A melting pot of cultures, the Caribbean coast is more than just an intense experience of spice-filled Afro-Caribbean music, cuisine, and a more laid-back vibe. The region also holds one of the world’s best tarpon fisheries. Thick lowland rainforest frame remote beaches, many of which host staggering annual sea turtle nesting events. Just beyond the breakers, one enters the realm of Megalops atlanticus, or the famous tarpon. The immense river mouths and deep reefs that dot the coast have been the fabled haunts of fly fishing legends reaching back more than half a century. If you dream to duke it out with these prehistoric heavyweights - many of which are bigger than you - then this is certainly a part of Costa Rica not to miss. But be sure to take your journey into fly fishing history one step further and throw in some exotic cichlid or machaca fish! It will soon become your favorite part of this diverse country, as it is ours.
Rugged coastlines. Dense rainforests. Hot sun, and pounding surf. The Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is all these things, and more. Curious monkeys scamper through the canopy, watched by inquisitive (and often lazy) sloths. Towering waterfalls feed rivers that empty onto the beaches, where breaching humpback whales can be seen in the distance. It’s no surprise that this stretch of Costa Rica is popular, and it holds plenty of fly fishing options! Target warmwater exotics in the rivers. Fish for snook, roosterfish, and snappers at the river mouths. Get offshore and chase sailfish and tuna on a sportfisher. The Central Pacific Coast has a little for everyone!
Guanacaste is a region unlike any other in Costa Rica. The misty forests of Monteverde transform into rolling, windswept hills studded with meandering rivers. Some of the most exciting fly fishing in Costa Rica can be found here. The ripening of the wild cashew (espavel) signals the start of an all-out machaca frenzy, with unbelievable topwater action fished from a whitewater raft. Rainbow bass lie in wait near submerged structure, and tepemechín dart around in the swift currents. These rivers slowly wind their way to the idyllic beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula. The coastlines hold countless coves and bays, where ravenous packs of roosterfish and jacks corral schools of sardinas to be devoured. And if you venture offshore, it's an epic pelagic playground.
Touted to be ‘one of the most biologically intense places on earth’ by National Geographic, the Osa Peninsula (or Osa for short) represents spectacular adventure across its many pristine terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Jaguars and tapirs still haunt the jungle covered mountaintops, and screeching scarlet macaws and toucans are a common sight as they move through the forest canopy. Osa also offers some of the finest inshore and offshore fly fishing in the world, with inshore species including giant roosterfish, snappers, groupers, jacks, and rainbow runners, and offshore waters offering shots at some of the world’s largest Pacific sailfish, blue, striped, and black marlin, dorado or mahi-mahi, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna.
Towering over southwestern Costa Rica, the majestic Talamanca Mountains stretch from the Central Valley to the Panamanian border. Costa Rica’s tallest mountain, Cerro Chirripó, overlooks the region. This stretch of rainforest-dominated terrain is an important biological corridor, giving animals such as tapir and jaguars an unimpeded route through southern Central America. The high altitude rivers of the cloud forests are surrounded by lush tropical plants and exotic birds, and contain bewildering numbers of rainbow trout. As one moves down the drainages, warmer water species such as the tepemechín, machaca, and numerous cichlids fill the eddies and pools. A true paradise for the fly fisher who heeds the call of the river.
The cloud wreathed summit of the Arenal Volcano surveys the vast countryside of Costa Rica’s northern zone, or Zona Norte. Countless numbers of birds migrate through this area, stopping to feed and rest on their long voyages. The lowland rainforests teem with life, from tiny colorful poison dart frogs to raucous howler monkeys to indomitable jaguar. Thick vegetation crowds the banks of jade rivers, where machaca and snook wait to ambush their next meal. But the true king of these rivers are the tarpon, the sabaló real. These saltwater giants travel hundreds of kilometers from Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, gorging themselves on the widely available baitfish. The experience of fly fishing for a saltwater behemoth in a tranquil jungle river is not one to be missed!
