El Pescador, Belize
Fly fishing in Belize
Belize is one of the world’s best kept secrets, and there is no better lodge than El Pescador on Ambergris Cay to explore the flats potential. Located off the coast of northern Belize, Ambergris Cay is an easy 15 minute flight from Belize International Airport followed by a short boat ride to the lodge.
A gateway to bonefish, tarpon and permit of Belize
El Pescador offers access to large expanses of near deserted classical tarpon flats and tidal channels with three to five feet of water where tarpon can be spotted rolling and feeding. There are good numbers of resident fish from 20 – 70 lbs with fish over 100 lbs not uncommon year round. The large migratory tarpon tend to appear from late March with numbers increasing significantly from April through to September. Belize is one of the only other areas besides Southern Florida that the silver king can be stalked in clear water . Although Ambergris Cay has a reputation for tarpon, there are good numbers of bonefish and permit in the vicinity, and also four or five good wading flats for tailing bonefish. The lagoons of Frenchman’s and Hicks Cays provide an excellent environment for permit.
“A great place to combine fishing with other activities that my family enjoy. One of those places we enjoy going back to.” R.W. Ealing
A family run lodge, for anglers and their families
El Pescador is a beachfront colonial lodge on the island of Ambergris Cay and short 10 minute water taxi ride from the airstrip in San Pedro. This lovely mahogany built lodge is surrounded by mature, tropical gardens and its beach is shaded by palms. With three swimming pools and a choice of rooms in the main lodge, or private villas, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Recently expanded and renovated throughout, the main lodge has 14 air–conditioned en-suite rooms with either 2 queen beds or 1 king bed. Each room has a fridge and coffee maker and a small seating area. The en-suite bathrooms have a private toilet area, walk in shower and a double granite vanity. All the rooms are beach facing with a nearby pool and all have air conditioning.
On either side of the central main lodge are 4 beautiful two story villas built around a central swimming pool. Each villa has 3 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms which can be locked off or opened up to give you a 1, 2 or 3 bedroom villa. Upstairs, the great room, with its airy cathedral like ceiling, has an open plan kitchen, dining and living area. One bedroom and bathroom is on the upper floor and the bathroom has a full bath.
Downstairs, are more bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Both have outside showers and one has an indoor jungle shower. The bedrooms have individual entrances to the beach that opens to a covered stone patio facing the sea.
The lodge itself is a 10 minute boat ride from the hustle and bustle of San Pedro which can provide some interesting shopping and restaurants for those not out on the water. This combined with the excellent eco tourism opportunities (sea kayaking, diving mangrove tours, bird watching) in the area make El Pescador ideal for non – fishers as well. Belize’s famous blue hole is a magnet for divers and the Mayan ruins on the mainland are a fabulous day out.
Dinner at the lodge includes choices of fresh seafood and two other main courses per night and is served buffet style in the main dining room. Next to the dining room is the fully stocked bar where the evenings can be whiled away enjoying the Belizean sunset and the rustle of the wind in the palm trees.
Only a 15 minute flight from Belize City
El Pescador is a beachfront colonial lodge nestled on the Bahia del Punta Arena just outside San Pedro on Ambergris Cay. The main lodge has 12 air–conditioned double rooms on two levels overlooking the decked pool and the white sand beach.