Barco Poraquê

Barco Poraquê is a fully renovated regional liveaboard operating on the upper Rio Negro, based in Barcelos (Amazonas, Brazil). Run by the duo Bruno Borsari and Pilolô — a pioneer guide in the region — the boat was rebuilt from the inside out to host up to 16 anglers in a premium liveaboard format dedicated to sport fishing.

The primary target is trophy Peacock Bass (Cichla temensis) in the dark waters of the Rio Negro and its tributaries. To stay ahead of the water-level swings typical of the upper Negro, the team keeps spotters monitoring the headwaters of the affluents through the season — the payoff is a rare day-by-day adaptive logistic. Beyond peacock bass, the operation has mapped specific spots and techniques for the great Amazonian catfish: tiger sorubim (cachara), false sorubim (caparari), redtail catfish (pirarara), and goliath catfish (piraíba).

Onboard, the Poraquê offers 8 twin cabins with bunk beds, air conditioning, outlets and private bathroom with pressurized shower. Social life happens in the climate-controlled dining room with a bar and on the upper deck, the after-fishing spot for snacks and drinks. Daily on-board laundry and Starlink internet round out the stay, sparing anglers from a heavy bag or going offline.

Fishing is done from 5.5 m skiffs with 30 HP outboards, platformed and fitted with bow-mounted electric motors, deep-cycle batteries and onboard coolers — one skiff per pair of anglers, with a dedicated local professional guide. The boats are fully set up for artificial-lure fishing.

The standard package is 6 nights aboard and 6 full days of fishing, with full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks), unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, Heineken beer and a per-group spirits allowance (Campari, vodka, and Velho Barreiro cachaça). Local transfers within Barcelos — airport-to-boat and hotel-to-airport — are included; the regional flight to Barcelos departs from Manaus.