The Ultimate Costa Rican Rainforest Adventure Anglers travel around the world to experience “jungle fishing”. Towering rainforest trees, rugged landscapes and wildlife, and of course exotic fishing. Some anglers treat these jungle experiences as once-in-a-lifetime adventures, while others get a taste and start searching out even more remote expeditions. We consider Costa Rica the perfect […]
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Intense Topwater Fly Fishing in the Costa Rican Jungle A distant relative to the Amazon’s piranha, Brycon costaricensis or the machaca, is an interesting and highly enjoyable fish to pursue on fly. The fish inhabit lakes and fast moving rivers in lowland drainages of Costa Rica. At first glance, the row of ferocious teeth lining the machaca’s grin speaks of a savage predator of smaller fish, and yet […]
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Catch Wild Rainbows in the High Mountains of Costa Rica Mention Costa Rica to most fishermen and their common reaction is saltwater playground, but an often overlooked fly fishing opportunity lies hidden in the cloud forest shrouded mountains of the Talamancas. The mountainous streams in this part of southern Costa Rica run clear and cold, and many host thriving wild populations of rainbow trout. The […]
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Experience Fly Fishing for Giant River Tarpon Like Never Before Many fascinating species of fish inhabit the world’s tropical freshwaters, and Costa Rica is no exception. For a fly fisherman seeking diverse new species or angling situations nothing is more exciting than floating down a new piece of water surrounded in unfamiliar vegetation and scenery, […]
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Our unique team of guides, captains, and service providers work together to specialize in the finest fly fishing adventures in Costa Rica. All our trips put an emphasis on positive local impact, diverse cultural exposure, and overall superb angler experience. We pride ourselves in showing our clients the best possible experience, and are honored that they keep coming back for more.
We are blessed to operate in a country as diverse and environmentally-minded as Costa Rica, but we continually work to preserve the fragile ecosystems in which we operate to ensure they are protected for future generations. Over the years, we have collaborated with scientists, government, NGOs, the fly fishing industry, and local stewards to drive conservation, research, and educational projects large and small, always with an emphasis on fish habitat. By engaging as many people as possible, we hope to demonstrate the importance of protecting biodiversity. We only have one planet and must work together in its conservation.
Our focus is to ensure maximum benefit to the local communities surrounding our fisheries. By supporting these local people both directly and indirectly through our programs, we not only ensure economic growth in the local community but also the development of environmental stewards and fish advocates for the future. We are only as strong as the people around us.
“Trout, Tarpon, and Other Critters in Costa Rica, with Kevin Jackson” Check out FFCR´s own Kevin Jackson as he digs into fly fishing throughout Costa Rica with Orvis´Tom Rosenbauer. LISTEN HERE: https://howtoflyfish.orvis.com/podcasts/general-fly-fishing/1883-trout-tarpon-and-other-critters-in-costa-rica-with-kevin-jackson We had the honor of chatting with legendary Tom Rosenbauer from the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast. Check it out to learn all about […]
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High Country Angler, the official magazine of Colorado Trout Unlimited, features Costa Rica’s Jungle Tarpon Reserve in their Spring 2024 issue. Check it out!! Costa Rica Jungle Tarpon Adventure By Brian La Rue Get your passport ready! We are going international and traveling south for this destination feature. It’s Costa Rica, and we are going tarpon […]
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Planning a fly fishing trip to Costa Rica to escape the winter chill? Thankfully, Costa Rica’s dry season overlaps perfectly. Costa Rica is home to over a thousand different species of fish, so deciding where to go and what to target can be a little overwhelming. Thankfully we’ve already done the work for you! Check […]
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As we close another season at the Jungle Tarpon Reserve, we reflect on what is always an awesome time of year. As usual, the river and its many tarpon have kept us on our toes. Some weeks have been incredibly productive, and some had the help of gourmet Costa Rican coffee and stories to keep […]
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