Amazon Sport Fishing from Iquitos: Arapaima, Peacock Bass and More

The Amazon basin around Iquitos holds some of the most productive freshwater fishing on the planet. Finding it is another matter. The best water moves with the season, the river level and the species you’re after, and much of it is a long way from any dock.

Our expeditions are built around that. We run private trips out of San Regis on the Marañón, the gateway to the region’s wildest fishing, with guides who grew up on these rivers and all the gear you’ll need already on the trip. Here’s what sets them apart.

Arapaima in Any Month

Arapaima, known in Peru as paiche, is the fish many anglers cross the world for. It can grow past 10 feet and 400 pounds, it surfaces to breathe air, and across most of its range, fishing for it is limited by seasons and restrictions.

We fish it at a privately owned lagoon in the jungle near the Pacaya Samiria reserve, where it can be fished year-round. Your trip doesn’t have to fit around a closed season, and every expedition sets aside a full day for arapaima at this private spot. Our arapaima guide goes deeper on how that access works.

Peacock Bass and a Dozen-Plus Other Species

Arapaima may be the headliner, but the variety is what fills the days. Peacock bass, the local tucunaré, are the prize of these waters: aggressive fish known for explosive strikes and acrobatic fights in rivers, lakes and flooded forest.

From there, the list keeps going. Redtail and tiger shovelnose catfish bring size and long, powerful runs, and an optional night session puts you on the catfish bite. Tambaqui can top 90 pounds and pull hard through the flooded forest. Pacu, payara, wolf fish, arowana and piranha all come into play, and a freshwater stingray is one of the most memorable catches in the region.

Your guide reads the water and moves you to wherever the bite is best, whether that’s an oxbow lake, flooded forest or the main river.

Guides Who Grew Up on This Water

In the Amazon, knowing where the fish were last month doesn’t tell you where they are today. Our guides grew up fishing here and know where each species feeds through the year.

Linder heads our fishing operations. Every expedition pairs a licensed bilingual guide with a local fishing guide. They handle the navigation, rigging and spotting so you can focus on fishing, and you’ll spend your days in a boat on rivers and lakes that feel untouched.

Your Own Boat, Guide and Camp

Every booking is its own private trip. Your group gets its own guide, boat, gear and camp, so the plan follows what you came for.

That makes these trips a good fit for mixed groups. Seasoned anglers get put on the water they came to fish, while beginners get rigged, coached and catching by day one. The minimum age is 12, and younger travelers can join private custom trips by direct inquiry.

All the Gear Included

You don’t need to fly a rod tube to Iquitos. Rods, reels, tackle, lures and bait for the full range of Amazon species are included, along with rubber boots in your size.

The gear stays with the trip, and normal wear, snags and lost lures are on us. That matters in water full of flooded timber, where the fish hold tight to cover. We only ask that you treat the gear with reasonable care. If you have a favorite setup, you’re welcome to bring it.

Camps Where the Fishing Is

The first and last nights are at a riverside jungle house with private rooms and shared bathrooms. The nights between are riverbank camps on water day-trippers never reach, with tents, bedding, hammocks and fresh-cooked meals. There’s no electricity out there, but you’ll be on the river at dawn and after dark, when it’s at its best.

The trip has more to it than fishing, too. The ride in from Iquitos passes pink river dolphins and riverside villages, and Day 2 opens with a visit to a Cucama river community and a climb to the canopy walkway.

Catch and Release, Every Trip

All of our sport fishing is catch and release, and your guide briefs you on proper handling before you start, so the fish and these waters stay world-class.

Five Days or Seven?

Both expeditions pick you up in Iquitos at 5:30 AM on Day 1 and have you fishing by early afternoon, about four hours later by road and boat. Both return you to Iquitos between 1 and 2 PM on the last day, with no fishing that day, so plan onward flights for the evening or the next day.

The 5-day expedition is built around three solid days of fishing, including the arapaima day and a push out to remote catfish and tambaqui water. It’s US$1,250 per person for two to three travelers, US$1,475 for a solo angler, and less per person for larger groups.

The 7-day expedition adds two more days and goes farther, with five solid days of fishing in country few anglers ever reach. One camp night, your guide hands you a traditional spear, the kind local fishermen still use, and shows you how to take baitfish the old way. That bait then goes back in the water after dark for the river’s big fish. It’s US$1,675 per person for two to three travelers, US$1,975 for a solo angler, and less per person for larger groups.

When to Go

We fish all year. At low water, roughly June through October and varying year to year, falling rivers gather fish in smaller channels and lakes. At high water, they move into the flooded forest and your guide follows them. Arapaima can be targeted in any month, so the best time is often simply when you can get here. Our month-by-month guide covers what each season looks like.

Plan Your Trip

See every species and trip on our Sport Fishing page, or send us a message with your dates and target species. If you’d rather fish some days and explore others, we can build a custom trip that adds jungle days, birding or camping.