First opened in June of 2006, “The Villages” has quickly become renowned as the best location and best all-around fishing program on Christmas Island.
Located on the white sand of Discovery Beach, The Villages overlooks the aqua-marine waters of the atoll’s vast lagoon. Its location puts it only a short 5 – 10 minute skiff ride to several expansive, easily waded flats teeming with bonefish.
“The Villages” features 8 air-conditioned double twin-bed bungalows plus 4 smaller single-occupancy cabins, comfortably accommodates up to 16 anglers at a time. There is a private bathroom in each unit and a porch facing Discovery Beach and lagoon. A “maneaba”, a local name for the community gathering center, lies in the heart of the complex, featuring a comfortable lounge and dining area.
There are two distinct advantages to fishing with The Villages. The first is that your boat meets you just a few steps from your bungalow. Anglers are transported to the fishing in versatile South Pacific style, sea-worthy skiffs to the many productive bonefish flats and to the reef drop-offs for exciting light tackle tunas, trevally, wahoo, rainbow runners and bonito. They have eliminated the use of pick-up trucks, except for a few choice, ocean-side and shoreline flats, so that anglers are able to maximize their valuable fishing time. Because of their ideal location and focus on boat transportation, guides and anglers fishing with The Villages are usually the first to the flats every day, and the last off, allowing for maximized fishing time.
As an added bonus, a few years back the guide team at The Villages decided to do something that had never been done on the island before. Rather than the typical two-anglers per guide that is found almost everywhere else in the world, The Villages now employs a distinct, one to one guide ratio, with every angling guest fishing with their own private guide, every day. This translates into more shots at bonefish, trevally, and the variety of other flats and reef fishes. All of the guides are experienced and knowledgeable in all types of fishing, and their incredible eyesight on the flats can often make the difference in how many good shots you have on any given day on the flats.
Rates
$3,590 USD pp (7 nights lodging & 6 days guided fishing (double occupancy)
Single Policy: If a person books as a single that person will automatically be booked into a single room and charged the additional single room rate of $490 based on a single room being available. If a person wants to guarantee a single room, the cost is $490 per person, per room, for the week.
If that single person finds a suitable roommate who wants to book and join him on the trip before final billing time, the single fee will be taken off his final billing. The $490 fee is for the single room only, and these anglers will share the regular single occupancy fishing and boating package with the rest of the group.
● There are no Non-Angling Packages at Christmas Island, “The Villages”
● There is a Commercial Flight via Fiji Airways between Honolulu and Christmas Island on Tuesdays only. Cost of the fight is approximately $1,400 and is not included in the lodge package rate.
● A fishing license is required for your week at Christmas Island, purchased upon arrival on the Island at a cost of approximately $50 per person for the week.
● In the case of a party coming for 2 weeks and paying for 2 weeks at the Villages, the fishing on Tuesday (change day) is not included in the price. If clients wish to fish that Tuesday, they will be charged the guide single guide rate of $100 per day and the boat cost of $250 per day.
● Chartering an extra skiff approximately $250 per day. This will always be based on availability and should be paid for directly while at the Villages.
Inclusions
● All ground/water transfers while on Christmas Island
● Accommodations at The Villages (double occupancy cabin)
● Daily guided fishing with a 1 to 1 angler to guide ratio (3 – 4 anglers per outboard-powered 35-foot skiff)
● Breakfast and dinner at the lodge
● Cooler lunch on the water with your guide
● Bottled water, juice, coffee, and tea
● All island taxes and GSTs
Non-Inclusions
● International flights to and from Christmas Island / Kiritimati Island Cassidy International Airport (CXI)
● Accommodations, Taxis, meals/beverages and activities while in Honolulu
● Alcohol, beer and sodas (spirits and wines may be purchased in Honolulu at the airport duty-free)
● Gratuities for the guides and lodge staff
● Christmas Island fishing license
● Laundry Services
● Wireless internet
● Credit cards are not accepted on Christmas Island.
