Palmas de Cortez Swimming Pool
Baja, Mexico - Van Wormer Resorts
Saltwater Sportfishing
Two Hotel Options
Fishing at Van Wormer Resorts is world-renowned as one of the best values in saltwater sportfishing today. Located in the East Cape region of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and situated on Baja’s Sea of Cortez, this area is regarded as one of the premier vacation and big game fishing spots in the world. Van Wormer has two hotel options for anglers.
Baja Saltwater Fishing:
Van Wormer's sportfishing fleet offers quick access to world-famous fishing grounds teeming with five billfish species, plus dorado, tuna, wahoo, and over 80 other species. The area is also one of the few locations that yields marlin year-round. Sailfish are abundant during the summer months, along with dorado, yellowfin tuna, and occasionally some great wahoo fishing. Famous roosterfish fishing - many world records have been logged in the Baja area.
East Cape Guides provide exclusive guide services for Van Wormer Resort guests. English-speaking captains with years of experience.
You’ll receive on-the-water instruction, documentation of your catch in high-definition video and photos, and a Billfish Foundation release certificate for every billfish they tag and release on your behalf.
The Fishing Program:
Van Wormer's sportfishing fleet offers quick access to world-famous fishing grounds teeming with five billfish species, plus dorado, tuna, wahoo, and over 80 other species.
Boats: Van Wormer Resorts has over fifty boats in its fleet—the most extensive sportfishing fleet in Mexico. 28' to 32' fiberglass cruisers and 23 to 25 ft. super pangas. Choose from many package options.
Season: Fishing takes off in late April and is dynamite through November.
Species: Sailfish are abundant during the summer months, along with dorado, yellowfin tuna, and occasionally some great wahoo fishing. Famous roosterfish fishing - many world records have been logged in the Baja area.
Equipment: Each boat is fully equipped with rods, reels, and tackle. A detailed packing list is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing Licenses: are not included in the package and run $15 per day or $30 per week (subject to change). Licenses are available for purchase at the Resorts.
Fish Care: Fish care and smokehouse services are available to prepare your catch for your trip home and range from $2.50 to $4.50 per pound.
Baja Roosterfishing
Baja Tuna Fishing
Jeanie Koenemann - Baja Billfishing
Palmas de Cortez Hotel
Van Wormer offers two hotel options: Palmas de Cortez and Playa del Sol. Both hotels are located in the small town of Los Barriles, about 1/8 of a mile apart on the beach. Both hotels offer phenomenal fishing, diving, kayaking, golfing, or relaxing fun in the sun.
Palmas de Cortez Hotel offers many air-conditioned room options, such as oceanfront rooms, poolside rooms, palapa-roofed cabañas, garden
rooms, and two-bedroom luxury condominiums. Wi-Fi access is available in the lobby and the restaurant. The garden rooms are quieter than the other options. There is also a par-three 9-hole golf course onsite. Other land-based activities include ATV rentals, horseback riding, eco-tours, and
shopping excursions to Cabo San Lucas and the capital city of La Paz. You'll find all the comforts of a first-rate, service-oriented
resort with authentic Mexican charm.
360 View of Palmas de Cortez Rooms:
Click here for the Poolside Room.
Clkick here for the Garden Room.
Click here for the Ocean View Room.
Hotel Playa Del Sol
Hotel Playa Del Sol: The hotel is a five-minute stroll north of Hotel Palmas de Cortez. The intimate tropical setting is a nice change from the mega-resorts found in other over-commercialized areas of Baja. With 26 rooms, the hotel has an authentic Mexican allure and a slightly more personal touch. The hotel is a popular choice for windsurfers and kiteboarders from mid-November through mid-March.
360 View of Playa Del Sol Rooms:
Click here for the Poolside Room.
Click here for the Garden Room.
Click here for the Ocean View Room.
Getting to the Lodge:
1.) You can fly to either La Paz or Los Cabos. We recommend flying to Los Cabos because the drive from the airport to the Lodge is shorter than La Paz.
2.) The Resort works with a ground transfer company with reasonable rates. Roundtrip from Cabo to the Lodge: $100.00 p.p. for party of two, $53.00 p.p. for party of four (2024). It is about a 45-mile drive from Los Cabos to Van Wormer Resorts in Los Barriles.
