Ascension Bay Lodge

Lodging Details
Opened in 2015 and remodeled during the summer of 2020, Ascension Bay Lodge is a nicely-appointed six-bedroom house on the Punta Allen beachfront. The spacious, air-conditioned guest rooms, private dining room, deck setting, and beachfront access comprise the perfect low-key home base for a saltwater trip. Ascension Bay Lodge hosts a maximum of twelve (12) anglers at a time, making the lodge the perfect spot for pairs and groups. Each guest room has two full-size beds, a full bath, a dresser, and a desk with chairs. The rooms have “American style” electrical connections and Wi-Fi internet access. Four of the guest rooms are located upstairs in the main lodge, one guestroom is located downstairs in the main lodge and there is one guest room upstairs in the back annex of the lodge. The bar and dining room are downstairs in the main lodge. The whole lodge is set back about 50 yards from the beach and has an unobstructed view and anytime access to the beach and water.

Food and Beverages
The in-house cooks prepare delicious Mayan-inspired cuisine that is usually enjoyed in the private dining room. You can be sure that the beer is always ice cold and that the fresh-squeezed margaritas are top-notch here as well.

Breakfast is served a la carte, served between 6:30 and 7:30 am in the dining room. The menu includes traditional breakfast fare as well as Mexican specialties and lighter options like fruit, yogurt, and granola. They serve high-quality fresh brewed coffee and an assortment of juices.

A box lunch is sent out with the cooler on the boat and can be enjoyed on the flats. The lunch includes a sandwich, chips, fruit, and something sweet. Each day of the week the lodge prepares a different type of sandwich on either whole wheat sandwich bread or Mexican bolio rolls. The coolers are typically packed with ice-cold sodas, purified water, and four beers.

Dinner service begins at 7 pm. Ascension Bay Lodge serves three courses that include a salad or soup course, the main entrée, and a dessert. The chef prepares a different specialty each evening but can make substitutions based on dietary preference. House wine is served with dinner.

Typical Length of Stay
Ascension Bay Lodge offers a variety of great customized packages. Give us a call and we’ll find the perfect one for you!

Non-Angling Activities and Options
While Ascension Bay Lodge is primarily a fishing-focused destination, non-angling guests have quick access to a variety of activities including bird watching, snorkeling, exploring Mayan ruins, beachcombing, and just plain relaxing. The lodge is located in one of the world’s largest protected wild areas, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. This pristine World Heritage Site covers over 1.3 million acres and is home to over 325 species of birds, 4 different types of marine turtles (Loggerheads, Green Sea Turtles, Hawksbills, and Leatherbacks), and fish species too numerous to name. You may also walk down the beach to Punta Allen, which offers minimal retail opportunities.

Internet / Communications
Wi-Fi is available for guests via your own device. Cell phone service is not available. Satellite phones are available for a modest fee.

How To Get There
All guests should book flights to Cancun International Airport (CUN). From there, you will be met by an by air-conditioned vehicle and transferred by van and then by boat through Boca Palla Lagoon to the lodge.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
It is very important to arrive in Cancun BEFORE 2:00 PM and set up your departure flights home for AFTER 2:00 PM. in order to coordinate with the transfers between the airport and the lodge. If you miss your transfer you may have to pay for a private transfer or stay overnight in Cancun. 

Upon arrival in Cancun, a representative from NAST transfer service will be waiting just outside the airport doors to greet you and direct you to your shuttle. The shuttle will take you between 2 1/2 – 3 hours south to the Boca Paila bridge boat landing, just south of Tulum, Mexico. The Lodge boats will be there to meet you at the landing and take you the rest of the way to the lodge in Punta Allen. In case of later arrivals or bad weather, we may make the call to cancel the boat transfer and have guests brought to the lodge entirely by shuttle van. The drive from the Boca Paila bridge to the lodge is between 1-2 hours depending on road conditions.

The included transfer is a ‘van / boat’ combo to and from the lodge and is certainly the most timely and convenient. A ‘van only’ transfer to and from the lodge can be arranged for a reduced package cost. Please contact Yellow Dog for details.

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within six months of trip dates. No visas or vaccinations are required for U.S. citizens. A Mexican departure tax is payable at the airport. Some airlines include this as a prepaid part of your ticket.

Minors Traveling Without Both Parents
All children 18 years of age or younger accompanied by only one parent or legal guardian must have a NOTARIZED letter of consent from the other parent stating the child/children have his/her permission to travel. Single parents need NOTARIZED documentation of divorce or a spousal death certificate. Unaccompanied Minors require a NOTARIZED letter of consent signed by both parents.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Travel Tools
- Travel Insurance
- Moon Phases
- Airline Ticketing
- Rent This Rod
- Global Rescue Membership

General Information
At Ascension Bay Lodge, they put two trained captains in each boat – meaning both guides can pole, run the boat, and have worked as guides themselves for many years. This dynamic provides anglers with some of the most focused guide service anywhere in the Caribbean!

The pristine waters of Ascension Bay provide the ideal habitat for a wide variety of sea life, including diverse game fish in the vast estuary, flats system, and adjacent reef. It has been said that this part of the Caribbean boasts the world’s largest population of permit.