Travel Insurance
The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses.
• Travel Insurance Information
Seasons at The Villages
The best time of year to fish Christmas Island is whenever you can be there!
Christmas Island is located about 1300 miles southwest of Hawaii and only 110 miles north of the Equator. It's proximity to the equator guarantees consistent conditions throughout the year, making it one of the few
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fishing destinations in the world that provides great opportunities nearly every day of the year.
There is no bad time of year to fish Christmas Island. Some of the most popular months are in the wintertime -- November through February -- when many other international destinations are cold and negatively impacted by winter weather conditions. This is also the most popular time to fish Christmas Island so make your reservations early.
Getting to The Villages
We have partnered with Ultimate Vacations to enhance your Christmas Island fishing adventure! Booking flights to this incredible destination is easier than ever, ensuring you have a seamless and unforgettable fishing experience. Ultimate Vacations specializes in flights to many destinations in the Pacific, including Christmas Island, and their expertise ensures easy planning and travel to this destination.
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There is a Commercial Flight via Fiji Airways between Honolulu and Christmas Island on Tuesdays only. Cost of the fight is approximately $1,400 and is not included in the lodge package rate.
Your economy airfare includes:
Meal or Snack / Beverages
1 Carry-on bag up to 15 lbs.
1 Checked bag x 30kg = 66 lbs.
Changeable ticket with a fee
International Travel Service & Ultimate Vacations
7192 Kalanianaole Hwy \ Suite A 143 A 302
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
Phone 808 949-8100 x 7 | 808 526-2611 x 7
For reservations email: Vanessa Vartanian
Passports and visas:
Passports are required, and must be valid for at least six months after your planned return date. Visas are not required of US citizens.
Medical Evacuation Insurance:
Medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for anglers headed to Christmas Island and the Villages. Christmas Island is extremely remote, located 1,300 southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii and medical services on the island are very limited. Evacuation insurance is a means of mitigating an emergency of illness and worth every cent. You can learn more about evacuation insurance options by clicking
Getting to Christmas Island (Kiritimati):
Travel to Honolulu:
Preceding your scheduled week at Christmas Island that runs from Tuesday to Tuesday (Hawaii Time)/Wednesday to Wednesday (Kiribati-Time), we recommend flying to Honolulu on Sunday or Monday and spending a night or two to give yourself plenty of rest and to allow for delays or lost baggage.
The Honolulu Airport Inn is convenient and located near the terminal. They also have a complimentary transfer van to get you to/from the airport. The hotel restaurant offers breakfast and dinner, and there are several other restaurants within walking distance. Another option is to take a cab into Waikiki for dinner. If you are considering an extended stay in Hawaii, there is a wide selection of hotels on Oahu, including some very nice resorts near Waikiki Beach. Again, Ultimate Vacations can assist with your hotel arrangements in Hawaii.
Arrival date: (Tuesday in the US/Wednesday in Kiribati):
You need to check in at the Fiji Airways counter at the International Terminal in the Honolulu Airport at least 2 hours before your departure to Christmas Island. Remember, Kiribati (pronounced “Kee-Ree-Boss”) is one day ahead of US time, so you’ll be arriving on Wednesday even though you are departing on Tuesday. The flight from Hawaii to Christmas Island takes just over 3 hours.
Arriving on Christmas Island, you’ll disembark the Fiji Airways plane, and clear customs. You will fill out a customs form, asking where you’ll be staying. Please enter “The Villages”.
In the terminal, there will be an officer from the Kiribati Minister of Fisheries, who will collect $50 for your fishing license.
Once you have cleared immigrations and customs and obtained your fishing license, please exit the terminal. Be sure to keep track of your luggage, making sure that it stays with you. You will be met by a representative from The Villages, who will assist guests and load their gear into the vehicles. The drive to the lodge takes approximately 45 minutes. If you would like to buy beer and soda for your stay, please ask the driver to stop by JMB’s Store. There are also some souvenir items available, and it’s an interesting cultural experience as JMB’s is the main store for the island.
