Below are the most commonly asked questions by our clients. If you happen to have any other questions, please feel free to send us a message and we’re happy to answer them.

If you are a diehard kayak angler wanting to maximize your time on the water and minimize your cost, then the Kayak Fishing Trips are your best option. They are 5 full days of fishing geared toward the full-time fisherman/fisherwoman with the option of bringing your own gear or renting ours. Because of this, the cost provides the essentials while allowing for additional options to be added a la carte on site. These groups are geared more toward those looking to fish non-stop during their stay chasing the giants.
If a more relaxed schedule or mixed trip enjoying our many other activities alone or with your family or friends suits you, then you should check out our mixed sportfishing packages or private group weeks. These trips are more inclusive providing both room upgrades and fishing gear as part of the cost eliminating the a la carte addition from the Kayak Fishing trips. Schedule and activities are also more flexible and options to kayak fish can be added as well.

Our fishery for the large part is not seasonal as most of our fish are resident and thus the bite is more subject to currents, water temps and other factors that are more random and depends less on migratory pattern. There are a few exceptions such as wahoo which generally come through July to November, and Snook & Corvina which are more concentrated in the dry season of January to March.
The main difference in our fishery regarding seasonality is the windy (dry) season vs the green season. The dry season brings North Winds that generally kick up mid-January and last until the end of March and this eliminates some of our options such as kayak fishing behind the lodge and mothership trips to the east. However, using our boats, we still kayak and panga fish along our protected coastline to the West. Luckily this same season brings a migration of the larger tunas and chasing those giants is a large part of our business during this season along with fishing and camping along the remote shoreline of Cerro Hoya Park.
Don’t mistake the term green or rainy season. This period from Mid-April through December is THE PRIME fishing season for all around fishing from kayak and pangas with cooler weather, a larger variety of species and more locations available.
While like all locations we occasionally alter our plans for a storm or two its much less common than places like Florida where tropical storms can alter weeks at the time. Our normal pattern is afternoon showers that cool things down and fire up the bite. We rarely miss fishing days with fewer than 7 charter days a year missed on average.

We are happy to say we are now open year-round aside from a few holiday closings. April through mid-January are our all-around fishing months where the conditions and fish are almost always cooperative. Mid-January through March we now offer special trips where we will have a support panga available every day so we can fish our whole coastline. Inquire about our new panga support fishing during this season at [email protected].
Trips run from Sunday 10:00 am departure in the city to the following Saturday 5:00 pm estimated arrival back in the city, for a total of 6 nights in Los Buzos. Due to customs clearance, airport transfers and ticketing it is almost impossible to have Sunday arrival and Saturday Departure flights. It is highly recommended to fly in on Saturday and fly out Sunday to avoid any chance of missing our shuttle or your return flights.
 
Our weeks designated for sportfishing are open for customized stays and activities, but our designated kayak group weeks are set.
We do not offer day trip options, but we do offer Short Stay Trips which range from 2 days/3 nights or 3 days/4 nights. These stays are carried out during our Sportfishing weeks. Transportation is optional.

Standard rate for the Kayak Fishing Trips includes shared accommodation, your fully rigged Hobie kayak, food and beverage (excluding cash bar) during your stay at Los Buzos including unlimited national beers, and transport to and from our pickup location in Panama City (AC Marriott) and Los Buzos.
Standard Rate for Sport Fishing Trips include what is mentioned above except for kayaks and instead includes 5 days of panga fishing. Gear is also included within the rate as well as an upgrade from standard lodgings to one of our beachfront rooms.

Deposits are to reserve a spot on whichever trip you decide to come on. For the Kayak Fishing Trips, the rate is $750 per person and for the Sport Fishing Trips it is $1,000 per person. These deposits are non-refundable and or reschedulable. Therefore, we strongly recommend protecting the cost of your trip and other non-refundable travel expenses with travel insurance. Spots can be given to others so long as the final balance is paid. The final balance is billed about 60 days prior to your trip. At that time, we suggest you include any other extras you want to reserve. All payments on site are cash or credit card (we accept Visa and Mastercard only).
 
Yes, through our insurance provider. Global Rescue offers Signature Travel Insurance that allows you to insure all your expenses and covers all fishing and resort activities. While a Signature Travel Insurance policy can be purchased at any time, purchasing a policy within 20 days of making your initial trip deposit gives you the widest range of policy options. To purchase a policy, go to https://ss.globalrescue.com/partner/losbuzosresortpanama/ or call +1-617-459-4200. We strongly recommend protecting the cost of your trip and other non-refundable travel expenses with full coverage travel insurance with the “cancel for any reason” policy.
 

