Salmo Patagonia Lodge Pre-trip information

Rates
$4495 Per Angler
6 nights/5 days fishing
(depending on airline schedule)
Included
Accommodations at Salmo Patagonia Lodge, double occupancy with private bath for 6 nights, 5 days guided fishing, ground transportation from the Balmaceda airport and to all the fishing areas, all meals, local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, use of float tubes, boats, 4x4 ATVs (as determined by the lodge fishing program), Wi-Fi Internet access, fly tying room, and regular laundry service.
Not included
Commercial air transportation to Balmaceda, Chile, trip insurance, fishing equipment, flies, gratuities, fishing licenses and permits ($140), phone calls, faxes and personal items.

Travel/Documents

A valid passport is required to enter Chile. Prior to clearing customs, you must purchase a visa, obtainable at the port of entry (Santiago) upon payment of a fee (currently $130). The visa is valid for multiple entries to Chile and remains valid until the expiration of the passport.

You will be issued a Tourist Card upon entry that must be surrendered upon departure. Customs officials can hassle or fine you if you don’t have the card when exiting the country.

Santiago

We suggest an overnight in Santiago to break up your travel. Time permitting, you may wish to tour the city or surrounding areas. Our office can help you with those arrangements. Available tours include: Cousiño Macul or Concha y Toro Winery and Maipo River Canyon, Historical Santiago, Panoramic Santiago, or Viña Del Mar and Valparaiso.

Coyhaique

Coyhaique, the capital of Region XI in southern Chile, is a three hour flight from Santiago. With a population of 37,000, Coyhaique offers good restaurants, shopping, and tourist attractions in a wilderness valley setting surrounded by the Andes and braided by the Simpson and Coyhaique Rivers.

Travel Logistics

Guests should plan to arrive in Balmaceda, Chile, late afternoon on Saturday and depart the following Friday, early afternoon. American, Delta, and Lan Chile, the Chilean National Airline, offer daily flight service to Chile. Direct flights originate from Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and Miami. Most flights depart the U.S. in the evening and arrive at Santiago International Airport the following morning. After collecting your luggage and clearing customs, proceed to the domestic terminal (a five minute walk) for the flight to Balmaceda (three hours). There you will be met by our representative and transferred to the lodge (a scenic one-hour drive). You may opt to overnight in Santiago and continue on the next day. You will be returned to the airport the following Friday early afternoon for your flight to Santiago and points beyond.

Weather

Located in the southern hemisphere, Chile’s seasons are reversed (our winter is their summer). Santiago’s climate is warm and dry with summer temperatures ranging from lows in the 50s to highs in the 90s. Coyhaique’s climate is cooler and can be wet and windy year-round with summer temperatures ranging from the 40s to the 80s.

Food and Beverages

A breakfast buffet of coffee, tea, fruit, cereal, breads, meats and eggs are all standard fare. The lodge staff will prepare the fixings for your box lunch of soup, sandwiches, empanadas, fruit and cookies. Dinners feature international and Chilean cuisine with a flair complemented with Chilean wines. A selection of premier Chilean wines is available from the wine cellar for purchase.

The Fishing

Fishing takes place in a variety of private and public creeks, lakes and rivers. King salmon, brown and rainbow trout are available. Kings in this area are the largest in the world, but don’t readily strike. One to three fish per person per day is the norm.

Brown trout are more abundant than rainbows and range in size from ten to thirty-plus inches. Montana-size fish from 10 to 16 inches are available in good numbers and there are trophy trout 24 inches and up in all of the streams and lakes. Five to ten pound trout are caught each week, with the occasional ten pound plus fish.

Your chances for a real trophy trout are good if you are a good caster and can walk well. Chances are diminished if you are not a good caster and not in good physical condition. Many of the trophy trout locations require a 20 to 45 minute walk in steep and rough terrain. There are some alternate trout lakes that are easily accessible and we fish them via inflatable boats. These locations require less physical effort. And keep in mind that Patagonia has varied weather on a weekly basis. It can be warm with calm winds one day and the next day can be cool and very windy.

Currency

You may convert dollars to Chilean pesos at the Santiago airport. According to the U.S. Department of State Travel website, travelers might have difficulty using U.S. $100 bills due to concerns about counterfeit U.S. currency.  Many Chilean banks, exchange houses and business may refuse to accept $100 bills.  Whenever possible, visitors to Chile should use Traveler's Checks or bring bills smaller than $50.

Language

Spanish is spoken as the national language. Your host and most guides at the lodge can converse in English and other languages.

Health

We suggest you contact your doctor regarding inoculations recommended for travelers to Chile, or log on to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/travel.

Gratuities

For the guides and staff, we suggest a tip of $300 to $400 per fisherman at the end of the week. U.S. dollars accepted.

Catch and Release

To insure the best fishing possible, a strict catch and release policy is in effect.

Fishing Equipment

  • Floating fly line
  • 150 to 300 grain sink tip
  • Knotless tapered leaders 9’, 0x to 4x
  • 1x-5x tippet material
  • Hook sharpener
  • Small fly box
  • Two or three 8’ to 9’ fly rods, 4 to 8 weights (the lodge will supply heavier tackle for salmon)
  • Reels compatible to rods
  • Tape measure
  • Amber polarized sunglasses
  • Hemostats, line clippers
  • Fingerless gloves
  • Waterproof pack or gear bag
  • Fly floatant or drying crystals
  • Small fishing pack or vest

Spin Fishing Equipment (Salmon Only)

  • 7’ Heavy spinning rod
  • Compatible medium reel capable of holding at least
  • 150 yards of 30-pound mono

Clothing and Personal Items

  • Passport and photocopy of photo page
  • Airline tickets
  • Personal medications
  • Long sleeved fishing shirts
  • Supplex fishing pants or long johns
  • Polar fleece vest or down-filled vest
  • Polar fleece pullover or button jacket
  • Quality raincoat
  • Casual travel clothes
  • Fishing hat
  • Camp shoes
  • Lightweight hiking boots
  • Sunscreen, lip balm
  • Gore-Tex waders
  • Wading boots
  • Small bottle insect repellent
  • Small flashlight
  • Camera
  • Extra film or memory card and batteries
  • Cash for tipping

Flies

  • Trout
    • Royal Wulff #16-8
    • Tarantulas #8-2
    • Hoppers #6-2
    • Bead Head Hare’s Ear nymph #16-8
    • Bead Head Pheasant Tail nymph #16-8
    • Midges #18-14
    • Chernobyl Ant #6-2
    • Parachute Adams #16-12
    • Elk Hair Caddis #14-8
    • Bead Head Flashabuggers #10-4 in brown, olive and black
    • Stimulator #10-4
  • Salmon
    • Egg Sucking or Starlite Leech #2-1/0 (weighted with flash) in fuchsia, pink, purple
    • Foam Poly Wog #2-1/0 in pink, chartreuse
    • Zonker, Zuddler, or Muddler patterns #2-1/0 in white/pearl
    • Bunny Leech patterns #2-1/0 in fuchsia, pink, purple

Note: A complete selection of flies is available for sale at the lodge.

Spinning lures (salmon only)

  • Blue Fox Vibrex Spinner #6-7 with silver and gold blades with blue or lime green bodies