Once at the lodge you will meet the head guide, discuss the fishing program and your stay at The Villages. You’ll have ample time to prepare your fishing gear before appetizers and dinner.
Departure date: Tuesday in the US – (Wednesday in Kiribati/Fiji)
The flight back to Hawaii departs early in the morning, arriving @ 10:30 AM. We recommend a minimum of 3 hours before your connecting flight back to the US. The lodge will set out a light continental breakfast and coffee to go.
Please be prepared to pay a $25 USD departure tax when departing Christmas Island.
Lodging at The Villages
Accommodations at The Villages are basic but comfortable, with beachside bungalows featuring air conditioning, hot water, refrigerators, and everything you need to enjoy your time in the South Pacific.
Located on the pristine white sand of Discovery Beach, The Villages is nestled among the palm trees overlooking the ever changing aqua colored
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waters of the atoll's lagoon. It is only a short 10-minute boat ride to several large shallow easily waded flats teeming with bonefish.
The Villages" features 8 air-conditioned double twin-bed bungalows plus 4 smaller single-occupancy cabins, comfortably accommodates up to 16 anglers at a time. The Villages feature eight air-conditioned double twin-bed bungalows, comfortably accommodating up to fourteen anglers at a time. There is a private bathroom with shower and hot/cold water in each unit and a porch with views of Discovery Beach and the lagoon. There is a refrigerator in the rooms and bottled water, sodas and beer are available from the bar. A "maneaba", a local name for the anglers gathering center, lies in the heart of the complex featuring a comfortable lounge and dining area, all with an elegant South Seas atmosphere. Locally flavored seafood and meats are prepared by an experienced local chef and served by his trained staff. If you require special dietary meals, please let us know in advance of your trip. The bar has liquor, beer and soft drinks that will be charged to your bill and your bar tab is payable at the end of your stay. You make and pack your lunch each day from the choices on a small sandwich buffet and it is put in the coolers assigned to your skiff.
With an ideal location on the pristine white sands of Discovery Beach, anglers need only walk a few steps from their cabana door right out to the water each morning to board their South Seas outrigger style boat and be transported to the interior flats. This is the only lodge on the island with this unique advantage. Many of the flats are reached 10 – 15 minutes after leaving the beach. This feature offers a longer day of fishing less time traveling to the fishing spots. First time anglers to the flats here will be astounded by the sheer vastness of them. Some extend for miles. Most of the flats are easily waded. In the 6 full days of fishing during your trip, you will only fish a small fraction of the fishable flats.
Voltage at the lodge is 110V. Some of the rooms have US-style plugs with 2 vertical blades, while the other rooms (5 – 8) also have 110V but the plugs are Australian style. The lodge tries to have enough adapters on hand, but guests have a tendency to accidentally pack them home, so it's not a bad idea to pack a small adapter if you have one (you will not need a converter).
Fishing at The Villages
The guides boast of the longest fishing times/day of any other lodge.
After an early breakfast anglers will gather their equipment and head to the beach. Guests prepare their own lunch and will order water, soft drinks or beer and all of it will be put into an ice chest and put on your boat. Lunches are taken on the water, to provide the maximum fishing
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time. Fishers return to the lodge at about 6:00 PM each day. Schedules vary some with weather, tides and fishing location.
The head guide will schedule the daily fishing, according to the tide, water, sun position and weather conditions. Each day anglers will leave from the beach in their assigned skiff with their guides and boatman. A short ride brings you to some of the best bonefish flats. Christmas Island offers the largest white coral and sand flats on Earth. You will always have your own personal guide to assist you on the flats. All of the bonefishing will be by wading and the flats will vary from 6 inches to 3 feet deep.
