Included / Not Included: –
Included: Accommodations and meals at lodge, boat and guide, boat beverages, Mexican VAT, fishing license and round-trip transfer from Cancun to lodge and back to Cancun provided that arrival and departure are scheduled for Sundays.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Cancun, bottled/alcoholic beverages, telephone charges, staff and guide gratuities. Please note: Additional transfer fees to and from lodge of $180 each way apply to those who travel on other days besides the scheduled Sundays.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Boca Paila Lodge, you will need to make flight arrangements to Cancun, Mexico.
Getting to the Lodge: You will be met at the airport by a lodge representative who will drive you to the lodge (about 2 1/2 hours on mostly paved roads).
Departure Information: On your departure day you will be driven to the airport in Cancun.
Documentation Requirements:
You must have a valid US passport to enter Mexico. This will be used to obtain your Mexican Tourist Card. Keep your copy of the card with you during your stay. Expect to pay a departure tax of approximately $20 US when leaving Mexico, however, many times this tax is already included in your ticket so check with your ticket agent.
Mexican law requires that if only one parent (or grandparent, or other guardian) is accompanying a minor under 18 into Mexico, they must bear a notarized letter from the child's other parent (or guardian) granting permission to enter Mexico with the child, including the dates of travel, the accompanying adult's name, contact information, and a notarized signature.
Currency:
The official currency of Mexico is the Peso. If you plan to spend time in Cancun we find it beneficial to exchange currency and pay in Peso’s. The guides readily accept US $ for all your incidentals and gratuities.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travels with approximately $400 – 600 for staff and guide gratuities, alcohol, etc.
Gratuities:
It is customary to tip the guides and staff in Mexico. Although tipping is at your discretion, we recommend $70-$100 per guest for the week for the lodge staff and an average guide tip of $40 a day per boat. Guests are not charged for fishing time beyond eight hours, but bear in mind that poling the boats is very physically demanding; if your guide puts in extra hours on the water, he should be tipped accordingly.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are included and the lodge will issue your license when you arrive.
Climate:
Temperatures can range from the low 70s up to the mid-90s. Aside from wonderful accommodations, Boca Paila Fishing Lodge’s best attribute is that it offers the angler a great variety of saltwater species. Saltwater fishing, however, is not easy and can be somewhat unpredictable; the weather can play an important part in your fishing success. Unfortunately, the lodge cannot control the weather, but the guides will make every effort to provide a quality angling experience despite inopportune weather conditions.
Medical Facilities:
The closest medical facility is in Cancun, approximately 2 1/2 hours from the lodge. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time. In emergency situations, a charter flight may be required to reach a medical facility. Guests may want to consider medical evacuation coverage. We recommend Global Rescue.
Power and Communications:
There is 24-hour 110 volts/50 cycles identical to US power.
Water:
Please DO NOT drink the tap water. The staff stocks your room each day with bottles of purified water. No need to take these to the boat; there will be plenty in the cooler. All food, of course, is prepared with safe water.
Clothing:
Quick dry pants and shorts, long sleeved quick dry shirts, casual cotton pants and t-shirts, shorts and shirts, sandals, bandana, “Buff” facial sun protector (www.planetbuff.com), hat with wide brim, sun gloves, light rain coat, and swimsuit are recommended. Wet wading with flats boots (Simms, Patagonia) is the norm. Supportive sturdy flats boots are best, as many flats have tough marl bottoms. Boat fishing footwear: Non-scuff white soled deck shoes or sandals. Crocs work well and are comfortable.
Laundry:
Laundry service is not available. Please pack accordingly.
Beverages/Alcohol:
You will find the Boca Paila bar, which remains open all evening, to be fully stocked with most of your favorite liquors and a good selection of Mexican beers and wines. Tequila drinks are a house specialty. As alcohol is not included in your package, be prepared to settle your bar tab at the end of the week.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: For bonefish we recommend 9-91/2 ft fast action rods for 7 and 8 weight lines. For permit and tarpon 9-10 weights are ideal.
Reels: Any quality anodized, corrosion resistant, saltwater reel will work. Get the best reel you can afford such as Abels, Bauers, and the likes. Bonefish reels should have at least 125 yards of 20 or 30 pound backing and your permit/tarpon reel should have at least 200 yards of 30 pound backing.
Lines: Floating Mastery saltwater tapers and bonefish tapers in the appropriate weights.
Leaders/Tippet: Bonefish leaders should be 9-10 ft long in 1X-3X. Bring additional tippet material in the same diameters. Permit leaders should also be 9-10 ft long in 0X-2X. Tarpon leaders should be pre-made in either 15 or 20-pound class with shock tippets ranging from 60-100 lb test.
Flies: Bonefish: A wide range of patterns are effective in sizes 4-8. Be sure to have un-weighted flies, moderate (bead chain eyes) weighted flies, and heavy flies with lead eyes to meet different conditions and water depths. The most popular patterns include, the Squimp in #4, Epoxy heads (MOEs) (yellow, pink) with flash, Tan, light brown, and pink Crazy Charlies, Chile peppers, bitters, gotchas in tan and pink, and Clouser Minnows in tan and chartreuse. Permit: Light tan and cream color crab patterns are the top pick. Have them in #4-2. Popular patterns include the Raghead Crab, Cathy Beck’s permit crab, McCrabs, Del Brown’s crab, and #2-2/0 Clouser minnows in tan and chartreuse. Tarpon: Flies: A selection of the following should cover all conditions (sizes 1/0, 2/0 and 3/0): Cockroach, Chico’s Shallow Water Tarpon (burnt orange/grizzly, blue/griz., yellow/griz., green/ griz.), Stu Apte (Apte Tarpon), Sea Bunny (olive, purple, tan), Lefty’s Deceiver (red/yellow, chartreuse/white). Popping bugs, such as Gaines Saltwater Popper. Clouser Minnows in various colors also perform. Snook: Bring several poppers along just in case.
*Shoes: The lodge management highly recommends that all those who plan to wade wear neoprene wading shoes with a rigid sole. In some areas around Boca Paila there are saltwater lice that can be bothersome. Long pants tucked into wading shoes will alleviate problems with sea lice (they’re really harmless).
