Location

Casa Vieja Lodge is located on Guatemala’s Pacific coast, approximately 60 miles (2.5 hour drive) from La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, and approximately one mile (5 minute drive) from Marina Pez Vela, Puerto San Jose, Guatemala.

Room Amenities

Each room has a private bathroom, air conditioning, luxury bed linens, bath amenities, hair dryer, a large hanging closet and a safe that can accommodate a wallet, phone, a small laptop computer and other valuables.  Voltage in the rooms is the same as the US so outlet adapters are not needed.  Free WIFI is provided throughout the lodge.

Water

Casa Vieja Lodge is a plastic-free campus. We eliminated all single-use plastic bottles both at the lodge, and aboard our 10-boat fleet. All anglers will receive a YETI 18oz Rambler Bottle upon arrival at Casa Vieja Lodge, your lifeline to water consumption. Two Elkay Water Fountain and Bottle Filling Stations are installed at the lodge, where you can refill your YETI Ramblers during your stay. This water goes through a 4-stage filtration system, including a UV purification process and the solution to pure, clean drinking water at Casa Vieja Lodge.

An additional Kick Plastic Yeti 36oz Rambler is available in all rooms for brushing your teeth as water directly from the tap should not be consumed.

Restaurant/Bar

Breakfast is served either in the Café Pez Vela A/C dining room or outside al fresco in the rancho where we have dinner.  We have seating for 50 people, a fully stocked bar as well as flat screen TVs with Fubo Network.

Tips

Tips are payable in USD.  Recommended amounts are:

• Boat Captain & Crew: $300 per boat, per day
• Lodge staff: $30 per guest, per day
• Drivers: $20 per person, per transfer (to/from Guatemala City only, not for daily marina transfer)

Laundry Service

We provide daily light laundry service, simply leave the items you wish to have washed in the laundry bag, fill out the form, and our Lodge staff will wash and return them to your room.  No dry cleaning service is available.

Room Tax

Guatemalan room tax (USD $28 per room, per night) MUST BE PAID IN GUATEMALA upon check-out.  Room tax is payable with cash or credit card.

Credit Cards

We accept all major credit cards for room tax, bar bills and any items purchased from the gift shop.  Please note that a 8% transaction fee will apply to all credit card charges. We do not have an ATM on site.

Clothes

It is a relaxed, casual atmosphere at Casa Vieja Lodge so shorts, t-shirts, and resort wear are acceptable.  You should come prepared with sun protection while out on the water.  Light-weight long sleeve shirts, pants, hat/visor, and polarized sunglasses are highly recommended, our crew wears Costa del Mar Sunglasses.  We also suggest deck shoes while on board.  If you happen to forget an item no need to worry as our La Tiendita (Gift Shop) is fully stocked with anything you may need while out on the water. If your trip includes travel to Guatemala City, Antigua or elsewhere, a light jacket and long pants are recommended as these cities are higher in elevation and have cooler temperatures.

Bug Repellent

There are insects in Guatemala.  Please bring all bug repellent in LIQUID FORM – NO AEROSOLS are allowed on airplanes.  The lodge will also have some for use.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is for sale at the gift shop, but please feel free to bring your own should you prefer.

Expectations

We expect that you will have an incredible overall fishing experience at Casa Vieja Lodge!  Our yearly-fleet average is 12-15 sailfish RAISES, per boat, per day.  But remember-an average is just that-some days you may raise more and some days, unfortunately, you may raise less.

View Fishing Report

Daily Schedule

After morning coffee and breakfast at the Lodge, the van will depart at 6:45am to the marina, and the Crew will welcome you aboard, with a 7am departure. The run out to the fish can be as close as 10 miles or as far as 50 miles, with the average falling somewhere in the middle.  When you are not fighting monsters you can enjoy the soda, water, and beer provided on board, daily.  Any special requests such as liquor, additional beer, snacks, or dietary restrictions can be arranged with notice to our Manager the night before.

On board our mates will prepare a hot-lunch and if you catch a morning yellowfin or dorado you can have that prepared fresh out of the water! (if you are fishing on one of our Contenders, it will be a cold-lunch prepared by our Lodge Chef, but your morning catch of yellowfin sashimi is still an option!) You will fish all day and the run back will have you at to marina for a 5:00pm arrival.  Then it’s back to the Lodge to enjoy the pool and a refreshment of your choice! To break it down:

• 5:45-6:00a Morning coffee service in your room (You’ll be woken up by staff)
• 6:00-6:45a Breakfast is served in Café Pez Vela Restaurant or Rancho
• 6:45a Vans depart for the Marina
• 7:00a-4:30p Fishing Hours
• 4:45p Enjoy a well-deserved cocktail and appetizers as you arrive back at Casa Vieja Lodge
• 7:00p A fabulous three-course dinner served in the Rancho

*this is included in a standard fishing package

Fly Fishing

Our entire fleet is outfitted with all the tackle, rods and reels you need to catch the big one.  All boats are well equipped with fly, conventional or spinning tackle, you simply choose.  The leader is built to IGFA standards (#20 Mason hard nylon tippet).  If you prefer a lighter class tippet, feel free to bring it with you and our mates will tie it for you.  Some choose to bring their own equipment.  If this is you, we recommend the following equipment set-up:

• 14-18wt rod and a reel capable of holding 300 yards of #20 Dacron, Micron or Braid backing (minimum)
• A billfish taper or 550-650 gram medium sink shooting head with soft popper heads
• Any color fly works BUT hot pink shows up best in still photos and on video

Our advice: If you are bringing reels in your carry-on bag remove all the line, as past clients have been stripped at the airport of all their fishing line! If you are bringing fishing line please place in your checked luggage to avoid any trouble with TSA.

We fish tight off the boat-usually 10-15 feet, so long casts are not required.  When the fish is raised and is tracking the bait, we wait until it is close to the boat, then we pull the teasers, you cast behind and to the side of the fish, it lights up, bites and the fight is on! (A diagram of our spread pattern and fly presentation follows below)

Check-out

On the morning of your last day at Casa Vieja Lodge, or the evening before if you require an early departure, please find time to go to the office and settle your final bill with the Lodge.  Room tax, bar charges, and gift shop (La Tiendita) charges will be paid for at this time.

Lodge Departure

Lodge staff will determine your departure time the day prior to your departure and will notify you in a letter, slipped underneath the door to your room.  Your departure time will leave you plenty of time to get to the airport and check-in for your flight.

Souvenirs

Visit the Lodge Gift Shop (La Tiendita) before you leave and pick up a memento from your incredible trip to Casa Vieja Lodge Guatemala.  You can also visit the duty free shop at the airport-we recommend the Ron Zacapa store for excellent local rum or delicious Guatemalan coffee beans. In anticipation of your trip, Shop Online at shop.casaviejalodge.com and get your gear in advance at the same prices you would in Guatemala!

Airport Departure

Please fill out this Guatemalan Immigration form before arriving to the airport CLICK HERE. After Airline check-in you will need to pass through immigration and show your digital form.  Present your passport to the agent.  Have a safe flight!