Despedida Lodge

Lodging Details
Estancia Despedida is a warm and comfortable log-style lodge located in the middle of the Tierra Del Fuego wilderness in the heart of the best sea-run brown trout fishing on the planet. The lodge is located in a scenic location within minutes of both the Rio Grande and Menendez Rivers. The small and intimate lodge has three-bedroom suites, each outfitted with two beds, plenty of space, and private heated bathrooms. The suites feature two double beds, nightstands, dressers, and a full closet. Rooms are spacious with ample room for all gear, equipment, and belongings.

This is very much a “fishing-focused” lodge that prides itself on the quality of its guide staff and the quality of the lodge’s waters and beats. After long morning and evening sessions on the water, anglers enjoy relaxing in the lodge’s main living room and bar area. This large and spacious great room is tastefully decorated and furnished with lounging in mind; with comfortable couches and chairs, a full bar, and big-screen satellite television and sound system, relaxation comes easy.

Food and Beverages
Estancia Despedida serves a variety of classic Argentine dishes, primarily excellent meat cuts paired with fine Argentine wines. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the lodge’s main dining room. Guests typically return to the lodge after a four or five-hour morning session on the water for lunch and a ‘siesta’ (the obligatory time of rest in Argentina). After lunch and a brief nap, anglers are back on the water for a long afternoon and evening, almost always fishing until dark. 

Typical Length of Stay
Seven (7) nights / six (6) days of fishing. Most packages run Saturday through Saturday. Please contact Yellow Dog for more details.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
This destination is not the ideal option for non-anglers, as the program and focus is all about fishing on the Rio Grande. While the lodge is very comfortable and the food and wines are fantastic, Estancia Despedida does not offer guided non-angling activities.

Internet / Communications
The lodge currently has limited Wi-Fi. Each room is equipped with a phone and guests are welcome to call home for a fee of $3.00 per minute.

How To Get There
Getting to Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina is not as difficult as it is time-consuming. Travelers typically take an overnight flight from one of several major cities in the U.S. and arrive in Buenos Aires (Ezeiza International Airport – EZE) in the morning. Guests typically need to overnight in Buenos Aires before taking a connecting flight to Tierra Del Fuego. From the Buenos Aires domestic airport (Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport – AEP) there are two options to get to the lodge. Based on your travel needs and available flights guests can choose to fly to Rio Grande and transfer 45 minutes to the lodge or fly to Ushuaia and transfer 3 hours to the lodge. Transfers to/from Rio Grande and the lodge are included in the standard package rate. However, there is an additional cost for transfers to/from Ushuaia and the lodge, please contact Yellow Dog for rates.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Flight schedules and availability between Buenos Aires and Tierra Del Fuego airport hubs (Rio Grande or Ushuaia) change year to year. Typically, guests book flights to either Rio Grande or Ushuaia arriving in the afternoon and arrange return flights departing mid-day. Please consult with Yellow Dog for the most current travel details. 

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 out an ‘arrival card.’ You will then be given a tourist visa stamp for stays of thirty, sixty, or ninety days. Staple the duplicate of your arrival card into your passport as you will need it to leave the country. If you lose it, it’s rarely a serious problem, but you’ll have to fill out a new form at border control. You will also be given a customs declaration form upon entering the country. Duty is not charged on used personal effects, books, and other articles for non-commercial purposes, up to a value of US $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
The Rio Grande River winds through a broad valley of shallow grasses and shrubs that is completely void of any type of trees or willows. The river bottom is mostly comprised of pea-sized gravel with a few large rocks or boulders in between, meaning the river is incredibly easy to wade and cross. Most of the beats are accessed by truck and often the truck is parked within 100 feet of the run or pool. Estancia Despedida’s lodge is only minutes away from the most productive waters on the entire river. A typical day of fishing on the Rio Grande consists of two fishing sessions: a morning session that typically lasts from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and another in the afternoon/evening that typically runs from 5:00 PM until well after dark. Breakfast is served at 7:30 AM each morning and anglers depart the lodge by 8:00 AM to begin their fishing day. At 1:00 PM, anglers usually return to the lodge for lunch followed by an afternoon siesta. Everyone returns to the water at 5:00 PM and fishes until 9:30 PM or later. The Rio Grande is noted for being the most consistent sea-run brown trout destination on the planet.  With fish that average near 12 pounds and opportunities to find fish in the 30-pound class, this river is truly one-of-a-kind.

The fishing techniques vary on the Rio Grande and many anglers prefer to fish a two-handed rod. The river is not large, however, and single-handed rods can also easily be used. Anglers fish a variety of different flies for the sea-runs, including small nymphs, streamers, and – during certain months of the year – large, skated dry flies.

Boats and Equipment
There are no boats used on the Rio Grande, and this is strictly a walk-and-wade destination. The water is slower moving, however, and wading is extremely comfortable and easy on the pea-sized gravel.  Each guide uses a four-wheel-drive truck to move up and down the river and always parks fairly close to the productive pools. Please contact Yellow Dog to arrange for rental gear if you don’t want to travel with your own.

Package Rates
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 fishing and accommodations, and quoted in US dollars. Trips of any length of stay can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing.

Please contact Yellow Dog for rates.

What’s Included:

• Accommodations at Estancia Despedida
• All meals at the lodge
• Local alcoholic beverages (beer and wine) while at the lodge
• Limited laundry service is available. $20 USD per load (3 sets of clothes) with a 2-3 day return time.
• Meet and greet at Ushuaia Airport or Rio Grande Airport
• Round trip ground transfers between the Ushuaia or Rio Grande Airports and lodge
• Professional daily guided fishing
  
  

What’s Not Included:

• Airfare to Buenos Aires and Ushuaia or Rio Grande
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• Rods, reels, and terminal tackle 
• Hard alcohol (bring your own!)
• Fishing license/permits ($250 USD, paid upon arrival in cash). This price can potentially vary based on the season’s rates provided by the government.
  
  

Despedida Lodge (Rio Grande, Argentina)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
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. 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. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance all Argentina 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.