River Plate Outfitters

Lodging Details
River Plate’s “Fly-In Floating Cabins” are the ultimate solution for optimizing shallow drafting mobility, comfort, and luxury in the most remote areas of the Amazon. Upon arrival, you will travel about one to two hours via an eight-passenger Cessna Caravan turbo-prop floatplane, followed by a one to a two-hour boat ride to one of six different Floating Cabin Camps. These mobile cabin camps cruise the headwaters of small tributaries and countless fish-filled, secluded lagoons. The location is normally too long of a run for standard bass boats in the areas where most of the competing houseboats and lodges are operating. The River Plate mobile cabins move daily to fresh, unfished river segments. Each night you are then overnighting along new and different white-sand Amazonian beaches. Also, this feature allows you to walk in at any time to comfort from the nearby secluded, prehistoric-looking lagoons to your 10×15-foot private cabin that is outfitted with air conditioning and a full bathroom. These cabins are tastefully decorated and every detail has been carefully considered.

Food and Beverages
Each floating cabin “chain” of boats features a main dining cabin. Breakfast is served each morning by 6:00 AM and your guide will be ready to leave by 6:30 AM. At mid-day, you may return for lunch in the dining room and a “siesta” in your air-conditioned cabin or you may take a packed lunch in the boat with you. Appetizers and dinner are served each evening in the main dining area after all guests return.

Typical Length of Stay
A standard package is eight (8) nights / six and a half (6.5) fishing days (Friday to Friday), leaving from and returning to Manaus, Brazil (MAO).

Non-Angling Activities and Options
Non-angling activities with River Plate are limited, as this is primarily a trip that focuses on fishing. There are a number of non-angling sights and tours available in Mabaus.

Internet / Communications
Wi-Fi is available at all hotels in Manaus, but not on the river. There is a satellite phone on the boat that can be used by guests for a charge of $5.00 per minute.

How To Get There
Arrive in Manaus (MAO), and after you pass through customs in Manaus, you will be met at the airport by a representative for a transfer to the hotel of your choice in Manaus, where you will spend the night. The following morning you will board a private air charter to meet up with the floating cabins. The flight is 90 minutes over some of the Amazon’s most pristine rainforest. On your departure day, you will arrive back in Manaus in the afternoon. You can catch a direct flight back to the U.S. that evening, or choose to overnight once again in Manaus and depart for the U.S. and your return flight to Miami the following day.

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. On departure day, most flights depart very late at night, allowing you to arrive back in Manaus, and then catch an international flight later that night.

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

General Information
River Plate’s guides are some of the very best in all of Brazil – carefully trained, hardcore fishermen intimately familiar with the complexities of Amazon angling. Many have guided for River Plate for over 15 years. With thousands of fish boated for clients, they know how to get anglers onto large numbers of fish – as well as some very large fish.

The majority of Amazonian gamefish belong to three main groups (families): the catfish, characins (freshwater dorado, for example), and cichlids (peacock bass). In addition to these three groups are several oddball families like the osteoglossidaoe (which includes the immense pirarucú), and groups with saltwater origins such as the sardinata/apapá (a shad/herring/tarpon-like fish) and the corvina, which is essentially a freshwater drum. The list of Amazonian freshwater gamefish is as extensive and exotic as the land itself. Depending upon the region, there are as many as twenty different species that will take a fly or lure – all with fantastic names to match their peculiar appearances.

Of all the incredible gamefish in the Amazon basin, the one that has received the most attention is the peacock bass. Their remarkably explosive topwater strikes, combined with an astonishing ability to break heavy leaders and straighten even stout saltwater hooks, makes them one of the most sought-after species in the Amazon basin. Peacock bass is not a true “bass” such as the largemouth and smallmouth bass found in North American waters, but instead, comprises a genus within the family Cichlidae (the cichlid). Although there are countless color variations throughout their range, there are only four currently recognized species of peacock bass: C. temensis, C. ocellaris, C. monoculus and C. nigrolineatus (there is a raging debate among ichthyologists and anglers on this topic). All species are commonly called tucunaré in Brazil and Peru, while other Spanish- speaking countries in South America use the term “pavón.” 

Boats and Equipment
The fishing boats utilized by River Plate are 20 feet long with 40 HP outboard motors with all standard bass boat features (trolling motor, high swivel seats, etc.). The best thing about these area-specific boats is that they are sufficiently light, allowing them to navigate past the shallow sandbars and other obstacles found throughout the Amazon. With regards to rods, reels, flies, and all terminal tackle, anglers will want to bring all of their own equipment.

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. Prices below are based upon an eight (8) nights / six and a half (6.5) fishing days package (Friday to Saturday).

Rates for all River Plate mobile cabin options:

8 angler cabins = $5,590.00 per person

12 angler cabins = $4,990.00 per person

Short week option = $4,550.00 per person

Floatplane = $580.00 per person

**Floatplanes are required for the following River Plate destinations: Kabori (fly fishing only), upper Xeurini, upper Shufaris, upper Tapera, Marmelos, and the upper Matupiri rivers

What’s Included:

• All charter flights in-country except for floatplane destinations 
• All necessary ground transfers
• One overnight at Tropical Hotel in Manaus on arrival (Friday)
• Guide-operated 21-foot fully equipped shallow drafting bass boat per two anglers
• Brazilian fishing licenses
• All meals at the fishing destination
• All wine and beer
• Daily laundry and maid service at fishing destinations
  
  

What’s Not Included:

• International airfare from original destination to Manaus, Brazil (MAO)
• Brazilian visa (waived as of 2019)
• Gratuities and tips to camp staff and fishing guides
• Overweight luggage charges (weight limit: 36 lbs. per person is allowed on the floatplane)
• Food and beverages in Manaus
• Private city tours, special transfers, and hotel reservations when not arriving/ departing with the party
• Airport departure tax
• Satellite phone calls ($5.00/minute)
• Rods, flies, and all terminal tackle

River Plate Outfitters (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 River Plate 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. River Plate 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. Please be aware that all guests will be required to sign and return a River Plate 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. Visiting River Plate operations and locations requires flying a private charter fixed-wing aircraft. Passengers must understand and accept the risks which are inherent in and associated with such means of conveyance. 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.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.