Since 1980, Cáceres on the Rio Paraguay – also the home of our company – has hosted the FIPe – Festival Internacional de Pesca Esportiva. Originally a pure fishing competition, it earned a place in the Guinness World Records in 1992 as the world’s largest freshwater fishing tournament with motorboats.

From August 6 to 10, 2025, the 42nd edition took place. Today, the festival goes far beyond the competitions: while fishing tournaments in various categories (kids, seniors, kayak, canoe) and with surprisingly high prizes remain part of the program, the true spotlight is on a dozen free concerts featuring nationally famous stars and the massive media attention that turns FIPe into a major PR event for the city.

This spectacle, however, is not without controversy. Each year, huge amounts of public money are invested – in 2025, more than half a million dollars went into artist fees alone. Add to that significant costs for logistics, security, and organization. The local tourism office is occupied with preparations for the festival almost year-round, leaving little room for other initiatives.
For hotels and restaurants, those four days surely are profitable – but the effect ends just as quickly. Sustainable structures for tourism do not emerge from it.

We believe that if just one year the same resources were invested into tourism infrastructure and long-term development, Cáceres would benefit far beyond those few festival days. Even the festival itself would gain, as the city would become more attractive and internationally recognized again. The Guinness record that Cáceres once held – and has since lost – might even return.

Despite all criticism, I don’t want to be the spoilsport. Personally, I enjoy the festival, meeting friends, savoring the atmosphere, and attending the concerts. FIPe is a lively part of Cáceres’ culture. Yet it is unfortunate that politics and public perception focus almost exclusively on this single event – almost like in ancient Rome. Whoever organizes the festival successfully often secures political advancement.

For sustainable ecotourism in the western Pantanal, however, this imbalance is a real obstacle. A festival that channels so much energy should be a driver of progress – not a permanent brake on regional development.