Accommodations & Meals

Lodge Rooms:

Just completed a total expansion and renovation of each of the fourteen guest rooms in the main lodge!   they are now able to offer guests larger, modernized and well-appointed accommodations, while still retaining the authentic Belizean colonial feel of the exterior of the lodge.

Each room has all new furniture with either 2 queen beds or one king bed plus a small sitting area; each bathroom features a double granite vanity, a private toilet area, a walk in shower, and a Belizean hardwood closet and drawers with a small refrigerator and coffee maker.  All rooms in the main lodge remain beachfront, next to a pool and offer air-conditioning as well.

Your hosts live on the premises to ensure warm, personal service around the clock.

Private Villas:

Lovely villas surrounding a pool have stunning views of the beach and the Belize Barrier Reef across an open expanse of turquoise Caribbean Sea.  Villas are two story, 3-bedroom, 3-bath homes, designed in a lock-off configuration, which enables you to rent a 1, 2 or 3 bedroom villa to perfectly match your individual and family needs, while ensuring your complete privacy.

Dining:

The menu is inspired by the changing seasons and always features a diverse selection of dishes made with delicious, locally sourced ingredients. They strive to provide a menu that meets a wide variety of dietary needs including vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options.

Fishing

Unique Location and the Fishing:

Don’t be fooled into thinking that because you are an excellent trout or bass fisherman that bone fishing will come naturally.  Bone fishing has humbled many an experienced fisherman.  For those interested anglers, these guides will quickly have you catching bones and always hopeful for permit!

Every afternoon from 3-5 PM experience fly fishing teaching guides are available complimentary for instruction.

ALL PERMIT, TARPON AND BONEFISH ARE CATCH AND RELEASE

What are you fishing for?  They have a very diverse fishery; the more direction you give your guide and fishing director regarding your goals, the better able they will be to fulfill them.

They fish 400 square miles of in-shore, shallow water sight casting flats from the Mexican border in the north, to Belize City in the south, to the barrier reef in the east, and to the Belizean mainland in the west. The good news is that they have 400 square miles of water to fish; the bad news is that they have 400 square miles of water to be fished which can mean long boat runs to the further flats should you choose.

Bonefish and permit flats begin at their front door, while tarpon flats begin 30 minutes away.  Fish seem to be a bit easier to catch in more remote areas. Guides have unlimited gas budgets so they may take you wherever they think your best fishing opportunities will present themselves.

BONEFISH: Average bonefish are in the 1-3 lbs range with a large bonefish around 5lbs and a trophy being 7-8 lbs.

PERMIT: Average permit are in the 5-8 lbs range.  However, some larger permit (15-30+ lbs) are found as singles and in pairs as well.

TARPON: They have two types of Tarpon; resident, that live there all year round an migratory tarpon that arrive in May/June and depart in September/October annually. 20-75 lb resident Tarpon and migratory are the “BIG GIRLS” and can reach 100-150 lbs.

OTHER SPECIES:  Snapper and grunts, barracuda, snook, ladyfish, grouper, 6 different species of jacks, cobia, triggerfish and on and on.

Flats fishing: This lodgespecializes in light tackle, shallow water flats fishing for bonefish, permit and tarpon.

Reef fishing and island shore lunchcombo is always a favorite for a fun outing of catching, catching, and catching!  You would be amazed at how many dedicated fly fishermen choose this outing year after year in lieu of a day of flats fishing.  Your guide will BBQ your freshly caught fish on a secluded beach.  You may enjoy wading, shelling or simply relaxing in the sun while your picnic is prepared.  Spend the afternoon snorkeling or try more fishing!

Guides:Guides are English speaking and experienced in guiding both fly and spin fishermen.  One or two anglers per boat.  All guides are native San Pedranos born and raised on the island.  These are the most experienced guides in Belize!  Many have been guides here for over 30 years and now second and third generation guides are following them. Most of them have been trained by their fathers and uncles with whom they typically spend a decade learning the craft before becoming a Captain of their own flats boat. Guides have encyclopedic knowledge  of this fishery coming from a lifetime dedicated to learning where the fish are and how they behave.

All guides have Belize Port Authority Boat Master’s license and are licensed Belize Tourism Board tour guides and are first aid certified.

