Patagonia Chile — Freshwater Progression Week
A week immersed in wild rivers and vast southern landscapes, where the focus shifts to reading water, refining presentation, and building patience and precision in freshwater systems. This experience is designed as a key step in the MBA Progressive Path, offering anglers the space, mentorship, and rhythm needed to deepen technique, sharpen awareness, and reconnect with the essential flow of fly fishing.
Your journey begins with a flight into the Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) — the gateway to Mexico’s Pacific Coast. From there, Punta de Mita lies just 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) northwest, a scenic one-hour drivealong coastal highways and jungle landscapes.
Private transfers, taxis, and car services are readily available, making the trip as easy as it is beautiful.
Upon arrival, guests settle into a boutique beachfront hotel, located just steps from the water and the pick-up point for each fishing day. The setting captures the essence of Punta de Mita — laid-back luxury, ocean energy, and authentic coastal charm.
Each morning begins early, around 6:00 a.m., with a hearty breakfast overlooking the Pacific and the preparation of a fresh lunch for the day.
Fishermen are then transferred to the Punta de Mita Marina, where boats await, equipped and ready for adventure. The first action of the morning focuses on catching live bait, the key to attracting the powerful pelagic species that roam these waters.
The morning unfolds in the inshore shallows, roughly nine miles off the coast, where anglers target a dynamic range of species — roosterfish, jack crevalle, bigeye jack, blue jack, Spanish mackerel, needlefish, and others that test both skill and patience.
By midday, the boats head farther offshore, into the deep blue — 12 to 20 miles out, where the ocean’s true power reveals itself. Here, the pursuit shifts to yellowfin tuna, wahoo, amberjack, groupers, and marlin (blue, striped, and black).
It’s an environment defined by movement and adrenaline, where each strike brings raw excitement and pure connection to the Pacific’s rhythm.
As the afternoon light softens, boats return toward the coast, offering breathtaking views of Banderas Bay and the Nayarit shoreline. Back at the marina, the day closes with a well-earned seafood feast — often featuring the day’s own catch — accompanied by cold drinks and stories shared among friends.
Evenings are yours to enjoy. Watch the sun sink below the horizon with a cold cerveza, walk the beach, or explore Punta de Mita’s vibrant culinary scene, where fresh shrimp, lobster, oysters, mussels, tuna, and dorado define a menu that rivals any coastal destination in the world.
For those seeking more than a day on the water, Punta de Mita offers a range of coastal adventures — from whale watching tours during migration season, to excursions around the Marietas Islands Nature Reserve, and even surfing lessons for beginners on the gentle waves of the bay.
Each experience complements the fishing journey, blending nature, comfort, and discovery into a seamless rhythm that defines the Pacific chapter of Mexican Bonefish Academy.
Your journey begins at Campeche International Airport, where our staff welcomes you upon arrival. A comfortable transfer takes you to the Historic Center of Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage treasure filled with charm and colonial architecture.
You’ll stay in a beautifully restored colonial-style house, offering privacy, comfort, and proximity to the colorful streets, cafés, and cultural heart of the city.
Each day starts early with a fresh, local breakfast — tropical fruits, artisanal bread, and rich coffee from the Yucatán highlands.
After breakfast, guests are transferred to the boat ramp, where the skiffs are ready.
From there, the adventure begins: exploring the shallow coastline and mangrove systems of Campeche Bay, Celestún Natural Reserve or the Progreso coast, home to countless opportunities to sight-fish for juvenile and Migratory tarpon and other coastal species.
Every morning feels new — guided by light, tide, and the instinct of the guides who know these waters intimately.
Around midday, your guide anchors in a quiet corner of the bay for a picnic-style lunch prepared that morning. Some days it’s a hidden beach; others, a mangrove lagoon — always chosen for beauty, tranquility, and connection to nature.
After lunch, fishing continues into the early afternoon, chasing the last light before heading back to port.
By late afternoon, you’ll return to the dock and back to the lodge, where the staff welcomes you with refreshments and time to unwind.
