Casa Cangrejo Lodge

What we like

Situated right on the waterfront of the small village of Xcalak, Casa Cangrejo Lodge is one of the few special destinations where fly anglers can still come to experience outstanding saltwater flats fishing in an unspoiled environment boasting high fish counts and amazingly low angling pressure.

A number of neighboring oceanside flats and expansive Chetumal Bay nearby afford guests exceptional opportunities to sight-fish for highly coveted species prowling the region’s fertile shallows. Permit, bonefish, tarpon and snook headline the list of exciting available targets, which also include barracuda, jacks, snappers and more.

Less than 8 miles from Mexico’s border with Belize, Xcalak has a population of barely 400 and sits seemingly a world away from cruise ships and the crowds of tourists that flock to popular destinations along the Mayan Riviera. The village is as safe and peaceful as it is remote. Nevertheless, Casa Cangrejo is not off the grid. The lodge, in fact, is connected to the town’s power and offers all-inclusive accommodations while embracing the region’s rich Mayan culture and laid-back atmosphere.

Season

Year Round

Species

Barracuda, Bonefish, Jacks, Permit, Snapper, Snook, Tarpon

Accomodations

Comfortable and spacious, oceanfront cabins with private baths.

Occupancy

10 Guests

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The Casa Cangrejo Lodge Experience

Casa Cangrejo is not posh, but rather comfortable, clean and roomy. It combines rustic looks with modern construction and plenty of conveniences, guaranteeing all the essentials required for a relaxing and enjoyable stay.

Indoor and outdoor common areas provide multiple gathering spots for guests to rig their gear, mingle, and share meals, beverages and fish tales. The main palapa (tiki-style roof) covers the most generous of indoor spaces, housing the dining/living room and bar with various seating options and ample space to spread out. Sleeping quarters, encompassed in three separate cabins, are up on stilts and face the water to take full advantage of the cooling ocean breezes and marvelous views.

A couple of outside decks at ground level are shaded and joined by boardwalks, leaving enough space between them to practice fly casting to a pair of targets fashioned out of coiled rope. A dock in front of the lodge, a scant a few yards from the cabins, makes loading and boarding the boats an easy proposition.

Chetumal Bay and the neighboring coastal shallows host a world-class fishery heralded principally for its year-round profusion of permit and bonefish. However, other prized inshore gamefish, including tarpon, snook, barracuda, jacks and others, also frequent the area’s extensive flats, lengthy mangrove shorelines, and numerous channels, troughs and potholes, along with a few cenotes (natural springs or blue holes) that serve as their staging spots or lairs.

It takes approximately 20 minutes for boats to run to Zaragoza Channel, the nearest inlet connecting ocean waters with Chetumal Bay, and it could take an additional 10- to 30-minute ride to reach the day’s first fishing spot. Depending on the conditions and the time of year, however, your guide may choose to stop sooner and try one of many oceanside flats or the edges of Zaragoza Channel, both of which are known to yield big permit, tarpon, barracuda, and even large snook at certain times of the year. For bonefish, a number of lagoons and protected coves inside the bay, as well as various flats that run parallel to its longer shorelines, consistently harbor schools that wander in and out with the tide.

Casa Cangrejo employs a roster of experienced, local guides well-versed in the fly-fishing tactics required to consistently score with the desirable game species that call the region’s waters home. Anglers can expect to do most of their fishing from the casting deck on the bow of the boats, but wading is possible in a number of areas, and it’s often encouraged whenever the guide believes it will increase chances of hooking a sighted fish. With that in mind, flats-wading footwear is highly recommended for better footing and protection against sharp rocks and coral.

Fishing Schedule

Fishing days begin at about 7:30 am (depending on the time of year), right after anglers step out on the dock in front of the lodge to meet their guides and board their respective boats. Lunches are enjoyed out on the water, and boats usually get back between 3:30 and 4:00 pm.

Boats

Casa Cangrejo guides run 23-foot pangas featuring recent-year outboards, comfy seats and a roomy casting deck at the bow. Some also include a leaning bar up front and a poling platform at the stern. Due to their seaworthiness, maneuverability, light weight and shallow draft, these boats are very popular throughout the Mexican and Central American coasts, and will take on a moderate, oceanside chop and float in skinny water with similar ease.

Loaner Gear

The lodge does NOT have any fly outfits to lend guests, so you must bring your own gear (and at least one spare rod and reel), as well as plenty of flies, leaders and other essentials, like a rain jacket, flats-wading footwear and polarized sunglasses.

Casa Cangrejo has three cabins, all of them up on stilts, spacious and with a full, private bath, sitting area, and a veranda overlooking the water. Two of the cabins are furnished with a queen-size bed and a pair of singles, while the third and largest cabin has a queen plus three single beds. Thanks to the cabins’ elevation, their ceiling fans and screened, plantation-shutter-style windows on every wall (to let in the breeze from any direction), ventilation is maximized and the temperature inside remains comfortable.

