Welcome Aboard!
Here we will lay out any information you may need to ensure a great experience with Travel Creel on the East Cape of Baja, Ensenada Los Muertos, B.C.S. MX!
Here is information regarding your trip,
This information can also be found in the printable planner in the link below.
TRAVEL INFO
The lodge is located in La Ventana B.C.S., roughly 2.5 hours north of Cabo, and 1 hour east of La Paz. Both La Paz and Cabo have airports with regular flights. More direct flights are available through Cabo from the US. Depending on where you are traveling from, flying to La Paz often has a layover in Mexico City.
- La Paz airport code (LAP)
- San Jose Del Cabo airport code (SJD)
You will need to arrive between 12-3pm on your scheduled arrival day
Airport shuttle services will be arranged for you by Travel Creel.
If you chose to overnight in Cabo the shuttle will be arranged to pick you and others up from the airport on arrival day. If you have any questions about flights or getting to Baja, please reach out to us, we are happy to assist you in finding the best option for you! Please make sure to fill out the travel details form we sent once you have your flights booked.
Documentation
Travelers must have a valid passport that does not expire within 6 months of trip date, must have 2 blank unstamped pages, must not be damaged.
-U.S. Citizens traveling to Mexico for under 180 days are NOT REQUIRED to get a VISA.
NEW INFO!!!!!
- Regardless of your method of travel, you will need to fill out The Mexico FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple, also known as the Mexican Tourist Card)
Your airline may no longer supply the written version of this form. Mexican authorities require that you submit this form electronically.
-I have created an instructional document that contains this info and the link for filling out this form. This Google Doc can be found by clicking HERE.-
We highly recommend you also pre-register for your digital copy of the FMM, as you will submit the form using the instructions outlined in the previous link above, then upon arrival in Mexico, your Tourist Card will be generated. Some airports may ask foryour FMM/FMMD/FMME upon departure, and this account is where you will have a copy of this stored.
Please use this link to find a second Google Doc with the instructions for this account creation outlined for you.
PLEASE INFORM US OF ANY FOOD ALLERGIES OR RESTRICTIONS on your “client intake form” in order TO ENSURE THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.
Please email Samantha@travelcreel.com if you need to update yours already on file!
Arrival -
Dinner is served on arrival night around 6 pm. Once you arrive at the lodge, we will show you to your room. You can then freshen up, unpack a bit, settle in and hang out. Or tale a dip in the pool before you get yourself ready for the next morning.
The Fishing -
The lodge is located in La Ventana. Each morning after breakfast we will shuttle the group to the boat ramp in Ensenada Los Muertos, roughly a 20-30 minute drive. After breakfast we will load up and head to the ramp!
We will be fishing off of pangas with Juan Lucero and his team. Juan and his family have been guides in the area for a number of years and are regarded as some of the best in Mexico!
The boat ramp can be chaotic! Be sure to remember your guide assignment for the day. You will meet your guide, and load up you and your gear into his boat, which will then be backed into the water.. Then you’re off!
Each day will start with loading up on bait. Yes, we are fishing with fly rods! However live bait is often used to lure fish within casting distance. Guides also use teasers on spinning rods. Both of these methods are known to entice a frenzy, so be ready to cast quickly and strip your fly as fast as you can!
Bait is not included, please budget 25-50$ per day per person for bait.
The ride to the bait boats each morning may vary, depending on where the bait is. Bring a camera! There may be dolphins, manta rays, whales... the Sea of Cortez is full of surprises! Once to the bait boats, be prepared to pay for your bait in cash. You and your boat mate can hand your cash to the guide to make the purchase. Be sure to ask your guide how much bait you will need.
Now, your guide will bring you to the zone!
Roosterfish are the target, however there are many other species you may come across. Anything from wahoo, dorado, jacks, gouper and even tuna are regularly caught all over the East Cape. As the guide idles the motor down, get ready to fish! Being able to cast far and retrieve your fly with a 2 handed strip is crucial to your success.
Fishing each day will last until the wind kicks up or bait is gone in the afternoon.
Please practice your casting before you get to Baja!
Being able to throw a 10 wt all day is important to your success on the water. Being able to cast at a moments notice and strip your fly extremely fast will help you!
- Mexican Fishing License -
Please purchase your Mexican fishing license prior to the trip.
Head to this link, https://www.mexpermits.com/
The week option will cover you for the duration of our trip.
If you have questions or need assistance with this please let us know.
- Gear -
Gear, including flies, is your responsibility to bring. None will be provided for you.
-If you need help picking out gear for the trip, please reach out to Joshua@travelcreel.com-
Bring: 10 to 12 weight rods, with large arbor salt water reels, with the lines listed below and 250 yards of backing.
You will need to bring these 2 lines in a weight to match your rod:
-Tropical saltwater intermediate line
-Tropical outbound short sinking line
It is important to make sure you have the correct gear on hand, we are happy to assist you in finding anything you may need, just let us know!
