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Playa Blanca Lodge

Yucatan Mexico
Espiritu Santo Bay
15 Miles south of Casa Blanca Lodge & Ascension Bay


Playa Blanca Lodge is the sister property to the world famous Casa Blanca Lodge, located only a few clicks to the north. Playa Blanca Lodge, or simply, “Playa” operates a similar program to Casa Blanca in many ways, however is definitely better suited for couples or those clients looking for perfect beaches and a little more solitude. Unlike Casa Blanca, the beaches in front of the lodge are the prettiest imaginable, and the accommodations are a bit more secluded & upscale… ideal for a romantic getaway or an intimate family vacation.

We strongly encourage you to view the Casa Blanca Lodge webpage as well for a more detailed description of the general area and history of these two fine properties.

Identical to Casa Blanca, Playa Blanca Lodge is located on a small private island approximately one hundred miles south of Cancun, Mexico on the Yucatan’s Caribbean coast. It is completely surrounded by the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a pristine nature reserve introduced and managed by the Mexican government covering over 1.3 million acres. Sandy beaches, mangrove lagoons, and dense tropical jungle dominate the coastal region of the southern Yucatan. The lodge is strategically located the northern side of Espiritu Santo Bay, the next protected shallow water bay south of Ascension Bay. Extensive Mayan ruins in the area provide evidence of the once sprawling and powerful empire that once thrived in Central and South America. This is a beautiful, tropical paradise only a few hour’s travel from the southern U.S.


The fishing program at Playa Blanca is very similar to the routine at Casa Blanca, and Espiritu Santo Bay shares many similarities to Ascension Bay to the north. While guests at Casa Blanca will on occasion bump into another boat from competing lodge to the north, Espiritu Santo Bay is geographically isolated. The only boats you will see on Espiritu Santo Bay are Playa Blanca guests.

The vast estuary/flats system and adjacent reef are the basis of Playa Blanca’s pristine and highly productive fishery. Bonefish and permit are seen daily cruising the flats around Playa Blanca, while the mangrove lagoons and endless backcountry are home to a wonderfully nursery system of tarpon and snook. This wonderful operation boasts of numerous “Grand Slams” and “Super Grand Slams” every season, and even the most novice anglers send us photos of their first permit from Casa Blanca. Miles upon miles upon miles of endless flats and mangrove lagoons surround the lodge that are teeming with every conceivable type of local gamefish. Depending upon which species you want to pursue, fishermen spend the day either wading hard bottomed flats for bones or poling deeper water in search of permit and tarpon. The lodge operates comfortable and well maintained Dolphin skiffs with reliable motors, poling platforms, and plenty of dry storage.

Yucatan bones are smaller in nature than your average Bahamian or Venezuelan copy; however are found in huge numbers, often tailing, in a very user-friendly environment. As mentioned, Espiritu Santo Bay offers such a variety and versatile fishery that bones can be found year round. Anglers also have the choice of wading or fishing from the skiff. There are both hard and soft-bottomed flats in Espiritu Santo Bay, and anglers should be prepared to fish both while after bonefish.

Espiritu Santo’s permit population is enormous, healthy, and has some giant specimens. The guides at Playa Blanca are professionals with good “fishing English” and have the skills to consistently put novice and professional anglers on permit. The nature of the techniques used to catch Espiritu Santo Bay permit in deeper water with spawning and mantis shrimp patterns (in addition to traditional crab presentations) make Playa Blanca one of the easiest venues for successfully hooking and landing this elusive species.

Although you should not consider Playa Blanca as an exclusive tarpon destination, there are zillions of juvenile “baby” tarpon in the vast backcountry lagoons in the area. A majority of these fish are residents which remain in the area throughout the year, providing anglers with consistent opportunities for completing the fabled Grand Slam. Adult migratory fish often busting the one hundred pound mark also begin to show up in the beginning of April and numbers will increase significantly through July. On “dead calm” days in May & June, the tarpon fishing on the Caribbean side of the lodge can be excellent.


Playa Blanca holds a maximum of twenty guests (12 anglers and 8 non-anglers) per week. Guests stay in luxurious and spacious one or two bedroom cabana style accommodations each spread out over nearly a mile of pristine, white sandy beach with gorgeous turquoise Caribbean views. The facilities at Playa Blanca are very fresh and modern, with construction on the last cabana being competed only a few years ago.

Where Casa Blanca offers a very energetic and social atmosphere, Playa Blanca offers idyllic and peaceful solitude on a totally remote stretch of Caribbean beachfront paradise. Playa is ideal for couples on a romantic vacation as well as a great venue for entertaining young children. We also send down numerous cohesive groups of hard-core anglers who also enjoy the smaller occupancy and spread out nature of the property.

The restaurant is extremely casual, and cold Mexican beer and tequila are an integral part to the evening festivities! Meals are served indoors or on the palapa covered roof-top patio per guest request. A private chef can also be arranged for guests wanting to take meals in their own private quarters or on the beach. The menu features fresh seafood and regional specialties including snapper, conch, chicken, lobster, steak, and of course the notorious Mexican night. A choice of two entrees is offered at each meal and special dietary requirements can be accommodated with advanced notice. The bar is located inside the restaurant and offers indoor and outdoor service.


