Chile - Argentina combo program
Sample Itinerary: 14 nights / 13 days
Estancia de los Rios, Chile 7nights / 6.5 days
Brook Trout Base Camp 3 nights/ 3 days
El Encuentro Lodge 4 nights / 3.5 days
Areas: Estancia de los rios, Chile. Upper Corcovado & Rio Pico, Esquel, Los Alerces National Park. argentina
Friday: Overnight flight to Santiago, Chile arriving the following morning.
Saturday: In Santiago, Chile, board the first available flight to Coyhaique (Balmaceda airport), this is either a direct 2:20 min flight or a 2:50 min flight including a 30 min. stopover in Puerto Montt. On arrival in Coyhaique, one of the lodge’s representatives will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim area. Guiding you to your vehicle and driving you to the lodge. This is a beautiful drive North along the Austral road, one of Chile's most scenic routes. You will drive through typical villages and andean valleys where you will see a glimpse of the lifestyle of the people of Patagonia.
An early direct flight out of Santiago allows you to arrive to the lodge in the afternoon, on time to enjoy a fishing. Your guide will take you fishing close to the lodge. After great dry fly or nymph fishing, we go back to the lodge where you are greeted with a welcome toast with "Pisco Sours", a typical Chilean drink. After a hot shower, dinner follows complemented with the best Chilean wines. During dinner the head guide will explain the plans for the next day.
Sunday-Friday: Fish and enjoy the waters of the Estancia de los Rios Lodge. The vast 360,000-acre ranch will provide with endless fishing situations, from larger rivers to small mountain streams, spring creeks and lakes: All in complete solitude and silence. Each day you will fish a different river or section of river. The guides and attentive staff will take care of your needs and preferences for a unique week of fishing in the remote Chilean Patagonia.
Enjoy six full days of fishing at Estancia de los Rios. A typical day at this lodge is as follows:
After an early breakfast guests join their guide at the mudroom, then a short drive to the river. We usually fish our way upstream since we use mostly dries and nymphs. This river has a healthy population of Brown trout and excellent hatches. A good fish weighs from 2 to 5 pounds. Fish take the fly eagerly but delicately. Your guide will show you what to look for in order to locate fish. Once you've mastered your eye, you will be amazed at how many fish you will be casting to. The challenge here is to spot the largest fish within your range. After a good morning's fishing and depending on weather or your preference, we can return to the lodge or have a stream-side lunch.
Sitting in your chair under some trees, contemplating everything around you and finally hits you, you are actually fly fishing in Patagonia ! you have not seen a soul all morning while fishing almost two miles of river, all this beautiful water just for you, great ! you look up and see strikingly bright clouds moving against a deep blue sky which seem much closer than usual, you cannot believe the clarity of the air and the intensity of the colors. Below, brightly colored lupines and intensely green grass dance softly with the warm breeze. It is really difficult to take it all in at once but one thing is certain, you are very fortunate to be here having so much fun, surrounded by so much beauty and to top it off it is winter in your part of the world!
Your day will continue fishing a nearby spring creek and then to the main river to for the main hatch. As you well know, spring creeks require more patience and delicate work but they can be extremely rewarding as there is nothing like sight fishing and hooking a large trout in a gentle and peaceful setting. The hatch on the main river is always exciting, suddenly the river comes alive with fish feeding on the surface; when this happens, you want to be close to the largest fish and with the right fly at the end of your line. After the hatch is over, we head back to the lodge, joining the rest of the group for cocktails, dinner, and fresh fishing stories.
Saturday: Departure. After breakfast a lodge vehicle will drive you to the Chile-Argentina border where a vehicle and guide from The Brook trout Basecamp will be waiting to help you with the necessary paperwork. Now in Argentina, continue your trip towards the camp. You will get a whole day fishing in one of the many options to choose from on your way to the camp. Arrive at the camp in the afternoon, you will have time to settle in, get your gear ready and go fishing into the evening! Enjoy a welcome dinner and good night’s rest.
Sunday: You have two full days to explore this remote country with our guides – finding water and the trout and type of fishing you prefer. Each day will be designed to match your ideals with the best fishing options. Cast into the beautiful pools of the Rio Corcovado or from the wild shores of Lago Vintter for large Rainbows, stalk trophy Brook trout in the nearby Engaño region, and/or sample private spring creeks or small lakes for beautiful Rainbow and Brown trout in the Rio Pico area.
