Los Roques, located 120 kilometres north of Caracas in Venezuela, is the perfect Caribbean fly fishing retreat. A National Park consisting of a collection of some 350 islands and cays, it’s often referred to as an archipelago but is technically an unspoiled atoll that spans 36 kilometres east to west and 24.6 kilometres north to south, making it the largest marine park in the Caribbean Sea. Consisting of one significant Island, El Gran Roque, and surrounded by a few dozen or so lesser, mostly uninhabited islands and hundreds of smaller mangroves and cays, Los Roques is the perfect fly fishing environment. Its mass of coral reefs and pristine flats are the ideal habitat for big Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit and an array of other species.
Los Roques is scarcely populated, having about 2,000 permanent inhabitants, mostly on its main Island. It’s very safe and popular among foreign tourists and Venezuelans alike. Colourful lodges and private houses are the main constructions, and there are no cars and streets of sand, which are part of its charm. It’s one of the safest and quietest islands in the entire Caribbean. Crime is virtually unknown in Los Roques.
In conclusion, few places on Earth can offer the human eyes such an extraordinary and singular beauty as the Archipelago Los Roques National Park, and it’s the perfect environment for fishing.
Due to its beauty and the wide variety of seabirds and rich aquatic life, among other factors, the Venezuelan government declared Los Roques a National Park in 1972. It is characterised by its gin-clear, calm waters, magnificent coral beds, diverse and varied flats, miles of sandy beaches, and hundreds of smaller mangroves and cays, creating an incredibly diverse environment of natural beauty. Moreover, thanks to its excellent fishing and easy access (but a remote area from civilisation), it has gained a reputation for being one of the best fly fishing destinations in the Caribbean, attracting travelling rods from all around the globe.
Traditionally the destination has been considered one of the best Bonefish fisheries globally, with incredible numbers of fish, with a solid average size of 4 to 5lb. However, over the last decade or so, the variety of species on offer is now second to none. Tarpon between 10 to 80lb get frequently landed, along with vast numbers of juvenile fish found in the lagoons and mangroves. Permits are present in many areas of the park, with specimens between 20 to 40lb, and it’s possible to enjoy many chances in a day if you hunt for them. The Triggerfish fishing over the coral is some of the best found globally and likewise with the Parrotfish. Snook are present in many of the lagoons, and other species include a variety of Snappers, rugged fighting Jacks, Blue Runners, Barracuda, and Spanish Mackerel.
Besides its incredible beauty and fantastic fishing opportunities, one thing which makes Los Roques so good is the structure of their fishing. The programme consists of one guide and one captain per boat, both for single and double anglers. The captain will drop off anglers and guides on various flats and then meet them at the other end, increasing fishing time, eliminating any backtracking and putting anglers in the right spot to take advantage of wind, currents, tides and sunlight. The captains and guides understand the importance of correct positioning on the flats, ensuring anglers have the edge over their quarry. Many of the best fishing spots are as close as a 10 to 20 minutes boat ride, while longer steam would be around 30 to 45 minutes.
One other thing that separates Los Roques from most other locations in the region is that anglers can find themselves wetting a fly on a wide variety of water during a day of fishing. While the archipelago is famous for its pancake flats, the area also offers excellent opportunities on its coral banks, sandy beaches, massive flats and mangrove lagoons, and it’s possible to fish productive water whatever the time of day. For anglers who love to wade, Los Roques is a paradise.
If you’d like to learn more about this incredible saltwater fly fishing destination in Venezuela, visit our YouTube channel.
Los Roques is considered a true year-round destination. Due to its location, which is only 12 degrees north of the equator, its tides, air and water temperatures don’t tend to fluctuate too much, which provides excellent fishing conditions year-round. The sun arcs overhead in perfect 12-hour intervals, ensuring stable sea currents and an almost constant Tradewind, effectively oxygenates the surface layers of water. In addition, there are no winter ‘cold fronts’ like those experienced in the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico and Belize, and it’s one of the most reliable flats fishing destinations found anywhere.
The season to travel will depend on the species you’d like to target and catch. For example, to experience the best Bonefish fishing, May to October is an excellent time, especially for tailing fish. However, if it’s Permit and Tarpon you are looking for, October to January is the peak season. On the other hand, if you want to experience a range of species, the summer months are perfect anytime between May and October. One of the most popular times for travelling rods to visit is mid-January to May; the weather is sunny, the skies are blue, and it’s the perfect time for British anglers to escape the winter weather at home. However, if you travel at any time of year, you can expect great weather and fishing.
At Los Roques, the accommodation is in conjunction with the Caracol Group, an Italian family lodging enterprise established on the island in 2004. The group owns three lodges, Casa Play, Villa Caracol and Posada Caracol, with Casa Play being the most popular amongst visiting rods.
