Fly Fish in Costa Rica

Part of our complete guide: Freshwater fishing in Costa Rica: the complete guide

Who runs it

Fly Fish in Costa Rica traces its roots to 1972 and calls itself the country's first eco fly-fishing outfitter. Charlie Chavarría runs it now, following his father, one of the people who brought fly fishing to Costa Rica. Charlie guides, casts and ties flies, and his team has been fishing these waters for more than 5 decades.

It's based in San José rather than on any one river, which suits the way it works: every trip is put together for the angler, from a single day to a week or more, and can mix fresh and salt water. The website was adding new trip photos through 2026, and a Tripadvisor review written in February 2026 describes a January trout trip near San Gerardo de Dota with plenty of small, pretty wild rainbows.

Freshwater trips

• Wild trout in the cloud forest. Trout aren't native to Costa Rica, but stream-bred rainbows now live in the cold rivers of the Talamanca mountains, around San Gerardo de Dota and the Cerro de la Muerte. Expect small, wild fish in pocket water, light rods and short casts, with quetzals and oak forest around you.
• Machaca near La Fortuna and San Carlos. Machaca jump like small tarpon and rise to fruit, flowers and insects that fall into the water, so they're made for small poppers and foam patterns.
• Machaca in Guanacaste's rivers. The same fish in tropical lowland rivers, best in the January to April fruit drop.
• Jungle tarpon near the northern border. Tarpon in the rivers and lagoons that drain toward the San Juan, fished on heavy fly rods.

Our freshwater fishing guide has more on each of these, and our guide to fishing near San José covers the trout country close to the city.

Saltwater and Caribbean trips

The outfitter also takes fly anglers to tarpon on the Caribbean at Barra del Colorado and Manzanillo, and to the Pacific for roosterfish and offshore species from Flamingo, La Cruz and Sámara in Guanacaste, and from Quepos and Manuel Antonio. See our Caño Negro and Río Frío guide for northern tarpon and the Caribbean fishing guide for the coast.

Gear and release

Good fly tackle is part of the deal: rods from Sage, Scott and Beulah, reels from Abel, Tibor and Hardy, and flies tied for the trip. You're welcome to bring your own. Every fish goes back, and the outfitter makes a point of tarpon conservation. In the refuges and some rivers you'll need a licence or permit; ask Charlie to arrange it, and see our fishing licence how-to.

How to book

Message or call +506 8428 8055 on WhatsApp, or use the reservations page on the website. Tell them which fish you're after, when you're coming and how many days you have, and they'll quote a custom trip. There are no fixed packages. Service is in English and Spanish.