Estancia Rio Pelke

This boutique, family-style fly fishing program takes anglers on a truly authentic journey combining the best brook and brown trout fishing in southern Patagonia. Guests stay at a traditional family-run Argentine estancia dating back to the 1930’s as well as a unique wilderness eco-camp. Limited to four rods per week, this intimate program gives anglers the opportunity to fish four completely private and well-rested spring creeks which hold all sizes of brook trout including some in the four- to six-pound class. This quaint, homestay style venue and eco-camp experience is a treasure within the vast open Patagonian landscape. Estancia Río Pelke offers rewarding homespun cultural experiences coupled with some of the finest spring creek fishing south of the equator.

Throughout the week at Estancia Río Pelke, guests stay in a classic Argentine estancia followed by a comfortable and unique eco-camp. During this time, guests fish four completely private and seldom-fished spring creeks that hold great numbers of sizable brook and brown trout. The fish here readily fall to large terrestrial dry flies twitched on the surface or slowly stripped dark streamer patterns. All four rivers can be fished with 4 to 5-weight rods. Fishing is mainly done with floating lines, however sinking poly leaders are used at times to reach larger fish in deep pools. These intimate spring creeks require some casting precision with both short and long casts and most beats require little to no wading.

Estancia Río Pelke is not what one would expect from well-polished and manicured trout lodges in Northern Patagonia. This is an authentic homestay-style venue where guests are received as members of the family and experience local customs and traditional Argentine ways of life. Each guest has single room accommodation in a newly restored lodge, which once served as the original gaucho sheep shearing house on the estancia. Additionally, guests stay at the Estancia Pali Aike Eco-Camp, which consists of geodesic dome tents complete with a bathroom, heating systems, a shower and power for charging electronic devices. Meals at the estancias are thoughtful chef-prepared using traditional Argentinean recipes showcasing locally sourced produce and farm-raised lamb and beef. Complemented by hand-selected Salentein wines, each meal takes you on a farm-to-table journey which demonstrates the evolution of farming in Patagonia.

Saturday: Fly to Rio Gallegos or El Calafate and transfer to Estancia Río Pelke. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by the estancia hosts, shown to the guest rooms and enjoy appetizers and dinner to relax the first night.

Sunday - Friday: Full days of guided fishing and lodging at Estancia Rio Pelke with an optional overnight at the eco-dome camp.

Saturday: Transfer to the Rio Gallegos or El Calafate airport in time for flight home.

2026 Rate: Per person based on double occupancy

• 7 night/6 day package: $5,900

Included: Accommodations, meals and beverages including beer and wine at the estancia and eco camp, transfer between Rio Gallegos/El Calafate and the estancias, demo fishing equipment (Sage rods/reels and RIO fly lines), guided fishing.

Not Included: International and domestic airfare, hotels/meals/transfers in Buenos Aires, Rio Gallegos and El Calafate, alcohol, fishing license, flies, staff and guide gratuities.

Species: Brook trout and brown trout

Season: November - March

Capacity: 6 anglers

Estancia Rio Pelke is a Sage Experiences destination. They've committed to offering their guests an elite experience by offering premium Sage and RIO Products tackle available onsite at no extra charge.

Tackle and Equipment List 

We feel that properly outfitted and prepared anglers have the best chance of having the trip of a lifetime. This is a guideline to help anglers assemble a successful collection of rods, reels, fly lines, leader/tippet, flies and additional equipment.

If you have any questions concerning tackle and equipment recommendations, please feel free to contact us at any time at 800.552.2729.

Rods:

4wt – 6wt all around trout rods focused on delicate presentations will thrive here. We recommend the following three Sage rods as they would all perform in the dry fly, sight fishing environment of Estancia Rio Pelka waters. If you were to have one rod, a 5 weight is recommended.

Sage R8 Core – Fast Action / Multiplication Focused / 4wt – 6wt

Sage Classic R8 – Slow Action / Dry Fly Focused / 4wt – 6wt

Sage Dart – Fast Action / Small Water Focused / 4wt

Reels:

Reel selection for Estancia isn’t as crucial as a Saltwater fishery but a solid reel with a substantial drag system is recommended. The following Sage reels would be ideal tools to handle any of the trout you’ll handle here and beyond.

Sage Spectrum LT – Multipurpose Built / SCS Drag / 4/5wt

Sage Arbor XL – Large Arbor / Fast Retrieval / 4/5/6wt

Sage Spectrum – Multipurpose Built / Budget Friendly / 5/6wt

Lines:

A WF floating lines will be applicable for almost all fishing applications at Estancia. A floating line with an aggressive shooting head and accompanying running line can be helpful in windy conditions. The following RIO lines would be great choices.