Evenings are relaxed — a chance to review the day’s catches, share stories, and enjoy traditional Yucatecan dinnersprepared with local ingredients.
Guests also have the option to explore the city’s vibrant culinary scene, dining at one of the many excellent restaurants in the historic center, where seafood, Mayan spices, and colonial ambiance create unforgettable meals.
Six Days of DiscoveryThe six-day, five-night program flows naturally — combining adventure, learning, and comfort.
From sunrise on the flats to evenings under colonial lanterns, every moment reflects the essence of Mexican Bonefish Academy: to fish, learn, and share.
Your journey begins on Friday, when guests arrive in Cancún, where our coordination team is available to assist with transfers and overnight logistics if needed.
On Saturday morning, guests board a private charter flight to the island — a short yet unforgettable journey over turquoise shallows and winding mangroves marking the entrance to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Upon landing, the Casa Blanca Lodge team welcomes each guest personally.
Because the arrival is early, there’s time to prepare gear, organize tackle, and get acquainted with the surroundings. The afternoon invites a walk along the dock, introductions with the guides, and a personal orientation on fishing grounds, safety, and local conditions.
As the sun sets, a welcome dinner by the sea sets the tone for the days ahead — relaxed, elegant, and full of anticipation.
From Sunday through Friday, each day follows the rhythm of light, tide, and discovery — a natural balance between exploration and the quiet satisfaction of learning through experience.
Breakfast is served at 6:00 a.m., featuring a rotating buffet of local and international options. Guests build their own lunch boxes, choosing from daily selections such as ceviche, grilled chicken, pasta salads, tropical fruit, and fresh pastries.
After breakfast, skiffs depart from the dock, heading toward the vast flats, lagoons, and mangrove channels that make Ascension Bay one of the most diverse and exciting fly-fishing destinations in the world.
Lunch is enjoyed in nature — often on a secluded cay or shaded lagoon, where wind and water provide the soundtrack. By 4:30 p.m., skiffs return to the lodge, where the staff welcomes everyone with a refreshing drink at the pier. Around 5:30 p.m., light appetizers are served as guests relax, clean tackle, and share stories while the sun melts into the Caribbean horizon.
At 7:00 p.m., dinner gathers everyone together once more.
The chef presents a refined menu inspired by regional flavors and coastal traditions, paired with international touches.
During the meal, guides and anglers review the day’s highlights and plan for the next, guided by tides, wind, and curiosity.
Evenings often continue on the terrace or dock — conversations flowing easily, framed by the sounds of the sea.
By Friday evening, the experience culminates with a celebratory dinner and toast — honoring the friendships, moments, and milestones shared throughout the week.
On Saturday morning, guests return by private charter to Cancún, carrying memories of the flats, the fish, and the feeling of belonging to something timeless.
Learning. Evolving. Experiencing.
At Mexican Bonefish Academy, every journey begins with one cast — but it never ends there.
Our Progressive Path is a learning approach designed to meet you exactly where you are, whether you’re holding a fly rod for the first time or refining years of experience on the flats.
Rather than measuring success only by the number of fish landed, we focus on growth, awareness, and mastery. Each session builds upon the last, guiding you through a structured process that blends education, observation, and adventure.
Through this progression, you’ll develop:
The Progressive Path isn’t about levels — it’s about learning through diversity.
Each destination challenges you in a different way: the calm precision of the flats, the patience of the mangroves, the intensity of the open ocean.
Whether you’re new to the sport or have spent a lifetime chasing fish, you’ll always find a new lesson waiting in Mexico’s waters.
Our guides are not just instructors — they’re mentors who adapt to your rhythm, helping you advance with purpose and patience. The goal is simple: to ensure that every experience becomes memorable, regardless of the day’s outcome.
Whether you’re chasing your first bonefish, mastering delicate presentations, or exploring new waters offshore, your path will always move forward — progressively, meaningfully, and consciously.
Fish. Learn. Share.