río guaviare — san josé del guaviare
The Guaviare at San José, between the Llanos and the jungle: a river of big catfish and payara, with a fishing contest on the summer beaches.
San José, capital of the Guaviare department, sits on the Guaviare River, which flows east to the Orinoco. The local government lists among the region's fish the valentón (piraíba), dorado, bagre sapo (jaú), payara (cachorra), yamú, cachama and guaracú. Fishing is mainly for catfish: natural bait on the bottom in pools, eddies and cutbanks, from a canoe or boat with a local fisherman. Payara and yamú respond to artificial lures in the currents and at caño mouths. In the dry season the river exposes sand beaches, where the Festival de Verano takes place, with beach and water sports and a fishing contest.
best season
Summer (dry season), December to March, when the river drops and opens beaches; the Festival de Verano, with a fishing contest, is usually in February. Orinoquia closed season after Holy Week until May 31.
Local rules: Orinoquia closed season, which includes the Guaviare, from the first Monday after Holy Week until May 31: during this period it is prohibited to fish for, transport and sell fish for consumption from natural populations (Res. AUNAP 2663/2022); in 2025 it ran from April 21 to May 31. Sport fishing remains unregulated in Colombia, and the tourism fishing of Law 2.501/2025 depends on a decree: confirm with AUNAP. Check your country's travel advisory before you go. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Scheduled flights from Bogotá and Villavicencio to the city airport. By road, via Bogotá–Villavicencio–Granada–Puerto Lleras–San José. In high water, the river is the route to the interior of the department.
- facilities
- Hotels and restaurants in town, boatmen and local fishermen. Since tourism fishing still depends on regulation, the way to go is to hire a boat and fisherman in town.
- country
- Guaviare, Colombia
tip
For big catfish, heavy line, strong hook and fish bait on the bottom, from dusk into the night. For payara, steel leader and reinforced treble hooks.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Colombia
The Constitutional Court declared sport fishing unconstitutional (Ruling C-148/2022), effective July 2023; AUNAP sport fishing licenses expired on July 22, 2023. Law 2,501/2025 created "tourism fishing": whoever practices it as an economic activity (people, communities and operators) needs an AUNAP permit. Zones, species and seasons depend on a government decree; in January 2026 the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism reported that these decrees had not yet been issued. Before traveling, confirm with AUNAP and with your operator whether the activity is already regulated.
- Orinoquía closed season (Arauca, Casanare, Meta, Vichada, Guainía and Guaviare): from the first Monday after Holy Week to May 31. Fish for consumption may only be sold in the same municipality, and ornamental fish may not be caught (AUNAP Resolution 2663/2022).
- Bita River (Vichada, Ramsar site): gillnets, chinchorro and cast nets prohibited; recreational fishing of pavón real (Cichla intermedia), blue arowana (Osteoglossum ferreirai) and piraíba (valentón) prohibited (AUNAP Resolution 2877/2022).
- In national natural parks, fishing is prohibited, except for authorized scientific fishing and cases the Ministry of Environment allows in defined zones (Decree 1076/2015, art. 2.2.2.1.15.1).
- Tourism fishing may not take place in zones excluded by the authority, and it is prohibited to release exotic species or to move native fish from one basin to another (Law 2,501/2025).
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official Alcaldía de San José del Guaviare — Fiestas y celebraciones (Festival de Verano)Festival on the beaches of the Guaviare River, usually in February, with beach and water sports and a fishing contest
- official Alcaldía de San José del Guaviare — EcologíaFish of the region: cachama, yamú, piraíba, guaracú, valentón, bagre sapo, dorado, bagre amarillo, payara and payalín
- official Alcaldía de San José del Guaviare — Vías de comunicaciónAirport with routes to Villavicencio and Bogotá; road Bogotá–Villavicencio–Granada–Puerto Lleras–San José; river transport in high water
- official AUNAP — AUNAP anuncia inicio de la veda de peces de uso ornamental y de consumo en la Orinoquía (14/4/2025)Res. 2663/2022; in 2025, April 21 to May 31, in the departments of Vichada, Guainía, Arauca, Casanare, Meta and Guaviare