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Ecosystems
Before talking about the different species, I think it's important to review the major ecosystems. Bolivia has four of them: the Altiplano, the Yungas, the Chaco and the Amazon plains. These ecosystems are very different from one another, with their own distinct geology, flora and fauna. Around 1,000 species of fish have been recorded in the country as a whole, and new discoveries are made every year to add to this inventory.
The Altiplano
The Bolivian Altiplano is a large, high-altitude plateau surrounded by the Andes. It lies at a minimum altitude of 3âeuros¯500âeuros¯m (more regularly around 4âeuros¯000âeuros¯m). It is a relatively dry geographical area, with little vegetation. Despite difficult living conditions, a few large cities (La Paz, Oruro, etc.) and some indigenous peoples (Aymara, Quechua, etc.) have developed here. Fishing is practiced in the rivers that run through it, as well as in the various high-altitude lakes. Salmonids are well represented, especially rainbow trout.
The Yungas
The Yungas are humid mountain jungles ranging in altitude from 400âeuros¯m to around 3,500âeuros¯m. The climate is hot and humid, and the steep geology makes this a unique environment. The Yungas are considered one of the richest regions on the planet. The rivers are rarely navigable, and the valleys, sometimes very enclosed, force us to walk long hours (even days) in these primary forests. Here, it's essential to get close to the natives to make progress. The jungle is extremely dense, with many dangers: every plant, every insect can represent a significant risk to humans. We're in the territory of the jaguar, the bullet ant, the coral snake and many other (perhaps as yet unknown) animals. But if you can overcome all these difficulties, you'll enter the kingdom of the Dorado, the most emblematic fish of this wonderful country.
Unfortunately, the region is threatened by illegal mining and drug trafficking.
The Chaco
The Chaco is a low mountain dry forest. It is located in the south of the country and features a worn, relatively low relief (compared to the Andes cordillera). The climate is divided into two seasons: a wet season with high temperatures, and a dry season with very wide temperature ranges. In the dry season, temperatures can vary from 10âeuros¯Â°C at night to over 30âeuros¯Â°C during the day. Fishing here is very difficult, due to the region's extreme climate. And there aren't many good fishing spots. Here, too, it's possible to catch the Dorado.
The plains of Amazonia
We leave the Andes for good, and enter the great plains of Amazonia. This is still a hot, humid region, crossed by large rivers with impressive flow rates. Water levels can vary by more than 10 metres between the rainy and dry seasons. These major floods overflow the main riverbed, regularly reshaping the course of the rivers. These waters are home to a remarkable biodiversity: some 800 different species live in this ecosystem. Arapaïma, Tucunaré and red-tailed catfish are among the main species to be caught in this region.
As with the Yungas, this region is endangered by rampant deforestation and illegal mining.
Bolivia, with its four richly contrasting ecosystems, is a paradise for anglers in search of adventure, change of scenery and biodiversity. From the windswept Altiplano to the dense jungles of the Yungas, from the arid lands of the Chaco to the flood plains of the Amazon, each region offers a unique experience and emblematic species.
This exceptional diversity makes the country a must-see destination for anyone dreaming of exploring wild, often undiscovered waters.
