A sailfish trip off Guatemala’s Pacific coast is sold either as a day charter or as a multi-day lodge package. On 9 October 2026, GetMyBoat listed two general sportfishing day charters (the listings name no target species) on 31-foot boats out of Puerto San José at $1,500 and $1,600 a day for up to 6 guests, while the lodges price per person: Buena Vista Sport Fishing Resort’s 4-night, 3-day packages ran from $2,703 to $5,422, and Intensity Sport Fishing’s 2026-2027 packages from $3,350 to $10,200 per angler. The more anglers share the boat, the lower the per-person price at both lodges.
This page covers who sells the trips, what they cost, which boats they use and what each source says about the season. It does not cover the law. Licences, the sailfish rules and penalties are on our sport-fishing licence and rules page, which does not rate operators; this page does not restate it.
Quick summary
| Option (seller) | Price, read 9 Oct 2026 | Unit | Boat | Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31’ Sportfishing Yacht, captain included (GetMyBoat listing) | $1,600 | per day, up to 6 guests | 31 ft | Puerto San José |
| Luxury Bertram 31 Sport Fishing Charter, day charters (GetMyBoat listing) | $1,500 | per day, up to 6 guests | Bertram 31 | Port of San José |
| Buena Vista Sport Fishing Resort, game boats | $2,703 to $4,495 | per person, 4 nights / 3 days fishing | 26 ft and 28 ft Pro Kat | Buena Vista island, Iztapa |
| Buena Vista Sport Fishing Resort, premier boats | $3,075 to $5,422 | per person, 4 nights / 3 days fishing | Fleet page lists Legacy (41 ft) and Cañaso (37 ft) | Buena Vista island, Iztapa |
| Intensity Sport Fishing, 2026-2027 package | $3,350 to $10,200 | per angler, 5 days / 4 nights / 3 days billfishing | 37 ft Intensity | San José marina |
| Guatemala Sportfishing Getaway (Captain Experiences) | from $8,316 | not stated on the listing | 43 ft, 1-12 people | Puerto Quetzal |
Each price is the seller’s own figure on its own page on 9 October 2026, in US dollars. GetMyBoat and Captain Experiences are booking marketplaces; the GetMyBoat listings do not name the owner on the listing page.
Lodge packages, by number of anglers
The two lodges publish per-person tables. Both drop sharply as more anglers share a boat:
| Anglers | Buena Vista, premier boats (4 nights / 3 days) | Buena Vista, game boats (4 nights / 3 days) | Intensity 2026-2027 (5 days / 4 nights / 3 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | not listed | not listed | $10,200 |
| 2 | $5,422 | $4,495 | $5,500 |
| 3 | $4,118 | $3,500 | $4,500 |
| 4 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $3,650 |
| 5 | $3,075 | $2,703 | $3,350 |
| Extra fishing day | $1,702 / $1,250 / $1,030 / $898 (2-5 anglers) | $1,372 / $1,040 / $875 / $775 (2-5 anglers) | $3,050 / $1,650 / $1,300 / $1,000 / $900 (1-5 anglers) |
Buena Vista: price per person, single-occupancy room, from its fleet page. Intensity: rates per angler, double occupancy, from its pricing page; non-angling companions, children and single rooms are quoted on request. Both read 9 October 2026.
What the packages include. Intensity lists VIP airport reception, chauffeured transfers between the airport and the lodge, daily marina transfers, double-occupancy rooms, all meals, three full days of fishing, tournament tackle and flies, lunch and drinks on board, and laundry. It excludes international airfare, tips for lodge staff, captains, crews and drivers, and tours and meals outside the lodge. Buena Vista says everything is included except tips for captains, mates and staff, and its itinerary page also leaves out top-shelf liquor.
Tips on top. Buena Vista recommends $150 to $250 per boat per day for the boat crew and $20 per guest per day for resort staff. Budget for it: on a 3-day package that is $450 to $750 for the crew alone, split among the anglers.
The day-charter route
If you are staying elsewhere and only want a day on the water, the two GetMyBoat listings above are day prices for the whole boat, so four anglers splitting the $1,600 boat pay $400 each. GetMyBoat’s listing page did not show what the day includes beyond the captain on the 31-foot yacht and the all-inclusive plans on the Bertram; ask for the inclusions, the start time and the hours at sea in writing before paying.
The marketplace Captain Experiences (page last updated 30 September 2026) listed five Guatemala trips, from Puerto Quetzal and Iztapa: the Guatemala Sportfishing Getaway guided by Eddie (43 ft, 1-12 people, from $8,316), and four packages managed by Ozzy on a 32-foot boat (Pacific Fins Villa & Offshore, two Performance packages and the World Class Pacific Billfish Bash), without a price shown on the listing page.
