Weekly Round-Up: Visiting Turneffe Island Resort
In which we're back in Belize, snagging a few days of fishing and explore a (new to me) destination.
And, to no one’s great surprise, we’re back on the road yet again. This time it’s a quick, five-day run down to Belize to visit Turneffe Island Resort on assignment for a couple editorial outlets. This is a “fishing light” trip with only two days of fishing, but I’m excited to see a new (to me) destination and experience a different part of Belize.
This is summertime prime time in Montana, and a hard time of year to be gone, so I’ve been soaking up every bit of that home routine that I can for the short breaks in between work trips. The Missoula Airport is officially in “tourist mode,” the coffeeshop lined with Yellowstone and huckleberry goods, and filled with faux cowboy hats and the summertime crowd. Makes for entertaining arrivals and departures, at least.
A Peek at Turneffe Island Resort
A couple days checking out a slice of paradise in a familiar country.
I came into Belize City a day early to drop into Fort George Hotel and Spa, a layover which turned into one of the nicest hotel experiences I’ve had in a while, led largely by the hotel’s epic gym. Seriously, this little space was better-outfitted than some actual commercial gyms for which I’ve paid money. After an all-too-quick stop at the lovely Fort George, I boarded a boat and headed out toward my objective for this very short trip: two days at Turneffe Island Resort.
Turneffe Island Resort
Just an hour-and-a-half boat ride from the Belize City docks, Turneffe Island Resort is located on a private island which is part of Turneffe Atoll, a little atoll outpost made up of a small collection of islands. The resort is not new—it’s been in operation since 1962—but the facilities are wonderfully kept (not an easy task in the tropics!) and the whole operation carries a higher-end feel.
I was generously housed in “Sunrise One,” a newer villa about a five-minute walk from the dining and lounge areas. The villa was home to a king-sized bed, sitting area, large bathroom with a closet larger than my one at home (in fact, the villa itself tops my apartment for overall square footage), and an outdoor shower. The screened-in porch included a private hot tub and lounge area. Overall, a wonderful respite in which to catch up on work and rest up each night.
Fishing the Flats of Belize
I was able to sneak in two very quick days of fishing while staying with Turneffe. Two days is too short to give any fishing operation a fair shake, especially a saltwater flats-fishing program with access to a variety of water. As luck would have it my two days featured 25 to 35-knot winds, which we were able to work around, but guide Buddy and I were largely unable to find fish. Buddy grew up fishing the atoll with his father and we visited some of his favorite flats for some long hunts, to no avail. You can’t cast to what isn’t there.
We gave it our best, through, and came away with bonefish and a couple jacks for our efforts. We saw three permit and had one follow but never got shots at the other two fish, and never saw a hint of any kind of tarpon, which I found frustrating given this is the season for larger migratory tarpon in Belize. It was my first Belizean trip in 10 years without getting a look at a tarpon.
That said, it’s easy to imagine the potential of this fishery—so many good flats and fishy-looking channels. It’s a place I’d love to see when the fish are around, and it seems to be the sort of place one could get a lot of shots at a variety of species.
What Kind of Traveller is Turneffe a Good Fit For?
Turneffe Island Resort is aptly named, as it certainly feels more like a “resort” and less like a “fishing lodge.” That said, the fishing program is certainly well built out, and it seems to be a wonderful operation for families and groups of friends where some people are anglers and others prefer to snorkel, dive, be pampered in the spa, or simply lounge on the beach and in the pool.
The food was utterly wonderful—home-cooked meals featuring heavily into healthy options and (of course) fresh seafood—and little touches such as a morning coffee service delivered to each room and a poem on our pillows at night with turndown service—make for a luxe-feeling operation. It’s a place where a fisherman could come and fish hard while a significant other relished in a relaxing vacation.
Several of you were following along in Instagram this week and asked if I’d ever consider hosting a group at Turneffe. If that’s something you’d like to learn more about, send me a note and I’m happy to add you to the list!
Good fit for anglers who might want to bring along non-angling family / friends.
2026 Hosted Trips
Still have a couple spots open on these hosted trip destinations for 2026:
Estancia Laguna Verde (Jurassic Lake), Argentina: January 24-31, 2026
Bolivia Heli-Fishing (Trophy Golden Dorado): June 28-July 5, 2026
Estancia Laguna Verde 2026
I’ll be returning January 24-31, 2026, with a hosted group. Three slots have already filled with returning guests, so get in touch quickly if you’d like to join us. This is a top-notch lodge in a wonderfully unique fishery. Expect some of the world’s best guides, excellent lodging and food, a stellar lodge team, and wonderfully large, healthy rainbow trout in an environment that will make you think you’re fishing on the moon.
This PDF has more details—give it a read, and then get in touch to secure your spot!
January 24 - 31, 2026
Estancia Laguna Verde, Lago Strobel, Argentina
$7,950 (7 nights / 6.5 days fishing)
Bolivia Heli-Fishing For Trophy Golden Dorado
I’ve got just two spots left to return to Untamed Angling’s Tsimane Pluma Lodge Heli-Fishing Program June 27-July 4, 2026—an exclusive program in the Bolivian Amazon, designed to target trophy golden dorado. We’ll have the opportunity to fish not only for large dorado but also pacu, yatorana, and even moturo, in incomparable quantity and quality. The rivers and tributaries where we will fish every day are wild, untouched waters seldom seen by human beings.
Read more info HERE about this limited trip—just two spots remaining.
June 27-July 4, 2026
Tsimane Pluma Lodge, Bolivian Amazon
$17,250 ($16,000 plus $1,250 indigenous Indian fees)
Want to learn more about any of these trips?
Send me a DM on social media or shoot over an email.
Q&A
Keep on sending in your questions via Instagram or by commenting by clicking the button below. Each week I’ll pick one and give a longer, more thought-out answer here than those I give on Instagram.
This week’s question came in via Facebook.
Q: I’m traveling to Mexico soon, and I’m worried about getting sick from food. How can I help stop this from happening?
A: Great question. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on what you eat and drink while traveling. In many places around the world bottled water is a safe bet in lieu of tap water. (Quick tip: ensure the seal is actually sealed, as in some corners of the world vendors will re-use bottles and fill with tap water, then try to pass it off as “bottled water.” If you’re really worried, sparkling water is much more difficult to fake.) Make sure ice comes from purified water, too, instead of just local tap water in places the water’s unsafe to drink. (Most lodges and resorts do a great job of this.)
Ensure street meat is cooked thoroughly, and in suspect areas stick to fruits and vegetables you can peel to help limit food poisoning bouts. Watch where / what the locals eat and drink; they typically are a good gauge on what’s safe to consume, but also bear in mind they might have different food tolerances than you do.
Recently Published
The Big Sky Journal just published a photo essay and article about the romance of Montana summer fishing in their latest issue. Pick it up and give “The Simple Things in Life” a read.
Pick up the winter issue of The Fly Fish Journal for words + images about fly-fishing off Colombia’s Darien Gap.
The Field Ethos Journal recently ran this piece about having a beer on a stormy night in one of Pablo Escobar’s former bars… a life goal I didn’t know I had.
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