Species
Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, Saltwater Grand Slam, Snook
Destination Type
Lodge
Fishing Style
Flats, Sightfishing, Wading
Season
Year-round
Fishing Days
6
Rate
$$
Why We Go
  • Experience unmatched access to the expansive and productive Espiritu Santo Bay
  • Fish with experienced, veteran guides
  • Sight-fish for all the grand slam species – tarpon, bonefish, permit and snook
  • Enjoy a beautiful and remote lodge with comfortable accommodations and thoughtful cuisine
  • Take advantage of other tropical, ocean activities like snorkeling, sea kayaking, beach-lounging, and birding
Overview

Playa Blanca is a top-quality saltwater lodge that focuses on fishing the little-known and lightly-pressured flats of Espiritu Santo Bay. Espiritu Santo Bay is located entirely within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, just south of Ascension Bay, and boats a beautiful fishery with healthy populations of permit, bonefish, tarpon, barracuda, and jacks. Located on a ten-mile long, white-sand beach on a small, private island in the heart of the Reserve, Playa Blanca is uniquely situated to access these fertile and seldom-fished waters. When it comes to getting on the flats first and presenting flies to fish that have not seen a lot of boat traffic, few places in the region compare. Playa Blanca also offers numerous activities for non-anglers including guided snorkeling, sea kayaking, bird watching, Mayan ruins visits, bicycling and windsurfing. Fishing packages include a round-trip charter flight from Cancun to the lodge. Playa Blanca is in very high demand, so anglers are encouraged to request dates early if this operation is high on the list.

Fishing Program

At Playa Blanca, guests have access to one of saltwater fly fishing's most spectacular frontiers, the expansive Espiritu Santo Bay. Playa Blanca guides are seasoned and lay claim to the fact that they were the first to regularly fly fish, explore, and understand this bay. While the bay is loaded with bonefish, permit and tarpon, opportunities also exist for snook, jacks, snapper, triggerfish, and large barracuda. Guests at Playa Blanca fish two per guide, primarily out of 16-foot Dolphin skiffs, though wade fishing is also common. Anglers at Playa Blanca may also fish Laguna Santa Rosa, which is famous for its year-round juvenile tarpon fishing as well as opportunities for bonefish and snook. The guides speak English to varying degrees and are competent with basic fishing instructions.

Guides fish eight hours a day, including travel time. Those wishing for a longer fishing day may discuss with the guide in the morning, and determine how much longer to fish. Note that additional compensation is required for the guide’s extra time; we recommend approximately $10 per hour.

Accommodations

Playa Blanca has a number of duplex suites available to guests, each with verandas, large baths, ceiling fans, and air conditioning. Approximately 300 yards down the beach are Casa Redonda and the Suite, which are available only with advance notice. Casa Redondo is a beautiful, two-bedroom cabana with a comfortable living room and small kitchenette. The Suite is a lovely and spacious bedroom complete with a luxurious, double-sink bathroom complete and huge tub overlooking the beach. The Suite has 24-hour, solar-powered electricity for the all-night ceiling fans. From Casa Redondo and the Suite, guests can take bicycle rides or opt for a truck ride back to the main lodge.

All meals at Playa Blanca are served in the lodge’s waterfront dining room and place emphasis on fresh and thoughtfully prepared dishes with a Yucatan flare. Breakfasts feature American favorites as well as house specialties. A self-serve lunch buffet is presented daily for anglers and includes assorted sandwich makings, salads, shrimp and fish dishes, fruit, cookies, and chips. Dinners are three-courses, featuring a variety of breads, specialty salsas, soups and desserts, all made from scratch daily.

Additional Experiences

Playa Blanca offers numerous activities for non-anglers including guided snorkeling, sea kayaking, bird watching, guided Mayan ruins tours, bicycling and windsurfing. Guests may also schedule a professional massage during their stay.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Cancun. Take charter flight to island.

Days 2 – 7: Six full days guided fishing.

Day 8: Depart island for Cancun and points beyond.

Rates & Details

2023-24 Rates: Per person based on double occupancy

July 1, 2023 - January 31, 2024:

  • 7 night/6 day package: $6,275
  • 5 night/4 day package: $5,271

February 1 - June 30:

  • 7 night/6 day package: $6,649
  • 5 night/4 day package: $5,615

Included: Air charter from Cancun to the lodge, deluxe seaside accommodations, all meals, non-bottled beverages, guided fishing & boat beverages, and use of all recreational equipment.

Not Included: Airfare to Cancun, accommodations/meals/transfers in Cancun, alcoholic beverages, phone service, gratuities, flies, laundry, and departure taxes. Any flight changes received less than 72 hours prior to arrival may incur an extra charter fee.

