This 10-day, 10-night fish collecting expedition will visit the Napo River and various of its tributaries, including a stop at the Santa Cruz Forest Reserve on the Mazan River. Home to an estimated 5,000 species of fish, fish enthusiasts are guaranteed to make exciting finds and see species that are rarely or never found in the aquarium hobby during an Amazon collecting trip. 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 prefer to top out the trip at 8-10 participants. A dedicated “fish room” with an aeration system and bins, shelving, and coolers to hold fish allows participants to manage and care for their fish while on board. In general, 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 - whether by day or night. Sports fishers will want to bring a rod and reel and accessories. There are some excellent food fish to catch, 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 20 January 2024 (hotel is included), or on one of the first flights on Sunday 21 January (the first flights currently arrive at 0620 and 0705 hours). We’ll have breakfast in town the morning of 21 January, and then board our Esperanza riverboat and start the real adventure.
The return to Iquitos will be in the early afternoon on Monday, 29 January 2024. 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), and then have a final group dinner on the Iquitos waterfront. On Tuesday 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 on Tuesday 30 January 2024.
Cost: $2235/person ($2035 for repeat clients). Two nights lodging in Iquitos is included, as well as airport transfers, ground and river transport, all meals while on the Esperanza and some meals in Iquitos, and crew services. Fish shipping costs (for those taking back fish) are a separate expense, and will depend on airfreight costs, the number and weight of boxes of fish, and their final destination.
Minors and children are eligible for discounted rates, and first responders, medical personnel, educators, and essential workers receive the repeat client rate. Our thanks to you for what you do!