Tsimane - Bolivia

Overview

Tsimane is undoubtedly the ultimate venue if tangling with 20lb plus Golden Dorado on fly gets your heart racing. In truth it is one of the finest fly fishing experiences any angler could hope for!

Tsimane is located within a National Park and Indigenous Territory, where the Amazon jungle meets the Andes mountain chain. Its rivers and streams flow through jungle which remains in an absolute virgin state in an area which is one of the most voluptuous natural expressions found on the planet. Millions of butterflies of impossible colors flitter in the warm breeze, the rumor of hundreds of hidden birds and animals resound from the depths of the jungle.

Best of all, the rivers are inhabited by two different Dorado species and other fish from the Amazon basin, including the Pirapitinga or Amazon Pacú and the Yatorana (pound by pound, one of the strongest fresh-water species) alive.

Tsimane blends, like no other destination on earth, the finest aspects of fly fishing: Sight casting, freestone wading, light tackle, floating lines; majestic scenery, mountain rivers with clear, virgin waters; and four extremely sporting species reaching very significant sizes. The combination of such characteristics results in an overwhelming experience.
Fisherman will have a 6 ½ full days fishing, 10 night, all inclusive package (excludes international flights). Only groups of 6 anglers will share the luxurious tented lodges which offer fine international cuisine, and will never fish same water on the same day.

Guests set off every morning in boats specially developed for this environment, led by an expert Dorado fly-fishing guide and a native assistant. In Tsimane, fresh water fishing reaches its pinnacle. Golden Dorado are without question one of the most exciting & most beautiful fish one can tangle with on a fly rod and are certainly one of the fish you just have to fish for over the course of your fishing career. These powerfully built predatory fish have legendary power, aggression and aerial acrobatics at their disposal and are a test for any angler.

The Fishing

It’s a truly exhilarating experience sight casting to a 20lb plus Golden Dorado in a crystal clear jungle stream. It has been described as fishing and hooking into Tarpon on the Madison River in Montana and that is truly an accurate description of this setting, only here the Tarpon are Golden Dorado.

The strike on the end of the tippet usually results in a swirl the size of the bathtub and when the fish is hooked, the first jump is only a second or two behind, with these large Dorado completely clearing the water by a foot or two. This form of fly fishing leaves images in ones mind that cannot be forgotten.

90% of the fishing is done whilsit moving upstream with specifically built aluminum canoes, and then stopping before the runs and tails of pools. Anglers and guides then leave the boats, walking and wading the prime spots before jumping back into the boats again until the next run or likely looking area is met. In saying that, some of the most spectacular fishing spots do require some fairly substial walking, with the fishing however more than making up for the added effort. The wading is reasonably friendly, with all fishing done in groups of two fishermen.

As far as the required equipment for Dorado is concerned, anglers will generally be required to cast 7-9wt saltwater outfits using triopical floating lines with large streamer flies ranging between 4-8 inches.

In addition to the impressive Dorado, Pacu are abundant throughout the systems, but are usually caught in the deeper holes in the river. Much like a Permit, they can have a difficult temperament to figure out and therefore by no means an easy fish to catch. The last “common” species of the area is the Yatorana, which pound for pound could be the hardest fighting fish in the world.

Details

Cost: US$7600 per person sharing ex international flights into Viru Viru International Airport, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
 
Single supplement: Available

Max Pax: 6 guests (2 Anglers to 1 guide & boat)

Inclusions:

• All ground transfers in Santa Cruz
• 2 nights accomodation in Santa Cruz  at the Los Tajibos 5 star hotel (1 night pre trip and 1 night post trip)
• Return local charter flight (Tsimane)
• All meals & beverages (including wine, beer and general spirits) whilst in camp
• 6.5 days fully guided fishinng
• 10 nights

Exclusions:

• Round-trip airfare from your home to Santa Cruz, Bolivia
• Accommodations & meals en route to Santa Cruz, Bolivia
• Visas if required
• Gratuities to guides and camp staff
• Travel & Medical Insurance
• Tackle & Flies
• Departure taxes

Location: Situated in the heart of Bolivia, Tsimane's operational area is aprox 470 km from Santa Cruz, the operation's base point and the most important city in the country.

