Included / Not Included –
Included: First and last overnight hotel accommodations in Caracas, round-trip flight between Caracas and Los Roques, accommodations and meals at Acuarela Lodge, all ground transfers, guided fishing, fishing licenses and permits.
Not Included: Airfare to Caracas, meals and beverages in Caracas, Los Roques National Park Entry Fee, domestic departure tax, international departure tax, alcoholic beverages (except beers on the boat), staff and guide gratuities.
Arrival Information: To get to Los Roques you need to make flight arrangements to Caracas, Venezuela. Stays of varying lengths are welcome. All guests need to arrive in Caracas the evening before arrival to the lodge and overnight. (Hotel is included in package price.)
Getting to the Lodge: The next morning you will take a 35 minute charter flight from Caracas to Los Roques. (Flight reservations will be made for you and are included in package price). You will then have a 5 minute walk to your accommodations.
Departure Information: On your departure day you will take an afternoon flight back to Caracas and overnight. (Hotel is included in package price.)
Documentation Requirements:
You will need a valid passport to enter Venezuela and it must be valid for 6 months after the last day of your trip.
Currency:
The official currency in Venezuela is the Bolivar. US dollars are also readily accepted and there are minimal additional expenses so it is not necessary to exchange much money while in the country. It is best to exchange about US $150 with the driver of the transfer company to pay for arrival and departure taxes, national park fee and small incidentals.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travel with approximately $600 for staff and guide gratuities, alcohol, airport taxes, and national park fee. Note: The lodge does not accept credit cards.
Gratuities:
We recommend guide gratuities for double fishing of $35 per angler per day (includes guide and captain of the boat). Please pay your guide directly after each day of fishing. It is best to bring plenty of 5’s and 10’s as well as 20 dollar bills.
We recommend $15 per person per day for the staff. Staff tips are pooled and may be given to the lodge manager at the end of your stay. Cash is appreciated for gratuities.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are included and the lodge will issue your license on-site.
Climate:
Air temperatures are usually in the upper 80’s to low 90’s and water temperatures never vary more than a few degrees above 75°. Los Roques is a dry climate, it seldom rains. There are no winter “cold fronts”, such as those frequently experienced in the Bahamas, Mexico and Belize and hurricanes bypass Los Roques to the north. The sun is very intense so come well prepared and do pack a waterproof jacket as the boat runs can often be wet!
Medical Facilities:
The closest hospital is in Caracas, approximately an hour by air. Los Roques has a small health facility which can take care of small health issues, fever, stomach ache, small accidents, etc. Guests have the responsibility to disclose and special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time. In emergency situation, 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:
The island has standard 110 power so an adaptor is not needed. The lodge has a generator as a back-up. There is a cell tower on the island so most international phones will work but please check with your carrier. The lodge has wireless internet connection and for those not bringing their own computer, limited use of the lodge computer and phone is welcomed.
Water:
Please DO NOT drink the water in Caracas. At the lodge the water is safe but not very tasty (desalinized on island). We recommend drinking bottled water, or the filtered water provided in clay bottles each evening.
Clothing:
Dress at the lodge is neat but casual. 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, 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 available upon request to guests during their stay. Please be prepared to pay for this on-site.
Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge provides alcoholic drinks for sale (not included in package price, except beers on the boat).
Tackle/Equipment List:
Bonefish:
Rod: Fast action 9 foot rods in line weights 7-9.
Reel: Saltwater reel, with at least 150 yards of 20-lb backing.
Lines: WF floating, saltwater lines such as Mastery Bonefish or Saltwater Taper
Leaders/Tippet: 7-14 foot leader with 8-12 pound test tippet. If you like to make your own, the simpler the better. Try a 4 piece leader with a long butt, then half again, half again and a tippet as long as you want (18” to 4+ feet). For example, a 6’ butt of 30-lb, 3’ section of 20-lb, 1½’ of 15-lb, 3’ tippet of 12-lb, gives a 13½ footer that turns over great in the wind. For shorter, follow same “half again, half again + tippet” recipe. Example: 5’ of 30-lb, 2½ feet 20-lb, 15“15-lb, plus 27” tippet of 12-lb, gives a good 11 footer. Use the same formulas going from 15-lb to 10-lb tippet.
Tarpon:
Rod: #10 to #12
Reel: Saltwater, with at least 250 yards of 30 lb backing.
Lines: Floating or WF intermediate saltwater lines, such as Mastery Tarpon or Saltwater Taper.
Leaders/Tippet: Leader with 20-lb. class tippet, 30 – 60-lb. wire or 80 – 100-lb mono shock tippet
Permit: (Not common but possible at Los Roques)
Rod: #10
Reel: Saltwater, with a minimum of 200 yards of 30 lb backing.
Lines: WF floating, saltwater lines such as Mastery Bonefish or Saltwater Taper
Leaders/Tippet: Leader with 15 lb tippet.
Barracuda & Sharks:
Rod: #8 to #10
Reel: Saltwater, with a minimum of 200 yards of 30 lb backing.
Lines: WF floating, saltwater lines such as Mastery Bonefish or Saltwater Taper
Leaders/Tippet: Leader with 6” shock tippet of 30 lb wire or nylon-covered braided wire for barracuda. 24” of wire for sharks.
Bonefish Fly Box: (note: small unweighted and weedless patterns are key)
Gotcha fly- mostly #6 & 8 with small eyes or blind as well as a few with lead eyes.
Clouser Deep Minnow size 8-- tan /white, grey/ white, chartreuse & white (sparsely tied)
Simram #6 & #8
Raghead crabs #8 tan and olive
Bonefish Bitters #8 olive and brown
Morrish Weedless Wonder
Morrish Crab Cake
Pink and brown Puffs #8
Brown Boggle Heads #8
Horror #6 - #8
Quan, tan with bead-chain eyes
Mother of Epoxy flies in tan or white #6 -#8
Gummy minnows #6 pearl (note please have at least 10 of these and be sure to glue their heads and vents with Zap-a-Gap before fishing them).
Tarpon Fly Box: (also Jacks and Mackerels)
Cockroach, Stu Apt, Tarpon bunnies in rust or black in sizes 1/0 and 2/0
White, chartruese & white, blue & white Deceivers size 2/0-3/0
Chartruese, yellow, red & white Poppers size 2/0 – 4/0
Permit Fly Box:
Del Brown Permit Fly
Rag Head
Various other Crab flies
Barracuda Fly Box:
A sparse needlefish Fly (chartreuse) or epoxy variation
Royal Schartzman (pearl or chartreuse)
Lures: Red, yellow, and green tube lures/flies, rapalas, rattle traps and various minnow patterns. Yusuri Lures: silver/red and surface poppers with red heads.
Shark Fly Box:
Yellow / Red SeaDucers size 3/0 or bigger
Waders & Boots: Wet wading with flats boots (Simms, Patagonia) arethe norm. Supportive sturdy flats boots are best, as many flats have tough marl bottoms. While fishing from the boat (this is rare) many choose to go barefoot or wear only socks, which offer protection from the sun.
Miscellaneous: Spare spool with spare primary line, nippers, reel covers, reel lubricant, hemostats, pliers, tape measure, athletic tape for blisters and stripping finger, fanny pack for fly boxes and water, a small day pack, “Buff” facial sun protector, Aloe gel for sunburn, SPF 25 or higher waterproof sunscreen, insect repellent, sun gloves, bandanas, and a wide brimmed hat. We also recommend bringing along some type of energy bar to put in your day pack while out on the flats.
