Never Fished? Only Going to Take One Fishing Trip in Your Life? Consider Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala
We’ve been to Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala four times, and have trip number five scheduled for later this year. On our trips we’ve met all sorts of friendly people. Some of them have been world-class billfish anglers, enjoying the globe’s best sailfishing or tuning up for their tournament seasons.
On the other hand, plenty have been rank beginners – and they end up having the trip of a lifetime, too.
If you’ve always wanted to go fishing somewhere, as a guys’ trip, or a corporate adventure, or a family get-together, it can be intimidating to figure out where to go. There are tons of choices out there, and even if you make the right one, you don’t want to look like a total goober when you get there, unaware of what to do and likely to make mistakes. You also don’t want to have to buy a bunch of gear that you may never use again. Finally, you want some reasonable assurance of putting fish in the boat.
That’s why when fish-curious people ask me about a way to dip their toes into an angling adventure, Casa Vieja Lodge is often the first suggestion I offer up. Here are some of the many things it has going for it.
Easy Travel – If you want “exotic” but your crew is time-limited, then even if a remote part of Africa or Australia beckons, it may not be feasible. Guatemala City is just a short, direct flight from numerous US cities. It likely won’t take you more than two jumps to get there – and once you’re there, they pick you up at any time, place you in a Mercedes Sprinter van, and you’re “home” in about 90 minutes.
Bragging Rights and Trophy Fish – I love catching just about any fish, from bluegills on up, but if you really want to impress your friends at home, there’s nothing like a beautiful sailfish to get it done. They’re big, they light up with colors and they jump repeatedly. If you need a replica to put behind your office desk or over the fireplace, it’s hard to beat a sail. And while there are no guarantees any time you’re fishing, check out the daily fishing reports and you’ll see that in three days of fishing at Casa Vieja you’re pretty likely to punch your ticket. There are other species like mahi, roosterfish, marlin and tuna, too, but pez vela is the main draw.
Five-Star Service – Some of you are more experienced and less picky travelers than others, but if you – or anyone in your group – appreciate or demand luxury travel and amenities, this will check that box, too. The food and drink are exceptional, the rooms are worthy of a first-class resort. If this doesn’t live up to someone’s standards, they’re probably a pain in the butt in all regards – not someone you want to join on vacation.
You Don’t Need Any Gear – Part of the hassle of trying a new kind of fishing, or any kind of fishing, for the first time is the daunting prospect of getting the right gear. You can spend a ton of time and money and still not have the proper equipment to get the job done. That’s not a problem at CVL. They have everything you need, from conventional gear to fly rods and flies. It’s all the best of the best, and I’ve watched their maintenance program in action. It's beyond impressive. You don’t have to buy a thing and you can be assured you’ll have exactly what you need. You don’t even need much clothing – they do laundry every day. It’s possible to go with just the clothes on your back and a carry-on, although we never do that.
The Captains and Mates Are Fantastic Teachers – If you just want to reel in hooked sailfish, you can do that and have a fantastic trip. After a few, however, if you want to learn the “bait and switch” technique and become more intimately involved in the process, the captains and mates are willing teachers. I’ll warn you now – you’re never going to be as successful as them, but that’s ok. Your trip is what you want it to be.
Other Things to Do – As noted above, the lodge is exceptionally resort-like. There’s an expansive gathering area in the shade at the bar, as well as a pool where you’ll be served appetizers and libations. Those couple of afternoon hours before dinner can be a lot of fun. If you want to extend your trip, however, we can help you do that in places like Antigua or Lake Atitlan. You can tour coffee plantations, hike volcanoes, go paddleboarding, and relax amongst some amazing scenery. So if it’s not all about fishing for your group, that’s ok, too.
I recognize that a trip to Guatemala is not within everyone’s budget, but for what it is, it is a tremendous value. You’d be hard-pressed to book a billfishing trip in the United States for less, and your overall numbers would likely be worse (with the possibility of a longer or bumpier boat ride, too).
Our first trip to Casa Vieja was with my nearly 80 year old parents, who are decidedly non-outdoorsy, non-anglers. They’re experienced travelers, but also picky travelers. It turned out to be the perfect choice for them – they’ll likely never go on another fishing trip, but they still speak about it regularly and fondly. My brother, also a non-angler, has been to El Salto with us (with his best friend from childhood) and they whacked on some largemouths, but when it can time for him to put together a diverse set of friends from business school for a trip, I pushed them towards Casa Vieja. We’ll get their feedback after they travel with us in November.
