Pinti’s Dorado on the Fly

Lodging Details
Pinti’s Dorado on the Fly Lodge is located on a high jungle bank overlooking the Paraná River near the small fishing village of Ita Ibate in the Corrientes Province of Argentina.

The property features two simply constructed lodging buildings, each with 4 bedrooms. The 8 individual bedrooms provide comfortable accommodations, private full baths, and are decorated with local art.  Each angler will enjoy single occupancy accommodations unless otherwise requested.

The main lodge has spectacular views of the Rio Paraná and features a spacious common area with a pool table and a full bar.  Branching off the pool table/bar room is another common living space, nicely decorated and furnished with full couches and comfortable chairs, where anglers can relax with drinks and appetizers while enjoying the incredibly scenic views of the Rio Paraná. There is also a separate TV, lounging, and fly tying room in the main building which is available for use.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at the large dining room table in the main lodge, and meals are often hosted by Pinti or one of the exceptional head guides.

Food and Beverages
Pinti’s Dorado Lodge offers classic Argentine cuisine, including a weekly “asado” (Argentine BBQ), in addition to an array of international dishes. All meals are served with fine wines from Mendoza and other wine-producing regions of Argentina. Lunches are prepared and served daily back at the lodge with your guide. The dining experience at the lodge is a satisfying blend of fresh ingredients, delicious flavors, and beautiful presentation. The lodge offers an open bar policy with all domestic liquors, Argentine wines, and beers during your stay.

Typical Length of Stay
The typical lodge package at Pinti’s Dorado Lodge is seven (7) nights / six (6) days of fishing. Most packages run Saturday through Saturday, though shorter stays are also welcome. Please contact Yellow Dog for more details.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
Pinti’s Dorado’s on the Fly is not a great option for non-anglers.  Though the lodge is very comfortable, with beautiful scenery, full Wi-Fi, and television, Pinti’s lodge does not offer guided non-angling activities.

Internet / Communications
The lodge offers guests unlimited Wi-Fi Internet access. Cell phones do work depending on individual carriers and data plans.

How To Get There
Getting to Argentina is not difficult. Take an easy overnight flight to Buenos Aires’ Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) from one of several major cities in the U.S. You will arrive at the International Airport in Buenos Aires and from there, you will need to transfer to the Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport in Buenos Aires (AEP), which is located across the city, in order to catch your flight to Corrientes. The fastest way to get to the town of Ita Ibate and Pinti’s Lodge is with a 1.5-hour domestic flight to Corrientes on Aerolineas Argentinas. Pinti’s Lodge is only a 1 hour and 30-minute drive from the Corrientes Airport. Currently, there is only one morning flight from Buenos Aires to Corrientes. If your travel schedule does not allow for the morning flight to Corrientes, you can still reach Pinti’s from Buenos Aires by flying into Resistencia as there are two-afternoon flights. Resistencia Airport is a 2-hour drive to the lodge.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Anglers will be met at either the Corrientes Airport or the Resistencia Airport upon arrival. We recommend arriving on the morning flight to Corrientes and departing on the afternoon flight back to Buenos Aires.

Documents Required 
Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and other Western European nations do not need a visa for tourist trips of up to ninety days. You will need a valid passport and will have to fill in a landing card on arrival and you will be given a stamp for stays of thirty, sixty, or ninety days. Staple your duplicate of the landing card into your passport, next to your entrance stamp, as you’ll need it to leave the country. If you do lose it, it’s rarely a serious problem, but you’ll have to fill in a new form at the border control. You will also be given a customs declaration form when entering the country. Duty is not charged on used personal effects, books, and other articles for non-commercial purposes, up to the value of $300. Make sure you declare any valuable electronic items such as laptop computers, as customs officers can be suspicious that you may be bringing them into the country to sell.

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. 

