Xingu River Lodge - Brazil
Fly Fishing for Giant Payara and More
After a successful 2019 exploratory season, a trophy Payara Fly Fishing Destination on the Xingu River (pronounced Shin-Goo). The Xingu River Sportfishing Project is in the southeastern Amazon of Brazil in the spectacular rainforest wilderness territory of the Kayapo indigenous people. Our outfitter has exclusive access to these protected waters and has received official authorization from the Brazilian government. The new Xingu River Lodge is limited to eight anglers per week. You should be physically fit and mentally prepared for this jungle fishing adventure.
2024 Hosted Week
8-nights and 6-days guided fishing
$6,944.00 + $567.00 Native Comm. Fee = $7,511.00 (2024 rate) per person
November 9-16, 2024 with Host Brad Staples
Xingu River - Exploratory Recap
Quick Recap: During the 2019 Exploratory trip, 30 payara were landed. The fish averaged 12-pounds, and the largest was 20-pounds!
"The water levels of the Xingu River rose and dropped during the entire week, but only by small amounts (approximately 10cm).
The water remained clear and hot (28-30°C), and the fish were very active. Rock structures were exposed, which meant that the fish,
including the payara, were very concentrated and active! The best spots for trying to catch payara are the larger and deeper pools,
and there were plenty of these within the vicinity of our camp. The majority of the fishing was by boat."
Click here for 2:31 YouTube Video - Xingu Payara.
The Xingu River
The Xingu River is 1,019 miles long and is one of the largest clearwater rivers in the Brazilian Amazon.
After leaving the headwaters in the protected Xingu Indigenous Park, the mighty Xingu River, or “Butire” in the Kayapo language, flows northward over 155 miles through 22 million acres of virgin primary Amazon forest. The river is on indigenous land and protected by the Kayapo people.
Xingu Fishing Seasons:
Fishing Season: The fishing season runs during the dry season from late May through late November, with the best fishing from September to November. During the dry season, water levels are at their lowest, allowing for fishing throughout the entire river system, including numerous tributaries and lagoons. Payara prefer the deepest parts of the river bed; at other times of high water, the fish spread into the flooded forest and become difficult to find.
The dry season is characterized by hot and breezy days, cool nights, and very few mosquitoes and black flies. In contrast, the rainy season is characterized by torrential rain, the inundation of rivers and creeks, and annoying clouds of biting insects.
The Rainy season here begins in late November or early December, and the rivers reach their highest levels in March. After the rainy season ends, water clarity improves, and the river levels start to drop. Millions of fish begin their migration upstream to find food. Predatory fish follow this migration, and the pulse of life returns to the headwater system.
Xingu River and Species
The waters of the Xingu and Iriri are impressively clear because they drain ancient Brazilian shield granite, in contrast to most large Amazon rivers, which are laden with sediment. While the granite bedrock makes for good sightfishing opportunities, most fishing is from aluminum boats. There is also some wet wading in clear waters.
The Xingu offers a variety of fish species - matrinxa, wolffish, peacock bass, payara, pacu, bicuda, piranha, red-tailed catfish, vampire fish, and more.
The river also offers many habitats, such as pools, channels, lakes, lagoons, riffles, rapids, and waterfalls.
All fishing is catch-and-release. Barbless hooks are mandatory. Please avoid unnecessary handling of the fish (to protect them and you).
The New Xingu Lodge
The new Xingu Lodge has four comfortable wooden cabins with boxspring beds, a bathroom, hot water, and electric lights. Two anglers per cabin. Free laundry service is provided. The Lodge sits on the banks of the Xingu River, overlooking a gorgeous home pool. Near the Lodge, the traditional Kayapó family raises crops of cassava, cocoa beans, and other plants that constitute the traditional Kayapó diet.
Meals: Delicious chef-prepared meals are served in the dining room. Filtered water, soft drinks, and juices. With advanced notice, the chef can accommodate special dietary needs.
Electricity: Generated electricity with 110-voltage, the same as the U.S., but the plugs are different, so you'll need to bring an adapter/converter.
Communications: Free Wi-Fi with limited bandwidth is also available. Satellite phone calls are available for $5.00 per minute.
Lodge Setting: The Lodge setting is very close to trophy payara and catfish, which inhabit the famous pool in this section of the Xingu River. Abundant wildlife and birds in the area. You can expect to see the white-whiskered spider monkey, large parrot macaws, and the brilliant blue hyacinth macaw.
