Peacock Bass Fishing - Colombia

Peacock Bass and Payara Combo on Two Rivers - Akuani River Lodge

A fly, lure, or bait fishing adventure in the Colombian jungle. You’ll fish for peacock bass on the Vichada River for four full days and payara fish the famous Maipures Rapids for two full days. You’ll stay six nights at the Akuani River Lodge, your base for peacock bass, and one night at a comfortable camp tent near the Orinoco River for your payara fishing days. The Combo is offered from December to mid-March. The package includes two hotel nights and domestic flights between Bogota and Inirida.

2025 Hosted Weeks:
Jan. 23 - Feb. 1, 2025:  SOLD-OUT
Jan. 30 - Feb. 8, 2025:
Guy Schoenborn hosts
9-nights and 6-days guided fishing
$4,800.00 per person
($4,400 + $400 Native Community Fee)
The rate is subject to change.
Nine anglers + Host.
You're not restricted to our hosted week. Book anytime.


Afloat Adventure

Young Angler with Large Peacock Bass

Afloat Adventure, the outfitter, has been operating out of Medellin since 2016. Their goal is to provide anglers with unique fishing experiences in beautiful and remote areas of Colombia.

The Vichada River has many lagoons and is a blackwater river (a slow-moving channel flowing through forested swamps or wetlands). You'll find plenty of topwater action and monster temensis (three-bar) peacock bass reaching over 22 pounds. The Vichada is a tributary of the Orinoco.

The Orinoco River in the Tuparro National Reserve is one of the longest rivers in South America, flowing in a giant arc for close to 1,400 miles. The river is considered the fourth largest in the world in terms of discharge volume. You'll fish the Maipures Rapids for 20+ pound payara (vampire fish) with deep divers and other deep lures in strong currents. On the Orinoco, giant sardinata, resembling an American shad (but much larger), go after small poppers, jigs, spinners, and flies. Use bait to target redtail and tiger shovelnose catfish (the ones with distinctive stripes). The German explorer Alexander von Humboldt called the Maipures Rapids the eighth Wonder of the World.

Combo Fishing Facts

Guide with oar in Bongo with Anglers

Season:  The Peacock-Payara Combo is available during the dry season when the rivers drop, and the fish travel the main channels and lagoons. The trip is available from mid-November to mid-March.
Boats:  For peacock bass, you'll fish from Bongos (a type of canoe). The bongos are big and comfortable with casting platforms. For payara, you'll mainly be fishing from the bank/rocks. Two anglers per boat and guide.
Guides:  Experienced guides do not speak English well but can communicate what's important. You will have the same fishing guide throughout the week.
Fishing Gear is not provided. When targeting peacock bass and payara, single hooks are required on all lures and flies. Lures and flies are available for purchase at the Lodge. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is included in our confirmation packet.
Requirements:  All lines and leaders need to be at least 40 to 60 pounds. Bring stripping gloves to avoid burns from these fast species. All fishing is catch-and-release.
A Fishing License is currently not required in Colombia, but a $400.00 Sikuani Communities Fee is required.

Typical Fishing Day:
You'll get in up to ten hours of guided fishing each day.
6:00 am - The schedule is flexible, but they recommend getting up early. You can enjoy breakfast at the Lodge or take it on the boat. Snacks and drinks are supplied.
Noon - Lunch is either at the Lodge or on one of the beaches.
5:00 pm - The fishing day typically ends.
7:00 pm - Dinner at Camp.

Maipures Rapids Payara

Payara fishing at the Maijures Rapids in Colombia is an exciting venture. Also known as the 'Vampire Fish', Payara are an aggressive, toothy, adrenaline-pumping gamefish.

Maipures Payara

Angler with Large Bright Payara

The Feisty Sardinata Love Poppers.

Afloat Angler with Bright Sardinata

Relaxing with Beverages

Anglers Relaxing with Beverages

A Quick Bridge at Maipures Rapids

Angler Walking Sticks Over Rocks

Maipures Rapids

Payara Fishing Rapids and Pools

Fishing Maipures Rapids

Guides Walking Boats Upstream

Flies, Lures, or Bait for Payara

Angler Whitewater Fishing
Thatched Roof Lodge Overlooks the Vichada River

At Akuani River Lodge, you'll be in the Mataven Jungle amongst the Guahibo people, also known as Sikuani, the local community. It's a special place to get to know their culture. Items they make, such as bows and arrows, are available for purchase. El Tuparro National Natural Park is home to 74 species of mammals, 320 bird species... Pumas, jaguars, and javelinas inhabit the woodlands.

