Pioneers of the Slam
Set within Mexico’s vast Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve—a 1.3-million-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site—Espíritu Santo Bay Lodge is one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive saltwater fishing destinations. Founded over a decade ago by pioneers Dane Emerson and Chiara de Tomaso, and now proudly part of the Nervous Waters family, ESB was the first lodge established along the remote southern shoreline of Bahía Espíritu Santo. Its privileged location provides anglers access to untouched flats, hidden lagoons, and pristine backcountry waters that remain remarkably protected from fishing pressure and development. Over the years, ESB has earned a global reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations for permit fishing.
What truly defines ESB is the diversity and consistency of its fishery. Vast turtle grass flats hold exceptional populations of permit and bonefish, while nearby mangrove estuaries offer outstanding opportunities for tarpon and snook throughout the season. This unique concentration of species creates one of the Caribbean’s finest Grand Slam programs—a rare chance to pursue all four coveted flats species within close proximity. More than a decade of exploration by ESB’s experienced guides, paired with a low-impact conservation approach and refined hospitality, has shaped an experience that is both wild and unforgettable.
Accommodations
ESB Lodge is intimate by design, built to comfortably accommodate eight anglers per week in the remote wilderness of Mexico’s Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Located directly on the beachfront, the lodge combines authentic Caribbean character with thoughtful comforts tailored specifically for traveling anglers.
Fishing in Espíritu Santo Bay
The diversity of habitats found across Bahía Espíritu Santo creates ideal conditions for permit, bonefish, tarpon, and snook to thrive within the same interconnected system. White sand flats, turtle grass lagoons, deep tidal channels, mangrove shorelines, and remote backcountry estuaries all combine to produce a fishery where anglers regularly encounter multiple species throughout a single day — and often on the same flat.
Location
ESB Lodge is located deep within the protected wilderness of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve along the remote southern shoreline of Espiritu Santo Bay on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reserve spans more than 1.3 million acres of protected mangroves, lagoons, estuaries, flats, and Caribbean coastline, creating one of the most pristine and lightly pressured saltwater fisheries remaining in the region.
Rates 2027
Plan Your TripFebruary to November
| Shared room & boat | Single room & boat | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Nights & 6 days fishing | $7,200p/person | $10,650p/person |
Shared room & boat
- 7 Nights & 6 days fishing$7,200p/person
Single room & boat
- 7 Nights & 6 days fishing$10,650p/person
- *Rates are in USD per person. All ESB Lodge fishing weeks run Sunday to Sunday.
Other Similar Nervous Waters Destinations
Explore other exceptional saltwater fly-fishing destinations within the Nervous Waters portfolio. From the flats of the Bahamas to the waters of the Mexican Caribbean, discover our collection of lodges, each offering its own unique fishing experience.
Book Your Trip
Located within Mexico’s Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Espíritu Santo Bay Lodge (ESB) offers an exceptional saltwater fly-fishing experience in the heart of the Mexican Caribbean. Part of the Nervous Waters family, ESB provides access to remote flats, pristine lagoons, and world-class permit fishing in one of the region’s most protected coastal environments.
