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.
2026 Rates: Boat rates and room rates are priced separately, allowing you to customize your package.
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:
Boats: Van Wormer Resorts has over fifty boats in its fleet—the most extensive sportfishing fleet in Mexico: 28 to 32 foot fiberglass cruisers and 23 to 25 ft. super pangas. Many package options are available.
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. Bait is $40 per person per day. A detailed packing list is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing Licenses: are not included in the package and cost $22 per day or $75 per week (subject to change). Licenses are available for purchase at the Resorts.
Fish Care: Fish care and East Cape Smokehouse services are available to prepare your catch for the trip home. Pricing ranges from $2.50-$4.50 per pound, with smoking services $4-$7 per pound (subject to change).
A Typical Fishing Day (for both hotels)
A Typical Fishing Day – Quick Overview
Breakfast at the hotel (not included)
Start Time: 7:00 a.m. — Meet your captain at the dock.
Fishing Time: Morning through early afternoon
Travel Time: averages 20 to 30 minutes, often trolling along the way.
Return Time: Typically between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m.
Lunch on the Boat: Food, beverages, and snacks are not provided. Anglers should purchase lunches and drinks in advance from the hotel snack bar, restaurants, or gift shop before departing for the day.
Dinners are on your own, and there are numerous choices within walking distance or a 5-15 minute drive from the hotel.
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 an on-site par-three 9-hole golf course. Other land-based activities include ATV rentals, horseback riding, eco-tours, and shopping excursions to Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, the capital city. 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.
Click 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 popular 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 Resort:
1.) You can fly to either Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) or La Paz International Airport (LAP). We recommend flying to Los Cabos (SJD), as the drive from the airport to the resort is significantly shorter than from La Paz.
2.) The Resort works with a ground transfer company offering reasonable rates. Round-trip transfers from Los Cabos to the resort (2025 rates) are:
• $100 per person for a party of two
• $53 per person for a party of four
The drive from Los Cabos to Van Wormer Resorts in Los Barriles is approximately 45 miles and typically takes about one hour. The drive from La Paz to Los Barriles is roughly 70 miles and takes just under two hours, depending on traffic and conditions.
Dining Options
The Bay View Restaurant
Meals: The packages do not include meals or beverages. 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. Our confirmation packet includes a list of local restaurants.
Customize your Package
2026 USD Boat Rates
Daily Boat Rates - a 16% sales tax is not included.
Includes fishing.
Rates for Hotel Guests at Van Wormer Resorts:
Super Panga: $456.50 - up to 3 anglers
Standard Cruiser: $770 - up to 4 anglers
Deluxe Cruiser: $825 - up to 4 anglers
Super Cruiser: $1,100 - $1,500 -up to 6 anglers
2026 USD Rates
Playa del Sol Packages:
Nightly Rates for Playa del Sol
Rates do not include a 16% sales tax and a 4% bed tax.
Garden Room:
Double occupancy room: $150
Triple: $170
Poolside Room:
Double occupancy room: $170
Triple: $190
Quad: $210
King: (2 adults) $210
Oceanview Room:
Double occupancy room: $210
Triple: $230
Quad: $250
King: (2 adults) $250
2026 USD Rates
Palmas de Cortez Packages:
Nightly Rates for Palmas de Cortez
Rates do not include a 16% sales tax and a 4% bed tax.
Cabana:
Double occupancy room: $190
Triple: $210
Quad: $230
Garden Room:
Double occupancy room: $240
Triple: $260
Quad: $280
King: (2 adults) $240
Poolside Room:
Double occupancy room: $220
Triple: $240
Quad: $260
King: (2 adults) $220
Oceanview Room:
Double occupancy room: $240
Triple: $260
Quad: $280
King: (2 adults) $240
Two Bedroom Condo (up to 6 adults) $624
One Bedroom Master Suite $360
Deluxe Master Suite with a king bed and a kitchenette $420
Two Bedroom Presidential Suite $720
Three Bedroom Penthouse (up to 8 adults) $1,200
The Packages Do Not Include:
• Airfare • Ground transfers between the airport(s) and the Resort
• Meals and beverages at the Resorts
• Fishing license, $22 per day or $75 per week
• Live bait, about $40 p.p. per day
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• East Cape Smokehouse fish care
• 16% sales tax on the total package
• 3% bed tax
• Tourist Tax, approximately $26.25 per person
• Global Rescue coverage
• Travel insurance
• Anything not listed under inclusions.
• Rates are subject to change.
Fishing with Larry Payment Options:
1.) Credit card (a 2.5% convenience fee applies)
2.) Check. Please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to Fishing with Larry P.O. Box 419 Columbus, MT 59019.
3.) Wire Transfer (Send money electronically – typically a $15 to $30 fee for domestic transfers and $45 - $50 for international transfers.)
Please email Toni at toni@fishingwithlarry.com for wire instructions.
Van Wormer Resorts Policies:
Deposit Policy: A 25% deposit is due within 10 days upon booking for the total amount of lodging to confirm the reservation. The remaining balance is due 90 days before your arrival.
Van Wormer’s Boat Deposit Policy: A 25% deposit is due within 10 days of booking for the total amount of lodging to confirm the reservation. The remaining balance is due 90 days before your arrival.
Van Wormer’s Cancellation Policy:
Room Cancellations: A 10% bank service fee applies to all refunds because this is a non-recoverable charge incurred during the processing of payments.
● Cancellations 60+ days before arrival: Deposits are refundable, minus a 10% bank service fee applied to all refunds.
● Cancellations 30-60 days before arrival: Guests will receive credit toward a future trip for the full deposit amount.
● Cancellations within 30 days of arrival: The 25% deposit will be forfeited.
Boat Cancellations by the Client:
● Cancellations 60+ days before arrival: Guests will receive credit toward a future trip for the full boat payment.
● Cancellations within 60 days of arrival: The full boat payment will be forfeited.
● Please note that boat payments are non-refundable once booked.
Cancellations made at the Resort:
● Rooms or boats canceled at the resort will be charged the full amount.
Boat Charter Cancellation by the Resort: If weather or unsafe conditions result in a resort-initiated cancellation, they will work to reschedule your charter during your stay. If rescheduling isn’t possible, no penalty will apply.
"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 and 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 decided 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
