Brazilian fisherman turns dream of a houseboat into a lucrative business

By André Aram

An unexpected opportunity paved the way for a profitable venture. This is how fisherman Daniel Gomes, 45, describes the surprising success of his houseboat in Uberlândia, in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state.

Initially, Gomes had no plans to monetize the ‘waterfront property’; however, a relative’s social media post about the houseboat prompted the owner to consider the idea of renting it out.

“I never dreamed that this project would become self-sustaining one day, the idea of renting the house never crossed my mind when I built it,” Gomes admits, taken aback by the immediate success.

Gomes and his two brothers loved spending hours fishing on a floating platform. However, basic needs like eating, using the bathroom, and sleeping involved returning to the family ranch.

To eliminate these interruptions, they built a fully-equipped house on the deck, complete with three bedrooms (one for each brother), enabling them to enjoy their fishing uninterrupted.

The construction of the 140 sq.m house started in 2017 and was completed in two years. Gomes designed the house and initially intended it solely for family use.

Gomes recalls lending the house to a cousin in early 2021.

When she posted photos of her stay on Facebook, several rental inquiries came in – which were promptly dismissed by the hesitant owner.

However, faced with a four-week absence due to work commitments, Daniel decided to trial renting out the property.

The experiment exceeded all expectations: “Within a week, we had bookings for two consecutive months. Ever since we started renting, it hasn’t been vacant for a single weekend; you have to book at least two months in advance.”

Located on the Araguari River, specifically at the Capim Branco I dam, 30 kilometers from the city, the houseboat is surrounded by rich fauna. Lucky guests may spot monkeys, anacondas, and anteaters.

Despite this, fishing enthusiasts are the ones who benefit most, with an opportunity to catch local fish species such as caranha, tucunaré, piau, and mandi.

Gomes encourages guests to practice catch-and-release fishing to preserve the wildlife.

The houseboat also promotes sustainability. It uses solar power, a biodigester system for waste treatment, and an eco-friendly fireplace that uses hydrated ethanol.

Kayaks are available for rent for non-fishing enthusiasts, but those opting for a swim must wear a life jacket.

Supported by large 200-liter recyclable drums, the deck remains stable.

A fixed wooden walkway, approximately 24 meters long, connects the house to the land, ensuring no need for a boat to get around – unlike other properties of this kind.

The house can accommodate up to ten people and daily rates start from R$ 600 (during the week).

For Daniel, the property’s success is due to the region’s unique nature of ventures like this.

Despite its popularity, the house has no website and is not listed on online rental platforms like Airbnb.

It only has an Instagram page with a little over five thousand followers.

According to the entrepreneur, the best marketing has been word of mouth, with guests spreading the news among themselves.

With information from UOL

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