How to get there

From  São Paulo take the Fernão Dias (BR 381, in direction to Belo Horizonte). Leave the BR at Bragança Paulista and go on to Socorro. Approx. 2 km after passing the Portal from Socorro,  you will cross the bridge over the "Rio de Peixe". Turn right at the crossing direct after the bridge, and directly after that turn left (direction upstream of the river). The small road is mostly passing beside the river and sometimes you may get a glance on it. After approx. 8 km you will reach a small village and after crossing the bridge, turn right, to the "Centro de Aventura". This place is not only ideal to park you car, it is also good, to relieve your hunger at the rich buffet after paddling. 

Roberto below the portage of the "Upper Fish" 

Character

The Rio de Peixe is a small, in the first part Creek-type river with permanent slope. In the second part, there are longer flat stretches between the rapids.. 

Flow information

Weekly actualized at Canoar

Actual flow information at the Centro de Aventura, Tel.: (++19) 38 95 83 63

1. Section

Upper Fish

The best line in the first rapid is middle-right - now it's starting ..

Put-In  / Take-Out

From the Centro de Aventura take the dirt road in direction upstream. After approx. 4 km there is a small track on the left hand which is going down to the river. If you want to enjoy a little jump before the standard put in, go further another 1,5 km until you see a small waterfall from the road. 

Take-Out at the Centro de Aventura

Length

approx. 4 km, 3 hours

Gauge            

Low  /  Middle  /  High

0,6  - 0,8 m   /  0,8  - 1,2 m   /   > 1,2 m   (Photos at low flow)

Difficulty

WW IV (!,X) at high flows it is becoming powerful and quick.

Better to have an elbow protection in this rapid !

The same spot at 0,6 cm and at 1,1 m. After this rapid the river is calming down for a short while until a long bend to the right. Take care, approx. 200 m after the rapids are starting again, there is critical spot which should be scouted...

... under the big boulder in the middle of the picture there is an undercut. At low flows it is better to portage, at middle flows, it is possible to take a line at the very right....

The undercut is directly followed by a small channel with a difficult exit - scouting is also recommended ! After that there is one more difficult rapid until there is a little rest...

... until an island appears and all the water is passing through a small channel on the left side, followed by a small drop - at 0,6 cm and at 1,1 m

The second last challenge: an approx. 80m long Canyon with a difficult entry and at a slight at the end which, especially at high flows, has a strong hydraulic. Directly after that there is the portage !

The portage - on the left two undercuts, one after the other, with 10 m slope in-between. On the right a drop which seduces to run (first picture) but if you don't get out of the main current at the entry, you are directly in the undercut...

On the last 200 m the river is waiting with a steep boulder garden. At low flows it is better to portage on the right. At middle flows you approach the spot above on the left, then turn immediately right in a big eddy. Take the drop after the eddy middle left, and go on middle left - but better scout and choos your line...

2. Section

Peixe Standard Run

Direct after the put-in there is a small rapid. After that a short stretch of quiet water until you will see an edge in front of you. The easiest line down this drop is in the middle right (may also be scouted from the street). 

Put-In / Take-Out

To the take-out, drive downriver until a dirt road on the right hand side, in a accentuated curve to the right. Follow this road approx. 4 km downstream until the river is coming close to the road. 

Length

approx. 7 km, 2,5 hours

Gauge              

Low / Middle / High

0,5  -0,9 m   / 0,9  - 1,5 m   /   > 1,5 m

Difficulty

WW III

The waterfall is followed by another flat part. The next rapid is about 50 m long and ends with a belly-type, 2 m  drop at the end. The following 500m stay always in the main current,  until you leave the "wood tunnel". There the river splits again in two arms, you may choose the easy right line, or go left through a small channel (photo above).

On the above photo it doesn't seam like, but this is the most difficult rapid on this section. Directly after that the "jardim de pedras" (right picture).

The "Washing Machine" - at low flows (photo) "only" good for a dive, at higher flows it is worth it's name.

The last short rapid, after that you may start to think of the "buffet" at the  Centro de Aventura  ;-)

Photos: Roberto, Jürgen, Fred, Andreas       Paddler: Roberto, Jürgen, Fred, Andreas