About 6,000 Kayapo Indians live in this enormous area that may also be home to small groups who choose to live in isolation.
Six Kayapo villages with a total of 750 inhabitants are located along the bank of the Xingu River in the northern part of Kayapo territory.
Xingu Fishing Facts:
Group Size: The maximum group size is eight anglers, and no groups will ever fish the same water on the same day.
Each day, you'll move up or downstream in aluminum boats exploring new waters and following the best fishing.
Boats: Aluminum boats with 40 to 50 HP motors. The boats have satellite phones for emergency use and all the necessary safety equipment.
Guides: Professional, English-speaking fly-fishing guides. Two anglers per boat with one fly fishing guide and two native guides.
Fishing Equipment: Fly-fishing outfits are provided to guests upon request (Thomas & Thomas rods, Nautilus Reels, and Scientific Anglers Lines). Most of the payara fishing is in surface to deep water levels.
They are aggressive predators, and you'll need to be prepared for all situations. Plan on bringing at least two rods, 6 to 10-weight single-handed rods are
the norm. Weight Forward lines designed specifically for the tropics and saltwater are what you want. Scientific Anglers Jungle Custom Sink tips are great lines for Payara. You will need a fast sinking sink tip for some specific spots. We recommend a 24-foot 300 to 450-grain sink-tip fly line.
You'll also need to bring at least three spools of 40-50 lbs knotable wire leader for the toothy Payara. A comprehensive gear and tackle list is provided in our confirmation packet.
Flies: Flies are available for sale at the camp for $10.00 to 15.00 each, but be sure to bring a good selection as well.
Fishing License: is included in the package.
2023 USD RATES
Rates include one hotel night in Manaus
7-nights at the Lodge and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per room and boat:
$6,490.00 per person
Plus a $530.00 Native Comm. Fee
= $7,020.00 per person
One angler per room and boat:
$10,850.00 per person
Plus a $530.00 Native Comm. Fee
= $11,380.00
Non-Angler Companion:
$4,200.00 + Native Comm. Fee $420.00
= $4,620.00 per person
2024 USD RATES:
7-nights at the Lodge and 6-days guided fishingTwo anglers per room and boat:
$6,944.00 per person
Plus a $567.00 Native Comm. Fee
= $7,511.00 per person
Packages Include:
All internal charter flights in Brazil, necessary ground transfers in Brazil, boat transfers; one night in Manaus at a boutique hotel upon arrival, 7-nights at the Lodge, all meals at the Lodge, wine and spirits with dinner, Wi-Fi, daily laundry service, guided fishing, use of fly fishing outfits upon request, fishing licenses, and upon request, our 65-page eBook Fly Fishing for Peacock Bass by Larry and Guy Schoenborn.
Packages Do Not Include:
International airfare; Native Community Fee - $530.00, paid in cash upon arrival to Brazil; gratuities, fishing equipment, flies ($10.00 each), food and beverages in Manaus, city tours in Manaus, satellite phone calls ($5.00 per minute), extra hotel night ($95.00 per night), Global Rescue, travel insurance, and anything not mentioned under inclusions. As of December 10, 2020, Fishing with Larry now adds a 2.5% convenience fee to all credit card transactions.
Gratuities: The Lodge suggests 10-percent of the package price. Please bring USD cash for the gratuities. Tips will be split evenly amongst the guides and staff.
Eight-passenger Grand Caravan plane
Getting to Xingu Lodge:
If you are flying from USA, there are two non-stop daily flights from Miami to Manaus, Brazil. American Airlines is the best option. Once you arrive at the Manaus International Airport, you'll be greeted by a Lodge representative who will transfer you to the Tropical Executive Hotel. (The first-night hotel is included in the package.) Early Saturday morning, the host/driver will pick your group up at the hotel and drive you to the domestic airport. At 6:30 a.m., you'll take a private charter flight on an eight-passenger Grand Caravan plane to the Kayapo village of Pukararãnkre on the right bank of the Xingu River. The flight duration is 3.5 hours, depending on whether a fuel stop is needed. The Pukararãnkre village is located 590 miles southeast of Manaus. The plane will land on the Indian Community airstrip. There is a strictly-enforced 40-pound baggage weight limit per person. Please do not bring hard-body luggage.
