Rio Marié Liveaboard - Brazil

Liveaboard Peacock Bass Fishing Adventure

The Rio Marié, also known as the River of Giants, is the most remote river in the Brazilian Amazon. The headwaters of the Rio Marié lie more than 400 air miles northwest of Manaus in the rainforest between Brazil and Columbia.

Fly fishing the Rio Marié

The Rio Marié is a very remote river—more than 400 miles by floatplane from Manaus, Brazil. The Marié River is born in the northwest side of the Brazilian Amazon, near the Colombian border, and is a tributary of the upper Negro River. The river is contained inside an Indian territory of more than 494 million acres.
There are over 400 miles of river, tributaries, and lagoons. The Rio Marié liveaboard adventure is the first official sportfishing operation inside an Indian territory in Brazil. It is now the largest area in the world specifically dedicated to fly-fishing-only and catch-and-release only.
The Temensis peacock bass, the largest of all peacock bass, average 10-to 18-pounds in the more remote locations but have been known to reach 30-pounds. In 2016, a 28 ½-pound fly-caught peacock bass was landed at the Rio Marié, and in 2017, a near 31-pounder! (It was disqualified as an IGFA world-record due to some technical issues.) The butterfly peacock bass are abundant and smaller, reaching up to 13-pounds.
The liveaboard’s three-month season runs mid-September to mid-December. This is the dry season when the water levels are at their lowest.

View Todd Moen's YouTube 10:14 video:
Amazon Peacock Bass - Jungle Fly Fishing

Rio Marie Fishing Facts:

Season: The 2021 season runs from August 14 - December 19, 2021.
Group size: Eight to 12-guests per week. Private rooms are available on the liveaboard for an extra $600.00 per week, based on availability.
The Adventure begins in the uppermost stretches of the Rio Marié with the liveaboard moving downstream at a pace of about 75 miles each week. They do not overfish any area. Anglers are greeted each day with new water, a constant and fresh trophy peacock bass fishing grounds.
Guides: Two anglers per professional English-speaking guide, plus a native guide who drives the boat.
Boats: 20-foot fully equipped shallow draft skiffs have two casting platforms (one at either end of the boat so both anglers can fish at the same time), a center console, and are powered by 90-HP 4-stroke motors, and remote-control electric motors.
Equipment: No gear or tackle use is included. Flies are available for $10.00 on the liveaboard. A complete gear and tackle list is incuded in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License is included in the package.
Methods: Mostly baitfish imitations are used.

Rio Marié Liveaboard

Dr. Meng Syn's Trip Recap - Blog, Videos...

Our client Meng Syn does a phenomenal job of his post-trips reports. Read his blog and see his outstanding videos, listed below.
Dr. Meng Syn's Vimeo Videos:
Rio Marié - River of Giants

Butterflies - Butterfly Madness

Flies for the Rio Marié

Dr. Meng Syn's Blog:
The Rio Marié River of Giants

Dr. Meng Syn's Flickr Albums:

Rio Marié

More of the Rio Marié

The Untamed Amazon Mothership

The Untamed Amazon has three floors. The lower floor is a restricted area for staff only and includes the inner workings of the vessel with twin 200-HP propulsion engines. The main floor has seven double occupancy suites for Rio Marié guests. Maximum number of guests is fourteen. Each suite accommodates two guests in super single beds and has a private bathroom, air conditioning, and space for storage. The top floor is the place for relaxation after a long fishing day. There is a spacious living and dining room, an open lounge on the rear deck, limited Wi-Fi, and two large Jacuzzis.
Meals: There is a full-scale kitchen which serves American meals in addition to regional favorites. You'll enjoy expertly prepared four-course dinners in the comfortable dining area. Exotic dishes of freshly caught fish, fresh-baked bread and pastries, chilled wines, ice-cold beer, spirits, and soft drinks await each guest throughout the week. Beer, fine wines, and spirits are included in the package.

Seafood Paella Dinner Seafood Paella, Chef Leandro's specialty

The Mobility of the Untamed Amazon – the deluxe, shallow-draft mothership – and the utilization of the Cessna Caravan fitted with amphibious floats to transport anglers direct from Manaus to the Rio Marié, is making all the difference in the world. When the water is high, they fish the headwaters of Marié further upriver, exploring new tributaries and lagoons. Upstream, there is 100 more miles of river to explore. When the water drops, they move downstream to familiar beats. Not only does this mobility allow them to fish and explore new water, but it also helps to manage fishing pressure on the river by incorporating a beat system across a broad expanse of over 200 river miles.

Getting to the Liveaboard:

At the international airport in Manaus, you'll be greeted by an English-speaking representative. He'll arrange for transfers to the new Hotel Juma Ópera in Manaus. (The ground transfers and the first hotel night are included in the package.) After breakfast at the hotel, the driver will pick up your group between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. and head to the local airport. You'll take a four-hour flight aboard a Cessna Caravan hydroplane landing on the Marie River near the liveaboard that will be anchored and waiting for you.

RATES & PACKAGES

2021 USD Rates:

8-nights and 6-days guided fishing
August 14 - December 19, 2021:
Two anglers per room and skiff:
$7,325 + $670 Native Comm Fee
=$7,995.00 per person

Upgrade to a private room
Add $600.00 to above package
Based on availability.