Appetizers at the Lodge

Meals:  Typical Colombian dishes, international food, paella, pasta, BBQs, fish, and hamburgers. If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance so they can accommodate you. The chef travels with you from the Lodge to the payara camp.
Alcohol:  Beer is included in the package.

Two Queen-Sized Beds

At Akuani River Lodge, each cabin has two queen-size beds, ceiling fans, and a private bath with shower and toilet. Two anglers per room.
The Orinoco Camp is close to the section of the river with the most rapids. You can fish four rapid systems from camp. You'll mostly fish from the rocks and, at times, from canoes called bongos. Two anglers per nylon tent with single cots. There are also bathroom tents.

Hammock Area at Lodge

Power:  At Akuani River Lodge, there is 110 electricity (same as US) in the cabins and dining area.

Communications:  No cell service is available on the river, but a satellite phone is available in an emergency. Each guest is allotted three minutes of satellite phone service with the package. After three minutes, there is a $3.00 per minute fee.

Sample Itinerary:

Day 1:  You'll arrive at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, the largest airport in Colombia. An Afloat representative will pick you up and drive you to The Aloft Bogota Airport Hotel. The package includes double-occupancy accommodations at this nice hotel. If you want a single-occupancy room, you'll need to pay $80.00 at the counter (2024).
Day 2:  An Afloat representative will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the local airport for the 90-minute flight to Puerto Inirida, the capital city of Guainia, a department of Eastern Colombia. For the flight, there is a 39-pound baggage weight limit, including your carry-on and fishing equipment. An Afloat representative will greet you at the airport in Inirida and drive you in a tuk-tuk (a three-wheeled open-air vehicle) for the 10-minute drive to the river. The group will take a four-hour speed boat ride to Akuani River Lodge. After you arrive at the Lodge, you'll enjoy drinks and snacks.
Day 3:  A full day of guided peacock bass fishing.
Day 4:  After day two of peacock bass fishing, you'll boat down the Vichada River to the Orinoco Rapids, a 90-minute ride. You will need to walk about 150 meters while the guide crew drags the boats through 40 meters of beautiful and treacherous rapids.
Days 5-6:  Guided payara fishing on the Orinoco Rapids.
Day 7-8:  You'll fish for peacock bass while returning upstream to Akuani River Lodge.
Day 9:  A four-hour boat ride and a tuk-tuk ride to Puerto Inirida airport for your domestic flight to Bogota. An Afloat representative will drive you from the airport to the Aloft Hotel, less than a two-mile drive. The package includes double occupancy accommodations.
Day 10:  Depending on your international flight schedule, an Afloat representative will pick you up at the hotel and drive you to the airport.

Thatched Roofed Cabins Overlook the River Request a Peacock Bass Combo
Information Packet.  



2024 USD Rates

9-nights and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per room and boat:
$4,200 + 200 Sikuani Communities Fee
= $4,400.00 per person

One angler per room and boat:
$7,700 + 200 Sikuani Communities Fee
= $7,900.00 per person

2025 USD Rates

9-nights and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per room and boat:
$4,400 + 400 Sikuani Communities Fee
= $4,800.00 per person

• If you are booking as a single angler, the Lodge can pair you up with another angler.



The Package Includes:

• Shuttles between the airport and hotel in Bogota
• First and last night's stay at The Aloft Hotel in Bogota
• Domestic flight from Bogota to Inirida, and return
• Camp and river transfers
• 6-nights at Akuani River Lodge
• 1-night Camping at Orinoco River
• Meals at Lodge and Camp
• Unlimited beer
• Unlimited snacks and soft drinks
• Up to 3-minutes of satellite phone calls
• 6-days guided fishing
• Travel Insurance (See details under Deposit Policy)
• Upon request, our eBook Fly Fishing for Peacock Bass
   by Larry and Guy Schoenborn.

The Package Does Not Include:

• Airfare to Bogota, Colombia, and return
• Sikuani Communities Fee ($400.00 p.p.)
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• Meals and beverages in Bogota
• Hard liquor
• Extra hotel nights
• Fishing gear, tackle, and flies
• Global Rescue
• Trip Cancellation Insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
• Single-occupancy accommodations in Bogota, $80.00 per night.
As of December 2020, Fishing with Larry adds a 2.5% convenience fee to all credit card transactions.



Payara Fishing

Angler with Large Payara


Peacock Bass Fishing Colombia

Angler with Large Peacock Bass

Fishing Travel Experts


Guy Schoenborn

1-800-205-3474 ext. 1

MT Office:  406-322-5709

Email:  guy@fishingwithlarry.com

Brad Staples

1-800-205-3474 ext. 3

Cell (503) 250-0558

Email:  brad@fishingwithlarry.com