Peacock Bass and Payara Expedition - Colombia Trip Details

Peacock Bass and Payara Expedition - Colombia Trip
Outline

Experience the best fishing in the Colombian Amazon basin!

"Asiwere' means Big Peacock bass in Sikuani, yet peacock bass are but a small part of what the fishing at Mapiri Lodge has to offer. Fish for monster peacock bass, payara on topwater, 20 pound pacu on flies, disproportionally large matrinxas, gilded and red tail catfish over 100 pounds, giant piraiba and tambaqui pushing 80 pounds.

It's great when you have several of these species in one place, but to have all these species, in these sizes and abundance is nothing short of spectacular.

OCT NOV 2023 Itinerary:  OCT 29 - Arrive in Bogota, Colombia  OCT 30 - Flight Bogota to San José del Guaviare  OCT 30 - Boat from SJG to Mapiri Lodge  OCT 31 - Fish Day 1 NOV 1 - Fish Day 2 NOV 2 - Fish Day 3 NOV 3 - Fish Day 4 NOV 4 - Fish Day 5 NOV 5 - Fish Day 6 NOV 6 - Boat from Mapiri Lodge - SJG -  NOV 7 - Flight from SJG - Bogota  NOV 9 - Bogota to Home

Price includes:

  • Domestic flights
  • $900.00 Indigenous Fee
  • 2 nights at the Marriott Courtyard in Bogota
  • All meals and snacks
  • Unlimited beer and soft drinks
  • Professional guides
  • Camping gear

Price Excludes:

  • Tips (recommended $500)
  • Fishing tackle (freshwater)
  • Meals first and last night in Bogota

Guests will be treated to wall tent accommodations at the main camp and comfortable wilderness tent camping at the upper camp.

There is no cell service on the river but guests will have access to a satellite phone if an emergency arises

Currency:

Colombian Peso. Please make sure you bring enough to settle extra expenses in town and tips. Tips can be done in Dollars but pesos is more convenient for the staff

Tackle is not included

Wilderness camping: While we try to make the camp as comfortable as possible, guests are advised that this trip is aimed at the adventurous with a bare minimum level of fitness required

A 50% deposit is required to secure your rod with the balance to be paid 45 days before the trip.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

INSURANCE:

While basic travel insurance is included, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that clients purchase Global Rescue insurance.

MEDICAL EVACUATIONS:

It is important that clients have adequate travel and medical insurance that includes Medical Evacuation from point of Injury. Global Rescue offers the most comprehensive and inclusive insurance.

CANCELLATION PROCEDURE:

Cancellation by client: Notification of cancellation must be in writing and is effective as of the date it is received by Fish Colombia Expeditions. Should a person cancel a tour and cannot find an immediate replacement:

If Fish Colombia has more than 180 days notice, deposit is forfeited unless dates can be resold, in which case a 10% admin fee will apply.

If Fish Colombia has between 179 and 91 days notice, 70% of tour costs are forfeited, unless the client can find a replacement. In which case a 10% admin fee will apply.

If Fish Colombia has less than 90 days notice, 100% of our costs are forfeited, unless the client can find a replacement in which case a 15% admin fee will apply.

If you fail to join a tour, or join after departure, or leave prior to its completion, no reimbursement whatsoever will be made.

Requirements

RECOMMENDED GEAR LIST

Flyfishing Tackle

RODS:

  • Powerful lightweight rods capable of casting heavy lines, wind resistant flies, and subduing river monsters in 8-10 wt. 
  • Preferred equipment - Hardy Zane Pro, Thomas & Thomas Sextant or EXOCETT 450.  (Note - you may wish to replace tip top guides with ceramic inserts as line forces are extreme in this fishery and SS steel tip tops erode very quickly)

 

REELS:

  • Reels for Peacock Bass must be robustly built to withstand the massive torque these fish possess.  Most fish will not be brought on to the reel, but to land that trophy you will need a silky smooth and powerful drag.
  • Reels for Payara must have strong drags capable of stopping these powerful and fast fish - minimum 250 yds of backing is required.  In both cases lightweight reels are preferred as you will be casting all day!
  • Preferred Equipment - Lamson Lightspeed M 10, Hardy Zane Carbon

LINES:

  • An assortment of lines from floating to intermediate to fast sinking. 
  • This fishery utterly destroys poorly made flylines in a matter of hours.  Between the heat, the heavy flies, and the powerful river monsters, inferior lines will disappoint.  It is best to bring a back up of at least 1 or 2 primary lines.
  • Regular use of line dressing and line cleaner will make your trip much more enjoyable and fruitful.
  • Preferred Equipment:
      • SONAR TITAN TROPICAL/JUNGLE CLEAR TIP
      • SONAR SINK 30 CLEAR
      • SONAR TROPICAL/JUNGLE CUSTOM TIP (Bring 2, one cut to 300ish grs, and one cut to 400ish hrs)
      • AMPLITUDE TEXTURED TROPICAL JUNGLE TITAN FLOATING

LEADER:

  • All of these fish are ultra powerful.  A 15lbs Peacock bass can pop 40-50 lbs fluorocarbon leader like a 3lbs Rainbow trout pops 6X!  A selection of regular mono an fluorocarbon leader in 40-80 lbs is recommended, regular for top water and fluoro for subsurface presentations.  Utilising a 2 part leader system with a furled upper and single strand lower is ideal, ie half strength upper furled, 40/50 lbs, followed by 60-80 lbs single strand.
  • Stout wire leaders are absolutely necessary for Payara and Pacu.
  • Preferred Equipment - Varivas Fluorocarbon Shock Tippet, Varivas Nylon Mono Shock Tippet

Personal Equipment

  • Typical Tropical sun gear - shirts, hats, pants, gloves etc.  Most fishing will be from the boats, so some form of comfortable footwear which allows you to move around the boat, and in and out effectively is recommended.  Light hikers are a great choice, especially for the couple of times where we walk 15-20 mins around rapids and to the hike in lagoon 30-45 mins.
  • Quality polarised sunglasses
  • SPF
  • Light weight rain gear - while it may not rain at all - if it does you will be thankful you stayed dry, traveling at 20kts in an open boat soaking wet is a miserable experience!

Camping/Expedition Gear

This trip is truly for the adventurous and you will be rewarded for your efforts.  However, some simple gear will make the difference between your comfort and misery!  It is highly suggested that you bring along some form of inflatable or padded ground matt - or even a backpacking cot such as a Helinox.  Think camping - BC interior stillwater fishing!

 

 

Duration

Oct 29 - Nov 9 12 days

Pricing

Priced Per Person  

1 - $4,337.58

Available Trip Dates

Sorry, it appears we have not finalized a date yet or the current dates are full. We can place you on the wait list and contact you when new dates have been added.

 

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