Fishing for Piranhas in Lake Yacumama: Catch & Release

Land a piranha in minutes, then watch it swim back home

Catch piranhas on Lake Yacumama in the Peruvian Amazon using sport fishing tackle and a rowing boat, with a trained guide who teaches the technique and ensures the fish return unharmed to the water. The three-hour afternoon outing includes pickup from your hotel, a live guide in English or Spanish, and close sightings of alligators, macaws, toucans and parrots as you fish. Suitable for all fitness levels, whether you've fished before or never held a rod.

The experience

The activity starts with pickup from your hotel and a ride to the lake, where you board a rowing boat with your guide and fishing line. You'll cast for piranhas in the open water. They bite quickly, and the guide shows you how to land them safely. Once hooked, you reel in, see the fish up close, then unhook it and return it to the lake. The catch-and-release approach means you're practicing sport fishing without harming the population, and the guide handles the details so you focus on the moment the line goes tight.

While you fish, the boat drifts through the habitat of the jungle's larger residents. Alligators surface nearby, macaws and toucans call from the trees, and parrots move through the canopy. The fishing itself is the main event, but the sightings happen around it as a natural part of being on the water at that hour. Three hours on the lake covers both the fishing and the return to shore.

What’s included

• Pickup from your hotel.
• a trained guide in English or Spanish.
• fishing line and tackle.
• the rowing boat and three hours on Lake Yacumama.
• catch-and-release fishing with every piranha returned to the water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 95 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 10 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Pokakempi Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a small-group outing where you're actually fishing, not watching a demonstration. The rowboat keeps the group intimate and the guide teaches you the technique hands-on, so you leave knowing how to land a piranha, not just having seen one.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How quickly do piranhas bite on Lake Yacumama?

Piranhas bite quickly once the line is in the water, so you'll catch one within minutes if conditions are right. The guide knows where they're feeding and how to present the bait, so even first-time fishers land fish on the same outing.

What happens to the piranhas after I catch them?

Every piranha you catch is unhooked and released back into the lake. The sport fishing is designed to be respectful of the environment, so the fish return to their habitat unharmed.

Will I see other wildlife on the boat?

Alligators, macaws, toucans and parrots are common sightings while you're fishing on Lake Yacumama. The boat moves slowly through their habitat, so you'll see them as part of the afternoon on the water.

Do I need fishing experience to book this?

No experience is required. The guide teaches you how to cast, set the hook and reel in, and the technique for piranhas is straightforward. The activity suits all fitness levels.

What's included in the three hours?

Pickup from your hotel, the rowing boat, fishing line and tackle, the guide's instruction, and the time on the water are all included. The guide speaks English or Spanish.