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Thread: Chile suggestions needed

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    Sacramento, Driggs
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    1,204

    Default Chile suggestions needed

    Guess we are going to Chile. Thought I was going back to NZ this year, but $1200 tickets rt in premium economy out of SMF seals the deal. That means we are both flying down there for the price of one of us to fly to NZ rt in premium...sort of a no brainer.

    So, now we need options. Budget is a concern, but prices look alright.

    Closer to SCL or a directly linked (nonstop, with several daily frequencies) regional airport, the better. Vista Patagonia Lodge looks a good option @ $3900/pp for a 6 day/7 night fish-only package, I guess if we fished 3-4 days it would be cheaper.

    Ideally 3-4 days of fishing and 3-4 days of R&R. We have a week in country. Good food and an excellent bar/wine list is as important as decent fishing. Spa options would keep the Mrs. happy on days I might want to fish and she doesn't...

    Happy to accept ideas or suggestions via posts or PM...first hand experiences most welcome...
    Last edited by PV_Premier; 02-11-2020 at 08:23 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    Nobody’s been to Chile?

    We’ve settled on probably visiting the Lakes District area...need to do some more research

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Fremont when not out there
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    We have been to Coyhaique via Balmaceda airport. That is farther south than the Lake district. One of our guides was from Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt, which was a 24 hour drive to Coyhaique. The Marine Highway was faster according to our guide. I heard he is now working with Nomad of the Sea. The Lake district will be similar to Tahoe as a get away for folks living in Santiago. What we noticed was once you get outside of town, the traffic drops off considerably. Maps, when you get down there are hard to come by, if you are driving, at least in Coyhaique. This might help you with major routes; http://www.300zx.cl/ga/300zx/images/mapas.html. I found this map collection after the fact and saved them for future return trip. They were definitely better than any map we found while there.

    As far as fishing, the area we fished was probably similar to Montana fifty years ago. We never saw another soul for our week on the Picacho River. We took pontoons with jet outboards maybe forty-five minutes down river to a lodge along the river. We used the river to access both up and downstream. We were there for their dry fly season. It rained every day except one. We fished streamers for the most part. Weather is the one variable you have absolutely no control of. It was a great experience. We saw condors soaring near the backbone of the Andes. One of the guys in our group found a llama throw for his wife at a reasonable price (less $90) in the outdoor vendor area of Coyhaique. It was as soft as cashmere. In Santiago, a similar throw ran $850.

    The operation that we used closed down when the area was stricken with a drought a few years back and the river could not be used to get down river. None of this will help you, but maybe the map site will help.

    On our flight back to Cali, I sat next to a family from Santiago. They were headed on vacation to Los Angeles. It struck me as odd that they never heard of Coyhaique or the area we had visited. Evidently, geographically challenged people exist everywhere.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
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    Default

    Call Flywater Travel and they will have a specialist or two who manages Chili who can help you.

    If you book a trip and mention my name I will get a small commission that will help keep this Form going.



    https://www.flywatertravel.com/location/FlyFishingChile
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Garden Valley
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    I don’t have much to offer you fishing wise, but I have spent quite a bit of non fishing time there. Really wonderful country, and remarkably diverse given its geographic layout. As alluded to above, the southern part of the country is a whole other world apart from the Capitol or the lake region. For what it’s worth, I personally would be a little bit hesitant to travel in Chile currently given the political unrest. Once outside of Santiago this shouldn’t be an issue, however staying in Santiago or even logistical issues in/out of Santiago could be a concern. The last word I heard things looked like they could go a few different directions, some better than others.

    Aside from that uncertainty, from what you are describing I think the lake region would be better for an all around vacation rather than purely a fishing one. The region is stunningly beautiful, and there’s no shortage of good food and wine to be had. Easy driving around in a rental car to explore the many lakes and streams. Just be aware that the lake region is still a long ways away from Santiago, pretty much a full days drive each way by car/bus. You may wish to check out prices for a flight to Temuco or Puerto Montt? Given your time frame, I wouldn’t try to see “too much” but focus your efforts in a smaller area to really enjoy it. So much to see and do there in so many different areas...
    JB
    "Lord help me to be the person my dog thinks I am"
    - unknown

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Sacramento
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    73

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by PV_Premier View Post
    Nobody’s been to Chile?

    We’ve settled on probably visiting the Lakes District area...need to do some more research
    I went two years ago in late jan with the mrs so this wasnt strictly a fishing trip. We spent time in valparaiso which is a beach town 1.5hr outside of santiago with wonderful food and drinks. Great for R&R.

    We then flew the chilean airline for less than $100 to temuco and spent a couple days in pucon. A beautiful area and would highly suggest spending a couple days there. We hiked in the national forest a couple days and fished some lakes which were wonderful. See pic below. It reminded me of Jurasic Park.

    For there, we drove to san martin in Argentina. We fished the Colon Cura, Traful and Hua hua for a couple days. Wish we could have fished the limay, but again, this wasnt a fishing trip ..... Great fishing anyways. Again, absolutely beautiful. Make sure to drive around hwy 40 for some beautiful views. One thing of note if you do drive into argentina from chile, make sure to allocate a full day to cross the border. They are in a serious trade war so customs will take 5-6hrs looking for people who buy electronics in Chile and bring this to Argentina.

    Hope this helps and enjoy!
    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #7
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    Mar 2017
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    Sacramento
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    Quote Originally Posted by TroutHunter10 View Post
    I went two years ago in late jan with the mrs so this wasnt strictly a fishing trip. We spent time in valparaiso which is a beach town 1.5hr outside of santiago with wonderful food and drinks. Great for R&R.

    We then flew the chilean airline for less than $100 to temuco and spent a couple days in pucon. A beautiful area and would highly suggest spending a couple days there. We hiked in the national forest a couple days and fished some lakes which were wonderful. See pic below. It reminded me of Jurasic Park.

    For there, we drove to san martin in Argentina. We fished the Colon Cura, Traful and Hua hua for a couple days. Wish we could have fished the limay, but again, this wasnt a fishing trip ..... Great fishing anyways. Again, absolutely beautiful. Make sure to drive around hwy 40 for some beautiful views. One thing of note if you do drive into argentina from chile, make sure to allocate a full day to cross the border. They are in a serious trade war so customs will take 5-6hrs looking for people who buy electronics in Chile and bring this to Argentina.

    Hope this helps and enjoy!
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Oh, one more thing, the river side lunches are incredible. We had steak and malbec

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    So much good info, thanks! We will definitely fly from SCL to our final destinations—likely to be via Puerto Montt— I might have more questions for you all soon.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
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    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
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    Here is the lodge that Flywater works with in that area,

    Coyhaique River Lodge

    https://www.flywatertravel.com/desti...ue_River_Lodge


    You can call Flywater and talk with Brian Gies about it......

    Brian Gies
    Fly Water Travel
    479 Russell St, #103 • Ashland, OR 97520
    800.552.2729 • 541.488.7159
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Sacramento, Driggs
    Posts
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    Default

    We reviewed several options including the suggestions, thank you all very much.

    Turns out we are going to try a newer lodge in the Lakes District: http://parquefutangue.com/en/program...shing-package/

    It checked off almost all our boxes for a variety of activities in addition to fly fishing, the price is right, and the reviews are largely outstanding. We will fly down there on LAN after arriving in SCL and spend 5 nights, then return to SCL for a couple of nights in the city pending the political situation by then, otherwise we will spend time in one of the other cities.

    I will report back on how it is...we still have a few months to wait until our trip unfortunately

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