Season
Ideal for
Accommodations
Species
Sight Fishing in the Mekragnoti Indigenous Territory
Kendjam is located in one of the most hidden areas of the Brazilian Amazon – the Mekragnoti Indigenous Territory. This is a clear water fishery known for its spectacular sight fishing opportunities for an impressive variety of species including peacock bass, payara, pacú, and wolfish. Most fishing is pursued on foot and the various fishing beats are accessed with the use of locally built boats that move anglers from one spot to another. The granite base of the river ensures good water clarity for sight fishing, even after heavy rain, and remains comfortable and safe to wade. This trip is not for anglers that aren’t up for a true adventure but offers a remarkable fishing and cultural experience. Aside from the incredible dry fly and sight fishing for a large variety of species, what separates this trip from others offered in the Amazon is the Kendjam hosts, the Kayapo tribe – an indigenous community living in 5 million hectares of pure virgin Amazon forest. The lodge is located on a sandy beach overlooking a beautiful pool of the Iriri River and accommodates six guests per week. The lodge offers four double occupancy African-style wall tents with spring box beds, private bathrooms, hot water, and electric light. Kendjam operates during the low water season from June to the middle part of September.
Accommodation Details
Lodging Details
The Kendjam Lodge is designed to be a comfortable safari-style tent camp. With 4 double occupancy wall tents complete with private bathrooms, beds, hot water, and electric lights, guests can experience an exquisite jungle setting from the comfort of a lodge.
Food and Beverages
Guests will be treated to great cuisine that’s served in the main lodge. Bottled water, soft drinks, and juices are available. Alcohol is prohibited in the Indian Territory.
Typical Length of Stay
The length of stay is eight (8) nights with six (6) days of fishing.
Non-Angling Activities and Options
Although this is primarily a fishing-focused location, due to the lodge’s location in 5 million hectares of protected Amazon jungle there are abundant wildlife and birdwatching opportunities. This diverse ecosystem also has mammals that are unique to the Amazon basin like tapirs, wild hogs, peccaries, capybaras, ocelots, and jaguars.
Internet/Communication
Satellite internet wireless connection and phone service are provided for all guests.
Travel Details
How to Get There
Arrive in Manaus (MAO) on a Friday, where you will be met by a representative of Kendjam and transferred to the Caesar Business Hotel to check in and overnight (included in the package rate). The following morning, you will board a private air charter to the lodge. On your departure day, you will leave the lodge via private air charter in the morning arriving back to Manaus by the early afternoon. You can catch a direct flight back to the U.S. that evening or choose to overnight once again in Manaus.
Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Most flights into Manaus, Brazil (MAO) from the U.S. arrive late at night. Since you will be overnighting in Manaus on your first night, you can arrive at any time the day before your trip actually begins. We suggest arriving on Saturday so that the following Sunday morning you can catch your charter flight.
Documents Required
U.S. citizens will need to carry a valid U.S. passport. In June of 2019, Brazil waived tourist visas for US citizens! You no longer need a tourist visa to enter Brazil.
Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.
Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership
Fishing
General Information
Kendjam is one of the most off-the-grid locations that Yellow Dog books anywhere in the world. The lodge is located 550 miles southeast of Manaus, Brazil along the Iriri River within the Kayapo Tribe’s Territory. To get there, guests take a 3.5-hour charter flight from Manaus, Brazil to the Kenjam Indian Community, followed by a 3.5-hour boat ride upstream on the Iriri River to the lodge.
The Iriri River is clear and hosts ten different species of fish to target with a fly rod. The natural environment is completely intact, hosting an impressive amount of wildlife and birds. The Kayapo Tribe are true stewards of the land and have protected their natural resources from mining, logging, and development which is the leading factor of why the fish and wildlife are so abundant.
This fishery offers a combination of both wade fishing and boat fishing on various beats of the Iriri River. The Iriri River is a clear, freestone river with lots of diverse features from rapids, riffles, lakes, shallow flats, and tail-outs. Anglers will fish a different section of the river each day with different guides throughout the week. Each pair of anglers will be accompanied by an English-speaking fishing guide, plus a native guide from the Kayapo Tribe. The guides at Kendjam are extremely knowledgeable about the environment and know the techniques and flies used to target each species, including peacock bass, payara, wolfish, pacu, bicuda, and matrincha.
This is one of the few clear water jungle fisheries in existence! The Iriri River is formed by a granite basin and very stable vegetated banks. Even with rainfall, the river remains clear and wading is relatively easy on the granite river bottom. Fishing styles and techniques include fishing topwater patterns for peacocks, sight fishing for matrincha and pacu with dry flies, and stripping baitfish patterns for bicuda, payara, and wolfish. The fishery resembles a mountain trout river, offering dry fly and streamer fishing for exotic jungle species.
Boats and Equipment Required
The fishing boats at Kendjam are 20-foot aluminum skiffs outfitted with four-stroke engines. The boats accommodate two anglers fishing at the same time with one angler on the bow deck and the other fishing from the rear of the boat. Anglers are encouraged to bring their own rods and reels in weights 6, 7, and 8, but the lodge does have rods and reels to loan if needed, as well as flies and fly lines for sale.
Rates and Terms
Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices listed below are per person, based on double occupancy, and quoted in US dollars. Trips of any length can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing.