Other expenses outside our fee that should be budgeted include rooms, meals, and entertainment for any nights spent in Panama City. We have a special rate at AC Marriott $95 ($47.50 each) each approx. for huge double rooms including an excellent breakfast for two, and the King single $80 including breakfast for one. AC Marriott holds reservations for us without prepayment, so you just need to let us know what you want when you reserve, and you pay upon arrival. There are many great restaurants and bars within walking distance and some other nice hotels.
Some extras on site are dependent on your trips such as panga trips if you are coming on a kayak fishing trip. $150 per person per day for standard trips and $200 p.p. by day for the longer and further premium panga trips.
Other on-site extras include bar beverages (soda, liquor, special drinks), massages and other activities if not included, and store purchases such as T-shirts, souvenirs, and toiletry items.

Everything on site at Los Buzos is kept on tab during your stay so that you don’t need to pay for everything one by one. Saturday morning at checkout total purchases are collected including tips which are pooled together and distributed among staff. We can only accept cash, Visa, or MasterCard.
 

We group tip and collect any tips at check out in total to distribute among the entire staff. Guides, chefs, maids, etc. based upon set percentages. Individuals cannot accept tips separate from the group pool. The typical tip is 15% – 20% of the total trip balance.

 

Obviously, we try everything we can to avoid any emergencies. All our kayaks come equipped with a PFD and we require all our anglers to have a VHF radio on them (either you can bring your own or we rent them out). On land we have several staff members who also listen to the radio to make sure everything is ok. Lastly, when going out on the pangas we always carry a satellite text messenger to stay in contact, even when there is no phone signal available.
Panama in general has world class medical care, however we are remote. There is a clinic in our village and a rural hospital with good emergency facilities 17 miles away. Anything significant gets evacuated to the nearest large town 2 hours away or, if it permits, to Panama City where the care is second to none, including a Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Medical care is very affordable in Panama; however, we do advise you to get travel insurance before coming here to avoid any surprises.

Our guides have years of experience fishing the area, so they know what is best. Like any offshore experience there are inherent dangers. Our boats and guides are equipped with radios and GPS devices to ensure communication and tracking while on the water and a variety of safety equipment to handle emergencies. Due to the nature of our trips and marine environment we do not allow freelancing and all guests will be required to remain in reasonable communication and visible to the guides.
 
We recommend clients to bring Dramamine or other sea sickness remedies even if they have fished in the ocean before.
Panama City Panama, Tocumen Airport (IATA: PTY), known as the Hub of the Americas with direct flights to all regions of the US and many in Europe and abroad. We highly recommend Copa Airlines from Panama when they serve your region. Your will find their non-code shared flights much more like the old days of the US Carriers.

Customs is relatively straight forward here; you will get forms in English from the airlines. Don’t bring things in new boxes as that tends to make them think you are reselling it. If it looks like your regular gear, you will be fine, they are used to fishermen. If it looks like you are trying to stock a new Bass Pro, you’ll get an interview. We’ll give you more specific instructions shortly before your trip if you ask.

No visa is required for this destination for a stay of up to 180 days. Please keep in mind that while a visa is not required, you must:
Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page

PLEASE NOTE: You are kindly advised to have a passport valid for at least 6 months as from the date of your arrival to Panama. If this is less, there is a very high chance they won’t let you into the country.

Taxis are abundant just as you clear the customs window. It is a set fee from the airport of $25 to $35 per person depending on group size. Uber is also available and another good and cheap option.
 

We depart from the AC Marriot Hotel in Panama City Sunday Morning (10 AM). If you are not staying at the AC Marriot, it is the guest’s responsibility to arrive at AC Marriot before the departure time. Depending on the group size we will make the trip from the city to Los Buzos by SUV, van, or mid-sized bus. Although 6 hours long, we make every effort to turn this trip into a mini tour of Panama. We will pass the stunning and very surprising modern Panama City beachfront condo towers, Casco Viejo the old town on the UNESCO World Heritage List that Captain Morgan raided three times and cross the Panama Canal just above the major entry port. After that we pass the tourist resort area of Playa Blanca and enter the Azuero Peninsula, home to the best of Panama’s boutique resorts, fishing, retirement villages and more. Drinks, including beer are available during the ride, and a couple of stops will be made along the way for lunch and breaks. We generally arrive just before one of our stunning sunsets and in time for dinner and rigging for the next day.
We are pleased to announce that Los Buzos now offers private plane transportation at an additional cost for those who do not wish to take the drive. A van will transport guests directly from AC to a private hanger on Sunday to depart on a 50-minute flight to the small town of Pedasi where our van meets you at the strip for the 1 hour and 45-minute drive along the coast to Los Buzos. Total time door to door is 3 hours with no additional security clearances or hassles. The total add-on for the round-trip flight package is $500 (assuming at least 4 in the group elect to fly)

Allowing adequate time for customs clearance, airport transfer, ticketing, and arrival times is something to be taken into consideration upon arrivals and departures. We transport by group and can’t hold a group for someone who is late arriving or make everyone leave unreasonably early to make a departure. With typical airline delays and the nature of a cross country trip it is best not to have a same day connection. Private transport for a late arrival would be very expensive, as would a missed flight upon return.
 
