Choosing Your Bolivian Dorado Program

The Secure watershed is one of the Amazon's southernmost tributaries, and its’ isolated population of large migratory dorado makes it one of South America's most unique fisheries. The hardest part of planning the trip is deciding which of the four options to select, as they are all can be highly desirable and productive. All trips begin with an overnight in Santa Cruz followed by a 50-minute charter flight to a remote jungle airstrip. They all have remarkably comfortable accommodations and great meals, and most of the fishing is done while wading. Guests move about in large, motorized dugouts or smaller traditional pole-pushed dugouts captained by skilled native boatmen and are guided by professional English-speaking guides. Irrespective of the program, all trips into the heart of the Bolivian jungle are best suited to adventuresome travelers who enjoy wade fishing and a fair amount of walking.

The Programs

Pluma Lodge Helicopter Program

The helicopter fishing at Pluma is a once-in-a-lifetime fishing and wilderness experience. It is by far the most physically demanding of the programs, as guests hike all day upstream to their pick-up points, with multiple river crossings, some of which require swimming. Beats lower on the systems tend to have smaller rock sizes but the further upstream beats tend to have very large rocks, some nearly house-sized, which can be tricky to navigate. The fishing tends to be largely upstream sight fishing which is technical because the flies must be quickly stripped downstream. The rewards, however can be great, with large dorado, pacu, vatorana, and large catfish all being possible. Best yet, the well-rested beats tend to have no signs of humans, and great wildlife viewing potential.

Pluma Lodge Land Based Program

The land-based fishing program at Pluma Lodge offers an excellent variety of water. Both up and downstream of the lodge are miles of great water on the main stem Pluma. Additionally, beneath the confluence of the Pluma and Secure, anglers can access more than 10 km of the larger main stem Secure by motorized dugout. These lower beats offer the biggest water in the Tsimane program, and fishing these sections is in some ways reminiscent of classic steelhead fishing. These waters are colored, making the fishing more forgiving, and the terrain also tends to be easy to navigate. In some sections guest will wade fish but fishing from the boats is also common. Above the lodge, the Itirizama beat offers clear water, larger rocks, and requires plenty of walking. The upper Pluma beat tends to land between the previous two regarding terrain and difficulty. Some anglers with limited mobility choose Pluma as a good number of their lower beats can be fished from the boats with very limited wading. All guests at Pluma enjoy single-occupancy rooms with attached bathrooms.

Secure Camp

The six-person Secure Camp is the furthest upstream of the three camps and focuses on the uppermost reaches of the Secure River. It is accessed from an airstrip in the little village of Asunta, where it is common for many members of the community to come out and have a look at the new arrivals, their clean quick-dry clothing and their big bags of gear and tackle. From there, it is about a 10-minute boat ride upstream to the deluxe six-person tent camp. The camp features a handsome hardwood lodge with an open bar, Wi-Fi and delicious meals paired with excellent Argentine wines. Guests stay in deluxe single-occupancy safari tents with attached bathrooms, hot showers, bedding, and ceiling fans. From this camp you fish the productive waters of the Secure above and below the camp. The water upstream of camp is rugged and incredibly scenic with mossy cliffs and deep green pools and is known to have the region's best pacu fishing in addition to great dorado fishing. This upper beat is accessed by traditional pole-pushed dugouts. The water downstream is broader with more woody debris. It offers good wade fishing and good boat fishing for large dorado and is accessed by motorized dugouts.

Agua Negra Camp

The four-person Agua Negra Camp is also accessed from the Oromomo native airstrip. From the airstrip, guests travel roughly two hours up the Secure River by motorized super-dugout to reach the Agua Negra Camp, which sits on a high bluff overlooking the middle reach of the Secure River. The Camp has great views and often a refreshing breeze. The lodge adjoins a small Yuracaré community of roughly 60 people who still live very simple lives based on hunting, gathering, and fishing. This camp features a handsome hardwood lodge with an open bar, Wi-Fi and delicious meals paired with excellent Argentine wines. Guests stay in deluxe single-occupancy safari tents with attached bathrooms, hot showers, bedding, and ceiling fans.

The main fisheries are the Agua Negra and the main Secure. The Agua Negra is a relatively small river with easy wading and lots of woody debris/structure. It is mainly accessed by pole-pushed dugouts, with anglers often getting out of the boat to walk around certain sections of the river. Guests must walk 10-15 minutes overland from the camp to reach the Agua Negra boat launch. The main Secure is a large system accessed by motorized dugouts. Here, fishing from the boat is both common and productive. For adventuresome anglers, Agua Negra also offers an overnight to a more remote and rustic spike camp. These upper waters are typically the clearest waters guest will experience and most guests really like this portion of their trip. 

Picking Your Program

Invariably, the first question we are asked is which program is the best. The truth is that all are exceptional options, but they differ somewhat from one another. The quality of the fishing, the guides and the food are essentially the same, leaving the discussion to variables of terrain, accommodations, group size, water types, rates and the amount of time spent interfacing with the native inhabitants. The following bullet points will help prospective anglers better understand the nuanced differences between these three great camps.

Pluma Lodge, Helicopter program

2024 Rate: Per person based on single occupancy and shared guiding

9 night/6 day package: $16,000 plus $1270 native fees

 Capacity: 12 anglers

• Consistently one of the best dorado fishing ‘experiences’ on the planet
• The best sight fishing for all three primary species: dorado, pacu and yatorana
• The most deluxe lodge with attractive wooden cabins and spacious bathrooms
• The greatest variety of water types and beats, some of which offer easy wading and some of which are very demanding
• Eight angler capacity for larger groups and more social interaction
• Many different types of water (over 50 ‘beats’) where you will likely see hundreds of animal tracks and rarely if ever, a human footprint
• The most adventurous option as well as the most physical option as guest will be walking all day everyday

 Pluma Lodge, land based program

2024 Rate: Per person based on single occupancy and shared guiding

9 night/6 day package: $7,600 plus $670 native fees

Capacity: 12 anglers

• The most deluxe lodge with attractive wooden cabins and spacious bathrooms
• The greatest variety of boat access waters
• Eight angler capacity for larger groups and more social interaction
• Lots of access to slightly larger water

Secure Lodge

2024 Rate: Per person based on single occupancy and shared guiding

9 night/6 day package: $7,600 plus $670 native fees

Capacity: 6 anglers

• Comfortable single-occupancy safari tents with flush toilets and showers
• Unique and interesting up-river beats with canyons and gorgeous jungle scenery
• The best pacu fishing of the non-heli Tsimane programs
• Potential single or multiple backpacking-style overnights on the upper Secure
• Great cultural interface upon arrival at the airstrip in Asunta

Agua Negra Lodge

2024 Rate: Per person based on single occupancy and shared guiding

9 night/6 day package: $7,600 plus $670 native fees

Capacity: 4 anglers 

• Small and intimate with just four anglers per week
• Comfortable single-occupancy safari tents with flush toilets and showers
• The smallest and most intimate waters with easy wading and large fish
• Less physically demanding than the upper beats at Pluma or Secure
• Great cultural interface with the adjoining small native Yuracaré community of Agua Negra
• An option to fish small clear waters and rought it a bit at their upstream spike camp