We offer this destination as one of our favorite spots in the world. It is not for everyone as the cabanas are charming but some would find this charm too rustic. Solar electricity means no air-conditioning or TV’s but it also means peace, quiet and some great friendships. You can imagine Ernest Hemingway setting up shop for a year or two here. The Sian Kaan Biosphere Preserve in Mexico is the perfect wilderness for fly fishing fanatics and their intrepid mates! Bonefish, permit and tarpon abound on the sandy bottom, wadeable flats of Ascension Bay.

Your trip begins with your arrival at the airport in Cancun. Depending on your travel plans we will meet you up at the airport and head south along the Caribbean coast on Highway 307. Perhaps we will stop to get some lunch or dinner along the way in Playa Del Carmen. Remember, the last place to buy anything or pick up extra cash is in Playa Del Carmen, a cute seaside town.

A typical Cabana at Cuzan

The lodge is located on the tip of the Punta Allen Peninsula which extends into the northern edge of Ascension Bay. Since it is in the preserve the town and lodge have to maintain its original intent, look , number of rooms and hence it maintains an old world charm that has long been lost on the rest of the Yucatan.

Our cabanas are thatched roof individual buildings about 225 square feet with a large private bathroom. Electricity is solar powered and limited but it powers fluorescent lights in our cabana. The water for your bathroom is heated by solar and natural gas and is quite fresh. Even so you should only drink the purified bottled water we provide throughout your stay here. There is no air conditioning in the cabanas, just a Caribbean breeze! There is also a pair of rooms in the main house known as the “Studios” which are perfect for a couple. Since there is little electricity air- conditioning is not available and there are no TV’s, phones or faxes on the room. Some folks may find this too rustic while others find it a perfect blend of island charms. It is not good fit for your trip.

Dining

The sand floor dining room at Cuzan

The Dining room is a round palapa with a white sand floor (actually the entire town has a white sand floor) with 4 tables and plenty of chairs. We keep coolers with Cervesa or soft drinks for you to enjoy anytime with a full bar as well. Many evenings we will eat outdoors under the stars.

The dining room is our central meeting area where we’ll meet in the evening and morning . Meals are a variety of Mayan dishes and some fabulous fresh seafood. After dinner we’ll plan the next day’s activities. Who will be paired up for fishing and where we will go.

For those who aren’t fishing the next day we can plan a snorkeling trip out to the nearby reef, a birdwatching excursion, a kayaking exploration on your own, or perhaps an ecological tour of the Sian Kaan Preserve, a day to visit the ruins at Tulum or Coba, a fly fishing lesson or just refuse to do anything and get back to that book and pick out the hammock you want for the day.

Lodge Photos

A tarpon double in Ascension Bay!

The Sian Kaan Biosphere in Mexico surrounds Ascension Bay and it is one of my favorite winter destinations for a few reasons: first; the quality of the fishery, second; the isolation of the area, and third; it’s unique ability to please both the avid beachcomber and the fanatical flyfisher (myself being the latter and my partner Lisa being the former). Sian Kaan means “where the land meets the sky” and the light that emanates here is a surreal mixture of purples and Caribbean turquoise. It really is difficult to distinguish between land, sky and water at times.

The most exciting Saltwater fishing I’ve done is flats fishing for bonefish, permit and tarpon, The Sian Kaan Reserve in Ascension Bay has hundreds of miles of flats to wade6. Sneaking up on a bonefish feeding in 4″ of water is the first test, dropping the fly just far enough ahead as not to spook him is the second, being patient enough not to set the hook to soon as he takes is the third and keeping the line clear on that blistering first run is the final exam. By the end of the week you’ll be one with the “macabi”(local name)6, a fish you’ll never forget. Slightly off the edge of the shallow flats are permit and in the warmer months tarpon are available as well as snook. But the jewel of this fishery are the bonefish, the macabi. ore grand slams are caught here than anywhere else in the world. Most of the fishing is wading once we get to the flats because some are so shallow (4″-6”) that the boats are useless! Its also much more effective to wade for these fish as you can get much closer to them. It also allows both anglers in the boat to be fishing at the same time.

Read More About the Fishing

Some of the flats in Ascension Bay

The isolation of the area is hard to come by on a coast as beautiful as this. Luckily the Mexican Government has declared the area an ecological preserve forbidding any development in the Sian Kaan Biosphere (Reserve).This includes the 200 miles of coastline around Ascension Bay and Punta Allen. We use local guides and boats in keeping with the guidelines of the UN rules to encourage locals to earn a living from the preserve without causing harm to it. Flyfishing has been identified as an acceptable activity in the preserve as long as a licensed preserve guide is employed. There are flats as close as 5 minutes to our cabanas and as far away as an hour and everywhere in between! There are so few fisherman and so many fish!

The most important reason we’ve set up this destination is its warm, idyllic setting for all, whether you fish a little, a lot or not at all, you will be totally relaxed by the end of the week. In fact it is not uncommon to lose track of your shoes because you just don’t need them here! No phones, no faxes no TV’s, and no computers. We do have limited electricity in our cabanas and plenty of hot water, good food, and lots of laughter!

