Fishing Program

Saturday: From Santiago, Chile, board a flight to Balmaceda Airport (BBA). Flights are either non-stop (approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes) or include a brief stop in Puerto Montt, with a total travel time of approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes. Please schedule your flight to arrive in Balmaceda no earlier than 1:00 PM.

Upon arrival, one of the lodge's guides will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim area to assist with your luggage and escort you to your vehicle. The journey to Estancia de los Ríos is a scenic 4.5-hour drive north along the Carretera Austral, one of Chile's most spectacular roads. Along the way, you will pass through small Patagonian villages, forested valleys, and dramatic Andean landscapes, offering a glimpse into the unique culture and lifestyle of the region.

Arrive at the lodge in the early evening with time to settle into your room and prepare your equipment for the following day's fishing with the assistance of your guide.

Before dinner, enjoy a welcome cocktail featuring a traditional Chilean Pisco Sour or wine. Dinner follows, accompanied by carefully selected Chilean wines. During the evening, the head guide will introduce the program and discuss the plans for the first day of fishing..

Sunday-Friday: Enjoy six full days of guided fly fishing at Estancia de los Ríos. While each day is tailored to prevailing conditions and guest preferences, a typical day unfolds as follows:

After an early breakfast, guests meet their guide at the mudroom before departing for the day's fishing. A short drive brings you to one of the ranch's rivers, Spring Creek or Mountain Lake. We typically fish upstream on rivers using dry flies and nymphs. These waters support a healthy population of wild brown trout and benefit from excellent insect hatches throughout the season. A good fish ranges from 2 to 5 pounds, eagerly but delicately taking a well-presented fly.

Your guide will help you develop the ability to spot trout in the clear water. Once your eye becomes accustomed to the subtle shapes and movements beneath the surface, you will be amazed by how many fish are holding in plain sight. The challenge soon becomes identifying the largest fish within casting range and presenting the fly correctly.

Following a productive morning on the river, and depending on weather conditions and your preference, lunch may be enjoyed back at the lodge or stream-side in a scenic riverside setting.

At some point during the day, the realization inevitably arrives: you are fly fishing in Patagonia. The vastness of the ranch provides a rare privilege in today's world—throughout the day, the only people you are likely to see are your guide and fishing companion. Miles of rivers, spring creeks, and lakes are reserved exclusively for your enjoyment, allowing you to fish at your own pace in complete solitude and silence. Hours may pass without seeing another person while exploring pristine water that feels entirely your own. Above, brilliant white clouds drift across a deep blue sky. The air is remarkably clear, the colors unusually vivid. Bright lupines and lush green grass sway gently in the breeze. It is difficult to absorb the beauty of the surroundings all at once, but one thing is certain—you are fortunate to be here, immersed in one of the world's great fly-fishing destinations while winter grips much of the Northern Hemisphere.

The afternoon may find you exploring one of the property's spring creeks before returning to the main river for the evening hatch. Spring creeks demand patience, precise presentations, and careful observation, but few experiences in fly fishing are more rewarding than sight-casting to a large trout in calm, crystal-clear water.

As evening approaches, the main river often comes alive with rising fish. Trout begin feeding actively on emerging insects, creating exciting opportunities for dry-fly fishing. Success depends on careful observation of both insects and fish behavior, as well as being in the right place with the right fly when the hatch begins.

When the hatch subsides, guests return to the lodge to join the rest of the group for cocktails, dinner, and the sharing of stories from another memorable day on the waters of Patagonia.

Saturday: After breakfast, a lodge vehicle will transfer you to Balmaceda Airport (BBA), arriving in time for your flight to Santiago and your onward connection home. As you travel south through the scenic valleys of Patagonia, there is time to reflect on a memorable week of fly fishing, remarkable landscapes, and the unique solitude of Estancia de los Ríos.

Note: Please schedule your departure flight from Balmaceda after 2:00 PM.