In addition to the cabins, the lodge also offers a 2-bedroom, air-conditioned house next door, well suited for single anglers, couples, and small groups or families. It has a full bath, separate living and dining areas, and a modern, fully-equipped kitchen ideal for those who feel like preparing a meal or two.

Cuisine

At Casa Cangrejo, the wonderful cook locally sources the best available ingredients to prepare delicious meals inspired by traditional Mayan dishes and cuisine from various Mexican regions, the Caribbean and more. In the morning, guests can start with juice and coffee, and opt for typical Mexican fare, fresh fruit or a more traditional American breakfast, including eggs to taste, bacon and toast. Lunches are freshly prepared and packed in the boat coolers before going fishing. They include sandwiches, chips, fruit, and a sweet treat of some kind, as well as purified water and soft drinks. Beer may also be added upon request (a day ahead) so anglers and guides can toast to a great catch. Ceviche, guacamole and chips, and other tasty hors d’oeuvres are served after guests get back from fishing. Fresh fish and seafood are frequently featured on the dinner menu, which changes nightly and also includes pork, beef and chicken dishes, along with delicious sides that make great use of regional vegetables and fruit. Of course, meals may be customized to meet most dietary restrictions, just be sure your needs are conveyed to the lodge at least two weeks prior to your arrival.

The bar at the lodge is stocked with rum and tequila (guests are welcome to bring their favorite wine or spirits), and a cooler is refilled daily with Mexican beers, sodas and mixers. The manager will tally each guest’s tab, which can be settled prior to departure.

Connectivity

Some U.S. cell phones may work in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and even in Mahahual, but service will be spotty or nonexistent well before you reach Xcalak. Once in a while, you may get a strong enough signal from Belize while fishing in Chetumal Bay, but you can’t rely on it. Nevertheless, Casa Cangrejo offers complimentary Wi-Fi to help guests stay connected.

Although Casa Cangrejo is primarily a fishing-focused lodge, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, birdwatching and sightseeing tours can be arranged for non-angling guests, and you can also rent a scooter in Xcalak and explore the small town and its outskirts.

Anglers coming to Casa Cangrejo should fly to Cancun International Airport (CUN); several airlines offer direct flights from major U.S. cities. It’s recommended that you book a flight arriving by 1:00 pm to avoid spending your first night in Cancun, and one departing after 2:30 pm to ensure a timely and relaxed airport transfer for your return home. Once you’ve retrieved your luggage and cleared Mexican immigration and customs after your arrival, you should walk to the airport’s lobby and reception area to meet the lodge representative who will direct you to the air-conditioned vehicle that will shuttle you down to the lodge, a 5 ½-hour drive on good, paved roads.

No visas or inoculation are required for U.S. citizens to enter Mexico, but they must have a valid passport that will not expire within six (6) months of the trip dates, has at least two blank pages remaining, and is not torn or damaged in any way. All minors (under 18 years of age) traveling to Mexico accompanied by only one parent or legal guardian must have a notarized letter from the other parent granting permission to travel. Single parents need a notarized divorce decree or death certificate of the spouse. Unaccompanied minors require a notarized letter of consent signed by both parents.

Midcurrent Travel’s services are completely free, so you never pay more than if you booked directly with the lodge or outfitter. All rates are per person and listed in U.S. dollars.

Double Occupancy (shared room and boat)
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing $3,200 per person
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing $2,730 per person
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing $2,340 per person
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing $1,860 per person
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing $1,420 per person

Single Occupancy (single room and single angler per boat)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days $3,870 per person
6 Nights / 5 Fishing Days $3,320 per person
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days $2,750 per person
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days $2,250 per person
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing $1,850 per person

Included:

The number of nights lodging specified in the package
Daily guided fishing
Breakfasts and dinners at the lodge and boat lunches
All bottled water and soft drinks
Daily happy-hour drink (beer, rum and tequila) and appetizers
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Fishing license
All applicable Mexican VAT and hotel taxes

Not Included:

Airfare to Cancun, Mexico
Hotel in Cancun (if necessary)
Round-trip airport transfers ($100-600 per person, depending on group size)
Gratuities for fishing guides and lodge staff
Alcoholic beverages other than complimentary happy-hour drink
Fishing tackle and flies
Special services or tours

Bookings are confirmed with a 50 percent deposit, made no later than seven days after booking a trip. Balance must be received no later than 90 days prior to the first day of the trip. Notification of cancellation must be received 90 days prior to the first day of the trip in order to receive partial or full credit for an alternate date. All payments are final and nonrefundable, with the exception of a medical or family emergency, deemed reasonable at Midcurrent Travel’s discretion.

Booking a trip or making a deposit represents that the client accepts all terms and conditions. Midcurrent Travel’s terms are in addition to any terms and conditions of each individual lodge that Midcurrent Travel represents. Please read those terms carefully—lodge terms, which may differ from Midcurrent Travel’s terms, supersede any agreements between Midcurrent Travel and a client.

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