Accommodations
Season
Species
Ideal for
Conservation
Optimal Lodging on the Rio Simpson
Situated directly on the banks of the Rio Simpson on the outskirts of the historic city of Coyhaique, Cinco Rios Lodge offers one of the premier locations for anglers looking for overall diversity in water types and landscapes. Anglers are transported daily by four-wheel-drive vehicles to rivers and streams on trips that range from 30 minutes to slightly over an hour. The Lodge fishes numerous public waters including the Simpson, La Paloma, Mañihuales, Aysen, Megote, Guillermo, and De Leon, as well as several private rivers and streams fished exclusively by Cinco Rios clients.
Accommodation Details
Lodging Details
Cinco Rios features a large, Main Lodge with six private and spacious rooms. All of the rooms feature two beds, a large private bathroom, climate control system, and an outdoor deck area with an amazing view of the Simpson River canyon and nearby mountains. There are outdoor lockers and closet areas for each guest, where you can hang waders and secure rods, boots, and other gear after each day on the water. The large common areas of the Lodge include a comfortable living room area with a large fireplace, a dining room and bar area, an upstairs television and lounge area, a downstairs tackle and gift shop, and a meeting and conference area. The Lodge is located on the edge of the Patagonian city of Coyhaique, the capital city of the Aysén Region. Coyhaique is similar in many ways to Bozeman, Montana.
Food and Beverages
The kitchen at Cinco Rios Lodge prides itself on using the best ingredients from throughout the region, including range-fed beef, wild morels (from Estancia del Zorro), and fresh herbs from the Lodge’s own gardens, and fresh fish from the nearby Chilean fjords. The menu includes such dishes as Chilean lamb with Morels Risotto, yellow hot pepper chicken sauce over gnocchi, teriyaki steak saute, meat and cheese-filled peppers, and a wide variety of quiches and fish. Cinco Rios also works with a number of boutique wineries that provide the best Chilean Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Tempranillo.
Typical Length of Stay
A standard package at Cinco Rios Lodge is seven (7) nights / six (6) fishing days (Saturday through Saturday), although trips of any length can be accommodated.
Non-Angling Activities and Options
Peaceful and secluded, the Rio Simpson area is a birdwatcher’s paradise for Andean condors, Chilean Southern-ringed kingfishers, eagles, ibis, torrent ducks, and parakeets. Explore the nearby city of Coyhaique, with its woolen goods, shopping, and historic places of interest. There is an outdoor craft market in the middle of Coyhaique that is definitely worth visiting. The Lodge will also be happy to arrange tours and side trips for non-anglers.
Internet / Communications
The resort does offer Wi-Fi for guests. Some U.S. cell phones may work in the area depending on your service plan.
Travel Details
How To Get There
Overnight flights from the United States to and from Santiago, Chile (SCL) are available on American Airlines, Delta, or Lan Chile. From there you fly by Lan Chile 737 jet to the Balmaceda Airport (BBA), three hours south from Santiago. When you arrive, a representative from the Lodge will be waiting for you at the airport and will transfer you the 45 minutes to Cinco Rios.
Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Most guests take an overnight flight to Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL), arriving early in the morning. After processing through customs and immigration, you can easily catch a late morning or early afternoon flight that same day to Balmaceda (BBA). This domestic flight usually makes a quick stop in Puerto Montt. This three-hour flight is incredibly scenic, traveling along the incredible Chilean Andes. Once you arrive in Balmaceda, you will be met by the Lodge representative and transferred to Coyhaique.
Documents Required
You will need a valid passport to enter the country of Chile. Citizens of the United States, Canada, and the UK do not need a visa unless they plan on staying for more than three months.
Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.Â
Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership
Fishing
General Information
Anglers are transported daily by truck to area rivers and streams (some of them in nearby Argentina) on trips that range from 30 minutes to an hour over mostly dirt roads. Several of the Lodge’s private rivers and streams are fished exclusively by Cinco Rios guides and clients. The Lodge also fishes the area’s best public waters, including the Rio La Paloma, the upper, middle, and lower sections of the Rio Simpson, the Mañihuales and Aysen Rivers, and the lagos and bocas of the Azul, Desierto, Elizalde, Frio, Castor, and Pollux. Some of the excellent small, freestone streams in the area include the Megote, Guillermo, De Leon, and a handful of unnamed streams. Lodge anglers can typically expect to do two jet-boat fishing days on the Paloma and Azul, two raft-float days on the Simpson or Mañihuales, and two wading days on small freestone streams. Each of the Lodge’s Chilean guides has years of experience fishing and exploring these waters.