Season: who says which months
| Source | What it says about sailfish | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista Sport Fishing Resort | available all year, most abundant October through May; marlin October through April; tuna and mahi-mahi year round | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Captain Experiences | most abundant November to April, the peak season; offshore prime season November to April; rainy season May to October brings heavier rain and choppier water on the Pacific coast | 9 Oct 2026 (page updated 30 Sep 2026) |
November to April sits inside both windows. Captain Experiences’ own page also says “The most popular season for fishing in Guatemala is summer, and most anglers book their trips 0 days in advance”, which contradicts its sailfish paragraph; the month-by-month text above is the specific one.
The boats and the bases
- Intensity is a custom 37-foot boat built by DCN, which its page says is ideal for up to four anglers and for fly fishermen, with twin 450 hp diesels. It is one of about a dozen sportfishing boats at the San José marina, which Intensity calls the only major marina on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. The lodge is 10 minutes from the marina and a 90-minute drive from Guatemala City, according to Intensity.
- Buena Vista Sport Fishing Resort sits on a private waterfront property on the island of Buena Vista, near Iztapa, with the boats docked at the resort; its sample itinerary has the boat leaving the dock between 6:30 and 7:00 AM.
- Species the operators list: Intensity names dorado, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and three species of marlin alongside sailfish; Captain Experiences lists black, blue and striped marlin, mahi mahi, sailfish, wahoo, yellowfin and skipjack tuna and roosterfish.
For the towns themselves, see Iztapa and Puerto San José. For the drive down, Guatemala City to Puerto San José, and for the sea state before you go, INSIVUMEH’s wave warnings on our Pacific marine forecast. In the same waters, whale-watching trips leave from Puerto Quetzal in season.
Before you book
- Day rate or per-person package? The GetMyBoat prices are for the boat; the lodge prices are per person.
- How many anglers? Both lodges price a 2-angler trip well above a 4- or 5-angler trip.
- What is included? Ask for transfers, meals, drinks, tackle and hours at sea in writing.
- Tips: at Buena Vista, $150-$250 per boat per day for the crew is on top of the package.
- The rules: read the licence and rules page and ask the operator about its licence.
Where to stay
The lodge packages include rooms. Both GetMyBoat day charters are based in Puerto San José; Buena Vista is near Iztapa.
Where to stay in Iztapa
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Prices, inclusions, boats and season statements were read on 9 October 2026 on each operator’s or marketplace’s own page, in US dollars. Lodge prices are per person and day-charter prices per boat. Confirm the current rate and what it includes with the operator before you book.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a sailfish charter cost in Guatemala?
On 9 October 2026 GetMyBoat listed two day charters on 31-foot sportfishing boats out of Puerto San José at $1,500 and $1,600 a day for up to 6 guests; these are general sportfishing day charters, and the listings do not name a target species. Lodge packages are priced per person: Buena Vista Sport Fishing Resort’s 4 nights and 3 days of fishing ran from $2,703 per person (5 anglers on its game boats) to $5,422 (2 anglers on its premier boats), and Intensity Sport Fishing’s 2026-2027 package of 5 days, 4 nights and 3 days of billfishing ran from $3,350 per angler (5 anglers) to $10,200 (single angler). Each is that operator’s own price on that date.
When is sailfish season in Guatemala?
The two sources give different windows. Buena Vista Sport Fishing Resort says sailfish are available all year but most abundant October through May. The booking site Captain Experiences says sailfish are most abundant from November to April and calls that the peak season, and describes May to October as the rainy season with heavier rain and choppier water on the Pacific coast. November to April is inside both windows.
Where do sailfish charters leave from in Guatemala?
From the Pacific coast of Escuintla. Intensity Sport Fishing’s boat is docked at the San José marina, which Intensity calls the only major marina on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. Buena Vista Sport Fishing Resort keeps its boats at its own dock on the island of Buena Vista, near Iztapa. The GetMyBoat day charters list Puerto San José, and Captain Experiences lists trips from Puerto Quetzal and Iztapa.
Do I need a fishing licence for sailfish in Guatemala, and can I keep the fish?
The law on sport-fishing licences, sailfish and release is on our separate page on Guatemala’s sport-fishing licence and rules; this page covers charters, prices and season only. Ask your operator about its licence before you book.
What is included in a Guatemala sailfish lodge package?
Intensity Sport Fishing lists airport reception, ground transfers, daily marina transfers, double-occupancy rooms, all meals, three full days of fishing, tackle and flies, lunch and drinks on board and laundry; airfare, tips and outside tours are not included. Buena Vista says everything is included except tips for captains, mates and staff, recommends $150 to $250 per boat per day for the boat crew and $20 per guest per day for resort staff, and lists top-shelf liquor as not included.
