Orinoco Payara Adventure
Colombia
Key Details
Accommodation
Jungle Lodge
Season
December – April
Species
Payara, Peacock Bass, Sardinata
Style
Spinning & Fly-Fishing
Razor-toothed vampire fish in remote jungle waters.
Bucket List Payara.
Why We Go ➜
- Trophy Fishing: Shots at 30 lb+ payara, 20 lb peacock bass, and even world-record size sardinata.
- Remote Jungle Expedition: Camping in one of the most untouched corners of the northern Orinoco Basin, with the comfort and amenities of a fixed lodge.
- Biodiversity Hotspot: The Orinoco lies within the most biodiverse region on the planet, a fully protected river system surrounded by pristine rainforest. Expect to encounter Amazon river dolphins, tapirs, green anacondas, giant otters, and perhaps even the elusive jaguar.
- Immersive Adventure: Beyond fishing, experience cultural encounters with Indigenous communities, guided jungle walks, and wildlife safaris that connect you deeply to the Amazon ecosystem.
8 Day Adventure
$4,200 per angler
- Five days guided Peacock Bass & Payara fishing.
- Two nights hotel in Bogota on arrival & departure.
- Five nights lodging at the riverside camp.
- All meals, snacks, soft drinks, and beers at the camp.
Fishing both the Orinoco and the Tomo, Terrecay and Mesetas rivers, this is a perfect mix between world class wading class IV rapids in search of 20 pound+ Payara and giant Sardinata on the Orinoco river, and excellent opportunities at catching multiple 10-22 pound Peacock Bass on a variety of flies and lures. Great catfish fishing is also available for Jau (gilded catfish), Red-tail Catfish (pirarara), Piraiba (valenton) and Surubi Catfish (shovel nose).
The operation runs December through April. This coincides with the dry season, this is when the rivers drop and the fish enter the main channels and lagoons, creating an underwater world teaming with an abundance of predatory fish seen nowhere else. February to late March is the prime time for world-record Sardinata.
The vast area of the Orinoco is home to hundreds of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects who live in harmony with one of the wildest areas of the Amazon basin. Each expedition is carefully designed, in order to have a responsible approach to the fauna and flora in the region and the importance of them in the natural environment.
Lodging:
Full-size individual cabins and tents with single beds, private bathrooms and showers in every room means the benefits of camping in the most remote and virgin corner of the northern Orinoco Basin, without sacrificing any comfort of a fixed lodge. Guests are advised that this trip is aimed at adventurous anglers with a minimum level of fitness required. There is no cell service on the river but guests have access to a satellite phone if an emergency arises.
Food & Drinks:
Local freshly-made Colombian cuisine designed and served by on-site chefs.
Unlimited beer, soft drinks and snacks.
Other Activities:
- Wildlife Safaris
- Birdwatching Tours and Photography
- Accompany the local guides on traditional hunts or gathering fruit and seeds from the jungle
Orinoco Lodge is located on Cejal Island in the remote Vichada region of Colombia near the border of Venezuela.
How to get there:
Fly into Bogota, Colombia (El Dorado International Airport) and spend the night at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel.
Direct flights from several US and European locations are available.
Take a domestic flight to Puerto Carreno, before driving to the Orinoco Camp.
Documents Required:
A valid passport is required. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and other Western European nations do not need a visa for tourist trips of up to ninety days.
Sample Itinerary
Trip Duration: 7-10 Days
Day 1:
Arrive in Bogota, Columbia. Our host will be waiting to pick you up at the airport to take you to the Marriott Courtyard Hotel.
Day 2-4: Orinoco Island Camp – Payara Fishing
The next day you will join the main guide in the hotel to take the daily flight from Bogota to Puerto Carreno. You will be met by our driver who will drive the group through natural savannah’s full of deer, tapir, pumas and anacondas until you reach the mouth of the Tomo River. You’ll spend the night in the Orinoco Camp which is known for great Payara fishing.
The Orinoco Camp is located in the area with the least rapids.
*Depending on the groups interests you have the option to spend 3 days camping at one of the jungle camps on a tributary 3 hours away by car, called the Tomó or Tuparro river. With an array of world class lagoons across the way, many unfished and unreachable untill now. The option of targeting these lagoons by land in 4×4 vehicles not only opens up never before fished waters, but also shortens travel times compared to the winding rivers of the region.
Day 4-7: Tuparro Camp – Peacock Bass Fishing
If this option is chosen, you’ll leave on a 3-hour drive though the savannah to reach the headwaters camp where you will target Peacock Bass. Peacock Bass weighing over 22 pounds are regularly caught. You’ll arrive at the Tuparro Camp where we spend the next 4 nights.
You will transverse the beautiful rapids of the Tuparro river where you will need to walk 150 meters were the crew will drag the boats through 40 meters of dangerous but beautiful rapids. You will be entering pristine peacock bass waters where we regularly catch peacock bass over 22 pounds. You will reach the Tuparro camp in the afternoon where you’ll be spending the next 4 nights. The time spent in the Tuparro will be under the protection of the local autonomous Sikuani natives.
Day 7:
On the last fishing day you will fish your way down the Tuparro River for Peacock Bass and Payara. You will then leave for the 3-hour drive back to Puerto Carreno Airport and fly back to Bogota, where you will spend the night at the Marriot Hotel.
Day 8:
Depart Colombia.
Double Occupancy Rates:
$4,200 USD per angler
What’s Included:
- Round-trip transfers, including domestic flights, from Bogota to Orinoco.
- 2 nights at the Marriot Courtyard Hotel in Bogota.
- Guided fishing, as well as any other activities at the camp.
- All tackle and equipment – rods, reels, lines, lures, etc.
- Double occupancy rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
- All meals, snacks, soft drinks, and beers at the camp.
What’s Not Included:
- International airfare to Bogota.
- Tips for guides and staff.
- Trip insurance.
- Indigenous Conservation Fee ($700).
GALLERY
Plan Your Trip:
Frequently Asked Questions:
How big do Payara and Peacock Bass get in Colombia’s rivers?
Payara, also known as “vampire fish,” commonly reach 20–30 lbs, with giants exceeding 30 lbs in fast current. Peacock Bass average 10–16 lbs, though trophy fish can push well past 20 lbs, with world-record-class Sardinata also possible in the Orinoco.
What should I expect from a Peacock Bass and Payara fishing trip in Colombia?
You’ll stay in riverside camps or lodges, fish untouched jungle waters, and encounter incredible biodiversity, from Amazon river dolphins to giant otters. Packages include fishing, all meals, transfers, and logistics, giving you a mix of serious sportfishing and Amazon adventure.
When is the best season for Peacock Bass and Payara fishing in Colombia?
The prime time is during the dry season, from December through April. Water levels drop, concentrating Peacock Bass and Payara in channels and lagoons, which makes them more aggressive and easier to target.