Brazil 2024 Trip Report - Part 1

February 2024 - We are just back from the Amazon jungle of NW Brazil and one of the best fishing trips I’ve been on!

Our Brazil journey started when we arrived in Manaus at an ungodly hour in the morning on Thursday, January 11 (all international flights seem to arrive in the middle of the night.). We were met at the airport by Jessica from Bucket List Fly Fishing. After a short trip to the hotel we were ready for some sleep. We didn’t plan anything for the Thursday to let everyone recover from their flights from other parts of the world.

After a good rest, our group of four decided to head to the Teatro de Amazonas (built in 1896) only to find it closed for renovations. It was still worth the visit and a stop at the patio bar across the street where we had some very good Caipirinhas!

We arranged a full day tour for our group on Friday. This trip marked my fourth visit to the Amazon and I’d seen the sights before, but this was the first time to Manaus for other group members.

We saw the Manaus market, an Ecological Park, Piracu farm and “fishing”, and the “Meeting of the Waters.” It was an excellent day with great weather to appreciate the unique sites around Manaus. Highlights of the day included:

the activity in the fish market.
watching the “rookies” tangle with a large Airapima (Piracu) with a broom-stick fishing rod complete with bait tied to a rope! The sound these fish make when they eat the bait off the surface is one you will always remember!
Being jump scared by a common squirrel monkey at the eco park that hadn’t been visited in months due to the 120-year low water situation.

But the true highlight for me was seeing the actual beginning of the Amazon River proper. This happens where the Rio Negro and the Solimentes come together off the point of an island out from Manaus. The waters are so radically different they can’t mix for many kilometers downstream. It’s like oil and water. There are chemical differences between the two watersheds. And the temperature difference is astounding to feel with your hand in the water. The freshwater dolphins and cormorants use the transition as an ambush point for countless baitfish. This is a unique spot on the planet.

Sunday was a cloudy, slightly showery day for the flight in to the camp, but the Caravan was equipped with full electronics so the flight took off as scheduled. The flight, about 1hr 45min, was “interesting” as we flew through some pretty intense rain storms. This obviously didn’t phase the pilots as they set up the sun shade and had short naps one at a time!!

Unfortunately we couldn’t see much due to the storms.

Finally we dropped altitude and had our first view of beautiful white sand beaches, very clear water, and peacock bass “nests” all over the place as we softly landed on the Xeriuini river.

We arrived just after 10am and did an extremely efficient (10min) turnaround mid-river with the first group. Motoring up to our floating cabin we were delivered right to our cabin door where we were met with delicious fresh orange juice. We met Rob Anderson (the outfitter) who let us know to unpack, set up our rods, and meet for lunch and the initial welcome meeting at noon. Everyone was on the water for their first casts just before 1pm!