Included / Not Included –
Included / Not Included:
Included: Accommodations and meals at the lodge, guided fishing, round-trip transportation between Belize City and the lodge.
Not Included: Airfare, accommodations and meals in Belize City if needed, staff & guide gratuities, alcohol, $40 Blue Hole entrance fee.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Turneffe Flats Lodge you need to make flight arrangements to Belize International Airport. The lodge itinerary is Saturday to Saturday. All guests need to arrive in Belize before 3:30PM on Saturday. You will be transported to the Princess International Hotel Marina. At the Marina, you will be notified of the boat’s scheduled departure time, which varies according to guest arrivals.
Getting to the Lodge: The trip by boat to Turneffe Flats takes approximately 90 minutes.
Departure Information: You will leave the island on Saturday morning at approximately 8:00AM. From the Belize City marina you will be transferred to the airport. Please schedule your flight home after 11:30AM.
Documentation Requirements:
You need a valid passport to enter Belize. Keep the bottom portion of your Immigration Form, which you will fill out on your arriving flight. It will be used when you depart Belize.
Currency:
U.S. currency is easily exchanged in Belize and you do not need to exchange money before leaving the U.S. Large US bills ($50's and $100's) are difficult to break, and we recommend that you bring smaller bills. Major credit cards are accepted in Belize City.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travel with approximately $300-$400 for staff & guide gratuities, alcohol, etc. At the end of your stay, you may pay your tab with cash, travelers’ check, personal check or credit card – Turneffe Flats accepts VISA, MasterCard & Discover, however they have a 3% handling fee for credit card charges. Gratuities are preferred in cash.
Gratuities:
Tipping is at your discretion and should relate directly to the level of service you receive. As we are often asked about customary tipping practices, we offer the following suggestions for your convenience. Tips should be paid in cash or with traveler’s checks as the resort has a limited amount of change, and we suggest that all tipping be done at the end of your visit. Suggestions below are in US dollars:
Fishing Guides $10-$25 per angler per day for shared boat and $20-$50 per angler per day for private boat.
Lodge Staff (kitchen staff, housekeepers, waitresses, luggage handlers, etc.) $70-$100 per guest per week.
Dive Staff $10-$20 per diver per day (this covers all dive staff)
Atoll Adventure $10-$20 per guest per day
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not needed.
Climate:
Temperatures in Belize generally range from 75 - 95 degrees, and good sun protection is essential. Most of the time there is a comfortable trade wind, which cools things off. Cold fronts in the fall or early winter can occasionally drop temperatures into the 60's.
Medical Facilities:
The closest medical facility is in Belize City. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time. If you have an emergency, please call their reservation office at 888.512.8812. The phone number on the island is 011.501.220.4046 but it is sometimes difficult to contact the island directly.
Power and Communications:
Turneffe Flats is operated with diesel generators, which supply 110V/220V AC. Generators run around the clock and are not within hearing distance of guest rooms.
There is wireless internet access in the Main Lodge and in some of the closer cabins. This services provides email and internet usage; however, their satellite based bandwidth is limited and they are NOT able to support Skype or other VOIP protocols, instant messenger services, Youtube, video downloads, webcam, streaming video, IP TV, IP based mobile phones or other high band width applications.
Water:
Water is primarily supplied by rainwater collection and desalinization. The fresh water supply is somewhat limited, and guests are asked to help conserve water when possible.
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 is available upon request to guests during their stay for a small fee. Please be prepared to pay for this service onsite.
Beverages/Alcohol:
Turneffe Flats has a well stocked bar and a selection of red & white wine as well as local Belikin beer. Liquor, beer and drink setups are not included in your package price. Individual tabs are kept, and you can check on your tab at any time during your stay.
Tackle/Equipment List:
The flies and tackle that work best at Turneffe can also be purchased at the lodge. They rent fly rods/reels and spin rods/reels; however, numbers are limited and rental arrangements should be confirmed prior to leaving.
Recommended Bonefish Tackle:
Rod: 7 Wt. to 9 Wt.
Reel: Saltwater reel holding at least 150 yds. of 20 lb. backing
Line: WF floating
Leader: 9 -14 feet depending upon the fishing situation
Tippet: 2X - OX (the new fluorocarbon tippets are preferable)
Flies: #10 to # 6
Bonefish Flies: Pop's Bonefish Bitters, #6 and #8, Pop’s Egghead Bitters, #6 and #8, Crazy Charlies - white, pink, brown (unweighted for outer flats), #6 and #8, To-Dy-For (small unweighted shrimp pattern), #6 and #8, Turneffe Foam Crab, #6 and #8, Gotcha, Horror, Baited Breath, #6 and #8, Raghead Crab, #6, various small shrimp and crab patterns.
On the ocean-side flats, smaller flies are more effective (6’s, 8's and some 10's). Unweighted flies are an absolute necessity. Larger flies (6's) work best on the inner flats, and weighted flies are often preferable here.
Recommended Permit Tackle:
Rod: 9 Wt. or 10 Wt.
Reel: Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 200 yds. of 20 lb. backing
Line: WF Floating (some anglers prefer a slow sinking line such as a slime line)
Leader: 9 - 12 feet
Tippet: 1X - OX
Flies: # 4 to 1/0
Permit Flies: Del Brown's Permit Crab (Merkin), #2 or 1/0, Raghead Crab, #2 or 1/0, McCrab, #2 or 1/0, various other crab patterns.
Recommended Tarpon Tackle:
Rod: 11 Wt. or 12 Wt.
Reel: Saltwater reel holding a minimum of 200 yds. of 30 lb. backing
Line: Slow sinking (slime line) or medium sink tip
Leader: 4 - 6 ft. butt section, 16 lb. - 20 lb. class tippet, 60 - 100 lb. shock tippet
Flies: Size 3/0 to 4/0
Tarpon Flies: Apte style tarpon flies, 3/0 and 4/0, Cockroach, Black Death & Purple Haze, orange & red, white & red, dark colors tend to be better in the early morning and brighter colors work best when it’s bright. Deceiver patterns - various colors, 3/0 and 4/0, Abel Anchovies, 3/0 and 4/0.
Other Fishing: The interior of the Turneffe Atoll offers miles of mangrove-lined bays, creeks and lagoons to fish for various snappers, jacks, and barracuda with poppers or #2 Clouser minnows. This can be some very exciting saltwater fishing – with either a fly rod or spin tackle.
Barracuda are an underrated and acrobatic game fish inhabiting the reefs at Turneffe in large numbers. Many anglers prefer to troll a fly for them, but they can also be taken by sight casting on the flats or by blind casting poppers into the deeper holes along the reef. Along the reef, large snappers and jacks can be taken by casting deceiver patterns or poppers into the surf.
