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Yellow Dog Combo Trips

Patagonia Combo Trips

August 11, 25

Yellow Dog Flyfishing can design combination itineraries that link multiple destinations throughout Patagonia, with options to explore different regions of Argentina, Chile, or both in a single trip. These itineraries can be arranged to flow seamlessly, whether connected by overland travel through the Andes or short regional flights. Each stop offers its own fishing style and setting—from broad, open rivers and spring creeks in Argentina to the glacier-fed waterways and remote fjords of southern Chile. By structuring the trip around multiple legs, anglers can experience the region’s diversity in both culture and fisheries while enjoying a well-paced, coordinated journey.

Why a Combo Trip?

For anglers making the long trip to Patagonia, a multi-leg itinerary is an excellent way to maximize fishing time and variety while making the most of the cost and effort of international travel. The size and scale of Patagonia is impossible to comprehend, marked by numerous regions each with their own offerings and appeal. By combining multiple lodge stays into one trip, you’ll see more variety, fish more, and get the most out of the long travel days it takes to reach this remote part of the world.

Who is This Trip For?

Patagonia offers great fly fishing and cultural experiences for anglers of all experience levels. While there are no guarantees in fly fishing, its trout tend to be more forgiving than those in places like the U.S. West as they have no natural predators and receive FAR less angling pressure. Secondly, because Patagonia is so vast and we work with such a diverse selection of lodges, there is truly something for everyone. From first-time anglers to those with decades of experience, everyone can enjoy what Patagonia has to offer in addition to a variety of non-angling activities at certain lodges for traveling companions.

Fishing Details

From north to south, Patagonia delivers an incredible range of fly fishing across both Chile and Argentina, with each region offering its own character and charm.

In Chile’s Los Lagos region, you’ll find glacial lakes, emerald rivers, and classic boat-based fishing for big browns and rainbows. Further south, Aysén and the Coyhaique area blend freestone rivers, intimate spring creeks, and remote wilderness lakes which makes for a diverse experience, while the far-flung Magellanes region pairs rugged, windswept beauty with outstanding dry fly and wade fishing near Torres del Paine National Park.

Crossing the Andes into Argentina, San Martín offers what many call “Montana 50 years ago,” with lightly pressured rivers, prolific hatches, and both wade and float options. Bariloche serves as a gateway to Nahuel Huapi National Park’s crystal-clear waters, while the Trevelin area delivers remarkable variety with Los Alerces National Park to the west and the “pampas” and high desert spring creeks and freestones to the east. In the remote Río Pico region, endless wade fishing on unique streams and legendary trophy trout await in pristine lakes.

Together, these destinations cover everything from technical dry-fly fishing to aggressive streamer action, in landscapes that range from desert to rainforest, making Patagonia one of the most varied and rewarding freshwater fisheries on the planet.

Multi-Lodge Stays in Argentina

There are several outfitters with existing multi-lodge packages already built into their programs. This is a great option for people looking to combine 2 or 3 locations in one week with a single outfitter, making it a super easy, streamlined process. Examples include:

Patagonia River Guides - North
One of the most attractive parts of the San Martin-area experience is the ability to choose from well-known lodges and estancias (large ranches) when creating an overall fishing itinerary. Unlike fishing from the PRG fixed-base and exclusive lodges in the Esquel and Rio Pico Regions, guests that fish with PRG North travel with their guide, stay on different estancias, and fish all different types of private and public waters. Each estancia is completely unique from the next, and staying at least two or three nights at each is recommended.

Chocolate Lab Expeditions
Chocolate Lab Expeditions has relationships with a number of northern Patagonia’s famed lodges and estancias. They can design custom trip itineraries that best suit the specific fishing and travel needs of their guests. These include the highly regarded Limay River Ranch, home to some of the highest growth rates for trout of any river in Patagonia, and numerous other estancias. On a typical week-long itinerary with Chocolate Lab Expeditions, guests commonly stay at two destinations or spend some nights camping out on the river.

El Encuentro Fly Fishing
El Encuentro Fly Fishing is a family-owned and operated outfitting company specializing in arranging custom trip itineraries in the Chubut province of Central Argentine Patagonia. The program owns and operates El Encuentro Lodge and the Brook Trout Base Camp and works with a variety of other quality lodges to build custom itineraries that best suit the fishing and travel needs of their guests. A standard week at El Encuentro features two locations, while a third location can be incorporated with a longer stay.

PRG-North / PRG - Trevelin / PRG - Tres Valles
Patagonia River Guides offers combination trips between all three of their signature properties, allowing anglers to experience any combination of stays between the San Martin, Trevelin, Esquel, and Rio Pico regions of Argentina. Each of these programs is worthy of a dedicated week as their expansive operations are arguably the most complete, comprehensive, high-end, and professional fishing operations in all of Patagonia, but combining lodge stays can allow anglers to see and experience as much as possible during their time in Argentina.

