Cinco Rios Lodge & Estancia Del Zorro

Lodging Details
Cinco Rios Lodge and Estancia del Zorro offer a seamless full-week combination trip in Central Chilean Patagonia that allows anglers a unique opportunity to fish an incredible range of trout waters while experiencing a cross-section of beautiful landscapes.

Cinco Rios Lodge
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.

Estancia del Zorro
Estancia del Zorro, located 23 miles from the historic Chilean city of Coyhaique, is a full-service lodge and ranch operation. The Lodge building has recently undergone a facelift, restoring the original ranch house and all of the guest rooms. Each room has two king-sized beds, air-conditioning, a private bath, and a large, private balcony overlooking the ranch, the spring creek, and the vast pampas. The main Quincho (Great Room) is the social center of the ranch operation and a great place for guests to relax, swap fish stories, and make plans for the next day of fishing. This is an authentic, working Chilean estancia that offers the complete cultural experience along with some of the best fishing in the region.

Food and Beverages

Cinco Rios Lodge
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.

Estancia del Zorro
There is a large Quincho area where many of the meals are taken, along with a small dining area in the main ranch house. You can expect great food while staying at Estancia del Zorro, including huge steaks and very high-quality Chilean wines.

Typical Length of Stay
A standard package at Cinco Rios Lodge and Estancia Del Zorro 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. High on the cliffs of Estancia del Zorro’s property, you can literally come eye-to-eye with the magnificent condors as they circle rock spires riding the wind and currents. This is an amazing experience for anyone visiting the Estancia and something that we absolutely recommend! Guests can also explore the nearby city of Coyhaique, with its woolen goods, shopping, central craft market, restaurants, and historic places of interest.

Internet / Communications
Cinco Rios and Estancia del Zorro offer Wi-Fi for guests. Some U.S. cell phones may work in the area depending on your service plan.

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.

Trip Itinerary:
Day 1 (Saturday) - Arrive in Santiago, Chile, and take a connecting flight to Balmaceda/Coyhaique. Upon arrival, guests will be met by a member of the Cinco Rios team and transfer to either Cinco Rios Lodge or Estancia del Zorro.
Day 2 – 4 (Sunday – Tuesday) - Three (3) full days of guided fishing on public and private access waters. 
Day 5 – 7 (Wednesday – Friday) -  After breakfast guests will transfer approximately one (1) hour to either Estancia del Zorro or Cinco Rios. Three (3) full days of guided fishing on public and private access waters.
Day 8 (Saturday) - After breakfast guests will depart the lodge and transfer to the Balmaceda airport for the return flight to Santiago.

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. 

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

General Information

Cinco Rios Lodge
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.

Estancia del Zorro
Each day of your trip, you can expect your knowledgeable and patient guide to lead you through the hills, canyons, forests, mountains, pampas, and waters of the Estancia and the surrounding region. You will fish for brown trout on the Estancia’s two private rivers and on a 15-mile spring creek that holds brown trout up to an astonishing 10 pounds. All of these waters are totally private and within the Estancia’s boundaries. If you love small-water, spring creek fishing, then you will love the Estancia’s fishing program. The typical itinerary usually combines fishing for resident brown trout on the Estancia along with fishing for rainbows on a nearby Argentine Estancia. A scenic 35-minute drive across the Chilean-Argentine border traverses the Argentine pampas, and on the road to the river, you will pass small lagunas that are home to a variety of different swans, shorebirds, and pink flamingos. From Del Zorro, you also have the option of floating the legendary Simpson River, located approximately one hour from the Estancia.

Boats and Equipment
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.

Package Rates:
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. Trips of any length can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing.

7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $6,950 (Double Occupancy) or $9,750 (Single Occupancy)

 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 license 
• All taxes
• Use of rods and reels (if needed)
• Use of waders and boots (if needed)
• Wi-Fi at both lodge locations
• Flies and terminal tackle

What’s Not Included:

• International airfare to Santiago, Chile (SCL)
• Domestic airfare to Balmaceda, Chile (BBA)
• Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
• Trip insurance

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.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

"Cinco Rios and Estancia Del Zorro were fantastic. The lodging, the food and the staff exceeded our expectations and the fishing was terrific. We netted around 250 fish between the four of us on the week, including at least 7-8 over 20”. Nearly all of our fish were on size 8 beetles, bead head leaches, big size 12 jig head pheasant tails or squirmy wormies. Our travel was uneventful and we enjoyed about 3 days exploring Santiago on the way down. Thanks you so much for your guidance and support. You and your staff have been great to work with and I’ll absolutely call Yellowdog next time we are planning a trip." - Chris M.

"Well organized operation. Great staff and friendly owner.  Simple and easy travel from the US." - Jeff D.

“Beautiful country, great people, wonderful fish, clearest water. exceeded my expectations. nothing went wrong. I met some wonderful people visiting the lodges.” – Douglas C.

“Cannot think of any way that it could have been better.” – Thomas B.

“This was incredible. We really enjoyed our trip and all of the help from Yellow Dog.” – Tayna A.

“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.

“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.