Carrileufu River Lodge

The newly constructed Carrileufu River Lodge was purpose-built for anglers with all the amenities one would expect from a world-class trout fishing operation. The lodge is conveniently situated near the quaint rural town of Cholila just outside the northern border of Los Alerces National Park, a park widely considered one of Argentina’s most stunning and biologically diverse national treasures. Carrileufu River Lodge has access to a vast network of crystalline lakes and rivers in the Chubut Province of central Patagonia that offer incredible sight fishing for rainbows, browns, brook trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon. The program specializes in fishing many of the famed waters of this area including the Carrileufu, Rivadavia, Arrayanes and Chubut rivers. With such a wide variety of water types at their disposal anglers fish completely new water each day. Their spectacular post and beam main lodge overlooking the magnificent Carrileufu River valley offers a relaxed and inviting atmosphere in addition to excellent Argentine cuisine and tasteful double occupancy accommodations. If you have been looking for the right place from which to enjoy the remarkable region surrounding Argentina’s renowned Alerces National Park, look no further.

Guests enjoy a wide range of fishing options with the nearest being a five minute drive and the farthest being a 50 minute drive. Most venues are 20-30 minutes from the lodge. These waters drain Tres Picos mountains in the spectacular Los Alerces National Park. These waters are very clear and eventually flow into Chile becoming the Rio Futaleufú. Guests will have the option to fish from drift boats and rafts and they can also enjoy a wide range of walk and wade venues. Most fishing is done with dry flies, dry/dropper rigs or with streamers. Most of the fish average 14-16 inches but fish over 20 inches are common. Rainbows make up the majority of the catch. Some of the largest fish are in the lakes where guests can sight fish to large cruising fish.

In addition to the numerous waters found in Los Alerces National Park, the lodge can also arrange a three-day wilderness float on the Rio Chubut from December through February. The lodge can take two to six anglers on this adventure and they will provide all camping equipment as well as great meals.

The elegant new lodge was finished in 2014 and is currently managed by Pancho Panzer. Pancho loves the region, guiding and doing all that he can to ensure his guests enjoy their stay. The lodge was built with high ceilings and handsome natural materials. It features very large guest rooms and a somewhat modern feel and layout. There are six spacious double rooms with queen sized beds for 12 guests and has a large gathering room with beautiful views of the Tres Picos mountains. Meals are of the highest quality with an emphasis on the famous local grass-fed beef and lamb. Guests also enjoy homemade bread, fresh salad, fruit, vegetables, cheese and sausages. Great Malbecs and Sauvignon Blancs, as well as soft drinks and beer complete the scene and are all included.

While this is primarily a destination for anglers, guests looking for additional experiences can tour Butch Cassidy’s cabin, enjoy guided horseback riding and a wide range of hikes in Los Alerces National Park. Guided tours and activities are included in all non-angler packages and can be set up on short notice. We recommend discussing the options with your hosts upon arrival.

Friday: Arrive Buenos Aires in the morning. Overnight in Buenos Aires.

Saturday: Fly from Buenos Aires to Esquel. At the airport you will be met by a representative of the lodge, who will transfer you to the lodge.

Sunday - Friday: Six full days of guided fishing.

Saturday: Depart the lodge after breakfast and transfer to the Esquel airport. Fly to Buenos Aires for an evening flight home.

2022-23 Rates: Per person based on double occupancy

• 7 night/6 day package: $5,950
• 6 night/5 day package: $4,800
• 5 night/4 day package: $4,000
• 4 night/3 day package: $3,200

Included: Accommodations, meals and beverages including beer, wine and alcohol at the lodge, ground transfers to/from Esquel or Bariloche, guided fishing (two anglers per guide), transportation to/from fishing locations, laundry service

Not Included: International and domestic flights, fishing license, optional park entry fees (approximately $15 US per person paid in cash on site), fishing equipment, guide & staff gratuities

Species: brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, Atlantic salmon

Season: December - April

Capacity: 12 anglers

When should I go? November through April

How do I get there? Guests fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina and typically overnight before flying on to either the town of Esquel or Bariloche in Patagonia.  The lodge will meet you at either airport and transfer you on to the lodge in Cholila.

