Playa Blanca Lodge

Lodging Details
Every room at Playa Blanca is a “room with a view”… a beautiful view, at that. There is one cabana with a king bed and six with two queen-sized beds and designer private baths. All of these cabanas are air-conditioned. The decor is simple-yet-stylish. All rooms at Playa Blanca have a beach view and access to miles of white sand beach within steps of your front door. There is also an additional unit – the Casa Redona Suite that does not have A/C but is well equipped with ceiling fans and screened/shuttered windows all around. Playa Blanca has no neighbors, only a pristine tropical paradise as far as the eye can see–blue sky, white sand, swaying palm trees, and turquoise water. If you do wish to socialize with other guests, the Lodge bar and restaurant provide the perfect spot to mingle and talk about all the things you did (or did not do) each day.

Food and Beverages
The food rivals any of the best restaurants on the Yucatan coast. All meals are served in Playa Blanca’s beachfront restaurant and bar. The bar is well-stocked and the service is unsurpassed. Feel free to enjoy a cocktail under the rooftop palapa overlooking the Caribbean and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. As you might expect, the chef’s specialty is fresh seafood – simply, skillfully, and artfully prepared.

Typical Length of Stay
Due in part to the weekly private air charter, the structured packages are seven (7) nights / six (6) fishing days or five (5) nights / four (4) fishing days. Please call Yellow Dog for more details.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
The entire setting at Playa Blanca is the perfect antidote to civilization. Non-anglers can plan a different adventure every day, from exploring the Mayan ruins directly behind the lodge, beachcombing, kayaking in secluded lagoons, snorkeling the reef, watching turtles nest on the beach, or doing absolutely nothing at all except leaning back and sipping a cool refreshing tropical drink.

The Lodge itself sits in the center of one of the world’s largest protected wild areas, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. This pristine reserve covers over 1.5 million acres and completely surrounds Playa Blanca. Sian Ka’an has been designated by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site. The reserve contains 22 registered archaeological sites. Two of these are just down the beach from Playa Blanca. The abundance of marine and wildlife in Sian Ka’an is hard to imagine until you have seen it for yourself. You can find over 325 species of birds, from Hummingbirds to the rare six-foot-tall jabiru, the world’s largest flighted bird. Manatees inhabit the back bay area. Overall, this is a great destination option for non-anglers as long as they are fine with seclusion, privacy, and a remote, out-of-the-way setting and location.

Internet / Communications
Wi-Fi is available free of charge for lodge guests. Cell phone coverage is unavailable. There is a satellite phone available for emergencies.

How To Get There
All guests should book flights to Cancun International Airport (CUN) – an easy airport to reach with direct daily flights from most cities in the U.S. and abroad. From Cancun, Playa Blanca provides a charter that will take you to the lodge.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Playa Blanca Lodge is asking guests to overnight in Cancun on the night before arriving at the lodge if at all possible. We recommend the Marriott Courtyard – Airport Hotel as the best and most convenient option for this. Any arrivals on Saturday do need to be approved by the lodge and they are asking to arrive no later than 12:00 noon for considering Saturday arrivals. From Cancun, Playa Blanca Blanca will provide a private charter that will fly you directly to the Lodge. The flight to and from Cancun to the island is approximately 120 miles (55 minutes). Please make sure to schedule your departure flights for after 11:00 AM in order to make connections with the air charter back to Cancun.

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within six (6) months of trip dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages remaining in the back, and that it is not torn, delaminated, or damaged in any way. No visas or inoculation are required for U.S. citizens. A Mexican departure tax is payable at the airport when leaving Mexico. Some airlines include this as a prepaid part of your ticket.

Minors Travelling To Mexico Without Both Parents
If you are planning on traveling with minors, remember that all children under 18 years of age entering Mexico accompanied by only one parent or legal guardian must have a notarized letter of consent from the other parent stating the child/children have his/her permission to enter the country. Single parents need a notarized documentation of divorce decree or death certificate of spouse. Minors unaccompanied by either parent require a notarized letter of consent signed by both parents.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Travel Tools
- Travel Insurance
- Moon Phases
- Airline Ticketing
- Rent This Rod
- Global Rescue Membership

General Information
The waters of Espiritu Santo provide ideal habitat for a variety of sea life. In essence, it is a great home for game fish! The vast estuary and flats system and the adjacent reef provide the infrastructure for the area’s pristine and highly productive fishery. The waters surrounding Playa Blanca offer the light-tackle saltwater fisherman one of the most diverse selections of game fish in the world. When conditions are right, an angler can cast to bonefish, tarpon, snook, permit, jacks, barracuda, cubera snapper, mutton snapper, sharks, and several different reef species in a single week of fishing. This kind of angling opportunity can only be found in a few locations throughout the world. 

It has been said that this part of the Caribbean boasts the world’s largest population of permit, and as many as 20 have been boated “on the fly” in a single week. It is not unusual to see – within casting range – twenty-five to fifty permit in a single day, their sickle-shaped fins piercing the surface of the waters near Laguna Isla Pobre and Tres Reyes.

As for bonefish, the waters of Espiritu Santo are loaded with large schools that provide consistent action all year long. These fish average two to three pounds, but larger bones are caught on a regular basis. And, while the area is known for its fine bonefish and permit fishing, you can target numerous other fish species as well, including the tarpon that inhabit the mangroves and lagoons of the area.

The daily fishing schedule is flexible, so you’ll want to discuss your plans with the lodge staff every day. Most anglers choose a schedule that takes advantage of the best time to spot bonefish and permit on the flats, which is generally between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM.