RIO Elite Gold – All Around / Go-To Trout / 4wt – 6wt

RIO Elite Gold XP – Multipurpose / Extra Power / 4wt – 6wt

RIO Outbound Short Floating – Windy Conditions / 4wt – 6wt Floating

Leaders/Tippet: ​

9 ft. tapered leaders in 2x-4x with spools of 3x and 4x tippet is ideal for these waters. The following leader and tippet options would be ideal choices.

Powerflex Trout Leader – High Performance Taper / 9ft 2x-4x

Fluoroflex Strong Tippet – Ultra Strong / Ideal for Dry flies / 3x-4x

Flies

Dries: The primary pattern is a black foam beetle, and it is good to have assorted foam terrestrials/attractors along with naturals such as Elk Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Humpies, Chernobyl Ants, Beetle, Hopper patterns in size 8 to 12, and small mouse patterns. 

RIO Terrestrial Assortment – 12 Terrestrial Flies

RIO Ground Beetle

Streamers: Weighted and unweighted Woolly Boogers and Zonkers in Black and Olive in size 8 to 10.

RIO BH Woolly Bugger – Size 8 – 10

Packing List
We understand packing for an adventure is not easy. On a trip like this it is very important to have everything you need and nothing you do not. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the lodges/camps is neat but casual.

Documents 
Passport, plane tickets, itinerary, fishing licenses, credit card, cash, business cards. 

Waders 
Breathable Gore-Tex stocking foot waders are recommended. For anglers prone to cold (especially feet), boot foot waders are excellent. Anglers with breathable waders should bring several layers of mid/heavy weight fleece leggings. 

Boots
Most operations prefer felt soled wading shoes. Rubber soles without cleats will also work.   

Forceps
We like the Dr. Slick scissor pliers for crimping barbs, releasing fish and trimming flies. 

Clippers
One line clipper. 

Wading Staff
One wading staff (if needed) and belt. 

Socks
Four pairs of wool or synthetic socks to wear under your waders. Two pairs of camp socks. 

Undergarments (as base layers) 
One to two pairs of synthetic or merino wool long underwear (tops and bottoms) to wear beneath your waders. One mid-weight and one heavyweight. These can be worn alone or together depending on conditions. 

Shirts
Two or three long sleeve fishing shirts. One or two lodge shirts. 

Warm Layers
One or two warm insulating layers. Down, synthetic or fleece mid layers are good options. Avoid cotton. 

Rain Jacket
One high quality rain jacket 

Hats
Two fishing/baseball hats. One warm cap. 

Lodge Shoes
One pair of shoes for around the lodge. 

Buff
One “Buff” facial sun protector (good for bugs too). 

Sunglasses
One pair of polarized sunglasses. It is great to have a lens cleaner and a soft cleaning cloth as well. 

Sunscreen
One bottle SPF 30+ 

Lip Balm
One tube of SPF 30+ lip balm 

Backpack
One waterproof backpack or boat bag for day gear. 

Camera
Don’t forget extra batteries and waterproof case/bag. 

Headlamp
One small LED headlamp with batteries. 

Toiletries Kit
Toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, razor, lotion, mini shampoo bottle, Advil, Ambien, ear plugs, band aids, anti-bacterial ointment, Benadryl, Gold Bond powder.

Who is best suited to this destination?

Anglers and guests seeking a rewarding homespun cultural experiences coupled with some of the finest spring creek fishing in southern Patagonia.

Where is the lodge?

Estanica Río Pelke is located along Route 40 in southern Argentina, between the towns of El Calafate and Rio Gallegos.

How do I get there?

Guests fly to Rio Gallegos, Argentina and are transferred to the estancia 1.5 hours by vehicle.

When should I go?

The season runs from mid-November through April. The early season in November and December offer the best water levels and the brook trout are all in excellent condition, they are hungry and ready to feed after a long winter. Throughout the Patagonia summer months of January – March, as the water levels drop the water becomes clearer, and the wind picks up to provide shelter for anglers making the fish less wary. In late March through April, the season turns to fall and offers anglers an opportunity at some of the larger brook trout that are beginning their spawning migration.

How will I fish?

Typically, anglers’ fish two per guide. The fishing grounds are accessed by 4×4 trucks and anglers walk-and-wade the fishing beats.

Is there wade fishing?

All fishing is done while wading. Wading is very easy and rarely do anglers need to step into the water. In fact, anglers can fish most of the route without waders. Most of the fishing is done by walking along the dry, grassy edges of the creeks and can be done with a decent pair of durable hiking shoes/boots. We still recommend bringing waders as there are times when they are needed.

Where will I fish?

Four completely private spring creeks within the estancias’ holdings.

How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds?
The daily commute to the fishing grounds from the estancias ranges from 5-60 minutes and the transfers range from 1½ - 2 hours. During the week, guests have the option to stay overnight at a remote eco-dome camp, which has a longer transfer but big rewards at trophy brook trout in those waters. They stay overnight one night to minimize drive times between the lodge and the camp.

