A collecting trip to the always productive and exciting Nanay River - the source of many fish species new to science in recent years. This beautiful blackwater river has white sand beaches and few biting insects - making it even more attractive!
Home to ~15% of all fish species (both fresh and saltwater!) in the world, fish collectors in the Amazon basin are guaranteed to make exciting finds and see species that are rarely or never found in the hobby. We work with a licensed Peruvian exporter and a licensed US importer to legally bring back fish that are permitted for export from Peru (this excludes some [mostly boring] food fishes, as well as CITES listed species).
Our base for the trip is the comfortable riverboat M/F Esperanza with cabin space for 16 passengers, but we limit the trip to 8-10 participants. A dedicated “fish room” with an aeration system and bins, shelving, and coolers to hold fish allows participants to easily care for their fish while on board. We make 2 to 4 collecting stops every day, and anywhere we pull up to shore or put down anchor can become a fishing stop. Sports fishers will want to bring a rod and reel and accessories. There are some excellent eating fish and the kitchen is always ready to cook them up for you.
Participants should plan on arriving in Iquitos on the afternoon/evening of Saturday 21 August 2027, or on one of the first flights on Sunday 22 August. After breakfast in town, we’ll board the Esperanza at the port of Bellavista-Nanay at the mouth of the Nanay River (and can do a first collecting foray within minutes!). The return to Iquitos will be in the early afternoon on Friday, 27 August. We’ll first get the fish to the exporters (you’ll have opportunity to browse all the tanks and make any purchases you might wish to make), and then have a final group dinner on the Iquitos waterfront. On Saturday morning, there will be opportunity to visit other exporters and/or the Belen market. Outgoing flights can be booked for anytime from mid-to-late afternoon or later.
Cost: $1725/person ($1525 for repeat clients).