Boats and Equipment
Most boats used by the lodge are 16-foot Dolphin flats skiffs that accommodate two fishermen and a guide. Each is constructed with a forward casting deck, tandem passenger seats, rod racks, and a poling platform. Anglers should bring all equipment such as rods, reels, and fly lines with them. Although the lodge does have a rental program, some flies and tackle are available for purchase. For rental rods, the lodge offers Sage Xi3 rods in weights 8, 9, and 10, with Sage 6080 and 6010 large arbor reels and appropriately weighted Rio Tropical Clouser lines. Each rod and reel package is available to rent for $25/day or $150/week. The lodge also sells a limited selection of local flies that are tied by the Casa Blanca guides.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices listed below are per person and quoted in US dollars. Due in part to the weekly private air charter, the structured packages are seven (7) nights / six (6) fishing days or five (5) nights / four (4) fishing days. Please refer to the chart below for the air surcharge on the short five-night stay.

Double Occupancy (2 Per Boat / 2 Per Room)
(February 1 - June 30, 2024)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $6,915.00
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $5,840.00

(July 1 - January 31)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $6,526.00
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $5,482.00

Single Occupancy (1 Per Boat / 1 Per Room)
(February 1 - June 30, 2024)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $9,240.00
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $7,850.00

(July 1 - January 31)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $8,829.00
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $7,005.00

Non-Angler Rate Based on Double Occupancy (2 People Per Room)
(February 1 - June 30, 2024)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $5,556.00
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $5,258.00

(July 1 - January 31)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $5,131.00
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $4,590.00

*** Anglers sharing a room with a non-angler and fishing as a single angler must add $470.00 to the double occupancy rate.

***All-inclusive with bar tab is available. Add $500 per night***

AIR CHARTER SURCHARGES 
For all late arrivals, early departures and/or partial week itineraries.
Costs of air charter are included in the above rates tables and apply ONLY to flights on Saturday. For other itineraries there is a surcharge based on the number of passengers in the group for off Saturday transfers.

• 1 Pass. = $1,818 each
• 2 Pass. = $909 each
• 3 Pass. = $606 each
• 4 Pass. = $454 each

What’s Included:

• All accommodations at Playa Blanca Lodge
• All guided fishing as specified
• Round trip air transfer between Cancun and the lodge
• Breakfast and dinner in the main lodge and lunch on the water with your guide
• Purified water, coffee, and juices
• Boat beverages while fishing
• Snorkeling, sea kayaking, natural history excursions, and unlimited use of all recreational equipment

What’s Not Included:

• International flight to and from Cancun
• Alcoholic beverages and sodas
• Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
• Rods, reels, flies, and all terminal tackle
• Reserve entrance fee (approx $3 per day)

Casa Blanca Lodge and Playa Blanca Lodge (Isla de Pajaros – Yucatan Peninsula)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking for all trip packages and reservations, and final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. All trip cancellations must be received in writing, sent to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, LLC. For cancellations outside of 60 days from the start of a trip, a full refund, less a $750.00 per person lodge cancellation fee and a $100.00 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee. For cancellations inside of 60 days from arrival date, deposits and final payments will be forfeited. There will be no refunds made for unused portions of the land or fishing package or unused air charter. If your trip is cancelled due to a hurricane or some other catastrophic event, the lodge will make every effort to offer alternate dates, but there can be no guarantee that this will be possible. This is why the lodge and Yellow Dog Flyfishing strongly recommend that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for your trip. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

“Great people ensuring you have a great time at one of the best fisheries in the Caribbean.” – Gordon M.

“Two amazing days. Two below-par days. The craziest fishing experience I’ve ever had in that regard.” – Kendrick M.

“Great fun and fishing on my first saltwater fishing trip!” – Linda A.

“Awesome. I just started to learn to fly fish in 2018. I have mainly been fly fishing on the Texas Coast since 2018 for redfish. Gordon and I traveled to East End Lodge in early 2019 and that was my first experience fishing for bonefish. That was a blast. So, Gordon talked me into trying the fly fishing at Espiritu Santo Bay in Mexico and we decided on Playa Blanca. Everything was wonderful from the staff to the lodge, to the food, to the afternoon cocktail hour by the beach. And the fishing was exceptional. It was probably beginner’s luck but I had an amazing time on the boat with Andreas. We saw tons of fish and I was able to catch 3 tarpon, and about 15 bones, and one permit. I was able to catch a tarpon, permit, and bone all in one day on my second fly fishing trip to the Caribbean. I do not take that opportunity lightly. Andreas made it happen. It was the trip of a lifetime." – Sarah M.

“Worth every penny – I will go back in the future.” – Daryl M.

“Playa Blanca is an incredible fishery. I think I caught 12 different species on this trip: Bonefish, Snook, Permit, Tarpon, African Pompano, Ladyfish, Spanish Mackerel, Barracuda, Jack Crevalle, Horseye Jack, Blue Runner, and Mangrove Snapper. Definitely would go back.” – Chris R.

"Managed to achieve a grand slam thanks to the skills of my guide. Caught bonefish until we were tired. Had legitimate shots at a slam for at least 4 days. Caught my biggest Tarpon on a fly this year. I’ll be back.” – Martin W.

“Excellent fishing trip with great fishing, an excellent guide that I built a good rapport with, great facility with outstanding people, and the food was the best I’ve had on a fishing trip. This trip was on par with outstanding lodges that I’ve stayed at in Argentina and Alaska. Prior to this trip, I had caught 1 permit. On this trip, I caught 4 with 2 being in the 20 lb size and my best tarpon on the fly. Not much not to like.” – Kevin T.