internet is already installed with excellent reception, rare for a rainforest retreat. This home has a proven rental history as a vacation rental, with income and expense records available to qualified purchasers upon request. Live in it as a private residence or continue operating it as a vacation rental, just as the current owner has done.