Pousada Rei da Amazônia

Pousada Rei da Amazônia is a fixed-base sport fishing lodge on the banks of the **Itu River**, a tributary of the Rio Negro about 70 km from Barcelos, in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. The operation is dedicated to trophy **speckled peacock bass** (*Cichla temensis*) — including record-class fish — and serves anglers who prefer a land base over a moving liveaboard. The fishing area covers lakes, backwaters and igarapés of the Itu River itself, extending to the Bafuna and Cachoeirinha rivers and the Rio Negro, also home to piraíba catfish, redtail catfish and spotted sorubim.

The standard package is **7 nights with 6 fishing days**, Saturday to Saturday. Fishing starts the afternoon of arrival and runs through Friday noon, with an overnight stay in Barcelos before the return flight. The lodge sleeps up to 26 anglers in **double and triple air-conditioned suites**, all with private bathrooms, individual beds and solid Amazonian timber walls. The climate-controlled dining hall has **Starlink satellite internet** and is the social hub of the property.

Fishing runs from **six-meter aluminum skiffs with twin elevated casting decks**, powered by a 30 HP outboard plus a 55 lb electric trolling motor with a spare battery and swivel fishing chairs. Each boat hosts one experienced native guide for up to two anglers, with a 25 L daily fuel quota and onboard cooler stocked with ice and drinks. The lodge supplies tackle for catfish species; for peacock bass, anglers bring their own kit (5'8"–6'6" rods rated 17–25 lb, fast-action baitcaster 7.0 or 9.0, 50–65 lb braid with 50 lb fluorocarbono leader, and a mix of topwater props, sticks, zaras, jerkbaits and jigs).

The stay is **all-inclusive**: full board with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and juices, plus unlimited drinks including Heineken and Império beers, caipirinha, water, sodas and fresh juices. The week includes one **beach lunch** on a river sandbar and a Thursday-night **luau** gathering. Travel logistics are bundled in: the **Manaus–Barcelos flight is included**, plus a high-speed boat transfer from Barcelos to the lodge (roughly 70 km). The municipal tourism fee is charged separately on arrival.

The season runs **September through March**, matching the Amazon dry period, when peacock bass concentrate in predictable spots and water clarity favors artificial lures (props, sticks, zaras, jerkbaits and jigs). It suits the angler who wants a comfortable land base, abundant Amazonian cuisine and direct access to a stretch of river known for the size of its peacock bass.