A Day in the Jungle! What to expect
Expectations make or break a trip. Understanding what you’ve signed up for will help you have the best possible experience. Go with the flow and enjoy!
Each lodge, each country is different. Most of my trips and experiences are from Colombia but the below should apply whether you’re in Brazil, Argentina, Boliva, etc. For more details of bugs, risks, etc see my blog about potential dangers here.
Yes nearly every lodge has WiFi/Starlink, laundry services, generators for charging electronics, and an english speaker (although not necessarily with you every day). Have a great attitude regardless of a travel delay, weird meal or a tough day fishing. Nearly all of those will happen at some point on the trip. Smile, breath, and look around because you’re in a truly beautiful remote part of this earth!
Travel and Schedules
Many people have been surprised by the distance it takes to get to the jungle. These places are remote and isolated so be prepared and buckle up (actually the seatbelts usually don’t work lol). One struggle that people often have in South America is the schedule. Colombia time is a real thing and there should always be an “ish” when given a time or schedule. Be flexible and patient, the fish aren’t going anywhere! Nearly every lodge will arrange pickups and communicate through WhatsApp. Make sure to download the app prior to the visit as well as have an international cell phone plan.
Typically from the hotel in Bogota, or whatever major city in the host country, you will have 5-10 hours of travel to get to the lodge.The travel is usually a combination of small planes, 4x4 trucks, and boat rides. They are usually bumpy, minimal AC, and LONG. I love it! The beauty is magnificent so soak it in and note that a 4 hour boat or car ride might take 6 hours…deal with it and smile!
An Average Day Once at the Lodge
The days start early! You might hear the staff moving around 4-4:30am with universal coffee prepared by 5am (my alarm gets set for 5 so I can shower, stretch and watch the sunrise). Breakfast at 6 or 6:30am and you’ll be off quickly around 7am. Depending on the day and lodge it’s usually 30 minutes to 2 hours to get to the fishing. Early morning can be some of the best fishing so get to business!
Whether on the rocks fishing for Payara or on the boat fishing for Peacocks, you’ll constantly be on the move. Systematically work the water and keep that fly wet! Don’t waste time. Try different angles, depths and speed of retrieves. Usually doesn’t take long to get some hits! However there are days where it might be 3-4 hours before you figure out that the fish want white patterns, stripped slow and deep. Other days they want dark flies against the rocks/logs. You never know! I’ve been skunked for Payara on certain days and also had a school of smaller payara come through where I landed 50 payara in the single day. If its tough, keep your fly in the water and head in the game. If its great, hold on and enjoy!
For more info on fishing for Payara, check out my blog here
As the day gets warmer, and it almost always gets VERY warm, monitor your hydration levels. For lunch you’ll find a shady spot for 30-45 minutes between 12-1pm. I highly recommend getting your body wet in the afternoon to keep yourself cool. Heat as I mention in my blog is the biggest danger in the jungle.
It gets dark early and it’s usually 60+ minutes back to the lodge. Fishing usually ends around 5pm, back to the lodge around 6pm, shower, then dinner around 7pm. Use the evenings to comb our your flies, redo your leaders, compare notes with other angers, brag if you got the biggest fish but don’t stay up too late as this will repeat for the next 5-6 days! Catfishing next to the lodge is usually a fun evening pastime as well.
Food! Usually nothing fancy but there’s plenty to go around
When I’m fishing I usually prefer remote adventures, epic fishing, and amenities are…secondary. However the food is usually pretty good and if you want better food and amenities, you’ll pay a lot more for that although those lodges are NOT in Colombia. Most lodges have a pretty good cook regardless and they are used to people with dietary restrictions. Let them know ahead of time and they can accommodate. If you join one of my trips, the food is nothing fancy.
However, I love the simple style and particularly love the lunches in banana leaves! Some lodges use banana leaves and some use a tupperware container but lunches will almost always be a combination of rice, beans or potatoes, and a meat (fish, chicken or beef). Plenty of snacks too throughout the day including oreo’s, salty chips, beer, etc. If you want to eat a particular fish for dinner, throw it in the back of the boat and they’’ll cook it up for you. I love peacock bass ceviche or smoked Payara!
Breakfast is almost always eggs, toast and fruit. Plenty of coffee of course! Lunch is usually traditional local food as mentioned and dinner varies wildly depending on the lodge. From grilled chicken to lasagna to smoked fish and a dessert each night, you shouldn’t go hungry. Drinks will be bottled water, gatorades, juices, coca-cola, and always plenty of beer on ice!
Some lodges have hard alcohol available at the lodge but most will not. They usually will stop at a liquor store for you if you want to purchase some on the way in.
Don’t forget that the land you are fishing on is indigenous land
Many lodges work closely with the local indigenous groups. The boat drivers, cooks, housekeepers, etc are probably indigenous and their second language is Spanish (Indigenous Colombian’s native tongue is a variation of Sikuani). Keeping this land protected through eco-toursim is a great way to give these communities work while keeping the land as pristine as possible. Be kind to the locals as this is their home as well as the fish. We want our grandchildren to be able to experience these amazing places as well!