Brian Oakland is a passionate fly fishing enthusiast, seasoned adventure host, and the founder here at Got Fishing. As your host on this exclusive Golden Dorado River Cruiser adventure, Brian brings not just know-how but an infectious enthusiasm for creating unforgettable trips! He is excited to return to the river cruiser for more epic Golden Dorado fishing!
LODGING
4 Double Rooms, 1 Single Room
SPECIES
Golden Dorado, Wolf Fish, Vampire Fish, Pira Pita, Maku, Catfish
DATES
February 7 – 13, 2027
RECOMMENDED FOR…
Adventure-Seekers, Couples, Company Retreats, Fly Fisher(wo)men
EQUIPMENT
Not Included
The Golden Dorado River Cruiser offers Argentina’s one and only mothership/liveaboard fishing program, centered on the massive Paraná River system (the second-largest river basin in South America after the Amazon).
Aboard the fully upgraded Paraná Gipsy (a comfortable 70-75 ft twin-engine vessel with air-conditioned double rooms, ensuite bathrooms, gourmet dining, open bar, and lounge areas), anglers enjoy unparalleled mobility across the vast upper delta’s thousands of lagoons, channels, back-bays, and remote river stretches. This setup eliminates long daily boat rides, allowing the crew to reposition nightly to follow migrating golden dorado and baitfish for consistently prime, uncrowded fishing. Each day features top-tier Carolina skiffs with experienced guides, targeting explosive golden dorado on fly, plus bonus species like wolf fish, vampire fish, and more!
This hosted trip delivers an exclusive, all-inclusive adventure with personalized guidance from start to finish, blending world-class angling with luxury on the water. You’ll chase hard-fighting golden dorado in sight-fishing scenarios through remote, ever-changing waters, enjoying fine Argentine wines, hearty meals, and camaraderie in a relaxed liveaboard setting that feels like a floating lodge. Ideal for serious fly anglers or those adding this bucket-list species to their resume, the program emphasizes comfort, strategy, and access to spots inaccessible by fixed lodges – creating high-volume, high-quality days that turn epic strikes into unforgettable stories!!
The two-engine mothership provides you with incredible scenery, amazing bird watching, five-star quality food, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, covered spaces in the upper-level common areas to enjoy beverages, share stories, and take breaks from fishing, and much more! With 4 double bedrooms and one single bedroom, all equipped with en-suite bathrooms, A/C in each room for added comfort, as well as telephones, flat-screen TVs, various films, and internet access, you can expect comfort and class in the thoughtful accommodations provided by the world-class staff and their decades of experience in hospitality services and guiding.
All meals are prepared by the outfitter’s exclusive chef and are paired with various unique and high-class Argentinian wines, personally selected by the owners that take great pride in their all-inclusive services. Breakfast is typically served between 6 and 7 am, lunch will be around 3 and 4 pm, followed by dinner later in the evening before sunset at 9 pm (you can also fish on the mothership during that last “witching hour” before dinner). Depending on the weather conditions and where the river takes you, you might get to enjoy some extra adventure by taking lunch or dinner on land with full comfort at a special sand bar, forest, or a secluded island!
Just a short distance from Buenos Aires, lies your access point to fishing the most exciting adventure in Argentina, the Parana River system; Spanning from the mouth of the Atlantic in Buenos Aires and joining several tributaries, deltas, marshlands, lagoons, and side channels up to the southern end of Brazil, the Parana is the 2nd largest river system in South America, after the Amazon, with a total length of 1,500 miles.
Within the river system, the mothership will always stay on the best fishing locations, so you can have a new outstanding location each day of your trip to have prime access to fishing while experiencing the Parana’s beauty to the fullest. The mothership will bring you as close as it can to the best fishing spots, and from there you’ll board one of the 5 Carolina Skiffs, equipped with quality equipment, 90cc Yamaha engines on the back, and Minkota motors on the front. All the boats were chosen with fly fisher(wo)men’s needs in mind; You’ll have access on both sides of the boat, there is no preset route, and you’ll follow the fish every day into new waters in various forms. Fish the inlets and outlets of lagoons, runs, side channels, the tributaries that bring bait fish, and all the other holes that these extraordinary and aggressive Dorados target.
This is a great trip for having the opportunity to have your own personal guide teach you the ins and outs of Dorado fishing; Each boat accommodates 1 guide (5 boats and 5 guides total) and 2 anglers per boat/guide. The boats are brand new and specially designed for fly fishing, with two casting platforms on opposite sides that allow easy casting and fishing of two anglers at the same time (one angler in the front, the guide in the middle, and another angler in the back), with a remote operated electrical engine managed by the guide. All of the guides carefully selected by the outfitter are a part of the seasoned first-class professional crew that has undergone many years on the motherboard ship. All guides are oriented in sight fishing, are English and Spanish speakers, and are ready to share their invaluable Dorado fly fishing knowledge with you!
This experience is a year-round running program. Please keep in mind that since Argentina is in the southern hemisphere, their primary season is opposite to ours here in the United States. The prime months for the Golden Dorado River Cruiser are between September to April. The summer months tend to be hot, especially during January and February, but it’s still a suitable time for fishing. November and December, as well as March and April tend to be warmer months as well, but delightful weather with excellent fishing conditions.
You’ll be mainly fishing for Golden Dorados, which are extraordinary hunters! They like moving water and prefer to stalk their prey close to river structures. But, you’ll also have the added bonus of fishing other exciting fish such as Wolf Fish, Vampire Fish, Pira Pita, Maku, and various species of Catfish, as well as other freshwater species.
First, you will fly into Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. From there, take a domestic flight to Paraná (PRA) or Santa Fe (SFN) airports – we’ll have a pre-determined flight number and time shared with guests for this adventure.
Domestic flights typically depart from Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP) in Buenos Aires, so plan for a transfer between EZE and AEP (approximately 45–60 minutes by shuttle, taxi, or private transfer, depending on traffic). A limited number of flights may depart directly from EZE, but most require the airport change – confirm your specific flight schedule in advance.
A lodge representative will meet you at Paraná (PRA) or Santa Fe (SFN) upon arrival. You’ll then take a private ground shuttle/transfer of approximately 3–3.5 hours to the marina. From the marina, a short 30-40 minute boat shuttle will take you directly to the cruiser.
This domestic flight + ground + boat route is now the standard for all guests, ensuring efficient arrival and alignment with safe transfer windows (boat rides are not conducted in darkness or extreme early/late hours).
To accommodate flight schedules and prioritize safety (no pre-dawn or nighttime boat transfers), many guests spend their final night at the Parana River Lodge (included in the itinerary if it’s necessary). This splits the return transfer: a comfortable ground shuttle to the domestic airport (PRA or SFN) for your morning domestic flight to Buenos Aires (AEP or EZE), followed by your international departure. This avoids rushing and provides a buffer for connections.
A comprehensive gear list will be provided upon booking. The season you fish will impact the gear you’ll need to purchase.
Some things to consider include:
$4,800 per person
If you’re interested in talking to a consultant or booking this adventure, please complete this form.
