Opened in 1995, Bella Vista Lodge is the most exclusive lodge on the Rio Gallegos, offering exciting fishing for giant sea-run trout as well as some of the finest dry fly brown trout fishing.
On an intimate spring creek, Bella Vista Lodge represents un-paralleled luxury and comfort, from which to enjoy the best of the fishing on the river Gallegos. A much bigger system than its sister river the Rio Grande, the Gallegos and its pools are far more varied in their character. Slow oily looking holding pools are interspersed with fast riffles and boulder-strewn runs, and the gravel bottom makes wading very easy. The Estancia owns nearly 50 kilometres of double bank private access fishing which is limited to a maximum of ten rods per week. Guided by a "one of a kind" team of experienced guides, each pair of rods have only the diverse wildlife of the river valley for company. Even the most experienced angler will learn new techniques and skills that will improve his averages elsewhere. A challenging but infinitely rewarding river, the Gallegos’ list of devotees grows year after year.
Bella Vista Lodge is located half way up the Rio Gallegos Valley, which is the southern-most, large river, on the Argentine mainland in Southern Patagonia. Large sheep farming estancias share this land with herds of wild llama-like guanacos, red foxes, and condors. The lodge is located in the fully refurbished main house of a working estancia, which runs to nearly 700,000 acres or an English county of the size of Oxfordshire. Santa Cruz province in southern Patagonia is a bleak land similar to the open plains of Wyoming or the flow country of Northern Scotland. Barren rolling hills stretch from the coast all the way to the “Cordillera,” the mountain chain that is the terminations of the Andes and a natural border between Argentina and Chile.
FISHING METHODS
Freshwater Fly Fishing.
SPECIES TO CATCH
Sea Trout
Season: Oct to April
Peak: Jan to March
Weight: 5lb to 30lb
Average Weight: 9lb |
Brown Trout
Season: Oct to April
Peak: Jan to March
Weight: 1lb to 7lb
Average Weight: 2.5lb |
Note: these figures are complied with catch reports over 5 years, however they can be effected by adverse weather.
TOUR INCLUDES
Flights (WT) International return flights, Internal flights (E) Airport transfers, 6 days full fishing as indicated on itinerary, 2 nights accommodation in Buenos Aires B/B, 7 nights accommodation at lodge F/B.
WHAT’S EXCLUDED
Holiday insurance, personal items, local tips, fishing licence, laundry service.
OPTIONS
Add on Pira Lodge Golden Dorado Fishing.
Seat upgrades available with British Airways.
VISA
A machine-readable passport with at least 6 months before expiry, no visa for UK citizens required
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Hepatitis A and Typhoid.
PLEASE NOTE
All details of visa and medical requirements are correct at time of press however please check these requirements for changes.
DEPARTURE TAX
There is departure tax of around $18 however this can change regularly.
FLIGHT ROUTE AND FLIGHT TIME
UK - Buenos Aires (approx 16hrs) Buenos Aires - Rio Gallegos (approx 3 hours).
BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
(WT/E) 2 checked in items 23 kg (C/B/F) 3 checked in items 23 kg. Most airlines permit each passenger to check in one piece of sporting luggage i.e. a rod holdall, but must not exceed 23 kg.
TRANSFER TIME
Rio Gallegos - Bella Vista Lodge (approx 1.5 hours).
HIKING AND TREKKING
Hiking is a sport that is very popular and widely available in many different regions in Argentina. Explore the Andes in Mendoza, the Lake Region in Patagonia, or the beautiful landscapes in Salta.
HORSE RIDING
Argentina has a rich Gaucho, or cowboy culture. The horseback riding in Argentina is excellent and a number of ranches offer unforgettable day trips and tours.
