Past Trips

"Yucatan Road Trip"

Really stoaked for this trip with Xcalak on the Fly. It will be the longest consecutive days that I have chased bonefish and permit...and I am guessing my ADD will lend itself to sending me into some areas to look for snook or whatever else might be hanging around.

SEE ALL TRIP ROSTERS HERE.

Before we get any further here is your friendly reminder to double check your passport.

Slots: We have 8 slots for this trip total.

Price: This tip is going to be around $4,500. Should have hard number by the beginning of 2025.

Airfare: We will fly into Tulum International Airport and need to all be there before 2PM so that we can take a private shuttle to the lodge. Flying back we need to have flights after 11:00 AM.

Ground Transportation: We will have a private shuttel to and from the airport. Once everyone has arrived on the 16th we will head to the lodge. We will leave on the 23rd after breakfast in order to get the group to the airport in order for everyone to easily make their flight.

Fishing Licenses: You do not need to purchase any specific licenses for this trip.

Tips & Gratiuities: Tips and gratuities for the captains and lodge staff are not included. Plan for $40-50 a day for guides and $30-$40 a day for lodge staff. Drifter will handle the shuttle driver tip.

Credit Cards/Cash/Currency Preference: USD and Mexican pesos are preferred. There is no

ATM in Xcalak so ordering pesos from your bank prior to your trip is probably easiest!

Gear Available On Site: Xcalak on Fly has a small onsite fly shop with everything you might need during

your stay including fly lines, flies, and clothing.

Recommended Trip Insurance: Drifter is partnered with Global Rescue to provide Med Vac and Trip Insurance to our members. Learn more about our partnership HERE.

Packing List:

*Make sure to check out this deal we put together with Strike Zone Fishing here.

Personal Items -

• Hat & buff

• Long sleeve sun shirts

• Quick dry pants & shorts

• Swim trunks / swimsuit

• Sun protective fishing gloves

• Lightweight rain jacket

• Wading boots / water shoes (easy and quick slip-on)

• Toiletries, medications, sunscreen, insect repellent etc...

• Thermos and water bottle

• Phone / camera & chargers

• Passport / travel documents

• Cash (pesos) / Credit Cards

Fishing Gear -

• Polarized sunglasses - We love copper, yellow, amber, or green lenses

• Lens wipes / cleaner & cloths

• Dry bag or backpack, wading pack

• Fly line cleaner!

• Hemostat / pliers / nippers

• 30-100 yard spools of 12, 16, 20, 30lb fluoro leader material

• 30 yards of 40, 50, 60, & 80lb mono leader material (for big tarpon)

Rods-

• 9wt & 10wt Permit Rod: It's good to have two permit rods in the boat when possible. They recommend a 9wt & a 10wt. One rod with floating line and one rod with intermediate sink tip for windy days (can also be used for tarpon).

• 7wt and/or 8wt bonefish rod with floating line

Flies-

*We are happy to put together a Drifter Fly Box if you would like to have everything taken care off. Please contact our Club Fly Expert Chase@DrifterFishClub.com to get an arraingement that meets your needs.

Recommended Flies from Xcalak on Fly

Permit Flies -

• Floating crabs hook size 4-6

• Yellow eyed casa blanca ragheads in all white and tan body size 2-6

• Red striped kuken in size 4-6

• Olive, tan, and white strong arm merkins size 4-6

• Jane’s fleeing crabs size 4-6

• Squimp with yellow eyes size 4-6

• Spawning shrimp with yellow eyes (and without) size 4-6

Bonefish Flies -

• Smaller crabs in ragheads and strong arms size 6-8

• Crazy Charley size 6-8

• Gotchas in tan and gold with tan craft fur and orange tip rubber legs size 6

• Mantis shrimp tan size 6-8

• Bonefish bitters size 4-6

Tarpon & Snook Flies - Optional. Migratory fish come through during the summer but there will likely be some smaller fish around.

In color combos:

Black and red

Black and chartreuse

Black and purple

White and blue

White and red

White and chartreuse

• Tarpon toads

• Deceivers

• Black death

• EP Baitfish

• Poppers in size 1-2/0

Here is a PDF that Xcalak on the Fly put together for Trip Prep.

I included a film below that they made to give you a look into why you should consider going there. SPOILER: Permit Eat Gurglers!

Make sure to let me know what you think or what questions/ideas/random thoughts you have.

Muy bein! Really excited to hang out at this lodge. Really love the architecture and design elements they put into it.

Single Occupancy can be accomadated if you would like a little more space or privacy!

Fresh Flavors + Fresh Cevichi. We have some really good latin food in store. My taste buds are watering!

Any Tequila Lovers??? My favorite drink is a Ranch Water which is Tequila + Club Soda + Lime + Tajn Spice on top. This group has some good times ahead for sure.

Good conversations and deep musings will be unlocked on these porches. Hard to beat the view these rooms have.

Lodge owner Chase Looney with a healthy Yucatan Bonefish. Xcalak targets permit, tarpon, bonefish, snook, jacks, barracuda, triggerfish, snapper, and more.

Xcalak has Grand Slam potential!

Ok. Now check out this video!

MUSIC

Here is a little playlist on Spotify if you need a little mood music while you pack and travel: 

PODCAST

• Here are some reflections and lessons learned from fishing around Xcalak. Might be a good way to learn from others mistakes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-9-troutbum-lessons-learned-on-the-saltwater-flats-xcalak/id1625944988?i=1000669525974

• This is a podcast with Jesse Colten who runs Xflats a few docks down from us. Jesse might be coming to dinner with us Thursday night and gives some helpful insights: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-36-jesse-colten-the-xcalak-episodes-part-one-of-two/id1479905027?i=1000557947113

• Captains Collective episodes are coming soon!!

ARTICLES

• Hatch Magazine: https://www.hatchmag.com/articles/yucatans-best-kept-secret/7715712

• Tail Fly Fishing Magazine: https://www.tailflyfishing.com/journey-to-xcalak-saltwater-fly-fishing-trey-reid/

• Montana Angler: https://www.montanaangler.com/montana-fly-fishing-blog/201604/mexico-fly-fishing-trip-report-costa-de-cocos-lodge-xcalak

• Costa de Coco: https://costadecocos.com/2024/08/31/the-ultimate-fly-fishing-experience-in-xcalak-mexico-a-guide-from-the-experts/

• Wooly Buggin: https://woolybuggin.com/fly-fishing-xcalak-a-guide-for-the-adventurous-angler/

VIDEOS

• Permit on Dry Flies: this is a short stoke video that shows the lodge and fishery. 

• What Lies Above: This is a ten minute film that introduces to Chase Looney who will be fishing with us some this week and doing a podcast with me during happy hour.

• Xcalak Salty Buffet: Another short solid stoke video showing you more of what the fishery is like. 

• Fly Fishing Xcalak: this is a longer walk through that can help you get a better feel for the area and how we will be fishing. 

• What did I miss? Feel free to let me know!