One angler per room and skiff:
$11,680 + $670 Native Comm Fee
=$12,350.00 per person

Non-angler companion:
$4,980 + $435 Native Comm Fee
=$5,415.00 per person

The Native Community Fee:
This Project was based as a long-term social Project which supports the preservation of the Indian Culture and improving their quality of life. The Rio Marié River has formed an association (ACIBRN) and board to protect their interests moving forward. This Association includes representatives from all 14 Indian Communities. The Project has a significant user fee on all visiting anglers. The funds from the fee will primarily be used for social projects, infrastructure development, transportation, and medical and education projects. The tax is payable in cash (USD) to the representative upon your arrival in Manaus and goes directly to the Indian Association Account. Anglers receive a receipt from the Association. The fee represents an important step in the continuing effort to protect their ability to share this amazing and unique part of the world.

Packages Include:

One-night at the Hotel Juma Ópera in Manaus upon arrival, necessary ground transfers in Brazil; roundtrip charter flight Manaus to the liveaboard, boat transfers, guided fishing, fishing licenses, all meals at the liveaboard, wine, beer, and spirits; daily laundry and maid service on the liveaboard; and, upon request, our eBook Fly Fishing for Peacock Bass by Larry and Guy Schoenborn.

Packages Do Not Include:

International airfare; Indian Association Fee of $670.00 (Native Fee) paid in cash upon arrival to Brazil; gratuities for guides and camp staff, fishing equipment, flies which are $10.00 each on the liveaboard, premium spirits on the liveaboard, food and beverages in Manaus and any private city tours, satellite phone calls ($5.00 per minute), extra hotel overnights if needed, airport departure tax (if not included in airfare), Global Rescue Insurance, IMG Signature Travel Insurance, and anything not mentioned under inclusions.

Generally, you’ll tip 10% of the trip cost (excluding taxes and air travel), approximately $730.00 per angler for the week. On the last night, the manager will collect the tips and split them among the guides and staff.

Rio Marié High Water Policy:

Fishing for Peacock bass in the Amazon jungle represents one of the last frontiers in the fly-fishing world. As with any such hyper-remote destinations, there can be challenges associated with offering a first-class experience in the ‘back of beyond.’ In the Amazon, water level conditions will, on occasion, present such challenges. The Amazon River annual water level cycles are not a simple equation, even for the most experienced local experts. Normally, high and low water levels here follow a fairly predictable monthly cycle, but climate changes and the effects of stronger or weaker El Niño and La Niña cycles can directly and immediately affect those levels. Specifically, these El Niño and La Niña events tend to impact the amount of rain in the headwaters of Amazon rivers, which in turn affects the entire Amazon basin. Water levels are important when fishing for peacock bass, and understanding how to work around them is a key component to success. Low water does not always result in the best fishing, just as high water is not always the worst thing. More important is to understand where and how to fish as the water fluctuates. The Rio Marie system has several hundred miles of rivers, tributaries, and lagoons from its headwaters down to its merging with the Rio Negro. Within this extensive water system, the liveaboard can move up or downstream throughout the season—every week or even daily—to reach the best water levels for trophy fish. This system is useful when navigating less than ideal water conditions. Although the Rio Marie’s season is based on the best water conditions, it’s difficult to predict water levels, and this is one of the risks associated with fishing the Amazon. If you are not comfortable with the risk of the river levels being too high or low during your trip, then it is probably not the trip for you. You will not be refunded for water conditions that may not meet your expectations. In the event the water is too high to fish on any given week, your week will be rescheduled to a later time, but there will not be a refund of your trip payment.

New Requirements:

• As of June 17, 2019, Brazil no longer requires a Tourist Visa for U.S. citizens. This will make it a lot easier for anglers traveling to Brazil. (Acquiring the old visa was a real headache.)
• Mandatory Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate: A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required to enter any Indian Territory in Brazil. It’s a Government Regulation to protect Indians. All anglers must bring within their travel documents their vaccine certificates.

Deposit and Cancellation Policy: A deposit of fifty percent (50%) of the total price is required to confirm a package. This deposit must be made within 15 days of the reservation date. The deposit required to confirm fishing reservations is NON-REFUNDABLE unless the client is replaced. The balance due shall be paid 90 days before the arrival date. At this point, the individual is responsible for the total land costs, and no refunds will be made. There is no refund for any unused portion of the land package. The Lodge is not responsible for cancellations made due to weather conditions or an event of force majeure. Once you have made a reservation, it will be deemed that you have consented to the operator’s terms and conditions, as well as to the cancellation policy detailed herein.

Terms and Conditions:
1. All baggage and personal belongings are always the sole responsibility of the owners. We highly recommend obtaining a comprehensible travel insurance covering loss and robbery of baggage and personal belongings. In no event will the Lodge or the operator be held responsible for any losses.
2. Neither the operator or the Lodge will be responsible for any loss, damage, or injury arising while sportfishing or any other activity.
3. The operator will not be held responsible for any loss, damage, or injury suffered aboard an airplane or a charter plane. The contract or ticket issued will constitute the sole contract between the airline or charter company with the passenger.
4. CHANGES IN ITINERARY - force majeure: The operator reserves the right to make changes in the trip itinerary whenever judged necessary by circumstances beyond their control. In this case, no refund will be made, and the trip itinerary and/or destination can be changed to other operator-run destinations with the same price level as the original trip contracted.
5. INDEMNITY LETTER: All guests, with no exception, must agree and sign an indemnity letter.
6. INSURANCE: We strongly recommend travel insurance.
Click here for our Travel Insurance page.