Costa Rica — Chasing the Silver King

Tarpon on the Fly in the Caribbean Jungles of Costa Rica (and Beyond)

There’s a particular kind of stillness that finds you when a panga leaves the beach at first light on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Behind you, the jungle stacks itself in layers of green and shadow, toucans calling from someplace unseen. Ahead, the Caribbean stretches open and breathing, shifting from turquoise to the soft bruise of river-stained water. It’s a place where the rest of your life falls away, leaving only the promise of what waits beneath the surface.

This is where the pursuit of the Silver King becomes something more than a fishing trip.

Our adventure begins in Puerto Viejo, a vibrant coastal town where reggae drifts out of beach bars, the air smells of rain and ripe fruit, and the rhythm of life leans into pura vida without apology. From here, we work with local captains who know this water intimately — guides who grew up reading the moods of the Caribbean and the shifting outflow of the Sixaola River, the wild border between Costa Rica and Panama.

Conditions rule everything here. The tarpon aren’t truly migratory in this fishery, but the sea must lay down before you can reach them. When the offshore breezes cooperate, the Caribbean turns glassy, and sardines and mullet gather in the discolored river plume, the stage is set.

This is where giants roll.And where fly anglers come to test themselves.

Stepping onto the bow of a panga in Costa Rica feels different from anywhere else. The air is thick and warm, the light carries a kind of softness, and every cast holds the possibility of a fish that could tow you halfway to Panama. The Silver King here begins at triple digits, and the truly massive ones — those in the 150–200+ range — move like underwater storms.

You’ll cast heavy flies — purple, white, black, or a blend of all three — designed to shimmer just enough to whisper temptation into the stained water. And when a tarpon decides your fly is the right one, the world erupts. The take is violent. The jump is biblical. And the fight can last hours, pulling you across country lines, across personal thresholds, across whatever you carried with you into this moment.

This is a place where adventure and introspection collide.Where the ocean becomes a teacher.Where gratitude comes uninvited — and stays.

Between sessions, you’ll wander through town, sample Caribbean cuisine, find howler monkeys along jungle trails, swim in hidden hot springs, and explore beaches so bright they feel imagined. And for those wanting something even wilder, your journey can push farther south — crossing into Panama to chase juvenile tarpon with local Panamanian guides in remote river systems.

No trip to Costa Rica is complete without embracing the full landscape of experience: jungle, ocean, culture, cuisine, and the rhythm of a place that invites you to slow down, breathe deep, and let something inside you recalibrate.

Our lodging options range from modest coastal retreats to elevated jungle hideaways, each chosen for comfort, atmosphere, and proximity to the water. Meals, transportation, add-on adventures, and fishing days are all customizable. Every group receives a tailored itinerary shaped by your pace, your goals, and your appetite for exploration.

This trip can be crafted as:5 days / 3 days fishing…up to…8 days / 6 days fishing,with options to expand deeper into Costa Rica or south into Panama.

Pricing is fully custom — shaped by the accommodations you prefer, the meals you want, transportation, boat days, additional excursions, and the level of immersion you’re looking for.

Email to request a personalized itinerary and quote.

If you’re searching for a destination where jungle meets sea, where adventure meets reflection, and where the Silver King offers one of fly fishing’s most unforgettable encounters — then Costa Rica is calling.

And what you’ll find here goes far beyond the fish.