Fishing hotelAripuanã River
Pousada PiraAçu
Aripuanã River · Paxiúba River · Buiuçu River · Guariba River · Sumaúma Rapids
Pousada PiraAçu is a land-based sport-fishing lodge in southern Amazonas, set deep in the rainforest on the banks of the Aripuanã River. It is the only specialized fishing operation in the area, and guests fish kilometers of river with exclusive access, far from any fishing pressure. The timber cabins stand on stilts and are linked by palm-thatched walkways, each with air conditioning and a private bathroom, and the package covers full board plus chilled beer and soft drinks.
The name PiraAçu comes from the Tupi pirá-açu, "big fish". The region's peacock bass are the pinima and the vazzoleri, landed across the rapids and pools of the Aripuanã and its tributaries. The fishing reaches well beyond them: the main river yields giant catfish such as piraíba, redtail catfish, barred sorubim, jaú and gilded catfish, while the scaled gamefish include matrinxã, jatuarana, tambaqui, pirapitinga, bicuda, apapá and the hard-fighting payara. Diversity is the region's signature, with more than two dozen target species across the season.
The fishing grounds cover the Aripuanã River and the Paxiúba, Buiuçu and Guariba tributaries, plus the Guariba I and Guariba II lakes. An advanced camp operates above the Sumaúma Rapids, opening stretches of river reachable only by running the rapid. The rock-strewn rapids of the Paxiúba and Buiuçu suit artificial and natural lures, kayak fishing and fly fishing, which is highly productive here both from the boat and wading, with dry flies, streamers and terrestrial patterns.
The Aripuanã has a strong seasonal rhythm: the flood peaks between February and April and the water drops from August to October, with the lowest stage around September, when beaches and rock bars emerge and the fish concentrate. The annual range tops five meters, reshaping the fishery in each period, from high-water catfish to peacock bass and rapids fishing in the dry season.
Access is from Porto Velho (RO). The fly-in packages use an air taxi with about a 1h35 flight to the base, and a road-transfer option is also available. The lodge hosts groups of up to 24 guests in double, triple and quadruple rooms, plus a VIP chalet with a suite, lounge and mezzanine. A climate-controlled restaurant, a bar, Wi-Fi and a small tackle shop round out the base, and non-anglers can enjoy birdwatching, boat trips and interpretive forest trails.
Target species
Matrincha
Brycon amazonicus
Escama briguenta de iscas artificiais; cheia ao período misto (jan–ago).
Amazon pellona
Pellona castelnaeana
Escama do período de cheia (jan–mai), ótima no fly.
Tiger Sorubim
Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum
Surubim pintado de couro; entre as espécies de destaque da região.
Laulao Catfish
Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
Couro do período de cheia e misto (jan–ago).
Palmito Catfish
Ageneiosus valenciennesi
Couro citado no período de seca (set–nov) e no rio Paxiúba.
Freshwater Corvina
Plagioscion squamosissimus
Escama presente ao longo da temporada.
Flatwhiskered Catfish
Pinirampus pirinampu
Couro presente ao longo da temporada.
Piau (Leporinus)
Leporinus obtusidens
Escama dos afluentes Paxiúba e Buiuçu.
Pike characin
Boulengerella cuvieri
Escama de superfície do período misto à seca (jun–nov).
Jacundá
Crenicichla sp.
Escama dos afluentes de corredeira (Paxiúba, Buiuçu).
Redtail catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
Peixe de couro presente o ano todo; muito buscado na pesca pesada.
Vazzoleri Peacock Bass
Cichla vazzoleri
Melhor da água em queda à seca (jun–nov), nas corredeiras e remansos do Aripuanã e afluentes.
Jatuarana
Brycon falcatus
Escama de corredeira; cheia ao período misto (jan–ago).
Cuiú-cuiú (ripsaw catfish)
Oxydoras niger
Bagre de couro entre as espécies da região.
Pirapitinga
Piaractus brachypomus
Escama do período misto à seca (jun–nov).
Jaguar catfish
Leiarius marmoratus
Couro do período de cheia e misto (jan–ago).
Tambaqui
Colossoma macropomum
Escama buscada no período misto (jun–ago).
Silver arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Escama de superfície do período misto à seca (jun–nov).
Spotted Sorubim
Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum
Surubim de couro do Aripuanã, disponível em todos os períodos.
Pacu
Escama presente em todos os períodos; inclui o pacu guará.
Pinima peacock bass
Cichla pinima
Melhor da água em queda à seca (jun–nov), nas corredeiras e remansos. Exemplares dourados de três barras.
Gilded Catfish
Zungaro zungaro
Grande bagre de couro de fundo do rio Aripuanã.
Payara
Hydrolycus scomberoides
Predador de presas das corredeiras; presente o ano todo (cachorra facão na cheia, cachorra larga na seca).
Zebra catfish
Brachyplatystoma juruense
Couro de listras; aparece da cheia ao período misto.
Goliath catfish
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Bagre de couro do rio Aripuanã, presente ao longo da temporada; pico na água alta.
Gilded catfish
Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii
Couro migrador; melhor da cheia ao período misto (jan–ago).
Video
Planning
Season
Regional reference level
Rio Sucunduri · Santarém Sucunduri
updated 07/01336 cm below the July average
Duration
5–6 days
Price
From $2,100
- 2027 rates per person (valid for bookings closed by Oct/26).
- Three options, all departing from Porto Velho (RO): Option III, road transfer, 6 nights / 5 fishing days, R$ 11,500 (the starting price shown); Option II, fly-in (~1h35 flight), 5 nights / 4.5 fishing days, R$ 14,700; Option I, fly-in (~1h35 flight), 6 nights / 5.5 fishing days, R$ 15,980.
- The fly-in options include the air transfer and the cost may vary with the aircraft charter; in Option III the Porto Velho/Lodge/Porto Velho transfer is contracted separately.
- Payment: 30% deposit at booking and the balance in installments, settled up to 10 days before arrival; extras paid at the lodge.
- The USD price is an approximate reference conversion; the operation transacts in BRL.
What's included
Fishing
- Local native guideFishing in pairs with a local boat pilot, in an equipped boat.
- Unlimited fuelBoat fuel included in the package.
- Natural bait includedLocal live baitfish included.
Lodging
- Air conditioningRooms with air conditioning.
- Private bathroomPrivate bathroom in the rooms.
- Wi-FiWi-Fi at the lodge.
Meals
- BreakfastFull board.
- LunchFull board.
- DinnerFull board.
- SnacksSnacks included.
- Non-alcoholic drinksChilled water and soft drinks included.
- BeerChilled beer included.
- Premium spiritspaid extraSpirits not included; available for purchase on site.
Logistics
- Air transfer includedIncluded in the fly-in packages via Porto Velho (~1h35 flight); cost may vary with the charter. In the road package (Option III) the transfer is contracted separately.
- Gateway-city hotel nightHotel night in Porto Velho not included.
Common areas
- Bar & loungeCarved-wood bar with a wine selection.
- TV roomTV in the climate-controlled restaurant; VIP chalet has an in-room TV.
- DeckCovered walkways and a riverside floating deck.
Activities
- Jungle trailInterpretive forest trails with guides.
- BirdwatchingGuided birdwatching.
- Wildlife tourBoat trips and wildlife watching.
You arrange
Fishing license
Sport fishing license.
Personal fishing gear
Your own fishing tackle (rods, reels, lines and lures) for heavy, medium and light setups; the lodge has a small shop selling gear and live bait (tuvira).
Flight to the gateway city
Airfare from your home city to Porto Velho (RO), the gateway.
Gallery
Location
Contact
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