The fish, the remote location and the picture perfect vacation spot, Come join us in Flyfishing Heaven (AKA Beachcombers Heaven)

Fishing Photo Gallery

Tackle & Gear

Here is a list of the basics you will need for your trip.  Many of our destinations are pretty remote with no chance to buy things on site.

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Fly List

Tie a few patterns with just the weight of the eyes as a variable 1 with lead eyes, 1 with chain, 1 with small chain, and 1 with no weight or mono eyes just to make sure you have flies for very skinny water all the way to waist deep water. Presentation seems to be much more important than fly selection.
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Packing List

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Ground transportation from Cancun to Cuzan is NOT included in the above price chart: Many people rent a car and make the scenic drive themselves with some time for sightseeing. Major car rental agencies are available in Cancun. An economy car is approximately $35/day or $150-200/week. We can provide transportation for your group. The total round trip van service for a group of 1-3 is $450, 4-6 is $750.

Please take a look at the  photo and video galleries related to Andros South.

Fishing Photo Gallery

Lodge Photo Gallery

Scenic Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

Tulum Ruins

Lisa and I have arranged what we think is the perfect vacation for the fishing nut and the partner of the fishing nut! As you know every fishing nut dreams that their mate will finally see the light and become a fellow fishing nut. To this end we offer top notch flyfishing instruction, women only boats, and patient guides. You can go out to fish for a half day and spend the rest with a good book in a hammock or explore the miles of deserted shoreline. The amount of fishing you do or don’t do is up to you. The real secret is that we also offer lots of stuff to do besides fishing: incredible deserted beaches, guided reef snorkeling, kayaking, bird watching, or we have day trips to explore the nearby Mayan ruins at Tulum or swim with the dolphins at Xacaret! All in a setting so peaceful you can’t believe your fishing nut mate wants to be here to!

You will fly to Cancun International Airport. ………You will be staying at the Cuzan Guest House in Punta Allen

You will need a passport to enter Mexico and return to the US.

Dollars or Pesos are accepted everywhere even in Punta Allen……….. The last ATM is in Playa Del Carmen 2.5 hours away.

If you are renting a car: We use Budget and reserve cars from here in the US. It is best actually to rent a small car with a short wheelbase that will be better in the bumpy roads near Punta Allen. Hint: When asked at the rental counter where you are staying we always answer “Tulum” as they know Punta Allen’s road is a disaster and will inspect your car more thoroughly when you return it. The Budget agent will go over the car thoroughly when you pick it up, marking all scratches dents etc. do pay attention as they do this. When you return you will be charged with any new dents and scratches. If you don’t buy collision insurance (I don’t) they will make a second copy of your credit card and make you sign it. The damage will be charged to that card and it will be up to you to straighten it out with your insurance or credit card company. There is no way around this.

If you have hired our Van Service: Look for a driver with your group leader name in hand or “Cuzan” sign on your way out after going through customs. If for any reason you can not find the van service the local contact for them in Cancun is Telephone: (998) 887 6967 AGI Tours 24 Hour Manager on Duty: (998) 842-3185 or
Phone/Fax (998) 887 2359 (998) 845-7161
*Most phones in Cancun you will not dial the area code of 998

Phone: Cuzan has an office in a town about 2 hours from Punta Allen. (983-4-03-58) Your reservation is listed under your last name. There is no phone at the lodge itself. There is a phone in the town of Punta Allen. It is a souped up cellular in a private home. They dial the number for you and then time how long you are on the line!! It usually works pretty well. If you need to use it ask the staff at Cuzan and they can direct you to it.

Driving Directions to Punta Allen and the Cuzan Guest House: From the Cancun Airport take 307 south, all the way to the Tulum Ruins. Make sure you have at least 3/4 of a tank of gas before you proceed past Tulum (last gas station) You will take the first left at a light after the ruins onto an unmarked but paved road. If you enter the town of Tulum on 307 you have past this turn off. The road comes to a T in about a kilometer and you take a right. The road will turn to dirt shortly as you pass views of the sea and numerous cabanas and small hotels. There are no more turns to make! You may be stopped at roaming army checkpoints; they are routine and nothing to be alarmed about. They are looking for weapons and drugs so don’t bring either! When you enter the preserve there is a large arch where you will be greeted by a ranger that will ask you to fill out a line in their guest book and perhaps ask you for a small donation to the preserve. Buy a T-shirt instead or chip in $5 to the cause! The road is graded every other year or so and it is in average shape but a rainy season can change things in a hurry. Go slow and look for potholes. When you reach the Boca Paila Bridge and you are about 2/5 the way there. Once you enter Punta Allen continue straight down the road, which will stay next to the ocean, you will see signs for Cuzan. (Usually the sand is soft in front of Cuzan and I get stuck) If you go to the end of the road you have gone 100 yards too far!!

Average Tips: $40-60 per day per boat (split if you are sharing the guide, give this directly to your guide at the end of your trip)- $10-15/day/person for the cooks and waitstaff – $2-5/day/person for housekeeping (Give both of these to the manager settling your tab at the end of the trip) $20 per way/per van for a van driver if applicable (may be different drivers each way)

Alcohol: There is a full bar on the grounds. A tab will automatically be run till your last day. Settle the tab and give tips on your last day