Xingu River
Variety of Species
Exploring runs and flats areas for peacock bass (3-15 pounds) is also fun using big streamers and poppers, but watch out for the bicudas, a fast, powerful barracuda-like freshwater predator that, once hooked, will burn your fingers in a second.
Xingu Peacock Bass
Xingu Catfish Species
Xingu Redtailed Catfish
Guided Fishing
Payara Flies
Abundant Large Payara
The defining feature of the Xingu sport fishery is the abundant large schools of Payara during the end of the dry season. They stay deep in large pools, mixed with larger catfish and other species like freshwater drums and pacus.
Numerous Species
Xingu River Lodge
View from the Deck
Bedrooms with Private Bathroom
Xingu Lodge Dining
Xingu Lodge Information:
Saturday - Day 1: Breakfast buffet at the hotel. The host will pick up the group at approximately 5:30 a.m. and head to the local airport to board the private charter 8-person Cessna Grand Caravan plane to Pukararãnkre. After 3.5 hours of flight, you'll arrive at the Pukararãnkre Indian Community landing strip, where the guides and staff will be waiting for your group. There will be a “Meet and Greet,” providing anglers time to discover the Kayapo culture, social organization, and more. The group will be introduced to the Indian chiefs, followed by a brief orientation of the fishing week.
After that, the group will head upstream to the camp, about 15-20 minutes. It’s a great opportunity for the anglers will see great river scenery, birds, animals, and some fish in the Xingu clear waters. After the arrival and settling into your cabin,
You'll enjoy lunch in the dining area. Anglers will use this first afternoon to get situated and prepare their tackle for the following day. The guide team will brief anglers on the daily fishing plans in the evening.
Sunday to Friday - Day 2 to Day 7: Each day, individual teams (2 anglers) will head out for a day of guided fishing.
Each day individual teams (2 anglers) will head out for the day, fishing the Xingu river, its channels, rapids, lakes, and tributaries.
Two anglers share a fluent English-speaking fly fishing guide along with a local native guide in an aluminum boat.
Both anglers can fish all day long. The schedule will aim for less navigation and more fishing hours.
Typical Fishing Day:
6:00 a.m. - Coffee is hot.
7:00 a.m. - Breakfast.
8:00 a.m. - Head to fishing grounds.
Noon to 2:00 p.m. - You'll return to camp for lunch.
2:00 p.m. - After lunch, you'll head out for another round of fishing.
6:00 p.m. You'll return to Camp.
7:00 p.m. - Cocktails and appetizers will be served
8:00 p.m. - Dinners will be served.
Saturday - Day 8: In the morning, guests will be transferred downstream by boat to the Pukararãnkre community landing strip to fly back to Manaus.
On the return flight, you'll stop at the Itaituba Airstrip to refuel and then head back to Manaus. You'll arrive in Manaus mid to late afternoon, assuming there are no flight delays. You'll be transferred to the international airport or for day-use at the hotel. If you are departing that day, please book flights after 6:00 p.m.
Extra Night or Day Use Rooms: If you would like an extra night accommodations in Manaus at the Hotel on arrival or departure or would like a day room on your departure day, please let us know. All extra nights and day-use bookings will be paid directly to the hotel.
Xingu River Lodge POLICIES:
A Signed Indemnity Release is Required: The Lodge requires that all guests sign a KNOWLEDGE LETTER, All guests, without exception, must sign the knowledge letter and the terms of responsibility prior to their trip.
Deposit Policy: Prices are subject to change until the confirmation deposit is received. Once the deposit is received, the price will remain the same for that customer until the final payment. To confirm a reservation on a trip, a 50% deposit is required per person. Reservations made within 30 days of departure require full payment. The final payment is due 90 days before departure. If this installment is not paid when due, the operator reserves the right to treat and consider the reservation as canceled.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations will be confirmed only upon receipt of written notice by the customer that the trip must be canceled for him or her. The reservation deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE unless the client is replaced.
The following fees will be charged:
a. 180 days or more before departure date: 50% of trip cost.
b. 90 to 179 days before departure date: 75% of trip cost.
c. Less than 60 days before departure date or no-show: 100% of trip cost.
We strongly advise the purchase of international trip cancellation insurance after registering for a trip. The operator also reserves the right to cancel the trip for any other reason judged necessary. In the case of trip cancellation by the operator for any reason judged necessary, a full refund will be made to the customer.
Fishing with Larry strongly recommends purchasing trip insurance. Click here for our Travel Insurance page.
