Get on the Bus - With Patagonia Drifters

From my first meeting with Johnny and Lucia, it was clear that they were highly creative, passionate, and caring people that thought about all aspects of their guests’ fishing and cultural experiences in Patagonia.

Johnny is a second-generation guide, whose father started one of the first hunting and fishing lodges in Trevelin, Argentina. His natural fishing ability, deep understanding of the area’s fisheries, and cool, calm demeanor make him a pleasure to be on the water with. Lucia is warm and welcoming with an incredibly artistic eye for interior design that shines through every aspect of their aesthetics, from The Bus decorations to the home sewn napkins on the riverside lunch table. Johnny, a talented artist himself, has many original drawings incorporated into their logo, stickers, hats, and wall art.

At its core, Patagonia Drifters is a boutique fishing outfitter, and The Bus is the culmination of two decades of guide and lodge experience that led them to fulfil their dream of offering an experience that is truly unique in Patagonia.

The Bus is a mobile fishing and lodging program where guests access many fisheries ranging from the north at Los Alerces National Park to the Corcovado River to the south, all while staying close to the action and moving through several new camp spots during the week. They have fully renovated an iconic 1976 Mercedes Benz Bus into a nomadic fishing lodge where guests will rest at the end of their fishing day and watch the sunset around a campfire fully immersed in the wilderness of Patagonia.

The program is intimate and best suited for couples, parent/child combos, or two friends looking for a Patagonian adventure. The Bus accommodates two guests at a time in one room, which can be set up as either two single beds or one larger bed for couples. There is plenty of storage room for gear, with big drawers underneath each bed, along with shelves and hangers. No creature comforts are lost with a flushing toilet, sink with hot and cold water, and complete with a steaming hot shower that is perfect after a nice day on the water. The living room has a wood stove to keep guests warm on colder days and features a solar powered electric system with lights at night with the ability to charge devices when needed. Most dinners are enjoyed outside and are cooked over an open fire in the traditional Argentine way. As well as a robust and varied fishing program, Johnny and Lucia are also happy to arrange trekking, biking, horseback riding, and other cultural adventures to customize your experience.

The fisheries they visit around this scenic stretch of central Patagonia are numerous, and include the calm waters of the Rio Grande, beautiful emerald waters of the Rio Rivadavia, and the rushing rapids of the Rio Corcovado, as well as many scenic lakes and smaller walk and wade spring creeks, all within proximity of their camps. Across each fishery, anglers will find wild and healthy rainbow trout, large brown trout, and opportunities for some remarkable brook trout to round out a well-balanced trout program.

Prime time dates are still available to jump on The Bus:

January 18 - 25, 2025
February 1 - 8, 2025

Rate: $7,200 per person for a 7 night/6 day package