Piranha Fishing Lake Yacumama: Catch-and-release on the Amazon

Fish for piranhas at sunset on a wildlife-rich Amazonian lake

Piranha fishing on Lake Yacumama is a catch-and-release activity on a large, wildlife-rich lake in the Amazon where you fish from a canoe with a local guide, eco-friendly gear and hotel pickup included. A 25-minute drive from the main square gets you there. A 7-minute walk leads to the canoe launch. The lake hosts flocks of up to 200 parrots and small macaws, black caimans often approach the water's edge, and the fishing happens as the sun sets over the water.

Step-by-step itinerary

Piranha fishing and wildlife spotting

• Drive 25 minutes from main square
• Meet local and get fishing gear
• Walk 7 minutes to canoe
• Board canoe with up to 7 passengers
• Catch-and-release piranha fishing
• Watch macaws, parrots, and tropical birds
• Spot black caimans near lake
• Enjoy Amazonian sunset

The experience

You have a free afternoon, and the operator picks you up from your hotel to drive 25 minutes to Lake Yacumama. A local community member meets you with eco-friendly fishing rods and bait prepared specifically for piranhas, then walks you 7 minutes to a canoe that holds up to seven passengers. The lake itself is the draw: it's large enough to hold flocks of up to 200 parakeets, macaws and parrots in the trees, and black caimans sometimes drift close to the water's edge. Close enough for photos.

The fishing is catch-and-release, designed to protect the lake's ecosystem. You cast your line from the canoe while the guide watches for birds overhead and caimans in the water. The activity runs through the afternoon into the Amazonian sunset, when the light flattens across the water and the wildlife settles. Birdwatching and caiman spotting happen alongside the fishing. You're not choosing between them, they're all part of the same few hours on the water.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from the main square.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• eco-friendly fishing rods and bait.
• canoe access to Lake Yacumama.
• entrance fees to the lake.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 to 60 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Machupicchu Holiday

Is this one for you?Book this activity if you have an afternoon free and want to fish from a canoe on an Amazonian lake where wildlife (parrots, macaws and caimans) is part of the experience. The three-hour window and sunset timing fit a half-day schedule without eating into evening plans.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What's the drive time from my hotel to Lake Yacumama?

The drive takes 25 minutes from the main square. Hotel pickup is included, so the operator collects you and brings you back.

Can I actually catch piranhas on this lake?

Yes, Lake Yacumama is a large, wildlife-rich lake where piranha fishing is viable. The activity is catch-and-release to protect the ecosystem, and the guide provides eco-friendly rods and bait prepared for piranhas.

What birds and animals will I see?

The lake hosts flocks of up to 200 parakeets, small macaws and parrots in the trees. Black caimans often bask near the water and sometimes approach close enough for photos. Tropical birds are visible throughout the afternoon.

How many people fit in the canoe?

The canoe holds a maximum of seven passengers, so groups stay small and the guide can focus on the fishing and wildlife spotting.

When does the fishing happen?

The activity runs for approximately three hours, departing around 3:30 PM and continuing through the Amazonian sunset, so you experience the lake as the light changes and the wildlife settles.