While there are no limits for non-anglers our maximum capacity of anglers is dependent on the trip being booked. For the traditional Kayak Fishing trips, our maximum number of anglers is 10. For our Sport Fishing trips the angler limit is 6.
 
We are happy to host spouses and children who enjoy fishing or the other activities such as horseback riding, hiking, beachcombing, surfing, and paddle boarding that we have available here. We have horseback rides, hikes, surfing, and many more activities that can be seen in the Resort Experiences.
We have had excellent results with Seniors into their 70’s on our trips. If you are fit enough to ride a bike along flat roads and comfortable in the water, you will generally do well. In our short training session in front of the lodge we will have you get out of the kayak and back into it from the water without using the bottom – that is the basic required skill.
 

The main difference in our fishery regarding seasonality is the windy (dry) season vs the green season. The dry season brings North Winds that generally kick up mid-January and last until the end of March and this eliminates some of our options such as kayak fishing behind the lodge and mothership trips to the east. However, using our boats, we still kayak and panga fish along our protected coastline to the West. Luckily this same season brings a migration of the larger tunas and chasing those giants is a large part of our business during this season along with fishing and camping along the remote shoreline of Cerro Hoya Park.
Don’t mistake the term green or rainy season. This period from Mid-April through December is THE PRIME fishing season for all around fishing from kayak and pangas with cooler weather, a larger variety of species and more locations available.
While like all locations we occasionally alter our plans for a storm or two its much less common than places like Florida where tropical storms can alter weeks at the time. Our normal pattern is afternoon showers that cool things down and fire up the bite. We rarely miss fishing days with fewer than 7 charter days a year missed on average.

Cotton is NOT King in Panama! We recommend light fishing style clothes, polyester, nylon etc. dry fast stuff. Normal kayaking cover-up gear for offshore and casual shorts, shirts and flip flops on shore. We won’t send you anywhere you can’t go in shorts and flip flops unless you plan to spend several extra days in the city. We have laundry service available at least once during your stay so pack light. Dramamine is also a great thing to have for your trip as even experienced offshore fishermen have gotten seasick in our fishery. If you plan to hike or horseback ride a pair of lightweight long pants and light boots/hiking shoes are recommended. Also, water shoes for reef walks and the beaches, our volcanic dark sand gets hot.

Our standard lodge rooms have two beds each. We strive to keep groups/people travelling together in rooms together. Room assignments are based on the order in which reservations are received so if you have specific requests its best to book early.
 

Yes, we have several accommodation options available depending on what kind of stay you are looking for, how many people are in your group and if there are also non-anglers. Check out our Resort Lodging page for all info.

 

Food is very important for us here at Los Buzos and we serve you something different every day. Breakfast and bag lunches are put out in the main lodge approximately 1 hour before launch time each day. The continental breakfast changes daily and usually consist of fresh pastries, eggs, fresh cut fruit, fresh fruit juice and home baked bread. Obviously, there is plenty of fresh brewed coffee available to get your day started well.

Lunches consist of fresh tuna salad sandwiches, lunch wraps, paninis or sandwiches. Also, we will put out a wide variety of packed snacks (granola bars, Pringles, candy, Oreos, biscuits etc.), water bottles, ice packs, and apples to take out with you on the water. Afternoon snacks are served when the fishermen come in consisting of fresh guacamole, salsas, bean or tuna dips, served with chips and plenty of cold beer, tea or water. Dinner is served family style each night as a group including the guides. It generally consists of fresh fish and seafood specialties caught that day or the day before prepared in a variety of ways.

If you don’t eat fish (or other food items), have food allergies or special dietary requirements: please let us know in advance via the pre-trip registration form. We are more than happy to change the menu to your requirements and taste.

Absolutely, we always keep several cases of our great national beers Panama and Soberana in the lodge coolers. Beer cannot be taken out on fishing charters. This is to ensure the safety of guests and captain as our beer is served in glass bottles and could potentially break during the trip.
 