Species: Bonefish, permit, tarpon, barracuda, snook, jacks

Season: February through June (High Season); July through January (Low Season)

Capacity: 20 anglers

Fly Water Q&A

Who is best suited to this destination? Intermediate to advanced saltwater anglers looking to experience one Mexico’s finest flats fisheries.

Where is the lodge? Playa Blanca is located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, near Espiritu Santo Bay in the Sian Ka’an Bisophere Preserve.

How do I get there? Guests fly into Cancun, Mexico on either a Friday or Saturday and connect on a short charter flight to the lodge (included). If you fly in on Friday we recommend staying at the Marriott Cancun Courtyard by the airport. It has a free shuttle and it’s very convenient. If you fly in on Saturday you must arrive prior to 2:00 PM to make the charter flight down to the lodge.

When should I go? The most popular peak months are March through May. However, the fall season of September – November is a great time to be there as well. There is typically less pressure and fishing can be very productive. The lodge is normally closed during the summer, however, groups of 8 or more may sway the lodge to open up as needed.

How will I fish? Anglers fish two per boat in 17 foot Dolphin flats skiffs with a single guide and take turns fishing from the the bow.

Is there wade fishing? There are some areas where wade fishing is possible but Espritu Santo Bay is mostly a soft bottom fishery and unsuitable for wading. Most of the fishing is accomplished from the boat and the guides will feel like they can cover more water, more effectively from the boat.

Where will I fish? The expansive flats, lagoons and beaches of Espiritu Santo Bay on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula including Santa Rosa lagoon and sometimes Ascension Bay to the north.

How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds? Typical runs to the fishing grounds are 25-45 minutes. If the wind comes up, you can expect longer runs as the boat will need to travel slowly.

What type(s) of fish will I catch? Bonefish, permit and tarpon are the main quarry with some opportunities for barracuda, snook and jacks.

How many fish will I catch? Any time you land double digit numbers of bonefish it is a great day. Even one permit for the week is doing very good and tarpon catches vary widely with conditions and landing ratios.

Will I see other anglers? There is a good chance you will see other anglers fishing the bay, but there’s rarely ever the circumstance where you will be diverted to other areas due to angling pressure. Anglers and guides fishing the bay are few and far between.

What are the guides like? Playa Blanca’s guides remain some of the longest tenured and most experienced on the entire Yucatan. They are professionals that know how to put you in the best position to catch fish. They can be passionate and expressive in the boat, but they are always on your team and simply want to help you do your best. Some of the guides speak very good English. Some only speak a type of “fishing English”. For the most part they can provide good fishing direction in English. In general, they can give you help that may sound like this, “fish coming about 60 feet. Cast 2 o’clock now…. Re-cast 40 feet!”

What are the physical demands? Physical demands are generally not an issue.

Does the lodge provide equipment? The lodge does have some tackle available for rent in a pinch. It’s best to plan on bringing all of your own equipment if possible.

What is the general vibe, atmosphere and style of the lodge? Playa Blanca is a fishing lodge through and through but is comfortable enough for non-anglers as well. The lodge features plenty of indoor and outdoor lounge areas to tell fishing stories, smoke cigars or have a celebratory margarita at the end of the day. Their location overlooking a beautiful white sand beach and the sea offers a relaxing and tranquil scene at the end of a long day on the flats.

Is there an on-site owner, manager or other point-person at the lodge? Johnny and Rita are the onsite managers and hail from Montana. They have done an amazing job since taking over management of both Playa Blanca and it’s sister lodge Casa Blanca. They are known to look after their guests like family and simply do a fantastic job on site.

Where do we eat, and what are the meals like? Meals are a well prepared blend of Mexican and American cuisine. The lodge features plenty of fresh seafood, fruit, rice, poultry, steak and Mexican favorites.

Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like? Guests stay two per room in air conditioned cabanas on the beach. Accommodations are simple, spacious, air conditioned and feature queen size beds and private bathrooms with hot/cold running water.

Is there internet and/or cell service? The lodge does have wi-fi in the main lounge area. Connection speeds are appropriate for email but browsing may be somewhat slow.

Are there other activities? Playa Blanca is mostly a hard core saltwater fly fishing destination with very little extra-curricular activities. The lodge and beach are beautiful and appropriate for non-fishing guests as long as they are simply happy with a quiet and picturesque setting. It’s a great place to go for a beach walk, read a book, relax and sunbathe.

Are there any health concerns, dangers or annoyances? Some mosquitoes and biting black flies can be present. Bringing long sleeves and pants as well as a good bug repellent is a good idea. We recommend that guests always consult with the U.S. Department of State and the Center For Disease Control websites for general travel information and guidelines.

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