Three routes already laid out, to copy or to change completely
These are not packages and nothing is sold here: they are three ways of ordering a fishing trip in Paraguay, using the providers already in the guide. Everything is arranged directly with each of them.
The shortest trip worth taking: Ayolas is the dorado capital and the area with the most providers in the guide, so you can fly in, fish two full days and go home.
Arrive, drop your bags and go out in the afternoon with the guide to scout the stretch. That first outing is for reading the river, which decides everything else.
The long day, out early. Ayolas is fished on the Paraná and the Yacyretá reservoir, and the guide picks the side according to that day's river level.
One last short outing before setting off. With time to spare, the Yacyretá dam visitor centre takes just a while.
Ñeembucú is the corner where the Paraguay meets the Paraná, and the three areas sit next to each other: you fish both rivers on the same trip.
Pilar has the most guides in the guide: the local association publishes who they are and what boat each one runs. First afternoon on the water.
The whole day with the guide. This is the area of the Easter tournament, the country's oldest, and of the corvina one in March.
Down to where the Paraná meets the Paraguay. This is houseboat country: you can sleep on board instead of going back ashore.
Cerrito looks across to Argentina from the Paraguayan bank of the Paraná. A different river and a different fishing, a short way from Paso de Patria.
Half a day wherever the week fished best, and off you go.
The long trip, up the Paraguay river to where the Pantanal begins. This is big surubí country, and the least travelled stretch.
The largest town in the north and the base for going out on the Paraguay. Boat hire, guides and houseboats.
A whole day on the river. Surubí country, and dorado and pacú too.
Vallemí and San Lázaro, where the Apa joins the Paraguay. Besides the river, this is limestone cave country.
Half a day fishing and half in the caves, which is what makes this stretch different.
The last stretch of the Paraguay before Brazil and Bolivia: from here it is Pantanal.
Fishing and wildlife on the same day: nowhere else in the country do you see this much.
The trip back from Bahía Negra is long. Arrange it with your lodging before heading up.
The names in each route come from the guide and update on their own: if a place is no longer listed, it stops appearing here.
Pira Experience, the sport fishing guide to Paraguay
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