2022/2023 Package Rates:
Eight (8) Nights / Six (6) days of guided fishing (based on double occupancy) is $6,625 per person plus $560 for the Indian Territory Entry Fee
Native Community Tax
The Kayapó Natives (where Kendjam is located) have formed a board to protect their interests moving forward. This board includes representatives from all communities inside the Makrangnoti Indigenous Territory, as well as other communities of the Kayapó Indigenous Territory. The leaders of the association have made the decision to implement a significant user tax on all visiting anglers. The funds from the tax will be used primarily for social projects, infrastructure development, transportation, as well as medical and education projects. The tax will be $560 per person for a full lodge trip. The tax will be payable in cash in Brazil. This fee represents an important step in the continuing effort to protect the ability to continue to share this amazing and unique part of the world.
What’s Included:
- One night at the four-star Intercity Hotel
- Ground transfers in Manaus upon arrival
- Grand Caravan 3.5-hour charter flight Manaus – Kendjam – Manaus
- 6 full days fishing with a pro guide (two local guides per two anglers)
- 7 nights at Kendjam Lodge
- All-inclusive meals and beverages at the lodge
- Fishing licenses
What’s Not Included:
- International flights
- Meals and beverages in Manaus Hotel
- Fly fishing leaders
- Wire and flies
- Gratuities for guide and lodge staff
- Trip insurance
- Airport taxes and USD $530 Indian Communities Fee
Kendjam Lodge (Brazil)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking to hold both space and guides for all Kendjam packages. In the case of cancellations, all deposits and payments are non-refundable. Because of the lodge’s strict no refund policy, we highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. No space or guides will be held without receipt of deposit. Full pre-payment is due 90 days prior to date of trip. Kendjam will not refund payments in the event poor weather, or for unused portions of any package. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be sent minus a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog Flyfishing. All baggage and personal belongings are the sole responsibility of its owners at all times. We highly recommend obtaining a comprehensible travel insurance covering loss and robbery of baggage and personal belongings. In no event will the lodge or agent be responsible for any losses. The lodge and agent will not be responsible for any loss, damage or injury arising while practicing sportfishing or any other activity, or for any loss damage or injury suffered aboard an airplane or a charter plane. The operator reserves the right to make changes to the trip itinerary whenever judged necessary by circumstances beyond the operator’s control, or major force circumstances. In this case, no refund will be made, although the trip itinerary, dates and/or destination can be changed by Untamed Angling and a trip credit could be made with or without extra costs at the sole discretion of the operator. Please be aware that all guests will be required to sign and return an Untamed Angling Indemnity Form prior to the trip, and there will be no exceptions to this. No refunds can be made for unused arrangements or fishing time lost due to inclement weather. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these Amazon packages.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW YELLOW DOG GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES
Payment Terms For All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings
In order to lock in your trip reservation, we ask that you please remit payment at the time of receipt of invoice. For your convenience, Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a direct and secure ACH platform – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Note that all Yellow Dog invoices include a live link that takes you directly to the Yellow Dog ACH platform for fast and easy payment. For open and existing invoices with a remaining balance, payment reminders also include this easy link to the ACH page.
Other customary forms of payment that are accepted are checks or wire transfers. If you would like to pay in a different way or have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (888) 777-5060 or (406) 585-8667. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Beginning September 1st, 2020, Yellow Dog will apply a 3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions.
Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Standard Forms For Payment
- ACH online payments (for US banking institutions only).
- Traditional checks (sent via mail)
- Electronic wire payments (client is responsible for any wiring fees)
*Please contact us if you prefer or require a different payment option. Convenience fees may apply for other payment methods.
**Please be aware that the ACH platform is only available for US financial institutions and bank accounts. International payments can be made via wire or with a credit card.
Yellow Dog Customer Reviews
“This is by far my favorite fishing destination. Six out of the eight guests on our trip were repeat guests, so I’m not alone. I love the species diversity and the fishing style options – big streamers, dry flies, poppers, nymphing – within a matter of hours you could do it all. The guides are amazing and incredibly talented. It says a lot that the same staff comes back year after year. There isn’t a bad guide. I like that they push you to do well, but also don’t get angry when you miss a shot. Really warm and talented staff. They are passionate about fishing and the jungle and Kayapo. They guide you to know how to catch every species there, but at the same time, as you get more familiar with the area, you can pick what you want to fish for, how you want to fish for it, how much you want to wade vs how much you want to sit in the boat (at least early in the season you have all of these options – a little more limited later when the water is lower). There isn’t a bad beat. And each of the natives brings fantastic knowledge and unique aspects from their culture to the boat as well. Kendjam is also one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. The Jungle is so immense and green, the water is so clear, the birds are beautiful and colorful- it’s one of a kind.” – Sonya G.
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“It is hard to summarize how truly special Kendjam is. For many, fly fishing is all about making connections. The Kendjam experience fosters unique connections between the angler, the ecosystem, and the people of Kendjam that are hard to put into words.There is something very intimate about fishing a river that roughly 80 people fish per year. The diversity of the fishery will mystify you and the accommodations are top-notch. We often found ourselves saying we could not believe we were in the middle of the jungle with such nice accommodations, amazing meals, and high-level service.” – Katie B.
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