The accommodation is just a short five-minute walk from the airport and one minute from the beach and features eight ample, private rooms, with six of them being spacious two-storey layouts, with a king bed on each floor. They are well furnished with simple tastes and feature A/C, hot water, safe boxes and Wi-Fi.
The lodge provides guests with beach towels, shampoo, conditioner, lotion & soap, and daily laundry and maid service.
A large terrace is a location for the bar and restaurant, which serves the best food on the island. The breakfast menu offers everything from freshly squeezed juices, yoghurts and cereals to Avocado and poached eggs. In addition, packed lunches get provided for each fishing day.
On returning from a busy day on the water, snacks and drinks get served on Posada’s rooftop bar before an exceptional evening meal. The evening meals typically consist of four courses based on a ceviche or sashimi starter, pasta, fish of the day, and dessert. All meals are prepared specially for anglers, and the attention to detail and service is top quality.
The below itinerary is flexible should you require additional fishing days or additional free days to explore; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Turkey Depart Turkey
Arrive Caracas
Once you have arrived in Caracas you will be met by our transfer agent, John Salazar who will transport you to the National Terminal located at La Guaira (next to the International Terminal).
Depart Caracas
The flight to Los Roques is a short 35-minute flight.
Arrive Los Roques
Once you arrive in Los Roques you will be met by a representative from the lodge who will transport you to your accommodation. On arrival and once unpacked you’ll be free to relax for the rest of the day and prepare for the following day’s fishing.
Overnight accommodation: Casa Play (Twin Room)
For the next six days, you’ll be fishing the Saltwater flats of Los Roques. The main target species are Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon. However, you can also try your luck fishing for numerous other species like Triggerfish, Parrot fish, Jacks, Snapper, Grouper and Baracuda.
The programme consists of one guide and one captain per boat, both for single and double anglers. The captain will drop off you and your guide on various flats and then meet them at the other end, increasing fishing time, eliminating any backtracking and putting you in the right spot to take advantage of wind, currents, tides and sunlight.
Overnight accommodation: Casa Play (Twin Room)
In the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the local airport to take the short 35-minute flight back to Caracas.
Depart Los Roques
Arrive Caracas
Once you have arrived at the National Terminal located at La Guaira our transfer agent, John Salazar will transport you to Caracas airport, ready for your flight home.
Depart Caracas
Arrive Turkey Depart Turkey
Arrive Home
The season runs from All Year.
Season: All Year
Peak: May to October
Weight: 2lb to 10lb
Average Weight: 4lb
Season: All Year
Peak: October to January
Weight: 5lb to 80lb
Average Weight: 30lb
Season: All Year
Peak: October to January
Weight: 5lb to 40lb
Average Weight: 10lb
Season: All Year
Peak: October to January
Weight: 2lb to 15lb
Average Weight: 6lb
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
| From | To | Duration | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/04/2024 | 30/04/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/05/2024 | 31/05/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/06/2024 | 30/06/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/07/2024 | 31/07/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/08/2024 | 31/08/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/09/2024 | 30/09/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/10/2024 | 31/10/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/11/2024 | 30/11/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/12/2024 | 31/12/2024 | 10 | £6,745 | Enquire Now |
| 01/01/2025 | 31/01/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/02/2025 | 28/02/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/03/2025 | 31/03/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/04/2025 | 30/04/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/05/2025 | 31/05/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/06/2025 | 30/06/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/07/2025 | 31/07/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/08/2025 | 31/08/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/09/2025 | 30/09/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/10/2025 | 31/10/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/11/2025 | 30/11/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
| 01/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 | 10 | £7,014 | Enquire Now |
Prices are based on two adults sharing transfers, fishing and accommodation (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharges.
Me and my brother visited for my 60th birthday and had a great trip. I'd like to thank all the guides and staff who were very accommodating, especially Ramon. We both said we'd like to return next year if there's availability.
My trip to Los Roques was perfect from start to finish, and everything ran smoothly. The conditions were exceptional for fishing, and I enjoyed a brilliant week. The Bonefish fishing, in particular, was some of the best I've experienced.
Los Roques is a simply great fishing destination, with excellent lodgings and superb service. I'd fully recommend it as a destination for saltwater flats fishing as well as for those anglers who are looking to take their family away.
Excellent trip. My 4th visit and as good as ever. Great variety of fish. Knowledgeable guides.
Felipe looked after us during our trip making sure everything ran smoothly.
Hotel staff could not have been helpful.
Hopefully will return again soon.
Hi Richard,
Glad you had a great time, and thank you for the pictures. If there's anything you need please feel free to give me a call, and we can have a chat.
Regards Peter.
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