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
A typical day of fishing on the Rio Paraná is broken into two fishing sessions: the morning (from 7:30 am to 12 noon) and again in the afternoon (from 3:45 pm until 9 – 10 pm). Guests will return to the air-conditioned lodge for lunch, followed by a well-deserved siesta–the obligatory Argentine afternoon time of rest. Fishing for dorado on this river is most productive early and late in the day, though overcast days fish well all day long. As the sun gets high, it allows for anglers to stake out over white sand flats to sight-fish for cruising dorado much like you would for tarpon in Caribbean waters. The high sun also allows for anglers to hunt and sight fish for pirá pitá and pacú that are often laid up under overhanging trees and bushes seeking shade and food. These fish are often targeted with large dry fly patterns, making for exciting takes.

Sight fishing is the most enjoyable way to fish for golden dorado, pirá pitá, and pacú with the water typically gin-clear in the Rio Paraná. However, searching the drop-offs and fishing to structure with streamers can be an excellent way to find big fish, and this river definitely holds them – fish within the 20-30 pound range are possible. The Paraná is a huge body of water with an endless number of channels, flats, and structured banks to provide anglers with various options and locations to fish throughout the week without fishing the same location twice.

Anglers will predominately fish with floating lines and lightly weighted streamer patterns, something that isn’t necessarily the case for a majority of dorado waters, as many destinations require heavy sink tips and heavily weighted flies. An 8-weight is the choice rod for dorado on the Paraná with a floating tropical line. The pirá pitá feed on large foam-style dry flies along the banks and a 6-weight with a floating tropical line is preferred. Pacú (known as the Argentine permit) are fruit eaters and are often pursued with a floating fruit fly along the banks and under the overhanging trees. Pacú are extremely selective and spooky, but Pinti’s guide team has the most effective techniques completely dialed in. 

Dorado in the area average six to eight pounds and anglers have legitimate opportunities at fish in the 20 lb. range, with a few rare fish in the 30 lb. class.  In a week of fishing, proficient anglers can expect to find lots of action on all three species and have great chances of fish in the double-digit range.

Boats and Equipment 
Pinti’s Dorado on the Fly guides use 20 ft. panga-style boats that are very clean and set up perfectly for fly anglers. They fish 2 anglers at the same time while drifting the banks, sand bars, and seam lines. The guides use trolling motors to control the drift while keeping anglers in position. Please contact Yellow Dog to arrange for rental gear if you don’t want to travel with your own.

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.

2022/2023 Package Rates

Double Occupancy
*Shared Room and Guide
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = $2,800.00 per person
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $3,700.00 per person
6 Nights / 5 Fishing Days = $4,500.00 per person
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $5,200.00 per person

Single Occupancy
*Single room and single guide
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = $4,200.00 per person
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $5,550.00 per person
6 Nights / 5 Fishing Days = $6,750.00 per person
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $7,800.00 per person

Rates 2023/2024 (effective for trips after October 1st, 2023)

Double Occupancy
*Shared Room and Guide
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = $3,300.00 per person
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $4,400.00 per person
6 Nights / 5 Fishing Days = $5,300.00 per person
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $6,200.00 per person

Single Occupancy
*Single room and single guide
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = $4,950.00 per person
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $6,550.00 per person
6 Nights / 5 Fishing Days = $7,950.00 per person
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $8,260.00 per person

What’s Included:

• Accommodations at Pinti’s Lodge
• All meals and local alcoholic beverages while at the lodge 
• Round-trip ground transportation from the Corrientes Airport to the lodge
• Professional daily guided fishing
• Argentine fishing license
• Laundry Service
• Wi-Fi Access

What’s Not Included:

• Transfers, hotel, and meals in Buenos Aires
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• Personal shopping and dining in Buenos Aires
• Flies, leaders, and tippet
• Rods, reels, and tackle are not included (rental gear is available)

Pinti’s Dorado on the Fly (Parana River, Argentina)
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 Argentina 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.

“Staying at Pinti’s is like staying at a friend’s house, not like staying in a hotel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is a family affair, not something you do by yourself at a table in the corner. He doesn’t have “employees,” he calls them team members and it shows. Everyone is happy, helpful, kind, and pleasant to be around.” – Mark C.