The Fly Shop800·669·3474

Round trip airport (BZE) transfers in Belize, accommodations, air conditioning in rooms, hair dryers, toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, lotion & soap), daily housekeeping, all meals – including a box lunch, soda & drinking water, guided fishing, skiff & fuel, Belize Taxes of 9% Hotel Tax & 12.5% GST tax.

Airfare to & from Belize, fishing equipment & tackle, Belize Fishing License (US$25.00 per angler, per week & can be purchased at BRL), alcoholic beverages, tips to guides and staff, Belize Departure Tax (approximately US$55.50 per person – included in ticket or paid at Airport)

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

Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Miami.

Upon your arrival in Belize you will go through immigrations. A valid passport is required to enter Belize. After picking up your luggage, you will clear customs; after which you will be met directly outside the airport exit by a member of the Belize River Lodge staff.

After loading your luggage into the lodge vehicle, you will make the short two mile drive to the Belize River Lodge boat dock. You and your luggage will then be loaded onto a skiff, and taken across the Belize River to the Lodge. Upon arriving at the Lodge, you will usually be met by Mike or Marguerite, your hosts. You will be offered a cool, refreshing beverage (The Lodge is known for its limeade), checked in, and given room assignments and fishing itineraries; after which you can retire to your room to settle in and unpack. This is a good time to start setting up your fishing equipment.

If you are arriving early (or departing late), you can often arrange either an additional 1/2 day fishing or a 1/2 day tour to the nearby Belize Zoo or Altun Ha Maya Site.

If you are scheduled for Long Caye Outpost, your itinerary may vary depending on arrival times. If you arrive late in the day, you will often stay the first night at the main lodge. The next morning, you will head out with your guide to start fishing, and a second boat will transport your luggage and gear to the lodge, where you will end your day. If your arriving flight is early in the day, you will often be able to arrange a partial day of fishing upon arrival, and end at Long Cay Outpost the first evening after a half day of fishing.

surrounded by lush tropical gardens, well-manicured lawns, with air orchids hanging from the ancient Mahogany trees interspersed among the buildings. The setting at the lodge is truly beautiful, like something out of a Tarzan Movie. It's not uncommon to hear clans of howler monkeys deep in the jungle calling to one another. Or see Iguanas roaming the lodge grounds munching on the vegetation.

Belize River Lodge is a fly fishers dream. Because of its unique location, the lodge can fish numerous inland jungle rivers, creeks, and lagoons for snook and tarpon as well as venturing outside to the saltwater. Within the confines of the second largest barrier reef in the world are vast living flats, harboring healthy populations of tarpon, bonefish, and permit. If you want a variety of fishing opportunities, don't look any further than BRL, it offers the best of both worlds. Anglers are fished two to a 23' fiberglass skiff, and are accompanied by hard working seasoned guides.

The Belize River Lodge, previously known as Barothy's Lodge Ltd., was the first of three fishing lodges built in Belize. In the early 1960's, Vic Barothy came to Belize from Cuba, fleeing the late 50's situation there. In Belize, he located the ideal settings for three different fishing lodges; one on the southern end of Turneffe Atoll, one on Spanish Creek about thirty miles inland and one about four miles up the Belize Olde River, which is the present day Belize River Lodge. After operating these three Lodges for a few years, he decided logistically that the four mile river site was best suited for a wide variety of fishing opportunities and the ideal lodging in Belize. This setting allowed easy access to a few different rivers, several creeks, and also very easy access to the flats, mangrove cayes and the Barrier Reef. Since Barothy's days, Mike and Marguerite have continued the fishing and also added eco-tours to many inland wonders.

The Lodge was built amongst the palm, coconut, mahogany, logwood and mango trees, in a genuine jungle setting. Many native trees were left in place around the Lodge for atmosphere and shade. Mahogany was the wood used for building this fishing Lodge. Today, Belize River Lodge still rests quietly on the banks of the Belize Olde River, amidst the lush green tropical setting. Balmy breezes, rich with bird song, drift among the private mahogany cottages.

The "Guest House" is a two story mahogany building. It contains four rooms, each with two single beds, private hot and cold showers, ceiling fans, a/c and screened verandas overlooking the Belize Old River.

The "Cottage" is set up for two groups of two or for a family of four. Each room has separate hot and cold showers, ceiling fans, a/c and two single beds. Both are separated by a connecting door and share an open veranda. One of the cottage rooms has a cozy sitting area.

The "Bungalow" has two rooms, each with a queen and a double bed, private hot and cold shower, ceiling fan, a/c, and a large screened veranda, which allows the tropical trade winds to blow through. All of the Lodge rooms are air conditioned and decorated with a tropical Belizean ambience. When you return from fishing, fresh purified water and ice will be ready in your room, and your bed will be turned down for you during dinner. BRL's accommodations offer excellent service with an old world charm.

The main Lodge houses the kitchen, office, Mags' gift shop, Mike's fishing closet, the dining room, lounge area, screened in porch & self service bar. From the Belize River Lodge's kitchen comes an excellent combination of the best Belizean, Creole and American cuisine. The Lodge cooks use the freshest and finest ingredients (even coconuts off the trees in the front yard), and along with some of Mags' old family recipes, create some of the most memorable tasty meals, which will have you asking for a few of her recipes. Remember, save room for coffee or tea and dessert!

