Pluma Lodge Bedroom
Tsimane Heli-Fishing - Bolivia
Pluma Lodge-Based Program
With Tsimane's new Heli-Fishing program, you'll fish wild, untouched rivers and tributaries seldom seen by man.
Tsimane has a privileged geographical location due to its proximity to the headwaters of many rivers in the Moseten Mountain chain. Fly fish for large golden dorado, pacu, and yatorana in incomparable quantity and quality. Daily flights vary from five to 20 minutes, depending on the location.
Tsimane's 2024 Heli-Fishing Program includes seven nights at Pluma Lodge and six days of helicopter fishing untouched waters. (Eight anglers at Pluma Lodge for Heli-Fishing and six anglers at the Lodge for the standard fishing package.) $16,000 + $1,250 fees = $17,250.00 per person.
Tsimane's 2024 Heli-Hybrid Program: 8 anglers for the Heli-Fishing program, transported in two helicopters. Three days Heli-fishing and three days Lodge-Based fishing.
$12,500 + $1,250 fees = $13,750.00 per person.
Tsimane Heli-Fishing
The Heli-Fishing program caters to eight anglers per week. Each helicopter accommodates four passengers—two anglers, one host, one guide plus pilot.
2024 Heli-Fishing Season: July through October.
Helicopter: The Lodge has two helicopters—Robinson R44 RAVEN II.
Pilots: Crew members have an average of 6,000 flight hours in single and twin-engine helicopters in the oil and mining industries, jungle operations, and several other missions related to helicopter operations. No accidents are registered in their records files. Most of the crewmembers’ experience is in the jungle environment, including riverside landings, and they are familiar with brownouts and other conditions related to this kind of unique environment.
Guides: Professional English-speaking guides. Each day you'll explore new waters. The guides will take lunch and beverages for the fishing day. At about 5:00 p.m., you'll return to the lodge. Guides will use satellite communication to ensure permanent contact with the helicopter pilots and the Lodge.
Fishing Equipment: Equipment is not included in the package. Pluma Lodge has a small fly shop with lines, fluorocarbon, wire, and an assortment of flies.
A Fishing License is not required due to Native Community Fee.
Native Community Fee: Tsimane packages require a $670.00 Native Community Fee, which helps support the conservancy program and local community. The fee is payable in cash upon arrival at the Lodge.
Sample Itinerary for 2024 Pluma Heli-Full Program:
Day 0: Upon your arrival in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, a lodge representative will meet you at the Viru Viru International Airport and drive you to a Santa Cruz five-star hotel for the first night. Breakfast is included.
Day 1: After breakfast at the hotel, the host will pick the group up in the morning (time to be confirmed the night before) and drive you to El Trompillo domestic Airport. You'll take a one-hour and 40-minute charter Flight to the Oromomo village airstrip, where the Lodge team will greet you. You'll take an 80-minute dugout canoe ride to the Lodge. Guides will help prepare tackle and give a brief orientation about the fishing week.
Day 2 - 7: Over the next six days, the helicopter will take you to the remote and untouched headwaters of many Tsimane rivers and creeks. Daily flights vary from five to 20 minutes, depending on the location.
Day 8: After breakfast at the Lodge, you'll take a dugout canoe ride to Oromomo village and the charter plane back to Santa Cruz. In Santa Cruz, the host will pick you up and bring you to the five-star hotel where you’ll spend the last night in Bolivia.
Day 9: The host will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to the airport for your flight home.
Brad Staples at Pluma Lodge, 2022
Tsimane Guide Fabi and Brad Staples
Tsimane's Pluma Lodge
Pluma Lodge is a very comfortable jungle lodge built entirely from sustainable wood cut from the nearby jungle. The Lodge has a new helipad, and for the Heli-Fishing program, the Lodge now has fourteen wooden cabins, so each angler will not have their own private room with a queen-size bed, electricity, a private bathroom with hot water. The Lodge now has a small spa with a hot tub and massage room.
Tsimane's Pluma Lodge
Meals: Delicious international cuisine paired with great wines.
Alcohol: All-inclusive bar with liquor, spirits, and special drinks.
Communications: Free Wi-Fi is available. The use of a satellite phone is $5.00 per minute.
Weather: Although the fishing season is during Tsimane's winter, the weather here is considerably hot. During the day, temperatures can range from 68 to 95 degrees. Because Tsimane is in the mountains, it usually is not as humid or hot during the day as the Brazilian Amazon, and the nights are fresh and can sometimes be cool.
Getting to Pluma Lodge:
You’ll fly to the Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. You’ll be greeted by a member of the Tsimane team and driven to a five-star hotel. (This hotel night is arranged by the outfitter and included in the package.) A Lodge representative will meet you in the morning and drive you to the local airport. You'll take a one-hour and 40-minute charter flight to the Oromomo Community landing strip. From here, you'll take a one-hour and 20-minute guided dugout canoe ride upriver to Pluma Lodge. Request an information packet for complete details.
2023 and 2024 USD Rates
Our advice is free.
We never charge more than the Lodges we represent.
9-nights and 6-days guided fishing:
(7-nights at the Lodge and 2 hotel nights in Santa Cruz.)
(NCF = Native Communities Fee)
Heli-Full Program:
$16,000.00 + $1,250.00 NCF
= $17,250.00 per person
Heli-Hybrid Program:
$12,500 + $1,250 NCF
= $13,750.00 per person
The Heli-Fishing Package Includes:
• Ground transfers in Santa Cruz
• 2 hotel nights in Santa Cruz (first and last) single occupancy
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Roundtrip flight between Santa Cruz and the Oromomo Community
• 6-days guided fishing
• Helicopter flights
• 7-nights lodging, one angler per room
• All meals and open bar at the Lodge
• Wi-Fi Internet
• Laundry Service
The Package Does Not Include:
• International airfare to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and return
• Bolivian visa
• Meals and beverages in Santa Cruz (except for the hotel breakfast)
• Native Community Tax and National Park Fee
• Massages, $35.00 for 30-minutes
• Gratuities to guides and Lodge staff
• $25.00 departure tax
• Fishing equipment and flies
• Excess baggage charges
• Transportation not included in the itinerary
• Optional side trips
• Satellite phone calls, $5.00 per minute
• Items or accommodations not explicitly listed
• Global Rescue
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
• Fishing with Larry charges a 2.5-percent convenience fee for credit card transactions.