Please see the bottom of our printable trip planner for our full gear list
We have collaborated with our friend at UM_A_MI FLY COMPANY to offer an exclusive collection of Roosterfish flies, approved by our head guide, Juan Lucero.
Click the link below and head to our special order form, before it’s too late!
Orders MUST be placed by April 1st, 2025 in order to be guaranteed for our East Cape trip.
Orders can be shipped to you or to TCH headquarters- where we will load your flies up to be waiting for you to arrive South of the border!
Travel Insurance
TCH Highly recommends travel insurance for all your adventures.
Please reach out to us if you need assistance choosing the right insurance for you.
- The Lodge/Food Program -
Travel Creel will be taking care of all of your meals!
The lodge is a 6 bedroom home right on the Sea of Cortez in the town of La Ventana. Enjoy a dip in the pool, hang out in the hammocks, chill on the patio or take a stroll on the beach. There is even a coffee shop in the front of the property… They have a killer affogato.
There are plenty of places to unwind around the property!
Travel Creel will be taking care of all of your meals and hospitality.
-Our private Chefs and crew are here for you-
Breakfast will be served each morning in the lodge, followed by a lunch packed for you to bring on the boat.
After you load up your lunch bag with snacks, we will hop into the shuttle vehicles to head to the boat ramp.
If you would like to bring beers or booze with you on the boat, it is a good idea to bring your own small, soft cooler along that you can load up each day.
Appetizers are usually served around 5:30 with dinners to follow.
Typical Day on the East Cape
4:30am - Grab a cup of joe and enjoy the ocean breeze or a wake up dip in the pool.
5:00am - Continental breakfast is served
5:30am - Grab your lunch-bag and load it with snacks for the day. Load up gear in the rigs and get ready to go.
5:40am - Wheels rolling. Its a 30 minute ride to the boat ramp in Bahia De Los Muertos
6:15am - Meet guides, launch boats and head out to buy bait. Then it’s time to fish
1:30pm - Head back to the boat ramp. Usually at this time the bait is all gone and hopefully you have pulled on enough fish to head in for the day.
2:00pm - Shuttles are ready to head out. We will take anyone to the lighthouse beach who want to walk and look for opportunities to catch fish in the waves. If you want to go spend the remainder of the day relaxing by the pool that can be arranged as well.
5:00pm - Appetizers will start flowing. Time for a tequila drink or a cold beer.
6:00pm- Dinner is served. Salads and Ceviche made from the daily catch often get us going. Followed by a family style meal and a sweet treat to top it off.
Take a stroll on the Beach as the sun sets.
You got a full belly, a tequila buzz and tomorrow you are gonna do it all over again.
- Departure -
We will be preparing a grab and go breakfast on the morning of departure. If you are planning on flying out of Cabo, please book your flight to depart after 12pm. If flying out of La Paz, please book your flight to depart before noon.
We will be arranging the shuttles again for departures. There is a group that arrives the day that yours departs, as such our check-out time is firm at no later than 11 a.m.
If you have made other arrangements for travel before or after the trip, please let us know prior to the trip. Your shuttle ride to either airport is included in the cost of the trip, if it fits within the timeframes set for arrivals and departures.
Shuttles outside those times are subject to availability and may require an additional charge.
- What is included? -
- 5 nights of accommodations
- 4 days of guided fishing
- All meals provided by your on-site Creel Chef Crew
- Airport shuttles
- Daily fishing shuttles to and from fishing
- What is not included -
- Airfare / Travel Expenses
- Booze (The first bottle of tequila is on us!)
- Terminal tackle and flies - Gear, Flies, and Terminal Tackle items are not provided, you will need to bring your own.
- Bait (Budget 25-50$ per person per day)
- Mexico fishing license
- Gratuity
*Gratuity is a personal decision based on the service that you have received.
It is customary to tip your guide at the end of each day of fishing and the lodge staff at the end of your stay. We will provide our Cashless Creel Crew gratuity links page on the morning of your departure that you can use to tip the lodge crew. Guides should be tipped in cash on site.*
Typical gratuity
(Cash to bring)
- Guide tips - $100-$150 per day, per boat (split with boat mate)
- Bait $25-$50 Per day, per boat (split with boat mate)
- Lodge staff tips - please budget $200-$250 per angler
(this is split amongst the TCH crew taking care of you, and the lodge maintenance and cleaning crews)
- Tips for airport shuttle drivers ($20 per person, per ride)
Other Cash to bring
- Each day when you get off of the water there is a restaurant at the boat ramp.
Not a bad place to have a margarita or shot of tequila!
- You may see a road side stand with a nice sombrero, or other trinkets... let us know if you want to make a stop on the way back to the lodge from fishing **pesos can come in handy for this** but most places will take US dollars, though bring small bills, as they may give change in pesos.
- Most places will take credit cards, but having some extra cash handy for beer/booze is not a bad idea.