What type(s) of fish will I catch?

Brown trout and brook trout.

How many fish will I catch?

Anglers can expect to catch 10 or more fish per day.

Will I see other anglers?

No. Limited to just four anglers per week on completely private water, there is no chance of seeing other anglers.

What are the guides like?

Brothers Juan Manuel and Tomas Biott were brought up fly fishing the creeks along the route and have an intimate knowledge of these systems like no other. Juan and Tomas are both warm-hearted, genuine, kind, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable individuals that are a pleasure to get to know and spend time with on and off the water. Both are great instructors and guides and are willing to share their knowledge about fishing and local Patagonian culture and history. Both speak excellent English.

What are the physical demands?

None. There is not much walking required, and the wading is very easy. The farther you are able to walk, the more water that will be accessible.

Are there any special skills required?

It can be windy at times, so it is a good idea to practice casting in the wind with accuracy.

Does the lodge provide equipment?

As a Sage Experiences Outfitter, the lodge provides all guests with top-of-the-line Sage rods and reels, with appropriately matched RIO lines specific to the fishery.

What is your favorite setup for the trip?

Any medium-fast action rod in the 4- to 5-weight class will do. If you only took one rod, take a 5-weight.

What are the top flies?

Surface patterns such as foam terrestrials/attractors and naturals such as elk hair caddis, Goddard caddis, humpies, Chernobyl ants, beetle, and hopper patterns in size 8 to 12. Small mouse patterns are fun to have on hand. Add some streamers such as size 8 to 10 weighted and unweighted woolly buggers and zonkers in black and olive to round things out. It is rare to fish nymphs, but subsurface flies like scuds, caddis pupa, hares’ ear, copper john’s, black stone flies, and woolly worms in size 8 to 14 are worth having in your arsenal.

What are the options if water conditions become challenging?

Being that the systems are spring creeks, they cannot blow out. Wind is the most challenging variable here.

What is a typical day like?

During the stay, guests fish different private spring creeks and move through three Argentine estancias. Guests typically depart the estancia after breakfast, drive between one and two hours to the next estancia, get settled, have a short fishing session on a nearby river, then break for lunch. Guests fish again in the afternoon, and have dinner around 9:30 PM. On non-changeover days, guests fish after breakfast, take a midday break for lunch and siesta, and then return to the water and fish through the afternoon and early evening. Dinners are typically late, around 9:30pm.

What is the general vibe, atmosphere, and style of the lodge?

Estanica Río Pelke is an intimate, inclusive, and family-driven program where guests are received as members of the extended family. The overall vibe is casual and inviting. Despite some modern upgrades, the estancia has remained true to its authentic Patagonian character and guests should expect to go with the flow and quite possibly make some small concessions in the same way you would when visiting a distant family relative. A new lodge onsite that once served as the original gaucho house, now provides upgraded amenities with single room accommodations for all guests.

Is there an on-site owner, manager, or other point-person at the lodge?

The Biott family own and operate Estanica Río Pelke and are always on-site and available to guests. Juan Manuel serves as the primary host and manager but each family member chips in wherever needed to assure each guest is well cared for.

Where do we eat, and what are the meals like?

Meals at the estancia are thoughtfully prepared using traditional Argentinean recipes and showcase locally sourced produce, and farm-raised lamb and beef complemented by hand-selected Salentein wines.

What is the alcohol policy?

Beer and wine are included in your package and guests may bring their own hard alcohol.

Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like?

All guests have a single room in a newly renovated lodge onsite. The accommodations are basic, clean, comfortable, and consistent with 3-star rated hotels. The estancias date back to the late 1800’s and have been remodeled and/or retrofitted with modern amenities such as indoor bathrooms, running water, and electricity. Additionally, guests stay at the Estancia Pali Aike Eco-Camp, which consists of geodesic dome tents complete with private bathrooms, heating systems, a shower, and power for charging electronic devices. The Eco-Camp stay allows guests to experience a more wilderness setting to complement their Patagonian experience.

Is there internet and/or cell service?

There is limited internet connection, and it only comes on at night while the generator is running. There is no cell service available.

Are there other activities?

No.

Are there any other expenses?

International and domestic airfare, hotels, meals, transfers in Buenos Aires/El Calafate/Rio Gallegos, alcohol, fishing license, staff and guide gratuities

Do I need a visa?

No. Argentina no longer requires a reciprocity fee or visa. Guests must have a valid passport that expires no less than six months prior to the trip date.

Are there any health concerns, dangers, or annoyances?

None. We recommend that guests always consult with the US Department of State and the Center for Disease Control websites for general travel information and guidelines.