Weather/seasons:  The windiest months tend to be March and April but they are also some of the driest months.  November can be a bit rainy but typically at night and clear during the day.

This is a neo-tropical climate, with temperature varying less than 10 degrees F year-round. So rather than seasons, they have micro climate changes.  Because of this the island is subject to the occasional cold front in the winter months. Wind is part of the tropical environment; some days are windy, some are not. This is a semi-arid climate and get less than 25 inches of rain annually.

Fish reside here 12 months of the year, plus the addition of a major tarpon migration in late summer. Any day of the year you can be assured that the fishery is diverse and abundant.

Months tend to blend into one another. If our “best” month is a 10, then our “worst” month is an 8 1/2 or a 9. Again, it’s the vagary of a passing front that has more impact than the time of year. These fronts possess two common characteristics: they are unpredictable and they tend to be short-lived.

So practice your casting and come visit us and one of the world’s premier saltwater destinations.

Typical fishing day:

5:30 am breakfast begins.  Full breakfast menu available!

6:30-7:30 typically…Guides will be ready to depart at the agreed upon time.

Fish a full day and return for open bar and appetizers from 2-5 pm.  The length of your fishing day will be determined between you and your guide.  Typically an 8-10 hour day.  If you wish to fish longer, please tip your guide $50 per additional hour on the water.

6:45 Dinner is served family style

Gear rentals are available

When is the best time to fish here?

Our fish reside here 12 months of the year, plus the addition of a major tarpon migration in late summer. Any day of the year you can be assured that the fishery is diverse and abundant.

Months tend to blend into one another. If our “best” month is a 10, then our “worst” month is an 8 1/2 or a 9. Again, it’s the vagary of a passing front that has more impact than the time of year. These fronts possess two common characteristics: they are unpredictable and they tend to be short-lived.

So practice your casting and come visit us and one of the world’s premier saltwater destinations.

January

On calm days you should see as many as 50-75 tarpon, 20-90 pound range. Generally, bone and tarpon fishing are good; reef fishing good to excellent on calm days.

February

Fish are plentiful on the flats if the wind isn’t too strong. Tarpon in the 20-90 pound range. Bones, Permit, and tarpon fishing are good, but weather-dependent. Reef fishing is excellent.

March

Plenty of 20-90 pound tarpon on the calmer days. Plenty of bonefish. Tarpon in lagoons. Reef fishing good to excellent. Permit schooled up in good numbers.

April

Lots of tarpon, 40-100 pounds, and they are more aggressive. Migrating tarpon start coming onto the reefs. It’s a good month for permit too. Usually large schools of small permit, and plenty of bones. Reef fishing excellent.

May

Generally our hottest month, with calm-to-light breezes. It’s not uncommon to see huge schools of 200-300 bones. Tarpon on both flats and the reef. Reef fishing is good to excellent.

June

Bone fishing is excellent as it always is from April through October. Tarpon on both the flats and reef. Reef fishing good to excellent.

July, August, and September

Usually calm and warm. Great fishing. Lots of bones, lots of tarpon to well over 100 pounds. We consider this the best tarpon season of the year. The most and the largest tarpon have been caught in August and September. We also find some of the largest permit of the year during tarpon migration.

October

Lots of tarpon, large and aggressive. Bones are larger and more aggressive too. Big schools of jack crevelle are also on the flats now and it is a good month for the larger permit. Reef fishing fair to good. If there is a lot of rainfall on the mainland, snook arrive on the flats in large numbers. The lodge record for the most tarpon landed in a single day was had in October by Dick Smith with 7 tarpon landed and another 5 jumped.

November

There are plenty of 60-100 pound tarpon on the flats. Jack crevalle and bone fishing are also good. Reef fishing good to excellent.

December

If the sun stays out there are plenty of barracuda, bones, and tarpon (40-80 pounds) on the flats. Jacks and ladyfish too. The full moon brings grouper and snappers to the reef to spawn. Reef fishing good to excellent.

Activities

Not only will you find the serenity and relaxation you are looking for, you’ll have the convenience of being a few miles north of San Pedro Town and its gift shops, restaurants, bars and night spots. Guests usually travel by water taxi which stops right at the dock.

