Rumbo Patagon is the latest venture of the Urrejola brothers who created one of Chile’s finest lodges, Coyhaique River Lodge. While they didn’t need a second operation, the angling opportunities presented by the greater Puerto Natales region 1000 km south of the waters they know so well was simply irresistible. With countless small rivers, streams, spring creeks, and ultra-fertile lakes and lagoons teaming with unsophisticated 15-to 25-inch browns, they couldn’t help falling in love with the region and the process of unlocking its many secrets. For the Urrejola brothers, the area is the true frontier of South American trout fishing, and remarkably it has been hiding in plain sight, or more specifically, in the shadow of Chile’s most iconic mountain skyline and national park, Torres del Paine. While thousands of international eco-tourists flock to the park to gaze across azure lakes at the massif’s mythical skyline, the surrounding lowlands have largely remained unnoticed, and most significantly, unfished. The end game for the brothers is to not only take a deep dive into these fisheries but to take full advantage of the many hikes and vistas of the national park for travel companions bringing forth one the most diverse, dramatic and productive trips in all Patagonia.
The Partnership
The key to unlocking the region’s countless fishing venues stems from Gaston Urrejola’s longstanding friendship with Cesar Lobos. In addition to being an avid fly fisher, Cesar is an exceedingly well-connected and respected local in the greater Puerto Natales region. Through his connections, guests will have semi-exclusive access to 12 sprawling estancias, each with multiple angling venues. Cesar and his family will also host and head the Rumbo Patagon program.
