Rio Palena Lodge

Lodging Details 
The two-story Rio Palena Lodge features seven single and double occupancy rooms, a spacious lounge, a family dining room, gear room, and bar. Each room is thoughtfully designed and unique, featuring king or queen beds, private en suite bathrooms, elegant furniture, and views of the Rio Palena or garden grounds. Additionally, some rooms feature a private deck overlooking the Rio Palena. Depending on availability, guests can select which room they prefer to include large walk-in steam showers, private deck access, or opt for a room on the first or second floor. 

Rio Palena Lodge has gone to great lengths to provide its guests with a luxurious but inviting atmosphere. After a long day of fishing, kick back on the spacious deck overlooking the river, next to one of the lodge’s river-stone fireplaces, or enjoy large bar room featuring ample seating, a flat-screen television, and a pool table. Only a few steps from the lodge are a woodfired sauna and two woodfired hot tubs for relaxing after a long day of fishing or outdoor activities. 

Food and Beverages 
As with many Patagonian lodges, the team at Rio Palena takes great pride in their guest’s dining experience. A private chef prepares breakfast each morning between 7 and 8AM, while lunches are typically enjoyed in field depending on what you have scheduled for the day. Although the fishing is the main draw for many traveling to Patagonia, these riverside lunches prepared by your guide are a memorable part of each day, ranging from grilled meats, salads, fresh vegetables, Chilean cheeses and meets, and bottles of hearty Chilean wine. 

At the end of each day you will arrive back to the lodge between 6 and 7 pm with apres appetizers and cocktails waiting for you before enjoying a family dining experience inside the lodge’s main dining room or outside on the porch. Dinners are artfully presented, featuring locally sourced proteins, homemade pastas, locally-grown produce, and are paired with a wide selection of local wines. The lodge has also built a separate location removed from the lodge to prepare and serve a traditional Chilean asado each week, complete with a stunning view within the valley of the Andes mountains.  

Typical Length of Stay 
Rio Palena Lodge can accommodate guests for any length of stay, with a minimum of a 3-Nights. A property buyout of the lodge is also available for interested travelers.  

Non-Angling Activities and Options 
This is an exceptional fishery, but Rio Palena excels in offering non-anglers a multitude of outdoor options to choose from. The lodge carries high-quality mountain bikes to enjoy the area’s excellent mountain biking opportunities, as well as plenty of hiking options. For non-anglers, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the nearby rivers and lakes, including guided stand-up paddleboarding kayaking, and whitewater rafting opportunities. With an onsite helicopter, guests can also opt to sightsee and explore area glaciers, remote lakes, or simply take in the expansive views. Each day at Rio Palena Lodge includes a guided fly fishing or outdoor experience. The lodge itself also offers anglers plenty to do on the property with multiple hot tubs, a sauna, and massages available for use at any time. It is also very easy for the lodge to accommodate a half day of fishing and half day of non-angling activities.

Internet / Communications 
The lodge is equipped with Wi-Fi that works in all rooms. 

How To Get There 
Guests take an overnight flight from the United States to Santiago, Chile, and take a connecting flight to Puerto Montt. Guests overnight in either Puerto Montt or the preferred nearby town of Puerto Varas and take a charter flight from Puerto Montt to the small town of Chaiten the following morning. Upon arrival in Chaiten, guests will be met by a representative from Rio Palena Lodge and transported to the lodge by vehicle which takes about 2.5 hours. All ground transportations to/from Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Chaiten, and the lodge is included in the package.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times 
After processing through customs and immigration in Santiago, you can easily catch a late-morning or early afternoon flight to Puerto Montt. This two-hour flight is incredibly scenic, traveling along the Chilean Andes. Once you arrive in Puerto Montt, most guests choose to overnight in the nearby town of Puerto Varas at one of several hotels. The transfer is included in the package but the hotel is not. The following morning, you will be transferred to a small airstrip in Puerto Montt to board a charter flight to Santa Barbara. Upon arrival in Santa Barbara, guests will be met by a representative from the lodge and transported to the Rio Palena Lodge. When departing the lodge, guests should book a flight that departs Puerto Montt after 2:00pm. 

Documents Required 
Valid passport. Citizens of the United States, Canada, and the UK do not need a visa for travel less than 90 days. 

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 Palena River runs right in front of the property, and lodge guests have access to numerous full-day floats in different sections that are both upriver and downriver from the lodge. Each section offers unique scenery and river structure which makes for exciting and engaging fishing opportunities. The Palena is great for beginner and experienced anglers alike, with great numbers of medium size rainbows for plenty of action, while also offering chances at big browns on streamers, dries, and nymphs.  

Helicopter Fisheries
The on-site helicopter gives anglers the ability to access a wide variety of remote fisheries. All packages at Rio Palena Lodge include one day of helicopter assisted fishing or non-fishing activities, and additional days can be arranged and are paid for as an “add-on” by the minute. 

The helicopter has the ability to access numerous lakes and rivers anywhere from 10 – 30 minutes each way. At the lakes, the lodge has stashed drift boats for easy and convenient access. The rivers are extremely remote and are typically fished while wading. Size and catch rates vary depending on each fishery, and they have great options that will fit whatever the angler is looking for.

Boats and Equipment 
The lodge utilizes NRS rafts and Hyde Power Drifter jet boats for the majority of the fishing. An on-site helicopter is available for anglers who want to access the area’s most remote fishing opportunities, as well as 4x4 SUVs used for transport to and from the river each day. All packages include fully outfitted gear for fly fishing or other outdoor activities, and one day of helicopter-assisted fishing. 

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. 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.

2024/2025 Rates:

The price varies depending on the room and ranges from $3,373 - $3,728 per night, per room. 

What’s Included:

• Guided fly fishing or outdoor activities each day 
• One day of helicopter use (fishing or non fishing) 
• Gear for fly fishing or other outdoor activities 
• Chef-prepared breakfast, lunch, après, and dinner, including one Asado dinner 
• House alcohol and all non-alcoholic beverages 
• Laundry service 

What’s Not Included:

• International airfare to/from Santiago 
• Domestic airfare to/from Puerto Montt 
• Charter flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten (we can help with this) 
• Hotel and meals in Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas 
• Gratuities for guides and lodge staff  

RIO PALENA LODGE
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.

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.