Are there mosquitos in the camp?
You are fishing on black water rivers which leak tannins out of the rain forest that create humic acid. Mosquitos cannot breed in humic acid so you will see very few bugs while fishing on the river or in camp. Only if you choose to wander into the rain forest (which I wouldn't advise) might you see mosquitos.
do I need a passport and visa to travel to brazil?
Yes, you need a passport that does not expire within 6 months of the return from your trip and a VISA. Please see our trip planning page for information on obtaining your VISA.
when is the best time to fish?
Water levels are the mitigating factor for successful peacock bass fishing. If the water is too high and floods the jungle, the fish are too hard to find. If the water is too low, mobility is limited and many of the back water sloughs and lakes are inaccessible. This is why we fish all 4 dry zones in Brazil's Amazon, giving us the best opportunity to locate ideal water conditions between mid July and early March.
are shots required to enter brazil?
No shots are required to enter Brazil from the U.S. but we recommend you ask your doctor for his advice as well as visit www.cdc.org.
do I need electrical adapters in brazil?
At camp we use American flat blade plugs and some round pin plugs, 110V and 220V. In case this is not the same in your country, we recommend buying a current conversion kit. You will need an eastern European type outlet adapter. Some appliances also need a transformer and that information is usually provided on the side of the electric appliance. If you are unsure about this, please take the appliance to a qualified store in advance.
what do you mean by exclusive fishing areas?
Since 2002, Brazilian authorities have granted River Plate exclusive entry permits to fish on over 1,000 miles of black water tributaries in all four dry zones on Indian reserves and Government preserves. This means that we don’t fish where other outfitting companies or commercial fisheries operate. In exchange for exclusive entry permits, River Plate helps local communities and tribes with various humanitarian projects.
what is the advantage of fly-in fishing to remote areas?
There are over 50 mother boats with operations originating in Barcelos on the upper Rio Negro as it is the only town large enough to resupply them weekly with food and fuel. This forces them to fish the same waters within a 150 mile radius of Barcelos for 6 consecutive months putting great pressure on the peacock bass fishing resource. River Plate leases exclusive fishing rights on private lands on 10 different black water tributaries in 4 different dry zones allowing us to manage fishing pressure. With our Fly-In Floating Cabins we put you on prime fishing waters the first afternoon of your trip.
Which other species can we fish in the Amazon?
Although the 4 different species of peacock bass you may catch at our safari camps are the main attraction, there are over 2500 species of fish in the rivers, some equally impressive both in beauty and fighting ability. Depending on the location, you will find other species such as the Pacu, Pirapitinga, Jacunda, Apapa, Tambaqui, Pirarucu, Bicuda, Picua, Piranha, Aruana, and Pescada, among others.
are there activities available in Manaus?
Manaus is a modern, rapidly growing city of 2 million habitants located in the heart of the Amazon rain forest. It is one of the busiest ports in the Amazon where cargo ships distribute their goods throughout the Amazon basin. Before the rubber boom of the 19th century, Manaus was a small, insignificant town. With rubber, rich and splendid architectural accomplishments came to the city, such as the Amazonas Theater (completed in 1896 and restored in 1929). You can also visit the Palace "Río Negro", the Floating Port, the Municipal Market Adolpho Lisbon, the Forest of Science, the Museum of Natural Science, as well as the Aboriginal fair, where you can buy items made by the Indians. You might even consider visiting the Fish Market. You can also swim with the pink and gray indigenous dolphins or visit the Meeting of the Waters where the Rio Solome and Rio Negro meet to form the Amazon. Contact us about booking your Manaus tour.
will I be picked up at the airport?
There will be an English speaking member of our staff meeting you as you exit customs at the Manaus International Airport. They will transport you to the hotel for the night and pick you up the following morning to take you to the charter flight to your safari camp. Upon your return, transport you from the charter flight to the hotel where you will have a day room reserved. They will then transport you to the international airport for your flight back to the U.S. that evening.
is there phone service available?
In Manaus, your cell phone will work if you have international calling. At the camp, we have an iridium phone for emergency purposes. However, you are on vacation in remote Amazon and should leave all worries and work issues behind if possible! If it is necessary for you to stay in contact, it is suggested you bring your own iridium phone. You can lease the use of these from several locations in the U.S.
what is the weather like?
You will be fishing just south of the equator where the weather is fairly constant year round, mid to high 90's during the day and mid to low 80's in the evening. The sun can be intense and will be amplified by the reflection off the water. Therefore, we recommend tropical long sleeved shirts and fishing pants that zip off at the knee as well as a fishing hat with a flap for your neck. You will also need polarized sunglasses and plenty of SPF 30+ sun screen.
are there luggage restrictions:
We utilize both wheel and float plane charters between Manaus and your safari camp which necessitates 45 lbs. of soft sided luggage per person. This is very important as hard sided luggage cannot be put in the floats of the airplane and thus will be left in Manaus. However, our single occupancy safari camps provide all fishing equipment including terminal tackle and lures as well as daily laundry service so it should not be difficult to stay within the 45 lb. limit.
how much should I tip?
While optional, gratuities are appreciated by our safari camp staff. We recommend $500/person/week half of which you will give directly to your guide and the end of the week and half to the host to distribute to the safari camp staff.
can I mount my fish?
American customs will not allow you to bring fish back into the U.S. We have brought taxidermists to Brazil to mold different sizes of peacock bass, piranha, arowana, and several other species. To have a fish mounted, you will want to take a picture of your fish and have your guide weigh the fish on his Boga Grip. From this information, a fiberglass replica of your fish can be created by our taxidermist in the U.S. for around $16/inch.
do I need trip insurance
If you think you may be unable to go on your trip for any reason, you should purchase trip insurance as trip payments are non refundable unless client can provide a replacement angler. Global Rescue, as well as others, provide trip insurance as well as medical evacuation services in case of an emergency.