Activities list:

• Yoga
• Rent a golf cart and drive to the secret beach or explore San Pedro shopping
• Rent a golf cart and explore the other resorts in the area or local restaurants
• Rent a golf cart and have ice cream at the famous food trucks nearby
• Reef fishing & beach picnic 8:30 – 3:30 pm
• Free kayaks, paddle boards and bikes for use
• Scuba diving – local diving 1,2 and 3 tank dives plus night dives.
• Scuba diving – day trips to The blue hole (3 tanks), Turneffe North (2 tanks) and Turneffe Elbow (3 tanks)
• Scuba diving courses – resort refresher, e-learning, referral course, open water course, advanced open water, rescue, medic first aid and dive master
• Snorkeling -numerous destinations available
• Snorkel with the sharks
• Snorkeling trip to Bacalar Chico
• Snorkeling trip to Caye Caulker (quaint sand town)
• Manatee watch & snorkeling
• Catarmaran snorkeling trip to Caye Caulkner
• Catamaran sunrise or sunset sailing
• Mexico rocks sailing
• Kayak San Pedro Lagoon
• Spa services by appointment
• ATM Cave (Air/land) Experience the cave of the stone sepulcher, a subterranean cathedral…
• Cave tubing & zipline or Belize Zoo or Zunantunich Mayan Ruins (boat/land)
• Lamanai & New River Jungle excursion (boat/land)
• Lamanai & River excursion (air/land)
• Parasailing

Length of Stay / Itinerary

Most guests stay 3 – 7 nights.

Day 1:  Arrive at San Pedro airport where you will be greeted by the lodge staff and transfer by taxi and short boat ride to the lodge.  Settle in and enjoy the lodge

Day 2 – ?:  Fishing, relax and activities

Departure day:  The lodge will again transfer by boat and taxi back to the airport by the lodge staff.

Travel Details & Location

Guests fly to Belize International airport (BZE) and from there your local Tropic Air flights to San Pedro are coordinated around all on time international arrival and departures.  The local flights take 15 minutes.  When you arrive at San Pedro, you will be greeted by the lodge representative with a logo shirt and taken by taxi to the lodge boat. From the dock you will transfer by boat to the lodge dock.

Internet & Communications

Wifi is available but limited bandwidth is available.  Cell phones have spotty service.

Changing Generations

They are dedicated to improving their island.  The most practical way to improve the quality of life on Ambergris Caye is to invest in the children’s education.  To that end, the lodge organizes 3 sponsorships to local schools (2 at the Island Academy and one at the R.C. Primary School). They have GPS’s that make the very proud and have even won a few awards.

They also continue to support environmental and scientific organizations such as Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and Ambergris Caye Citizens For Sustainable Development. They help to protect bonefish, tarpon and permit as well as their habitats.

Rates

Season:  Winter Spring 2023-24  / Summer Fall 2024: See dates below
Prices per person in USD – Pricing subject to change, call for updated rates

2023-24 NON-FISHING PACKAGES:
Winter – Spring Rates, valid December 16, 2023 – July 15, 2024

Rates Valid December 16, 2023 – July 15, 2024

2024 NON-FISHING PACKAGES:
Summer-Fall Rates Valid July 15, 2024 – December 15, 2024

2023/24 WINTER – SPRING FISHING PACKAGES: RATES PER PERSON USD
Rates are valid through December 16, 2023 – July 15, 2024

2024 SUMMER – FALL FISHING PACKAGES: RATES PER PERSON USD
Rates are valid through July 16, – December 15, 2024

Trip Insurance & Cancellation Info

Trip insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment on this trip. We will assist you with trip insurance upon booking. See links at the bottom of this page for the two providers we suggest for our clients.

Family Expeditions, LLC confirmation and refund policy:

If your trip is more than 90 days out from date of departure, a 50% non-refundable deposit confirms your reservation and must be received within 10 days of booking to confirm your dates. All trips must be paid in full at least 90 days prior to the departure date. If your trip date is within 90 days, FULL payment for the trip is required. All payments to Family Expeditions are non-refundable. Should you need to reschedule or cancel your trip, we will do everything in our power to assist you in finding a suitable substitute or transferring your dates per the lodge/providers/government requirements. Trip insurance protects your investment!