The guides will select flats according to the wind and sun position, whenever possible, in the anglers favor. The boatman stays in communication with the guides via marine radio and moves the skiff to follow the anglers and guides, so you'll be within easy walking distance from your skiff in the event that you want to get to your tackle, food, snacks or water, or move to the next flat.
Versatile South Pacific style skiffs are used to transfer anglers right from The Villages beach to the many productive bonefish flats and reef drop-offs. The pick-up trucks used by other lodges have been mostly eliminated here, except when specifically requested for a few select oceanside and shoreline flats, so anglers are able to maximize their valuable fishing time. When fishing the Korean Wreck waters or some other sites that can only be reached by using land vehicles, they will be used. The head guide will discuss these special areas when they are fishing well.
Normally the angler/boat ratio is 4 anglers per skiff. The number of anglers per skiff may vary based on even/odd numbers of anglers. There may be situations when there are 5 anglers on a skiff and there also may be situations where there are as few as 3. There should never be more than 5 per skiff. This will be decided by the head guide each day.
Christmas Island is one of the most prolific bonefish destinations on the planet! That's quite a statement, but it's supported by the experience of thousands of anglers each of whom have caught and released dozens of fish in a single day. Bonefishing here is done the way it should be - on foot. Fly fishers spend the entire day stalking albula vulpes (White Fox) usually on solid, white-bottomed flats that often stretch as far as the eye can see. It is exciting angling by any standards. Fishing off-shore for blue water fish such as dorado (mahi mahi), yellow-fin, wahoo and others is an option that is available at an additional cost.
You will fish when fishing is best, not when breakfast and dinner are scheduled to be served. Meals are served according to the fishing schedule. The shy, hard-working, natives are part of the cultural and fishing experience that makes Christmas Island special.
What Makes This Destination Special and Unique?
• Christmas Island is one of the most prolific bonefish destinations on the planet. The protected lagoon provides ideal habitat to provide unbelievable populations of bonefish. It is one of the few places in the world where anglers of any skill level can expect multiple shots at good numbers of bonefish, every day, 365 days a year.
• Fishing on Christmas Island is done the way it should be – on foot. This is the largest coral atoll in the world, and the lagoon is loaded with miles upon miles of fishable water, and there are additional miles of Oceanside reef flats as well. Fly fishers spend the entire day stalking bonefish (or other species) on solid, white-bottomed flats that often stretch as far as the eye can see.
• Christmas Island is one of the few destinations in the world that features consistent, reliable conditions and great fishing year round. Located a mere 120 miles north of the equator in a part of the Pacific Ocean that has never been hit by a hurricane, every month of the year provides consistent temperatures and weather conditions. There is no bad time of year to visit, and you can find great fishing whenever you have the time to go.
• In addition to the great bonefishing, there are many other exciting fish species you can target on Christmas Island. The atoll is home to several different species of Trevally, including the notorious Giant Trevally, beautiful and powerful Bluefin Trevally, and rare Golden Trevally. Tailing triggerfish have become a favorite target species for many Christmas Island regulars. Add in sweetlips, milkfish, parrotfish, goatfish, snapper, and offshore species such as tuna and wahoo, and the opportunities abound to put a bend on the end of your rod with many different beautiful, hard-fighting fish.
• The Villages in particular has what many believe to be the most convenient location for fishing on the entire island. They are the only lodge located on a beach right on the lagoon, and the only lodge where guests can literally walk right out the front door of their bungalow and onto the boats to start fishing. With this distinct advantage, anglers fishing with the Villages have shorter times to the flats and are usually the first to the flats every day, and the last off, allowing for maximized fishing time.
• The Villages feature a 1:1 guide to angler ratio, so everyone fishing with the Villages has their own private guide, every day. These experienced local guides are a huge asset to have at your shoulder throughout the day, with eyes that can spot fish from a long ways out, as well as holding an extra rod so you can be prepared to cast for a big GT should one push up on the flats while you’re stalking bonefish. With this extra help, you’ll see more fish, and catch more fish.
Additional Photos
