Deep in Bolivia’s jungle-cloaked foothills, Tsimane is home to Untamed Angling’s exclusive catch-and-release fishing lodges, set along the Sécure, Agua Negra, and Pluma rivers.
Their heli-fishing experience is based out of their Pluma Lodge, built entirely from wood cut from the surrounding jungle. Daily helicopter flights of 5-10 minutes transport you to fish unspoilt waters abundant in dorado, pacù, yatorana, and surubí.
Back at the lodge, five simple yet comfortable rooms accommodate up to eight guests, each with a private bathroom, spring box beds, hot water, and electricity. Post-cast, anglers can swap stories over international cuisine and fine Argentine, Chilean, and Bolivian wines in the lodge’s dining room. A well-stocked bar, small jacuzzi and massage room offer further comforts.
What we love about Tsimane
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The location of Sécure Lodge at the headwaters of the main river system, offering outstanding pacú fishing, and also a big dorado population downstream.
- Agua Dorado Lodge, positioned next to the best waters for sightcasting, with big dorado up to 30 pounds / 13.5 kilos, and with overnight camping / fishing possibilities.
- The exclusive heli fishing from Pluma Lodge with unparalleled angling experience in remote, unspoilt waters, combined with a first-class lodge and impeccable service.
Fly-fishing at Tsimane is not for the faint-hearted. These are wild, unpressured waters, where golden dorado hunt in clear mountain rivers that cut through untouched rainforest.
There are days of frenzied action, when the fish explode from the depths, and others that demand patience, precision, and a well-placed cast. Sight fishing in these shallow, crystalline waters calls for stealth, dry fly hunts require quick reflexes, and the flies – larger than most anglers are used to – demand a firm hand and a keen eye on the guide’s advice.
Most of the fishing here is done wet-wading, navigating rivers that shift constantly, from sandy and small gravel beaches to sharp volcanic rock shoals, and then transitioning through all manner of freestones and boulder-strewn rivers. Wading is not dangerous nor overly demanding, but there is plenty of it.
Note that Tsimane practices a strict catch-and-release policy for all species, avoiding unnecessary handling of the fish, and barbless hooks are mandatory. This allows for releasing the fish with minimal injuries, but also for the safety of all anglers.
Fly into the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz (VVI) on an international flight. Upon arrival in Santa Cruz, you will be met by a member of the Tsimane team at the airport and transferred to a 5-Star hotel for their first night in Bolivia.
When to Travel
May to to October
Tsimane is open for fishing during the dry season, from May up to and including October, a period in which the most astonishing migration of sabalo and dorados in South America takes place. These fish arrive by the millions every year, seeking to find the breeding grounds where they then spawn from December to January.
Although the fishing season is in winter, the weather is considerably hot. During the day, temperatures can range from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius (68 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). Usually, the climate is not as humid or hot as that of the Brazilian Amazon because Tsimane Lodges are in the mountains. This also means that the nights are cool.
ENQUIRE NOWLooking for more inspiration? Learn more about our bespoke sporting holidays and adventures, or discover our other luxury fishing lodges.
