Piranha Fishing & Bird Watching: Lake Yacumama

Cast a line where macaws call and alligators surface

Sport fishing for piranhas in Lake Yacumama is a 4-hour activity from Puerto Maldonado that puts you in a canoe with ecological rods, a naturalist guide and a small group to fish the lake's center while watching macaws, parrots and alligators in their habitat. A pickup from Plaza de Armas and the 25-minute drive are included. The guide speaks English or Spanish and children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sport fishing and bird watching

• Meet at Plaza de Armas
• Drive to largest bridges in Peru
• Arrive at Lake Yacumama
• Receive fishing recommendations
• Travel by canoe to lake center
• Fish for piranhas and observe wildlife
• Return to Plaza de Armas

The experience

The day starts at Plaza de Armas with a pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle for the 25-minute drive to Lake Yacumama. Along the way you'll pass two of Peru's largest bridges before arriving at the lake, where your accredited guide meets you with a briefing on the sport fishing techniques ahead. The setup is built around sustainability: you'll fish with ecological rods designed to minimize impact on the ecosystem while still giving you a genuine chance at landing a piranha.

Once in the canoe heading toward the lake's center, the fishing begins. The naturalist guide handles the techniques (simple enough that all fitness levels can manage them), while the water around you becomes a place to watch. Macaws and parrots move through the trees at the shoreline. Alligators surface without warning. The lake's tranquility means you're not fighting crowds or noise, just the rhythm of casting and the possibility of what comes next. Photography works well here if you bring a camera that can handle the water environment.

The return trip follows the same route back to Plaza de Armas, with your guide accompanying you the whole way. The 4-hour window is tight enough to fit into a morning or afternoon without eating the rest of your day in Puerto Maldonado.

What’s included

• Pickup from Plaza de Armas.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• ecological fishing rods.
• lake admission and canoe ticket.
• accredited naturalist guide in English or Spanish for the full 4-hour activity.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:30 and 15:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 39 years) · Senior (40 to 78 years) · Youth (16 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

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 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by TAMBOPATA LIVING JUNGLE

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the canoe uncrowded and give the guide room to spot wildlife and teach fishing techniques without managing a large crew. Book this if you want to actually fish rather than watch others do it, and if a morning or afternoon on the water fits your Puerto Maldonado schedule.

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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 (16 to 17 years); Child (4 to 15 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do you catch when you fish for piranhas in Lake Yacumama?

Piranhas are the target species, and the guide's techniques are designed to give you a real chance at landing them. The ecological rods and methods used are built around sustainable fishing, so you're not depleting the lake.

Can you actually see wildlife like macaws and alligators while you're fishing?

Yes. Macaws and parrots are visible in the trees along the shoreline, and alligators surface in the lake itself. The guide is trained to spot them, and the canoe's position in the center of the lake gives you sightlines across the water.

How long is the drive from Puerto Maldonado to Lake Yacumama?

The drive from Plaza de Armas takes 25 minutes in an air-conditioned vehicle. The route passes two of Peru's largest bridges on the way to the lake.

What's included in the price of this activity?

The package includes the ecological fishing rods, admission to Lake Yacumama, the air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and transport, the canoe ticket, and the accredited guide for the full 4 hours. The guide speaks English or Spanish.