Where do they fish? All fishing is done within the Chubut Province near Alerces National Park. Guest have access to rivers, lakes and spring creeks.

Who is best suited for this destination? Anglers who enjoy fishing for wild trout in beautiful unspoiled settings. This a great location for those who fine dining and tasteful accommodations as well as a relaxed atmosphere on and off the water.

What are the accommodations and meals like? The lodge is a newly constructed semi-modern post and beam structure featuring native woods and custom stonework. It boasts very large bedrooms and a Great Room with an open bar, massive fireplace and comfortable, custom-made leather furnishings. The meals are prepared by their trained chefs and mix typical Argentinean fare with their own unique dishes using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. In addition, they pride themselves on perfectly matched wines from their cellar.

Describe the atmosphere and style of the lodge? The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, with guests usually mingling in the great room after a day of fishing over cocktails and appetizers. The staff is friendly and encourages interaction between guests and staff for a more relaxed and positive experience.

Is there an onsite manager, owner or point person at the lodge? During the season I am at the lodge at all times, as I live in an apartment upstairs in the lodge. In addition, we also have our assistant manager who also resides at the lodge full time during the season.

Is there internet and cell service? We have free Wi-Fi all over the lodge and limited cell service.

How do they fish? We float most rivers with drift boats and rafts. We use motor boats on the larger lakes and we also wade fish. We fish with dries, dry/dropper rigs and streamers most of the time.

Is there wade fishing? Yes, Chubut River, some sections of the Rivadavia River and Carrileufu River (upper section) and SpringCreek at the Park are all accessible to wading.

How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds? Some places no longer than a five-minute drive from the lodge (the middle section of the Carrileufu runs right in front of the Lodge). Most of our fisheries are a 20 to 30-minute drive and our longest drive to the upper Chubut takes about 50 minutes.

What fish will I catch? 70% rainbows, 15% browns and 15% between landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout.

How many fish will I catch? The average day is 10-15 fish a day with many days exceeding those numbers.

Will we see other anglers? Yes but not very many. There may be times on the Rivadavia River depending on the time of year, but for the most we only cross paths with others and put in and take outs. It’s very rare in all the other places where we fish to see other anglers, although you may share the river with some cattle or horses on occasion!

Do guides speak English? Yes, they speak fairly good fishing English.

What are the guides like? The guides (and all of our staff) are probably our biggest asset. They are all very friendly, patient and passionate about fishing and work hard to make every trip a rewarding experience. They are very knowledgeable about the local waters and fisheries (all being native to the region) and love to share their knowledge about the fishing, the history of the area and the local flora and fauna.

Does the lodge provide equipment? We ask that guests bring their own equipment. That being said, we always have spare equipment available should someone forget something, break/lose a rod or reel.  All of our guides will provide the appropriate flies for each day, but please feel free to bring your own flies to try as well.

What is your favorite rod(s) for the trip? We prefer a 6 weight 9′ for all around, dries, nymphing and streamers. Some guests prefer a 5 weight which is nice, but if you happen to hook into a 10 pound brown you may wish you had a 6!

Are there other activities? Yes. We can arrange horseback riding, a boat tour on the Alerces National Park to see the Glacier and the Alerces forest, day trips to El Bolson to visit the artisan fair, trips to see the old narrow gauge Patagonian Train and the Indian Museum, and the Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid museum.

What are the physical demands? As most of our fishing is done from drift boats there is not a lot of hiking or walking required unless guests wish to wade more. The guides take care of hauling the lunches and other equipment, and the biggest physical demand is probably your arms getting tired from casting and catching!

Are there special skills required? No.

Dangers and annoyances? None.