20 Guests Total (12 Anglers & 8 Non-Anglers)


Guests first start the adventure by traveling to Cancun, Mexico. Cancun is serviced by almost every major airline carrier, and is a direct flight from Dallas / Ft. Worth. Once in Cancun, guests are met by lodge representatives and transferred to the lodge on a fifty-minute flight via private air charter. Upon arrival at the lodge’s airstrip, guests are transferred five minutes by panga to Punta Pajaros and the familiar pier in front of Casa Blanca Lodge. From Casa Blanca, Playa Blanca guests are loaded into trucks and hauled forty-five minutes south on a sandy road to Playa Blanca.

All guests should book flights to Cancun, Mexico. From there, the lodge will provide an air charter which will fly you directly to the lodge’s airstrip. Guests making their own flight reservations must plan to arrive in Cancun on Saturday no later than 2:00 P.M. and schedule their return flight no earlier than 11:00 AM in order to make connections with the air charter.


Playa Blanca operates on weekly itineraries that begin and end on a Saturday. It is possible to reach the lodge in the same day as departure as well as reaching your home city within the same day the following Saturday. Shorter week itineraries are possible under some circumstances depending upon the lodge's schedule. Please inquire for details regarding short week itineraries.

Saturday:
Depart home city for Cancun, Mexico arriving no later than 2:00PM. Guests are then transferred to the General Aviation Terminal and flown fifty minutes to a private airstrip on the lodge property. There is no guided fishing on the arrival day.

Sunday-Friday:
Spend the next six days fishing and relaxing at Playa Blanca.

Saturday:
After breakfast, guests are transferred back to the airstrip and flown to Cancun, Mexico. Guests are than transferred back to the international terminal for the flight back to the U.S.

Note: Round-trip charter flight transfers to the lodge are included in full-week packages if your commercial flights arrive and depart from the Cancun airport on Saturday between 11 AM and 3 PM. All guests arriving or departing outside this window may be subject to a $400 transfer surcharge.


(January - June) (October - December)
* Lodge is closed July - September due to the tropical storm season

For the most part, guests should expect good fishing weather anytime the lodge is open and operating, with all standard species available and plentiful year round. When unfavorable weather does show up during the peak season spring/early summer months, it usually comes in the form of afternoon rain showers than don't last too long. For the most part, the southern Yucatan enjoys warm and humid temperatures and comfortable fishing conditions.

Due to the Yucatan's southern proximity, Casa Blanca and Playa Blanca relatively immune to winter weather blowing in from the north. Windier, cooler days are often more prevalent from December through March (late winter/early spring). A northerly breeze can leave some flats unprotected making boat runs a bit choppy, however these conditions usually don’t last long as easterly and southerly trade winds usually return quickly. By May and June, the bigger tarpon are in full effect, and there is usually less wind this time of year. After the area is rested throughout the summer hurricane season, Fall fishing at Casa or Playa Blanca can be some of the best of the year.


Although primarily a fishing destination, Playa Blanca does offer alternative activities such as guided snorkeling excursions and tours of several of the twenty-two archeological sites of Mayan ruins and temples found around the lodge. Non-anglers are encouraged to join anglers at the lodge to enjoy the amazing beaches and solitude Playa Blanca has to offer.


2009 RATES

7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing

Two Anglers per Boat / Room

February 14 – May 30 ………………………………………….$4365 per person

(January 1 – February 14) (October 3 – December 31) (May 30 - July 4)
...........................$3545 per person

Single Angler per Boat / Room

February 14 – May 30 ………………………………………….$5990 per person

(January 1 – February 14) (October 3 – December 31) (May 30 - July 4)
...........................$5230 per person

Non-Angler

February 14 – May 30 ………………………………………….$3485 per person

(January 1 – February 14) (October 3 – December 31) (May 30 - July 4)
...........................$2750 per person

5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing

Two Anglers per Boat / Room

February 14 – May 30 ………………………………………….$3495 per person

(January 1 – February 14) (October 3 – December 31) (May 30 - July 4)
...........................$2970 per person

Single Angler per Boat / Room

February 14 – May 30 ………………………………………….$5070 per person

(January 1 – February 14) (October 3 – December 31) (May 30 - July 4)
...........................$4355 per person

Non-Angler

February 14 – May 30 ………………………………………….$3115 per person

(January 1 – February 14) (October 3 – December 31) (May 30 - July 4)
...........................$2480 per person

Note: Round-trip charter flight transfers to the lodge are included in full-week packages if your commercial flights arrive and depart from the Cancun airport on Saturday between 11 AM and 3 PM. All guests arriving or departing outside this window may be subject to a $860 transfer surcharge (divided by the number of passengers up to four max).


Six days of guided fishing; All meals; Seven nights double occupancy accommodations; Charter flight and ground transportation to lodge; Non-bottled beverages; Boat Beverages while fishing; Non-angling activities and unlimited use of recreational equipment; Mexican VAT tax


Commercial air to Cancun, Mexico; Alcoholic beverages; Bottled beverages including mineral water; Guide and staff gratuities; Laundry Service; Telephone calls; Departure Taxes


A fifty percent deposit is required at the time of booking in order to confirm all reservations. Final balance is due sixty days from departure. Playa Blanca requires written notice of cancellation at least 60 days prior to your departure to receive a refund of deposit less a $500 per person cancellation fee. Cancellation within 60 days will result in full loss of applicable land and commercial air costs- no refund will be made unless replacement clients are provided. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgement that registrant has read and accepts the cancellation/refund and responsibility clauses.

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