BY LANDON MACE

Akuani River Lodge, Colombia

February 27 - March 8, 2025

Join Fly Water Travel's Super Host, Jon Covich, for a week of peacock bass and payara fishing at a remote lodge in Colombia.

Akuani River Lodge

Target peacock bass and payara from a remote Colombian lodge.

Akuani River Lodge is the latest offering from our outfitting friends and partners at Afloat Adventures.

What sets this program apart from their other operations is the opportunity to fish for trophy peacock bass and trophy payara (sometimes referred to as vampire fish) in the same trip. While most of the time will be spent fishing multiple large beats of the Vichada River for peacock bass, guests will also experience a rustic overnight at the Orinoco River’s massive Maipures rapids. Here anglers will cast heavy lines into heavy water from bedrock stations in search of large, ultra-hard striking payara which are widely considered one of the most coveted and hardest-earned jungle species on a fly. In addition to visiting the unique semi-arid jungle of eastern Colombia, guests will also get to interface with the native people that call this wild and seldom-visited region home.

Dates: February 27 - March 8, 2025

Group Size: 8 anglers per week

Itinerary: 

  • February 27: Arrive El Dorado International Airport, Bogota (BOG)
  • February 28: Transfer to the lodge
  • March 1 – March 6: Six full days of guided fly fishing. Two days will be at an out-camp to fish exclusively for payara.
  • March 7: Transfer to Bogota
  • March 8: Depart Colombia

Rate: $4,200 + $400 Native Fee + $295 Host Fee per person for a 9 night/8 day package based on double occupancy

Included: 

  • Meals and accommodations at the lodge
  • Transfers to/from lodge and Bogota
  • Two nights hotel in Bogota
  • Soft drinks and beer
  • Guided fishing

Not Included: 

  • International airfare
  • Meals and expenses in Bogota
  • Fishing tackle
  • Flies and equipment
  • Alcohol
  • Gratuities

Meet Jon Covich

Jon Covich has spent the last 25 years immersed in the fly fishing industry and has been one of the Pacific Northwest’s most trusted and conscientious travel and tackle resources for the past 20 years. Jon has traveled to many of the world’s best fly fishing destinations, as both an angler and a professional photographer. Photos of his many adventures have appeared in Outside Magazine, Grey’s Sporting Journal, Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, and Catch Magazine.

Suggested Colombian Jungle Gear

In addition to finding the right water, having the right gear can help make any day that much better. For over 20 years Fly Water Travel has been fly fishing's most trusted and respected source for finding the right water. Now, along with Sage, RIO Products, and Redington, Fly Water Travel is a proud member of the Far Bank Family. As part of this larger team, we are able to access decades worth of manufacturing passion and knowledge enabling us to expand our role to include in-depth advice on the world's best rods, reels, lines, and flies.

PEACOCK BASS SET UP

COLOMBIA PAYARA SET UP