The dining room's claim to fame are the three solid slab mahogany tables, where you can find some of the finest dining and socializing in Belize. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere, and tell a couple of stories yourself. After dinner, you can retire to the lounge or the porch for an after dinner refreshment. Located within this area is our self-service bar and the fly tying table.

Because of the beautiful scenery, cleanliness of the lodge, tasty food and the diversity of the activities offered, Belize River Lodge is one of the best places to stay in Belize!

Long Caye Outpost Lodge is an idyllic angling outpost perfectly situated in the heart of the absolute best flats in Belize. The rustic lodge is perfect for small groups who want a more intimate setting out in the cayes. The outpost lodge features three double occupancy bedrooms, each with two twin beds, and is ideal for groups of 4-6 anglers. There is a shared bath for all (with hot and cold water). There is no air conditioning here, but it is almost never necessary as the fresh breeze blowing off the sea -- combined with ceiling fans in every room -- keeps the building comfortably cool. The main building has a full verandah overlooking the beach and sea, and some of the best views in Belize.

At the main Lodge, BRL is very well known for their Belizean hospitality and their delicious Belizean Creole cuisine. The same wonderful BRL cooks will be preparing your meals at Long Caye, so expect hearty meals.

BRL; it offers the best of both worlds.

The flats, channels, cayes, reef, mangrove islands and channels, Belize River, Sibun River, Manatee River, Black Creek, and several other creeks and lagoons in between are the areas fished from the lodge in a normal week's fishing. This represents a very alrge area with a great variety of fishing conditions, fish species, and scenery. Visual Saltwater Grand Slams and Back Country Grand Slams occur almost every day of the year, while actually landing a slam will depend on each angler's skill, the fish, and more than a little luck!

Many species of birds and other wildlife such as manatees, howler monkeys, iguanas, turtles, and occasionally crocodiles may be seen while fishing from the Lodge. Fishing is from 23' Pangas, the best boats for the various waters of Belize. There are typically two anglers to a skiff, with an English speaking, licensed and experienced guides. BRL guides have long been recognized as the hardest-working guides in Belize.

The coast of Belize is a complex system of river mouths, creeks, lagoons, flats, small cayes, mangrove islands, and the Barrier Reef. The ecosystem that exists here supports millions of crabs, shrimp, bait fish, and other aquatic life, which is why there is an abundance of game fish. Central Belize, where BRL is located, is a year round fishery offering both saltwater fishing and river fishing.

Typical Fishing Day:
Of course, if you have special requests for your fishing, just discuss it with Mike or the guide the day before.

6:00 am - Coffee or Tea on the lodge verandah, conversation, check tackle and equipment. If you are a birder, this is a great time to get out your binoculars and enjoy BRL's many wild tropical birds.

7:00 am - Breakfast, then back to your room, grab your gear, and go to the dock where you will meet your awaiting guide.

7:30 am - Guides are ready on skiffs at the dock, a few minutes for guides to check your tackle (especially if guests are changing guides daily). Then you and your guide can determine where and what to fish for that day based on weather and target species. Your BRL guide will help you tie or select the right leaders, lines, shock tippets and flies for the areas you are concentrating on for that day. Note that your first morning will take a few minutes longer for initial set up of equipment.

7:30 - 8:00 am - Leave dock for fishing areas - can be flats, reef, mangroves, creeks, lagoons or river; usually a half hour to 40 minutes running time (as close as 20 minutes away). Most of the day is spent hunting or casting to fish, checking out many different places, such as flats, channels, mangrove shorelines, etc. The guides will usually pole or paddle during fishing most of the day with each angler taking turns on the bow, if there are two anglers to the boat. It is mostly sight fishing: casting to tailing, rolling or cruising fish or casting to fish held up under the mangroves or casting to mudding spots. There will be some blind casting to areas that guides know hold fish. The guide will motor to other areas during the day always with wind, tide, light and species in mind.

Sometime about midday, depending on fishing, the guide will find a cool, shady spot for lunch (usually under an overhanging mangrove). Lunch is prepared by the Lodge staff and consists of a delicious boxed meal of sandwiches, fruit, chips and dessert and is packed in a cooler with an assortment of soft drinks, beer, water, etc. Many anglers catch a power nap at this time and then plan for the afternoon. The afternoon fishing continues and the skiff heads for the Lodge, getting back around 5:00 to 5:30 pm. All boats should be back in the river before dusk. Rods and reels are rinsed at the dockside and stored in a convenient rack near the main Lodge, safe from screen doors and ceiling fans.

After a shower; drinks, appetizers and fishing stories are shared on the verandah. At 7:00 pm a delicious family style dinner is served and after dinner, relax on the screened-in porch, enjoy an after dinner cocktail and reminisce on the day's fishing. Maybe even find out what the hot lure or fly of the day was and learn to tie it yourself at the fly tying table.

Note:
If you enjoy snorkeling, bring your equipment with you, and take an hour or so out of your fishing day and snorkel if you are near the reef. Let your guide know in the morning that you would like to snorkel, so he can plan it into your day.

Guests staying at BRL's Long Caye Outpost Lodge will spend long days fishing some of the best waters in all of Belize. Tarpon and snook are routinely found on the back side of the island, less than 5 minutes away. Some of the best permit and bonefish flats are out front and just a cast away. The Long Caye Channel and Miami Beach Flat are known for large resident and migratory tarpon. The days on the Cay can start as early as you want, and you can fish as late as you want. Be prepared for long days, full of hot fly fishing action!