Tsimane - Pluma Lodge

The Pluma River

The Pluma River is a crystal-clear freestone river flowing from south to north, parallel to the Mosetenes Mountain Range. This river has diverse topography and is wider and more open than some of Tsimane’s other rivers. The Pluma’s wide banks, mainly composed of round, smooth gravel and rock, make for easier wading. As you head further upstream, the river becomes steeper with rugged terrain.

Upper Pluma River - Higher Sector

The Pluma Higher Sector is located upstream from the confluence of the Pluma and the Itirizama Rivers. The river often reminds anglers of freestone trout rivers with gin-clear water, boulders, shallow runs, riffles, and well-defined pools. The Upper sector is home to many resident golden dorado, holding in numerous pools and pocket water. Anglers typically wade fish their way upstream, and fishing is mostly done on foot. A Chiman canoe is used to transport extra gear and coolers back to Pluma Lodge.
Pluma Species:  The Pluma is home to all four of Tsimane’s main species—golden dorado, pacu, yatorana, and catfish (surubi).

Lower Pluma River

The Lower Pluma section extends from the confluence with the Itirizama River to its mouth in the Secure River. The structure is similar to the Upper section, but the Lower is 50 to 60 percent higher in volume, resulting in wider, deeper pools and more powerful runs. With more water, the fish have more room to fight and explode into aerial acrobatics.
The jungle is less dense, and the shorelines are occasionally marshy. There are steep drop-offs, long runs, sand-covered flats, islands with braided channels, and deep pools. The deep pools serve as natural food traps, and king dorado and large pacu are found here. The biggest pools, near the confluence with the Secure River, have low sandy areas where one can sight cast to cruising and feeding dorado, similar to bonefishing on the shallow saltwater flats.

Itirizama River

The Itirizama River is regarded as Tsimane's crown jewel. It is similar in size and volume to the high sector of the Pluma River but has a steeper gradient and more rugged terrain. The river runs from west to east through rugged canyons, with deep pools flanked by canyon walls. This section of the river is physically intense for wading and fishing, but the scenic rewards and large dorado make it worth the effort.
The Itirizama is the coldest and clearest river in Tsimane, making fishing more technical. While you are less likely to catch large numbers of dorado, you are more likely to catch your best dorado of the week. This sector has the lowest population of resident dorado but the largest average size. Some dorado are huge, but catching them in the small clear water is difficult. In some of the far upstream pools, you'll find large numbers of big pacu, which can be caught using fruit imitations, streamers, and big dry flies.

Pluma River Golden Dorado

Pluma Lodge Fishing Program:

Pluma Seasons:  The Standard Lodge-Based Program season runs from late May through October. The Heli-Fishing program runs from July through October. The Lodge season targets clear-water conditions, which give anglers stunning sight-fishing opportunities.
Guides:  There is one English-speaking professional fly-fishing guide for every two anglers and two native boatmen.
Methods:  Only fly fishing is allowed. Fishing is primarily done on foot, walking, and wading upstream.
Boats:  A Chiman canoe is used to transport gear.
Equipment:  No equipment is provided. Flies can be purchased for $10 each at the small fly shop onsite. Plan on bringing about two dozen for the week. Our confirmation packet includes a detailed list of what to bring.
Licenses:  Fishing licenses are not required.
Native Community Fee:  Tsimane packages require a Native Community Fee, which helps support the conservancy program and local community. The fee is $670 for Lodge-Based programs and $1,250 for Heli-Programs.

Pluma River Pacu

Standard Lodge-Based Program
A Typical Fishing Day:
Available from late May through October.
7:00 a.m. - You’ll have breakfast at the Lodge.
8:00 a.m. - You’ll head out with your guide to fish.
Midday - You’ll enjoy lunch on the riverbank.
4:00 to 5:00 p.m. - You’ll return to the Lodge for dinner.
There is the possibility of fishing the upper Pluma and Itirizama Rivers. When fishing the upper Pluma and Itirizama Rivers, all the fishing is done by walking and wading upstream. Long hikes are necessary to reach the upper sections of the rivers to access better fishing areas.
For the Heli-Fishing Program, you'll take 5- to 35-minute flights daily to pristine headwater areas, returning to the Lodge at about 5:00 p.m.
Click here for the Heli-Fishing Program.

Pluma Lodge

Pluma Lodge is a cozy jungle retreat constructed from sustainable wood from the nearby jungle. The Lodge features a spacious dining and gathering area, a massage room, complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, free daily laundry service, and a small fly shop onsite.

Meals and Beverages:

Meals:  International cuisine paired with great wines.
Alcohol:  An open bar with spirits, liquors, and special drinks is included in the package.
Communications:  Free Starlink Wi-Fi is available. Satellite phone service is $5 per minute.

Dining Room Area

One Angler per Cabin

The Lodge has 16 individual cabins for 16 anglers. Each angler gets his own room and private bathroom.

Getting to Pluma Lodge

Visa Update:  As of 2025, U.S. and Canadian citizens—and other eligible nationalities—may enter Bolivia without a tourist visa. A valid passport is required.

Day 0:  You’ll arrive at the Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. A representative will meet you and drive you to the Los Tajibos Hotel. The package includes single-occupancy room accommodations for the first and last hotel nights.
Day 1:  You'll have breakfast at the hotel before Tsimane’s local host picks you up around 9:30 a.m. to take you to the local airport. From there, you will take a 70-minute charter flight to the Oromomo Indian Community. Please note that the charter flight has a baggage weight limit of 55 pounds (25 kg). Once you land, guides will transport the group by boat upriver to Pluma Lodge, which is an 80-minute transfer.
Day 8:  After breakfast, the group will be transferred by boat downriver to the Indigenous village airstrip for the charter flight back to Santa Cruz. Upon arrival, a member of the Tsimane staff will drive you to a five-star hotel for the last night of the trip. Your final single-occupancy hotel night is included in the package. A Lodge representative will drive you to the airport for your flight home in the morning.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for this adventure. Tsimane lodges are located in remote rainforest areas east of the Andes.