Getting there:
Guests are required to fly into Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Once there you will met by a Tsimane representative and transferred directly to Los Tajibos 5 star hotel. You will be collected at around 10am the following day to catch a 1h 45 min charter flight into Tsimane’s Indian
Community landing strip. Next is a 10 min boat ride to the lodge, followed by a meet and greet by the fishing team. This venue has a fairly complex fishing itinerary in an effort to sustain the exceptional quality of the fishery as well as giving guests a chance to see all the fishable water available. For more details please contact us directly.

Target Species: Golden Dorado, Amazonian Pacu, Yatorana

Fishing Season: mid May - mid October

Weather:
Even during winter the weather can be considerably hot. Typical day time temperatures range from 20ºC to 35 ºC. It's not quite as warm as the Brazilian Amazon since it's at a much higher altitude. This does howvevver mean fairly cool nights and mornings when a fleece might be needed. Occasional short spurts of strong rain can be. Considering that you will be wet wading 99% of the time, anglers should carry a drybag with a insulated underwear, an extra shirt, a polar-tech fleece and light gore-tex rain jackets and pants.

Boats: Custom built 7m alimumium canoes with two seats for guests and two platforms for guides, a small motor, room for a big cooler and rod holders.

Pre Trip

Time Difference: GMT -4.

Flight Times:

• JHB to Santa Cruz, Bolivia (12 hours)
• UK to Santa Cruz, Bolivia (12 hours 30 min)
• Miami to Santa Cruz, Bolivia (6 hours 30 mins)

Passport/Visa/Innoculation Requirements:
A passport valid for at least six months from the date of proposed entry into Bolivia is required to enter and depart Bolivia.. For most European countries no visa is required. U.S. citizens seeking to enter Bolivia as tourists must have an entry visa. Bolivian tourist visas can be applied for by mail or in person at Bolivian consulates in the U.S., as well as at Bolivian ports of entry, such as at Bolivia's international airports and at land border crossings. Bolivian tourist visas are valid for five years from the date of issuance
The cost of the tourist visa is $100 U.S. dollars. The $100 fee can be paid in cash, by deposit to the Bolivian Consulate's bank account or by money order.
Recommended: Tourists applying for their visa upon arrival to Bolivia must pay this fee in cash to immigration authorities. In addition to the $100 fee, the applicant must present a visa application form with a 4x4 centimeters color photograph, a passport with a validity of not less than 6 months.
NB…All visitors to Bolivia must carry Yellow Fever Vaccine Certification.

Medical & Health Requirements:
Mandatory emergency medical evacuation insurance & standard medical insurance highly recommended as well. We strongly recommend our guests visit their travel doctor or clinic before departing on yur trip. All guests to Bolivia require an up to date Yellow Fever Certificate. Esatern Bolivia is considered as Malaria, Leishmaniasis & Dengue Fever area.

Currency:
The official currency is the Bolivianos. Exchange rate is 1 US dollar = 0.142653 Bolivianos. You can exchange money at most banks in Bolivia and most shops will take US dollars or Euros. Visitors fare best with US dollars (travelers have reported that it’s difficult to change euros). Currency may be exchanged at casas de cambio (exchange bureaux) and at some banks in larger cities. You can often change money in travel agencies and sometimes stores selling touristy items. Cambistas (street moneychangers) operate in most cities but only change cash dollars, paying roughly the same as casas de cambio.
Guests are requested however to use USD$ at the lodge for gratuities, tackle etc.

Language:
All guides speak English

Satellite Phone & Communications:
There is satellite internet and satellite telephones for guests to use at their own cost.

Tackle & Gear:
7wt - 9wt saltwater outfits are ideal, with most of the fishing done with tropical floating lines and large streamer flies ranging between 4-8 inches.

A comprehensive tackle and gear list along with an order form (should you wish to purchase your tackle through us) is issued after your booking has been confirmed. The camp does also carry limited stock of suitable flies and other terminal tackle, should you run out.

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