In addition to multi-stay combination trips with a single outfitter, we can coordinate combinations trips between all of the lodges in Argentina. In some cases, these are week-long stays with a travel day in between, but there are opportunities for shorter stays depending on the lodge and time of year. Some examples of potential regional combination trips include:

Rio Pico + Trevelin
Trevelin + Bariloche
Trevelin + San Martin

Multi-Lodge Stays in Chile

Combo packages in Chile will generally require a full week at each lodge, with a changeover day in between. Depending on the combination package, anglers are transported via car or direct flights. Potential regional combinations include:

Los Lagos + Aysen OR Coyhaique
Los Lagos + Magellanes

There are also a couple of operations that offer combination trips within their operations. These include:

Magic Waters Lodge / Patagonia Baker Lodge / River of Dreams Basecamp
Owned and operated by the same family, all three of these lodges can be incorporated into a multi-lodge stay with easy logistics and transfers via car. Magic Waters Lodge fishes some of the most famous rivers in the greater Coyhaique area such as the Simpson, Paloma, Azul, Huemules, Mogote, along with private access to numerous, smaller unnamed creeks and spring creeks. Their sister operation, Patagonia Baker Lodge, resides on one of the most beautiful pieces of water in all of the region. The Rio Baker boasts healthy populations of true trophy brown trout and rainbows, and the nearby Rio Cochrane is an excellent option for sight fighing with dry flies. For adventurous anglers wanting a fully immersive experience, the River of Dreams Basecamp is ideal for those seeking to explore new waters for big browns well off the beaten path. With exclusive overland access to the valley and no possibility of accessing the area by jetboat, guests have over thirty miles of some of the most beautiful, untouched, and wild trout water all to themselves.

Cinco Rios and Estancia del Zorro
Cinco Rios and Estancia del Zorro were formerly their own week-long programs, but due to the success and demand for stays at both locations, it is now an integrated lodge experience where anglers spend half of their time at each property. Guests fish for three days at Cinco Rios Lodge situated on the banks of the famed Rio Simpson just outside the town of Coyhaique. From this central location, anglers have fishing access to numerous public waters including the Simpson, La Paloma, Mañihuales, Aysen, Megote Azul, and Desierto rivers as well as a number of private spring creeks and streams. During the same week, guests also fish for 3 days out of Estancia del Zorro which is located on a 15,000-acre ranch situated near the Chile/ Argentina border where they will have access to countless private accesses for a diverse selection of streams, creeks, and lakes. This combination trip is a great option for anglers to sample a wide variety of waters including Chile’s most renowned trout fisheries all from comfortable lodges, in a single week.

Multi-Lodge Stays in Both Chile & Argentina

This is without a doubt the best option for getting a more comprehensive taste of Patagonia given the stark differences between Chile and Argentina’s landscapes, climate, and somewhat, the angling opportunities. Border crossings via car is the easiest, with trips ranging from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the regions. Potential regional combinations include:

Trevelin + Aysen
Trevelin + Los Lagos
Rio Pico + Aysen
Rio Pico + Los Lagos

After spending a week (some lodges can accommodate shorter stays) in either Argentina or Chile, Yellow Dog can arrange a shuttle to take you across the border. Some examples of travel logistics include:

Bariloche/ Esquel/ Trevelin (Argentina) + Los Lagos (Chile)
Border Crossing: Futaleufu
Drive Times: 1 – 4 hours in Argentina; 1-2 hours in Chile

Esquel / Trevelin / Rio Pico (Argentina) + Balmaceda / Coyhaique (Chile)
Border Crossing: Balmaceda
Drive Times: 4–6 hours on the Argentine side; 1–2 hours on the Chilean side

Rio Pico (Argentina) + Los Lagos (Chile)
Border Crossing: Lago Verde (remote, rugged; requires driving across three rivers)
Drive Times: 1–2 hours on each side

Important Notes

Stays can be back-to-back, week-long trips, or combinations of shorter stays based on availability!
Planning out a combination trip well in advance will give you the most options for a multi-leg stay.
Some destinations are well-prepared to host non-angling companions, while others are fishing-focused programs. We are happy to discuss combination trip options for those traveling with non-anglers.

There are many, many different options and ways to combine trips within Patagonia, but our team can navigate the process to create a seamless itinerary that matches your wants and needs. Due to the custom nature of combination packages, rates and inclusions/exclusions vary by programs and length of stay. If you would like to learn more, Please Contact Yellow Dog for details.

Helpful Content:

Patagonia Equipment List Video Series