Pousada Thaimaçu

Jacareacanga, PA · Rio São Benedito

Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Water: Freshwater

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Pousada Thaimaçu (also advertised as Pousada Salto Thaimaçu or Thaimaçu Lodge) is located in the rural area of Jacareacanga, southwest of Pará, on the banks of the Rio São Benedito — a tributary of the Teles Pires, in the upper Tapajós basin. The lodge sits within a preserved area of about 1.4 million hectares that today forms part of the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Rios São Benedito e Azul (formerly the Reserva Estadual de Pesca Esportiva Rio São Benedito/Rio Azul, created in 2001 on the initiative of the lodge itself). The surrounding area is shielded by the Kayabi Indigenous Reserve and the Serra do Cachimbo Air Force Reserve, in a transition zone between the Amazon and the Cerrado — which explains the presence of fish endemic to the Teles Pires. A rule that changes the trip: no one takes fish home. On-site consumption is allowed, except for jaú (jaú catfish), pirarara (redtail catfish), and piraíba (piraíba catfish) (and species under seasonal closure), and it is forbidden to transport any amount of fish out of the reserve.

What you actually catch

Peacock bass (tucunaré-fogo) (Cichla mirianae) — the postcard fish of the São Benedito, endemic to the Teles Pires basin, moving in schools; and the pinima peacock bass (tucunaré-pinima) (Cichla pinima).
Trairão (wolf fish) (Hoplias aimara) — around rocky stretches, backwaters, submerged branches, and current; brutal topwater strikes.
Matrinxã — very present under embaúba trees, bank cutbanks, and bluff bases; one of the most fun fish on the itinerary.
Bicuda (needlefish-like predator), cachorra-larga and cachorra-facão (dogfish-type predators), plus corvina (drum), in small rapids and inflow points.
Catfish species: jaú, pirarara (redtail catfish), cachara, caparari, and jundiá, in deep pools and at the base of rapids.
Extras almost no one mentions before going: pacu-borracha, tambaqui, jacundá, and black piranha (piranha-preta) up to 3.5 kg (which cuts leaders and bite-offs) in the rapids.

When to go

The good window is the falling-water and dry season, from June to November, with the river already dropping: fish concentrate, beaches, rock ledges, and rocky stretches appear, and topwater and sight-fishing pay off. The lodge's own material recommends May to October for peacock bass and caparari; specialized operators mention June to November. Treat May as a transition month — it depends on that year's rains. Anglers who went in April 2024 reported the river still high, with peacock bass just beginning to show up as the waters receded. It's also not true that the whole river runs crystal clear all season: the São Benedito has a dark, 'Coca-Cola' tone with good clarity, while the truly blue-green, crystal-clear water is found in the tributaries — Rio Azul, Águas Claras, Rio Cristalino. Watch the calendar: the 2025/2026 spawning season closure (piracema) in Pará ran from 11/15/2025 to 3/15/2026, so confirm with the lodge how this affects November dates.

Baits and gear that work there

Peacock bass and trairão: 5'3" to 6' rod, 17–20 lb, medium/fast action, low-profile baitcasting reel, 20–30 lb braided line, and 0.42–0.52 mm fluorocarbon leader. Topwater plugs up to 13 cm — noisy sticks and zaras —, jerkbaits, spoons, and jigs. Local reports mention the Stick Shad 90 for peacock bass and the Rapala SubWalk for trairão, with a heavier stickbait when there's current.
Matrinxã: 7.5 cm jerkbaits in clear, silver, bone, and lime-green colors, with thin treble hooks, cast tight to the banks and embaúba trees; spinners and small plugs. The Papa Black and Inna 90 were the most productive lures in a 2024 report.
Cachorra and bicuda: short-bib jerkbaits up to 11 cm and a flexible 10 lb steel leader (optional but useful). Tuvira (a small baitfish) worked well in the rapids. These are fragile fish out of water: use pliers, take a quick photo, and release immediately.
Jaú, cachara, caparari, and jundiá: bottom and drift fishing with natural bait — whole fish, fish steaks, piranha fillet, tuvira, giant earthworm (minhocuçu) —, heavy sinkers, a 7/0 hook crimped onto steel wire, and line that can withstand abrasion from rocks.
Pacu-borracha: earthworms, algae, fruit, seeds, and dough bait. In the rapids area, guides use a chum bucket, chicken skin, and fruit, a 20 lb rod, 40 lb braided line, a 0.62 mm leader, and a crimped hook.
Fly fishing: #7 to #9 rods, floating or sinking-tip lines, poppers, hair bugs, divers, and streamers for peacock bass and trairão; insect and fruit imitations for matrinxã and pacu.

Facilities, boats, and what a fishing day looks like

The rooms have private bathrooms with hot water, air conditioning, a mini-fridge, a spacious veranda (several with views of the Salto Thaimaçu waterfall), and laundry service. The main building houses the kitchen, restaurant, tackle shop, and office; there is phone and internet access, with unstable wi-fi in common areas — normal in the middle of nowhere. There is also a 40-meter canopy tower with 360° views, used mainly by bird watchers. Fishing is done from boats, in pairs, with a local guide-boatman per boat. The lodge's own materials describe a fleet of 20 aluminum 18-foot boats with upholstered seats and 25 hp motors; more recent operators advertise 40 hp. The fishing grounds are divided between the upper waters (Primeiro Lago, Lago dos Patos, with water hyacinths, grasses, and fallen logs), the stretch down to the mouth of the Rio Matrinxã (rapids, rocks, slow navigation), and the Rio Azul.

Prices and what's included

There is no official, dated public price list for the upcoming season. The most concrete reference we found comes from a reseller travel agency, with a 3-day package at R$ 6,800 and a 4-day package at R$ 8,950, plus an extra night at R$ 350 through another agency — figures with no clear validity date, so request a direct quote. The package usually includes double-occupancy lodging, full board (breakfast, lunch at the lodge or on the river, dinner), water, soft drinks, and beer, boat with motor, guide-boatman, and fuel, plus laundry. Not included: airfare, transfer between Alta Floresta and the lodge, wine and spirits (which can be brought along with no corkage fee, according to the lodge's own description), personal gear, licenses, and tips.

How to get there

Even though it's located in Pará, the practical access route is through Mato Grosso: a commercial flight to Alta Floresta Airport (AFL), connecting through Cuiabá, followed by a ground transfer of about 160 km — somewhere between 2h30 and 3h30, much of it on dirt road — to the banks of the São Benedito. There is also a report of a private airstrip on site for air taxi service. Book in advance and arrange the transfer together with the package, since it is not included.

What you can catch

Trairão amazônico
Tucunaré-fogo
Bicuda
Cachorra
Jaú

Location

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