The Patagonian mountain range between Argentina and Chile is home to some of the best fly fishing, scenery and hospitality to be found anywhere in the world.
Remote, rivers, spring creeks and lakes abound stunning snow-capped peaks, and the family owned lodges you will experience on this trip will provide untapped private fishery access, world-class guides and a feeling that you are stepping back in time.
With arguably the most diverse fly fishing in Patagonia, this Three-Lodge experience has been designed to encapsulate everything that’s great about fly fishing in Argentina, including its people, fine food, wine and refined way of living.
Targeting Brown, Brook and Rainbow trout in a wide variety of premier rivers, streams, spring creeks and lakes from the comfort of drift boats and on foot, we have two trips starting January 2021.
ARGENTINA – PATAGONIA THREE LODGE EXPERIENCE
DATES: 23rd January – 5th February 2021
COST: USD$8,995
RODS: 7 available
HOST: Mark Weigall
Inclusions: One night inbound and outbound (twin share) Hotel Bellini Buenos Aires including breakfast, all private airport transfers in Buenos Aires, and in Argentina from Esquel to the lodges, four night’s accommodation full board and three days guided fly fishing at Caridad Lodge (twin share), three nights full board / two days guided fly fishing Lago Cinco Lodge (twin share), two nights full board / three days guided fly fishing Poncho Moro Lodge (twin share), fly fishing license.
Exclusions: International flights to Buenos Aires, and domestic flights to Esquel, meals and beverages in Buenos Aires or in transit unless specified above, single supplement in Buenos Aires, items of a personal nature, gratuities, fly fishing gear.
ITINERARY – Group 1
Sunday 23rd January – Saturday 5th February, 2022
Day 1: Depart Melbourne via Santiago into Buenos Aires, check-into Bellini Hotel, Palermo. Settle in and rest.
Day 2: Depart from Buenos Aires to Esquel – domestic flight.
Private transfer to Rio Pico and the Lago Cinco lodge (90mins). Check-in. Unguided Fly Fishing available.
Day 3: Fly Fishing Rio Pico
Day 4: Fly Fishing Rio Pico
Day 5: Transfer to Poncho Moro Lodge (90 mins). Fly Fishing
Day 6: Fly Fishing Poncho Moro
Day 7: Fly Fishing Poncho Moro. Transfer to Caridad Lodge (90 mins)
Day 8: Fly Fishing Caridad Lodge
Day 9: Fly Fishing Caridad Lodge
Day 10: Fly Fishing Caridad Lodge
Day 11: Depart Caridad to Esquel (90 mins). 1245 Flight to Buenos Aires. Transfer and check-in to Bellini Hotel, Palermo.
Day 12: Leisure / Relax Buenos Aires. Evening flight to Santiago, and departure to Melbourne.
Caridad Lodge, Tecka Estancia
With over 96 miles of private water to fish this working sheep ranch established in 1910 is set over 435,000 acres is one of the most impressive fly fishing properties in South America. With the stunning Andes mountain range providing amazing scenery throughout, the Estancia has a variety of freestone rivers and spring creeks providing some of the best fly fishing in the world. Large numbers of trout daily are not uncommon with Brown, Rainbow and Brook trout all available. Staying at Caridad Lodge on the banks of the Corcovado River, drift boats are primarily used while there are some fantastic spring creeks to stalk large brown trout throughout the property including the Rio Tecka. Accommodations include fantastic hospitality and dining, open fire, several lounge areas and well-appointed rooms with en-suite facilities.
Poncho Moro Lodge, Corcovado
Estancia Poncho Moro is a very attractive Argentine style legacy ranch that is considered to be its own private nature preserve. With a very diverse and tranquil landscape, right in the heart of Patagonia at the base of the Andes mountain range, the backdrop to this family run lodge is simply stunning. Located in the center of the Corcovado River valley, Estancia Poncho Moro is expansive running north to south and encompasses the entire valley floor with great fly fishing opportunities.
The Corcovado River meanders through the entire length of the property providing a very unique fly-fishing experience. The river can be both waded or fished from a raft, and is one of the most scenic and prolific trout locations in the region, with smaller streams and a variety of great lakes also available to target Brown, Brook and Rainbow trout. Estancia Poncho Moro features extensive handcrafted lodging and operating facilities, with views of the mountains towering above through the floor to ceiling glass and provides an authentic Argentinian experience.
Lago Cinco Lodge, Rio Pico
Located in central Patagonia’s wildest destination, this family run lodge is very well situated in a quaint mountain valley, providing easy access to wide, open rivers including a variety of floating and wading options available. This is combined with quite possibly the best lake fishing in central Patagonia with numerous exciting spring creek and small river fishing nearby makes it an ideal place to enjoy an authentic Argentinian wilderness experience. Fishing large terrestrials such as grasshoppers, crickets, canteria beetles and ants, with mayfly and caddis hatches also on offer to rising fish, in a beautiful valley set right in the Andes.
The central Patagonian regions you will fish throughout your time in Argentina have been selected due to the prolific number of rivers, streams, spring creeks, tarns, lakes and private waters providing unparalleled fly fishing variety at the prime time of the year. With drift and float boat access, private guide (2:1) and local knowledge with our hand selected guide team, the fine lodging and full board provided will complement the experience, staying with local families and impressive properties – the largest at over 435,000 acres.
Fly fishing daily from the comfort of your drift boat allows access to blue ribbon water, holding very good numbers of brown and rainbow trout in great condition on large dry flies, nymphs, some wets and streamers.
Our mobile guiding and boat access into private waters allows full flexibility daily to fish the best conditioned freestone rivers, while also fishing smaller systems on foot including lake edges, spring creeks and backwaters to fish average 2-3lb’s in the rivers with some over 5lb’s encountered daily. In the lakes, most which are never fished, brown trout in excess of 10lb’s are not uncommon.
You will have the choice of what you would like to do each day to suit your preferences, fishing rivers such as the brilliant Tecka and Corcovado well into the evenings.
Passport with minimum six months validity and photo ID to purchase fishing licence.
Fly to Buenos Aires via Santiago with an overnight stay before a 2.5 hour morning flight to Esquel where you will be met by lodge representatives to be transferred to the first lodge.
Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return.
Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure its spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe.
We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are done in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you.
On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centred around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked.
We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation.
Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one.
Fly fishing and travel is our passion.