LiveaboardBarcelos
Barco Zaltana
Negro River · Uneiuxi River
Barco Zaltana is a premium Amazon liveaboard cruising the Upper and Middle Rio Negro, operating from a seasonal base in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro (Amazonas) between September and March. Packages run 9 days and 7 nights — including a gateway hotel night in Manaus and a charter flight to Santa Isabel — with 5.5 days dedicated to fishing for trophy peacock bass on the Rio Negro and its tributaries.
The three-deck vessel has a trellised, well-ventilated façade. Cabins come with American-standard beds, private en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning and a balcony; some offer panoramic river views. Climate-controlled common areas include a restaurant, lounge, TV room and games room. The upper deck holds the bar, sundeck and solarium with sun loungers and a shower — where anglers watch the Amazon sunset over a cold beer.
Fishing runs from aluminium Bass-style boats with bow and stern casting platforms, Yamaha outboards and Minn Kota electric trolling motors — one boat per pair of anglers, each with a dedicated guide. The on-board kit includes lip-grip and long-nose pliers, fish-handling tools and BGFA/IGFA measuring boards. Anglers bring their own personal tackle; full rental kits are available at BRL 250, subject to availability.
The Santa Isabel itinerary fishes the Rio Negro mainstem and the Rio Uneiuxi tributary — the latter's entry fee is built into the package. Headline trophies are the tucunaré-açu (Cichla temensis, the Amazonian peacock bass that can exceed 90 cm), tucunaré paca, butterfly peacock and popoca. Anglers also encounter piraíba (lau-lau catfish), redtail catfish, arowana, bicuda, surubim, jacundá and piranha.
The package is fully inclusive: gateway hotel night in Manaus, hotel-airport transfer, round-trip charter flight Manaus ↔ Santa Isabel, speedboat transfer to the vessel, double-occupancy lodging with full board from regional Amazonian cuisine, drinks (water, soft drinks, juices, beer and bar cocktails), Wi-Fi and laundry (wash only). The operator invests in community projects and local training programmes throughout the Upper Rio Negro.
Target species
Spotted sorubim
Pseudoplatystoma punctifer
Pike characin
Boulengerella cuvieri
Jacundá
Crenicichla sp.
Redtail catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
Peacock bass (paca phase)
Butterfly peacock bass
Cichla orinocensis
Popoca peacock bass
Cichla monoculus
Speckled peacock bass
Cichla temensis
Peixe-troféu principal; exemplares podem ultrapassar 90 cm.
Black Piranha
Serrasalmus rhombeus
Silver arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Goliath catfish
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Planning
Season
Duration
9 days
Price
From $4,400
- BRL 23,900 per person in double occupancy for the 9-day / 7-night / 5.5-fishing-day package.
- Minimum deposit of BRL 1,000 per spot to lock the dates; balance paid via Brazilian bank slip (boleto) up to 30 days before departure.
- Credit card not accepted.
- Full tackle kit rental available at BRL 250 (limited quantity).
- Satellite phone calls: BRL 15 per minute.
- Cancellation: paid amounts are non-refundable; transfers to another guest or date changes are allowed with applicable fees.
- Does not include airfare to Manaus, travel insurance, fishing licence, tips, or meals/lodging in Santa Isabel outside the boat.
- USD price is an approximate reference conversion; the operation transacts in BRL.
What's included
Fishing
- Local native guideLocal fishing guide, one per pair of anglers.
- Electric trolling motorMinn Kota electric trolling motor on the bass-style fishing boat.
- Unlimited fuelFuel for the fishing boat (Yamaha outboard + electric motor) included.
- Fishing tackle rentalpaid extraTackle rental kit at BRL 250; limited availability, book in advance.
- Pliers & measuring kitLip-grip, long-nose pliers, bogagrip and BGFA/IGFA measuring boards.
- Safety kit (life jackets/first aid)First-aid items on board plus reserve standard launches.
Lodging
- Air conditioningCabins, lounge and restaurant are climate-controlled.
- Private bathroomPrivate en-suite bathroom in every cabin.
- Wi-Fi
- BalconyBalcony in the cabin.
- Panoramic viewCabins with panoramic Rio Negro views.
- Laundry (wash)Laundry (wash only).
- Ironing serviceIroning service not offered.
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- DinnerRegional Amazonian cuisine prepared by an Amazonian chef.
- SnacksSnacks throughout the day.
- Non-alcoholic drinksWater, soft drinks and juices.
- BeerBeer included (Heineken and Budweiser observed at the bar).
- Premium spiritsPremium spirits and bar cocktails included.
Logistics
- Air transfer includedRound-trip charter flight Manaus ↔ Santa Isabel do Rio Negro.
- Gateway-city hotel nightOne hotel night in Manaus on arrival.
- Boat transferSpeedboat transfer between Santa Isabel do Rio Negro and the vessel.
- Tourism taxRio Uneiuxi entry fee included.
- Satellite phonepaid extraSatellite phone calls at BRL 15 per minute.
Common areas
- Bar & loungeUpper-deck bar with river view.
- TV room
- Games roomGames table and lounge area.
- Deck
- SolariumSolarium with sun loungers and outdoor shower.
You arrange
Fishing license
Mandatory federal fishing licence (IPAAM): https://sistemas.ipaam.arm.gov.br/carteira-pesca/
Tips & gratuities
Tips and gratuities are the angler's responsibility.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included.
Personal fishing gear
Personal fishing tackle — optional full-kit rental at BRL 250 with limited availability.
Flight to the gateway city
Commercial round-trip flight to Manaus is the angler's responsibility, including any excess-baggage charges.
Gallery
Location
Contact
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