Situated on the right bank of the Rio Negro, Barcelos is located in the state of Amazonas, 396 kilometers from Manaus. The city is home to the Jaú National Park
Photo: www.barcelosnanet.com, as well as the Serra do Aracá State Park and the Mariuá Archipelago, the largest river archipelago in the world, with over 700 islands.
The municipality is the largest exporter of ornamental fish in Brazil, with about 20 million specimens per year, destined for countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Photo: www.barcelosnanet.comEvery year, in January, the Ornamental Fish Festival takes place, considered the city’s biggest cultural attraction. The festival usually attracts thousands of visitors and features recreational fishing, ecotourism, and performances. The natural beauty of the region and the enormous variety of fish draw an increasing number of visitors to the Amazon, with fishing as their main goal.
There are specialized tour operators that organize fishing trips, but it is
Photo: Núcleo de Arte e Cultura Indígena de Barcelos – NACIBimportant to remember that predatory fishing is prohibited (use of explosives, poisonous herbs, or any type of toxic chemicals), and fishing between December and February – the piracema period, when fish spawn – is also restricted.
The region has the highest concentration of tucunaré. Voracious, the tucunaré can weigh up to 12 kg. Another species is the dourado, which has no scales and belongs to the family of large catfish. It can measure up to 1.5 m and weigh 50 kg. The tambaqui is another fish that can also be found in the area during the flood season.
Source: www.visitbrasil.com