This deluxe jungle lodge represents the finest accommodations of any of southern Belize’s hard-core permit destinations, and has some of the best facilities for non-anglers and eco-tourists as well.
The southern region of Belize around the sleepy town of Punta Gorda remains relatively un-impacted by tourism. It’s just far enough away from Belize City and the resorts of Ambergris Cay in the north to remain largely unexplored, and, more importantly, its waters are seldom fished. The result is some of the best permit fishing in this small Caribbean country.
The lodge is located on the Rio Grande, a short boat ride down river to the nearly endless flats of Belize. Most anglers visit the lodge for the world-class permit fishing; however, the area around Copal Tree Lodge (formerly known as Belcampo) also has populations of bonefish, tarpon, and snook. The focus here is definitely on permit, but for those anglers wanting some variety there are opportunities close by for all of these major flats species.
Copal Tree Lodge maintains a top-shelf fishing program, while also offering perfect combinations for families and couples looking to combine an angling holiday with non-angling eco-tourism activities. The main lodge is spacious and inviting, and is perfectly complimented by the 12 luxury cabanas. Each cabana features air conditioning, a private bathroom, California king or two queen beds, and a large deck built out over the jungle canopy. In addition, the lodge features a spa, pool, mountain bikes, hiking trails, kayaks, and canoes.
For non-anglers, eco tours can easily be arranged including trips to nearby Indian villages, Mayan ruin excursions, guided outings on the Rio Grande, snorkeling, manatee watching, even cave tubing and more. In addition, there are some excellent on-site activities at the lodge, including biking, canoeing, bird watching, kayaking, nature hikes, chocolate-making, and touring the farms and gardens. The setting of the lodge and its surrounding grounds and vistas are beautiful, and the food, service, accommodations, and amenities rank among the best in Belize.
The fishing in and around Punta Gorda is focused almost completely on permit, though at Copal Tree Lodge there is some access to schools of bonefish, as well as juvenile tarpon and snook. Permit fishing is not for everyone, but for those anglers searching for one of the best regions on earth to hunt these finicky fish on the flats, there is nowhere better than southern Belize. Most fishing days in this area will result in seeing hundreds of permit in a day, sometimes in large schools and sometimes tailing as singles and pairs in very shallow water. A great day of permit fishing is usually experiencing a dozen or so legitimate shots a day. If you’re really lucky, you might even hook one of these extremely challenging fish!
There are hundreds of prime permit flats in the area around Punta Gorda, most less than thirty minutes from town. Belcampo is about a 15 minute boat ride downriver to Punta Gorda, making the closest flats about 20 minutes away and the furthest flats about 45 minutes away.
In addition to the great permit fishing, there are some great venues nearby for diversity of species including bonefish, tarpon, and snook. The outer reef islands (called the Sapodilla Cayes) offer reliable opportunities for bonefish, and can be well worth the longer boat ride (over an hour) to reach these shallow flats. Bonefish here average 2-3 pounds, while 4-5 pound bonefish are landed regularly. The river systems, including the Rio Grande itself upon which Copal Tree Lodge sits, offer additional opportunities to fish for snook, large jacks, and juvenile tarpon from 10-50 pounds. This jungle fishing can be a great diversion from the flats, and offers an outstanding “backup” option when big winds can pummel the open seas.
Anglers fishing with Copal Tree Lodge are catered to by the famous Garbutt brothers and their staff of experienced native Belizean guides, using comfortable 23′ super-pangas with casting decks and poling platforms. These boats are at home all up and down the Yucatan and Belize coastal waters. They are very comfortable in deep waters and just as at-home in shallow flats. The fishing at Copal Tree Lodge is usually a combination of poling the deeper flats and wading the shallower coral and turtle grass flats.
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