Monday: Walk/wade the Rio Corcovado, fishing one of the many pools spread out across 6 miles of river. Or you and your guide can float one of the four lakes inside the estancia. If weather allows it, you will cast flies to cruising fish along the banks or in the flats.
Tuesday: Transition day. After and early Trout Base Camp breakfast, your guides will drive you North to El Encuentro Lodge. You will get a whole day fishing in one of the many options to choose from on your way north to the lodge. Arrive at the lodge in the afternoon, you will have time to settle in, get your gear ready and go fishing into the evening! Enjoy a welcome dinner and good night’s rest.
Wednesday: You have three full days to explore and fish the amazing waters of this area. Each day will bring something new, based on where the fishing is best, and your preferences for float or walk/wade fishing. Almost no matter where you go, you have the chance to catch a large trout – whether on the Rio Futaleufu, smaller stream or in a private lake. Fishing the Rio Futaleufu, starting or ending right at the lodge is a great option. Riverside lunches are wonderfully delicious!
Thursday: As the sun rises over the Rio Futaleufu you will wake to the smell of fresh coffee and cooking bacon. Enjoy a hearty breakfast with locally sourced meats, breads baked fresh daily, and eggs from our own chickens. Your guides will meet you at the lodge in the morning, and you will head out on your fishing adventure for the day. At the end of your day it is time to gather around the fire at the lodge with a glass of superb Argentine wine and look back on the day’s exploits. Delight in another wonderful meal and make a plan for tomorrow’s day on the water.
Friday: You will get to fish new waters today. Choices include a walk wade stream, private spring creeks, and/or new beats on the Rio Futaleufu. This evening, we get to sabor the delicious flavors of an outdoor “asado” – a traditional Argentine barbecue.
Saturday: Transfer back to the Esquel Airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires and international connection home.
Note: This program can also be easily arranged starting in Esquel, Argentina and and continuing to Estancia de los Rios lodge in Chile.
RATES
Remember that our services are completely free. When you book a trip with us, you pay the same rate than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter.
US$13,780 Cost per angler. 14 night/ 13 day fishing program. Saturday to Saturday. Double occupancy.
US$17,800 Cost per angler. 14 night/ 13 day fishing program. Saturday to Saturday. Single occupancy.
Included:
• Accommodation in a room with private bathroom at Estancia de los Rios and El Encuentro Lodges.
• Accommodation in safari-style tent with attached private bathroom in each tent at Brook Trout Base Camp.
• Full-board: breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner with excellent wines or beer. Open bar at El Encuentro and Brook Trout base camp.
• All ground transport from/to Balmaceda or Esquel airport to the lodges and fishing destinations in this program.
• One fishing guide every two anglers or one guide per angler (single occupancy)
• All private water and access fees.
• All Non Fishing Activities.
• Laundry service at El Encuentro lodge. Available for a fee at Estancia de los Rios
• WIFI. Cell phone signal at Estancia de los Rios
Not Included:
• Airfares.
• Transfers, hotel, and meals in Buenos Aires or Santiago
• Ground transfer to and from Bariloche Airport (if applicable)
• Personal, Health or travel insurance. (We strongly recommend it)
• Fishing license. It can be prepaid as part of your final invoice; we will purchase it before your arrival.
• Staff and guide gratuities. 10% of lodge cost is suggested.
• Phone calls.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
El Encuentro Lodge & Brook trout Base Camp
Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that members of the travel party have read and accepts the terms and conditions for the corresponding travel package. Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of 50% lodge cost per person is due within 10 days of booking the fishing package. Final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. Cancellations: All deposits and payments are non-refundable. In no event the lodge or Andes Journeys, LLC will be responsible cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays, flight cancellations, or any other reason beyond the control of the lodge. The lodge will not refund payments in the event of poor weather, or if flights are cancelled or flight connections are missed. Additionally, the lodges and Andes Journeys are not responsible for covering costs associated with alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals or any other expenses incurred due to schedule changes. We strongly recommend that guests purchase travel insurance with full coverage for your trip. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or Andes Journeys, a full refund will be issued minus a $100.00 fee per person charged by Andes Journeys. We reiterate: We strongly recommend that all travelers purchase travel insurance covering the travel package.