Golden Dorado fishing in Bolivia summary
Fish for mighty golden dorado in the heart of Bolivian jungle and deep within the north west region of the Isiboro Sécure National Park, some 125 miles from the capital city of La Paz. This remote region is only accessible by private charter flight or by boat in times of very high water. The crystal clear mountain rivers and streams running through the park provide sanctuary for huge golden dorado and the surrounding jungle environment is a haven for a diverse and colourful range of wildlife.
These fast flowing freestone rivers and streams provide challenging and rewarding sport to anglers fishing a floating line on 7 to 9 weight single handed rods. As the water is so clear great care must be taken not to spook the fish, and the sight-angling experience has been likened to fishing an English chalk stream, but with a potentially far larger quarry and in a tropical environment. Guests normally fish in pairs and are accompanied by an expert and dedicated fishing guide whilst on the river, with the evening spent relaxing in comfort at the charming and intimate Tsimane Lodge, where the service and cuisine are both of the highest standard. The lodge consists of just four bedrooms, sleeping a maximum of six guests, and is surrounded by pristine jungle inhabited by beautiful tropical birds. Due to limited availability and strong demand we strongly recommend that anyone wishing to fish for golden dorado in the Bolivian jungle (the season runs from April to October) books this unique experience at least 8 months in advance. Please contact us for further information.
Fisherman will have 6 ½ full days fishing and 10 nights on a full board basis. Only groups of 6 anglers will share the lodge, and they will never fish the same water on the same day. We have more than 80kms of pristine rivers exclusively inside our right on the National Park, Following these principles, we designed the following itinerary that off course might be adapted according to our guest’s requirements and weather or fishing conditions.
Day 1: On arrival into Santa Cruz, Viru Viru International airport, you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to the 5* hotel, Los Tajibos.
Day 2: After breakfast you will be collected at approximately 10:00hrs and transferred to the local domestic airport in time to catch the charter flight to Tsimane Secure lodge. On arrival at the Indian community landing strip, approximately 1hr 45minutes later you will be transferred to the boat in order to be transferred over water to the lodge, a journey of approximately 10 minutes. After settling into the lodge you will be served cocktails and receive a brief explanation of your fishing days in Secure waters. Two anglers will be transferred with their guide to the new refugee camp on the headwaters of Secure, a boat journey of one-hour. The refugee camp is similar to the lodge, with guest rooms, spring beds, a bathroom with hot water and electric power. It is more simple and intimate than the lodge and it was built in a spectacular jungle plateau near Yahana Creek mouth, which gives access up to the very headwaters of secure and Yahana creek fishing areas. Please note that the anglers that go to Yahana Refugee should pack lightly and only carry the essential items needed for one days fishing and a one night stay. The other 4 anglers will spend the night at the lodge. Fishing at the home pool and preparing for the days ahead. Each day teams fish one of the beats in the Secure area.
Day 3: After breakfast the three teams will begin their days fishing:
Team 1 – Refugee: Today you will fish the upper section of Secure and some creeks. In the afternoon you will head back to the lodge.
Team 2 – Today you will fish up on the middle section of secure river. By late afternoon you will arrive at Yahana Refugee.
Team 3 – Today you will fish downstream until you reach the Secure Rapids. This afternoon you will head back to the lodge.
Day 4: Today the teams will fish different beats of the river as below:
Team 1 – Today you will fish downstream until you reach the Secure Rapids. This afternoon you will head back to the lodge.
Team 2 – Refugee: Today you will fish the upper section of Secure and some creeks. In the afternoon you will head back to the lodge.
Team 3 – Today you will fish the upper section of Secure and some creeks. In the afternoon you will head back to the lodge.
Day 5: Today the teams will fish different beats of the river as below:
Team 1 – Today you will fish up on middle section of secure river. By late afternoon you will head back to the lodge.
Team 2 – Today you will fish downstream until you reach the Secure Rapids. By late afternoon you will head back to the lodge.
Team 3 – Refugee: Today you will fish the upper section of Secure and some creeks. In the afternoon you will head back to the lodge.
Day 6: This morning you will be transferred by plane to Tsimane Pluma Base Camp. On arrival at the Oromomo Indian Community you will be transferred by boats to the Secure Dock, a journey of approximately 15 minutes. On arrival at the dock
you will be transferred by 4×4 vehicles on a wonderful road in the middle of the jungle until you reach Pluma Lodge. Depending on time of arrival there may be a chance to fish in the home pool before dinner and overnight at the Pluma Lodge.