Ascension Bay is also loaded with large schools of bonefish that provide consistent action all year long. It is also home to one of the world’s most diverse selections of game fish. When conditions are right, an angler can cast to bonefish, tarpon, snook, permit, jacks, barracuda, cubera snapper, mutton snapper, sharks, and several different reef species in a single week of fishing.

The “typical” conditions that one encounters when fly fishing the Ascension Bay area are as close to perfect as a saltwater angler can hope for. Bright sun, white sand flats, and crystal clear water create outstanding conditions for sighting and stalking fish. Even when the wind is blowing hard, the guides can usually find a lee in the mangrove-lined lagoons, which offer easier conditions for fly casting. Whether wading the warm sandy flats or fishing from the boat, Ascension Bay is an ideal destination for the saltwater angler.

Boats and Equipment
Classic 23-foot Mexican pangas provide comfortable water transport – particularly in strong winds and rough seas – and a stable casting platform for fly fishing. These pangas are easy to pole through shallow water and for decades have served the region’s fishermen and guides.

Yellow Dog will provide you with a complete gear and equipment list prior to your departure. The lodge does have a small retail area where you can purchase flies, leaders, tippet, sunscreen, and other items that you may need for the day.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. The rates below are per person, based on double occupancy, and quoted in US Dollars. The lodge operates on a Sat-Sat week-long schedule. Shorter stays can be accommodated based on availability as long as you either arrive or depart on a Saturday. The lodge does have a 4-night minimum stay.

2023/2024 Rates
Double Occupancy Rates (Shared Room and Boat)

• 7 Nights / 6 Days of Fishing = $4,125.00
• 6 Nights / 5 Days of Fishing = $3,550.00
• 5 Nights / 4 Days of Fishing = $2,975.00
• 4 Nights / 3 Days of Fishing = $2,400.00

Single Occupancy Rates (Single Room and Boat)

• 7 Nights / 6 Days of Fishing = $7,200.00
• 6 Nights / 5 Days of Fishing = $6,200.00
• 5 Nights / 4 Days of Fishing = $5,200.00
• 4 Nights / 3 Days of Fishing = $4,200.00

What’s Included:

• All accommodations at Ascension Bay Lodge
• All guided fishing as specified in your package
• Ground and Van transfers to and from Cancun
• Three-course dinner and breakfast to order at the lodge
• Cooler lunch on the water with your guide
• All bottled water, breakfast juices, and coffee
• Mexican fishing license
• All applicable Mexican VAT taxes
• Some loaner equipment onsite (must be reserved in advance)

What’s Not Included:

• International flights to and from Cancun
• Gratuities for guides, lodge staff, and transfer drivers
• All flies, equipment, and terminal tackle
• Laundry and special services

Ascension Bay Lodge (Punta Allen – Yucatan Peninsula)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking for all trip packages and reservations, and final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. All trip cancellations must be received in writing, sent to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, LLC. For cancellations outside of 60 from the start of trip, a refund or trip credit will be given minus 10% of the package cost charged by the lodge plus a $100.00 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee. Cancellations inside of 60 days to 30 days from the start of the trip can be refunded or credited minus 50% of the package cost charged by the lodge plus a $100.00 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee. For cancellations inside of 30 days from arrival date, deposits and final payments will be forfeited. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be sent minus a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog Flyfishing. Under the threat of a hurricane, Ascension Bay will evacuate the lodge or cancel trips if needed, and refunds will not be granted. For this reason, Ascension Bay Lodge and Yellow Dog Flyfishing strongly recommend that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for your trip. Ascension Bay Lodge will not refund payments in the event of a hurricane or poor weather. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

“This was our first experience fly fishing the saltwater, and we could not have made a better choice booking with Ascension Bay Lodge. The people were great, the lodge was amazing, and the food was incredible. Our guides made each day of fishing a new adventure and went above and beyond to make sure our first saltwater trip was one we’d never forget.” – Jacob P.

“It was awesome service, fishing, and location. Ascension Bay Lodge is set up for a person from any walk of life to have a great time. Everyone is treated the same whether you are 14 years old or 70 years old. A plumber or company executive is on the same level, all for the love of fishing.” – Roland R.

“A true saltwater fishing experience. Ascension Bay Lodge embodies a strong sense of community, which we as anglers often search for in fly fishing. Daniel and the staff are welcoming and make you feel part of the ABL family from the moment you hop off the Panga. The guides are highly skilled. The passion they have for fly fishing is reflected in the effort they put in and their excitement for each client’s success on the water. The lodge, set in a welcoming remote fishing village, has a new edition, and the rooms are renovated. Within an incredible fishery, ABL provides anglers with an amazing experience through top-notch accommodations, cuisine, welcoming staff, and skilled guides.” – Katie B.

“Daniel and his team do an amazing job of making you feel welcome and at home in the lodge. He set up an “on the fly” trip to the flats the day we arrived in the afternoon which worked well to acclimate and loosen up. The food was fantastic, the staff went above and beyond and the guides know their stuff. Daniel’s knowledge of Port Allen, Mexico, and fishing, in general, was more than adequate for inquisitive minds…his taste in music is pretty spot-on as well. Practice your dart skills for apres-fish cricket and prepare yourself to have the trip of a lifetime.” – Jim K.