Iced tea and Gatorade are always available, and our deep water well produces some of the best water you will ever drink. We don’t stock bottled water as our deep well water is amazing. In general, Panama does not require drinking bottled water as the water quality here is very high – exceeding the US in worldwide water quality rankings. Non-complimentary drink includes sodas, liquor, and specialty drinks which are served at Roosterfish Bar and Grill. Bar is kept on tab so that you do not need to pay for every drink and is settled at checkout
 
Yes, power outages are fairly frequent. However, our main facility is backed up by an automatic generator that runs everything including the AC’s. Our hot water is generated via propane heater which do not require power. Some of the beachfront homes and rentals do not have back up power at the discretion of the homeowner.
 
Laundry is always done at least once during each week and your clothes can be included upon request.
 

We are happy to tell you that we now offer unlimited Wi-Fi at our lodge! Share fishing pictures of the day on your social media, call your family and friends or check your social media.
If you use T Mobile, Verizon, or ATT they have international plans you can add temporarily that work in Panama. They have signal about a mile down the road from us.
We highly recommend connecting with us by WhatsApp before your trip if you have a data plan or even Wi-Fi only. It is the communication of choice in Latin America and works when email and other things will not. It is the best way to ensure you can always reach us if you need help.

Our gear rental program for kayak fishing is owned and operated by Adam Fisk independently, gear rental payments are collected via a payment link provided here. If you are interested in either of the gear rental options (Rod Only or Full Gear) please check out this link and Adam will notify us to have your package ready upon your arrival.

Los Buzos Panama Rentals

We also recommend purchasing his gear insurance options if any gear is lost or damaged during your stay.

Our sportfishing program includes gear.

Absolutely, anyone is welcome to bring their own gear and tackle. Adam Fisk also offers a basic “rods only” package where you bring your reels but avoid cumbersome rod tubes. To learn more, please check package options at https://sleighriders.com/collections/los-buzos-panama

If you forget something or want to try some of our set ups, we have all terminal tackle for sale at competitive prices on site. We stock a full line of jigs, poppers, hooks, leaders, and rigging tackle in our center at US prices.

Managing partner Adam Fisk is happy to consult with you in advance of your trip to help you know exactly what you need to bring. We highly recommend that you take advantage of his knowledge of our fishery – most who don’t, arrive severely under sized for some of our aggressive species. For information on recommended tackle and gear visit https://sleighriders.com/collections/los-buzos-panama

The kayak fishing groups are intended for anglers coming to fish every day of their stay to catch targeted and trophy species. The sportfishing groups are more flexible and can accommodate guests that would like to remain on land for some days. However, it is at the client’s discretion whether they choose to go out or not each day.
 
All our groups are guided by at least one guide and generally two or more depending on group size and mother ship trips. Our guides know our fishery like no other and will make sure you get on that fish. They will also help with launching and beaching your kayak, land fish, show where to find fish, tie knots and everything else you might need help with. There is no prior (kayak) fishing experience needed to fish with us as our guides are always there to help.
 
Average trips are 6-8 hours, mid-tide to mid-tide. Panga days tend to run longer since they are not as tide sensitive. We are in constant visual and radio contact – on some days we make the call with the clients and based on the conditions to stretch a day and go into the next tide making it a longer day. Our high low cycle is about 6 hours here with two per day. We avoid high tide launches and landings except for extremely flat days or emergencies since the mid-tides are much more enjoyable.
 
We run mother ship trips ($150 to $200 per angler depending on trip) each day to a variety of different locations 6 to 10 miles away. Most anglers do at least one of these each week. They consist of two kayaks loaded onto the panga and a run to a remote area where the kayakers are put in the water with the boat remaining in support, with a cooler, catching bait and spotting for the kayak anglers.
 

The kayak group rate can be converted to panga only fishing by adding $150 per person (minimum 2 persons) each day of panga fishing. This rate includes the use of rental tackle and some basic lures and bait rigs. Using this formula, you can also mix and match kayak and panga trips. There is also the option to “ride along” on mother ship trips for only $150. You will go with a pair of kayakers and fish from the panga, but the panga stays with the kayakers and remains in support of them. This is only available for single anglers and is based on available capacity on scheduled mother ship trips.

We also offer Mixed Sportfishing options which are weeklong fishing trips by boat and are all inclusive with room upgrades, tackle and gear, and other amenities. These trips are also flexible in their scheduling and itinerary as panga fishing is not as subjected to tides as kayak fishing. Kayak mothership trips can also be added a la carte for those wanting to try it out during their stay.