Days 7 to 9: Each day teams will fish one of the beats in the Pluma area and by the end of the day head back to Pluma Lodge.
Day 10: In the morning you will be transferred by 4×4 vehicle and boat to the Oromomo Indian Community in time for your charter flight back to Santa Cruz. On arrival you will be transferred to Los Tajibos Hotel.
Day 11: After breakfast and according your flight departure time you will be collected from the hotel and transferred to the international airport in time to check in to your flight home.
Notes:
The price is inclusive of 9 night’s accommodation, 6 full days fishing, all services and charter flights in / out of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The price does not include international flights into Santa Cruz international airport, items of a personal nature, gratuities, and visa fees.
As ATOL license holders (#6445) we can book seats on most major airlines at competitive prices. We are able to make the booking (and fix the best price, less taxes and fuel charges) up to a year in advance with payment not normally due until 8 weeks before departure – this means that we can release your seats at anytime up until payment is due without penalty.
UK citizens currently do not require a visa to visit Bolivia for a stay of up to 90 days.
Neither Wild and Exotic nor the operators or suppliers can accept any responsibility for changes to itineraries or dates that may arise due to weather or unforeseen circumstances such as changes, disruptions or delays to airline flights for whatever reason. This holiday is subject to Wild and Exotic’s terms and conditions, a copy of which is available on this website under the general info tab.
Bolivia general information and map
Capital: Sucre
Getting there: There are no direct flights to Bolivia from the UK, however Aerosur now flies to Santa Cruz from Madrid, Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Miami. There are also regular flights from Madrid (Barajas) and other European/non-European countries to the international Airport in El Alto, La Paz. We recommend if you are flying straight to Bolivia where possible you fly to Santa Cruz and then move onto Sucre and La Paz allowing your body to acclimatize to the very high altitude in La Paz. It is also possible to enter Bolivia overland from the North via Peru and from the South via Argentina.
Time: GMT minus 4 hours
Try not to miss: Uyuni is a one horse town in the high Altiplano, but is also the gateway to the largest and most spectacular salt flats in the world that cover an area of some 12,000 square kilometers. Allow at least one full day to explore this bizarre landscape with your guide and four wheel drive vehicle, although some of our guests prefer to spend up to 3 full days here.
Potosi is town of contrasts and once reputed to have been the richest city in the world. Valuable minerals have been mined here more or less continuously for the last 500 years and it is said a bridge could be built from Potosi to Madrid from mined silver alone. A visit to the cooperative mines provides a fascinating insight into the miner’s lifestyle, whereas the colonial side of town contains some fine architecture, including the coin museum and Bolivia’s only pedestrian street.
Sucre is actually the capital city of Bolivia, and at an altitude of some 2,500 meters nearly 1500 meters lower than La Paz or Potosi. Reaching this beautiful colonial city and its stunning main square surrounded by buildings of great character and antiquity is akin to entering another world, specially if the visitor has come down from the high Altiplano. We recommend a stay of at least two nights in this most charming and beautiful of all Bolivian cities.
The extraordinary high altitude city of La Paz is a sight to behold, especially at night when millions of twinkling lights appear hemmed in by the steep mountains that form that natural boundary for the city. The Tiwanaku ruins lie between La Paz and Lake Titicaca, a legacy of one of the oldest civilizations in the Americas whose culture collapsed around a thousand years ago due to a prolonged drought.
Travellers passing through Bolivia en route to Peru will visit Lake Titicaca last of all during their tour of this country. Lake Titicaca, which is the highest navigable lake in the world and falls within the boundaries of both Bolivia and Peru, was home to a race of people who lived on reed islands in order to evade the all conquering Incas. We recommend a hydrofoil cruise and overnight stay on Sun Island at the charming posada de Inca eco lodge, from which base the island can be explored.
Most visitors to Bolivia concentrate on the high altitude sights and cities described above, however a visit to Santa Cruz is to experience the tropical climate of the lowlands, from where Jesuit settlements are accessible. The Madidi National Park in the north west of the country includes a large sector of pristine Amazon rain forest within its 4.5 million acres that is home to 44% of all new world species of mammal and more than a thousand species of bird. We can also arrange the best golden dorado fly fishing in the world in the Bolivian Amazon, please contact us for details.
Visas: No visa is required for visits of up to 90 days for UK citizens.
Why Bolivia: Because it is an unspoilt country rich in culture and physically very beautiful. Sandwiched between the better known and more accessible countries of Argentina and Peru, Bolivia is an unmissable destination for travellers with enough time on their hands to indulge a comprehensive South American itinerary, and also a worthy destination in its own right.