Boats and EquipmentÂ
Lodge equipment includes jet boats, rubber rafts with high-back seats, drift boats, and 4×4 vehicles with trailers. The Lodge does have rods and reels available for clients to use, as well as a small, well-stocked fly shop. Anglers should bring as much of their own gear and equipment as possible, including waders, boots, rods, and reels.
Rates and Terms
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices listed below are per person, based on double occupancy, and quoted in US dollars. Trips of any length can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing.
Please contact Yellow Dog for rates for 2023 trips.
What’s Included:
- All transfers to and from Balmaceda Airport (BBA) or Coyhaique, Chile (GXQ) to the Lodge
- All accommodations Saturday through Saturday
- All meals at the lodge
- Beverages including beer, wine, and alcohol
- Daily guided fishing (2 anglers per guide)
- Fishing licenseÂ
- All taxes
- Use of rods and reels (if needed)
- Use of waders and boots (if needed)
- Wi-Fi at both lodge locations
What’s Not Included:
- International airfare to Santiago, Chile (SCL)
- Domestic airfare to Balmaceda, Chile (BBA)
- Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Trip insurance
- Flies and terminal tackle (Available for $120 per angler)
Cinco Rios and Estancia del Zorro (Coyhaique, Chile)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking for all lodging and fishing packages, and final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. For cancellations, all deposits and payments are non-refundable. In no event will the lodge or Yellow Dog be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays, flight cancellations, or any other reason beyond the control of the lodge. The lodge will not refund payments in the event of poor weather, or if arrival flights are cancelled or airline connections are missed. Additionally, the lodge and Yellow Dog are not responsible for covering costs associated with alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals or any other expenses incurred. For all of these reasons, and because of the no refund and no credit policy, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance and full coverage for your trip. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be issued minus a $100.00 per person fee charged by Yellow Dog. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance all Chile packages.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW YELLOW DOG GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES
Payment Terms For All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings
In order to lock in your trip reservation, we ask that you please remit payment at the time of receipt of invoice. For your convenience, Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a direct and secure ACH platform – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Note that all Yellow Dog invoices include a live link that takes you directly to the Yellow Dog ACH platform for fast and easy payment. For open and existing invoices with a remaining balance, payment reminders also include this easy link to the ACH page.
Other customary forms of payment that are accepted are checks or wire transfers. If you would like to pay in a different way or have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (888) 777-5060 or (406) 585-8667. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Beginning September 1st, 2020, Yellow Dog will apply a 3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions.
Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Standard Forms For Payment
- ACH online payments (for US banking institutions only).
- Traditional checks (sent via mail)
- Electronic wire payments (client is responsible for any wiring fees)
*Please contact us if you prefer or require a different payment option. Convenience fees may apply for other payment methods.
**Please be aware that the ACH platform is only available for US financial institutions and bank accounts. International payments can be made via wire or with a credit card.
Yellow Dog Client Reviews
“Beautiful country, great people, wonderful fish, clearest water. exceeded my expectations. nothing went wrong. I met some wonderful people visiting the lodges.” –Â Douglas C.
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“Cannot think of any way that it could have been better.” –Â Thomas B.
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“This was incredible. We really enjoyed our trip and all of the help from Yellow Dog.” –Â Tayna A.
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“OMG– my overall fishing and trip experience far surpassed my high expectations. The natural beauty of Chilean Patagonia is beyond explanation. Snow-covered mountains bordering blue, glacial lakes and rivers, amazing wildflowers. That backdrop to our daily fishing adventures enhanced the epic fishing experiences, which included 20+ catch days, with 10-15 of those browns and rainbows over 20 inches. I also learned/confirmed so many tricks and tips fishing with the expert guides at Cinco Rios and Estancia del Zorro that I will carry forward into my more typical fishing excursions on my home waters.” – John T.
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“The best fishing trip I’ve ever been on, and I’ve trout fished all over the United States and the world. Everything was great. The fishing was phenomenal, the guides and staff were superb. Just a great overall experience.” – Ben W.
“Guides were all professional with great communication skills. We enjoyed our time together. We were catching so many fish one day that we told the guide we were skipping lunch.” – Harry H.Â