Dining Options
The Bay View Restaurant
Meals: The packages do not include meals or beverages except for a packed lunch on the boat. However, the Resort does offer several oceanfront dining options. The Bay View Restaurant features fresh seafood and classic Baja dishes. Dine under the stars at Umi Sushi, which is known for being the best sushi bar in town. Additionally, Tico's at Hotel Palmas de Cortez is open for breakfast, and Sol y Mar, located on the second floor of Hotel Playa del Sol, offers regional dishes and some of the best views in Los Barriles.
Customize your Package
2025 USD Boat Rates
Daily Boat Rates (Rates include 16% IVA tax):
Includes fishing and boat tax.
Rates for Hotel Guests at Van Wormer Resorts:
Super Panga: $529.54 - up to 3 anglers
Standard Cruiser: $893.20 - up to 4 anglers
Deluxe Cruiser: $957.00 - up to 4 anglers
Super Cruiser: $1,403.00 - 4 to 6 anglers
2025 USD Rates
Playa del Sol Packages:
Nightly Rates for Playa del Sol
Rates includes 16% IVA Tax and 4% bed tax.
Garden Room:
Double: $180.00
Triple: $204.00
Poolside Room:
Double: $204.00
Triple: $228.00
Quad: $252.00
King: (2 adults) $252.00
Oceanview Room:
Double: $252.00
Triple: $276.00
King: (2 adults) $276.00
2025 USD Rates
Palmas de Cortez Packages:
Nightly Rates for Palmas de Cortez
Rates includes 16% IVA Tax and 4% bed tax.
Cabana:
Double: $228.00
Triple: $252.00
Quad: $276.00
Garden Room:
Double: $288.00
Triple: $312.00
Quad: $336.00
Poolside Room:
Double: $264.00
Triple: $288.00
Quad: $312.00
King: (2 adults) $264.00
Oceanview Room:
Double: $288.00
Triple: $312.00
Quad: $336.00
King: (2 adults) $288.00
Two Bedroom Condo (up to 6 adults) $624.00
One Bedroom Master Suite $360.00
Deluxe Master Suite with a king bed and a kitchenette $420.00
Two Bedroom Presidential Suite $720.00
Three Bedroom Penthouse (up to 8 adults) $1,200.00
The Packages Do Not Include:
• Airfare• Ground transfers from the airport to the resort
• Meals and beverages at the Resorts
• Fishing license, $15 per day or $30 per week
• Live bait, $25 - $35 per day
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• East Cape Smokehouse fish care
• 16% sales tax on total package
• 3% bed tax
• Global Rescue
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
• Prices are subject to change.
Van Wormer Resorts Policies:
• A 25% deposit is due upon booking for the total amount of lodging.
• All boats must be paid in full at the time of booking.
REFUND POLICIES:
For ROOMS: Room deposit is fully refundable when canceled outside of 60 days of arrival. If the room is canceled between 60-30 days prior to arrival, the guest will be issued a credit towards a future trip. If the room is canceled inside 30 days prior to arrival date, the guest will forfeit the 25% deposit.
* A 10% service fee will be charged on all refunds. A 10% service fee will not be charged on credit towards a future trip.
For BOATS: Once boats are booked and paid for, they are not refundable. If a boat is canceled outside of 60 days prior to arrival, the guest will be issued a credit towards a future trip. If a boat is canceled inside of 60 days prior to arrival, the guest will forfeit the full amount of the boat canceled.
• Cancellation of a room or boat while at the resort is not permitted. If a room or boat is canceled while at the hotel, the guest will be charged the full amount of the room/boat.
• In the event of strong winds, rough seas, or unsafe conditions resulting in the hotel’s cancellation of your scheduled charter, the boat dispatcher will try to reschedule your charter while you are here. If you are unable to reschedule your trip for whatever reason, no penalty will be assessed.
"Our fishing experience was awesome as the striped marlin were in and in good numbers. We averaged just less than one landed marlin per person per day during our stay, not counting several missed fish. We also spent time targeting other species.
Some of the boats in the fleet came in flying between nine to 12 released marlin flags, an outstanding catch record for the timing of our trip. There was one particular instance where Rick, Ray, and I each hooked up, making
for a striped marlin triple. It was utter chaos for a few minutes, with three fish tail-walking behind the boat, and then one fish came unhooked. Two marlin jumping behind the boat was still very exciting.
The day we fished from pangas, we targeted roosterfish and mahi-mahi, also known as dorado, which were plentiful. Within a short period of time, Nick landed his first rooster, a nice 25-pound fish. Because the ocean remained mirror calm, we made the decision to take advantage of another marlin day. Although none of our group targeted tuna, a number of the boats came in with tuna, and some also caught wahoo." - Eric Schoenborn