Our classic kayak group trips are geared to produce a more affordable trip for experienced offshore kayak anglers who typically prefer to pedal out and fish their own (or sponsors) gear for as much time as possible. This is the trip that made Los Buzos famous. To make it more accessible and available for those who might not have or want to bring their own equipment we offer an optional rental package of the specialty fishing equipment needed for kayaks. Likewise, we offer panga mothership trips as an option during these weeks. For those wanting to fish from a panga daily we offer our sportfishing package which includes the cost of the boat and the gear and tackle for fishing from the boat in the trip package

Our list of species includes Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper, Broomtail Grouper, Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi, Sierra Mackerel, Trevally (Bluefin, Big eye, Golden), Corvina, Alamaco/Amber Jack, Mullet Snapper, Pacific Black Snook, Rock Snapper, Yellow/Spotted Rose Snapper, Bonefish, Goliath Grouper, Black/Blue Marlin.
 
Definitely. If you want to bag one of the Giant-sized Roosters, have a shot at a Billfish, or give the Giant Cuberas a try then live-baiting bridle rigged large tunas, jacks, snappers etc. is the best way to do it. Our crew will help you develop this skill while here and you can take it back home with you. We fish with live baits that many resorts post on Facebook!
 
While Los Buzos does not offer land-based fishing as part of the trip, guests are welcome to explore and attempt their own land-based fishing outside of our scheduled fishing itinerary.
 
We do not offer beach or spearfishing options at Los Buzos. Beach fishing can be attempted by guest outside of the regular fishing itinerary. However, Los Buzos does not support spear fishing.
 
Kayakers and non-anglers alike are welcome to enjoy unlimited access to our stand-up paddleboards (SUPS), Single and Tandem paddle kayaks in the bay, Hiking on our adjacent 400-acre mountain/jungle Parque Los Buzos with its waterfall, miles of nearly uninhabited beaches, and surfing (board rentals and lessons extra), and of course our large selection of shaded hammocks and reading lounges. Also available at additional cost are the massage center, Horseback Riding on Parque Los Buzos trails and beaches.
 
Breathe Wellness Center is our massage and relaxation therapy provider and is just down the road from the main lodge. They offer a variety of option for Los Buzos clients and while there you can arrange to attend their own variety of amenities during your stay. To schedule a massage, we will need to know at least a day ahead of time no later than dinner time (7 pm). Typical massage schedules are from 4 pm to 6 pm just after return from a day of fishing. Bills for massages and any of their other amenities are settled on site preferably in cash. Transport to Breathe is also available via our Kawasaki Mules.
 
Clients are free to organize and manage their own betting pools, however Los Buzos staff and guides do not and will not manage or become involved in any such activities or resolve any disputes among the client for these events.
 
We do our best to help supplement photos for each guest and these will be provided at checkout if you have a chip or disk with you. However, we highly recommend you bring your own go pro or camera as it is not practical for us to capture all the important moments for everyone’s trip at once. Also please bear in mind that our guides and guest guides are gathering footage for promotional purposes and do not make everything they film available to clients.
 
If you land one of the trophy fish, which we are sure to put you on, you are very likely to end up in one of Robert’s video features. Robert schedule “Field Trips” here for two weeks each, three times per year. We also encourage guests to bring their own Go Pros and share their footage and we will assist in mounting their cameras. All this footage goes into the same database used for our marketing videos, done seasonally by Robert as well as his features on Yak Fish TV. Your role is to land the fish of your lifetime and sit for an interview about your experience while here, and we will surely do our best to make you an internet sensation!
 
The short version is it is required by our Travel Insurance carrier to be our provider. If you consider from a Travel Insurance perspective, if the trip is refundable and reschedulable then no one would ever buy a policy.
 
Prior to Covid, we had virtually no cancellations in our history. With Covid and nearly 180 last-minute cancellations, plus the subsequent unreliability of airlines we knew we had to make a change to not only ensure our survivability but also to protect our clients so we did two things. First, we studied the travel insurance industry and sought out a partner that provided the most flexibility and options. Our current partner offers coverage in the first 20 days of purchase for any issue – even if you just have cold feet and change your mind at the last second. From the 21st day after purchase right up until the day before your trip, you can still buy standard coverage that covers most medical, logistical, and trip-related cancellations.
 
Additionally, for those that just do not believe in any insurance, we also lowered our upfront deposit to $750 to make it a little more palatable if a long-term trip is canceled.
 
We strongly recommend the insurance coverage on every invoice and our website because it provides the best piece of mind. Aside from the fact that it is required by our carrier, last-minute cancellations or any within our 60-day pay window leave us with no ability to replace the trip or any way to reduce the cost of running that trip since our logistics and purchases are done well in advance.