Included / Not Included: –
Included: Accommodations and meals at the lodge, dinner wines, all fishing services including guiding and fishing license where applicable, round-trip transfers from Rio Gallegos airport to lodge (if noted on your invoice) and alcohol.
Not Included: Airfare, accommodations, meals, and transfers in Buenos Aires, personal equipment, staff and guide gratuities, laundry services.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Bella Vista Lodge, you will need to make travel arrangements to and from Rio Gallegos, Argentina via Buenos Aires. You will need to overnight in Buenos Aires before departing on a morning flight to Rio Gallegos.
Getting to the Lodge: A lodge representative will meet you at the Rio Gallegos airport and transport you to the lodge in a four wheel drive vehicle. Transfer from the airport to the lodge takes approximately 1 ½ hours.
Departure Information: On your departure day you will be taken to the airport after breakfast.
Travel Recommendations in Argentina
Documentation Requirements:
You need a valid passport to enter Argentina and it must be valid for six months after the last day of your trip.
Currency:
The dollar is widely accepted in Argentina, and you can change dollars for pesos at your hotel in Buenos Aires or at any bank. When paid in dollars, most merchants will give change in pesos, a good way to get small bills for cabs, tips to porters, etc (although dollars may be used as well.) It is difficult to exchange traveler’s checks of any kind outside of Buenos Aires. American Express, Visa, and MasterCard are widely accepted and will be accepted at the lodge where they also accept payment in cash and personal check.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travels with approximately $1,000 - $1,200 for staff & guide gratuities, alcohol, etc.
Gratuities:
We recommend a gratuity per person, per week of $400 to $600. The tip should be given to the lodge manager at the end of the week and will be divided amongst all of the staff.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are included and the lodge will issue your license when you arrive.
Climate:
The summer climate of this southernmost region of South America is extremely changeable, and a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions should be expected. The sun can be very strong during the day, but the wind chill factor makes the use of protective gear necessary all season long.
Medical Facilities:
Anglers should pack medications for such common complaints as diarrhea, upset stomach, motion sickness, headache and irregularity, along with prescriptions. Most visitors to Argentina don’t experience stomach problems associated with other countries, but it pays to have treatment available just in case.
Power and Communications:
The lodge has reliable electric power and back-up battery lighting (220 volts, 50 cycles, generator powered). A standard converter and European adapter for two pronged plug should work fine throughout Argentina. Satellite telephone and internet access are available.
Water:
Bottled water is available everywhere in Argentina as well as at the lodge.
Clothing:
It is recommended that anglers layer their clothing, enabling the adding and subtracting of garments throughout the day. Pack windstopper fleece jackets, thermal underwear, wool socks and a wool cap to be prepared for the extreme wind and weather that the area is rightfully famous for. Layering with wool or synthetics is always recommended and avoid cotton. A reliable windstopper fleece and a high quality rain jacket are mandatory
Laundry:
Laundry is available upon request to guests during their stay. Please be prepared to pay for this service onsite.
Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge has a fully-stocked complimentary bar.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rod: For a single-handed rod – 9 to 10 ft. for an 8 and 9 weight. Light two handed rods are increasingly popular and allow anglers to cast a comfortable line with less effort, particularly on windy days. We encourage you to bring one of 14 to 15 ft. for a 9 wt. line. For the Gallegos Chico you will need a single-handed 9ft four to six weight rod. It makes sense to bring a back-up rod as well.
Reel: A strong, smooth drag is a must. Reels should have capacity for the fly line and 200 yards of 20 lb backing. For the Gallegos Chico a direct drive trout reel is adequate for your needs.
Lines: Anglers should include at least 3 lines to accommodate variance in water levels and wind conditions. Weight forward fly lines are generally used on the Rio Gallegos. A sinking shooting taper is very important. The Teeny T-200 and T-300 lines are excellent, and at least one or both of these lines should be considered as must bring items. Sinking tips and sinking poly-leaders are also used a lot. Intermediate lines are also effective in some conditions. Floating lines are typically most useful in low water conditions and during early morning and evening hours, when sea trout are inclined to be nearer the surface. For the Gallegos Chico you will need a weight forward floating line to match your rod weight which is generally a 4-6 weight rod.
Leaders/Tippet: Spools of mono should include 15, 12 and 10 lbs breaking strengths. We recommend straight Maxima for sinking line leaders and for floating, have a knotless tapered leader from 9 to 12 ft with OX tippets. For the Gallegos Chico you will need leaders tapered to 7 or 8 lb breaking strength.
Flies:
Collie Dog tube flies (3 ½ - 4 ½ long, both aluminum and copper bodies, with hard plastic tubing and #4 wide-gape hooks)
Bunny leech, Zonker, Woolly Bugger (black/olive), articulated string leech types, with electric blue flash, on #2-4 hooks
Peacock (now a staple on Rio Grande, tied on #2-4 hooks)
Girdle or Yuk Bug rubber legs (#4-12)
Bitch Creek nymphs (orange and black for preference, #4-12)
Bead head nymphs (Prince, Hare’s Ear, etc. #10-14)
Traditional Atlantic Salmon flies
Bombers or other waking dry flies (natural deer hair, black & green on #4-8 hooks), for use drifted or with a Portland hitch.
Include 1 ½ 2 inch tube flies if you have them, as tubes can be very effective on the Rio Gallegos
Also, take any large, dark trout or salmon fly in which you have confidence. Fishing a fly that has worked for you in the past, and in which you have confidence, is half the battle.
For the Gallegos Chico : All you need to remember for the Gallegos Chico is to bring your terrestrial fly box with plenty of beetle and hopper patterns, you can also bring some smaller up-winged duns and spent fly patterns in sizes 12-18 for the still mornings and evenings.
Note: Larger streamers should be weighted and all should be tied on heavy hooks with good gapes. Treble & double hooks are not allowed on the Rio Grande.
Other Equipment:
Breathable chest waders and a good pair of wading boots with felt soles or rubber cleats.
Capilene fleece pants are a must, worn under Gore-tex waders, given that water temperatures can be in the 40’s. Long johns and thick wool or capilene fleece socks are also a must.
Gravel guards and a wading belt
Gortex windproof rain jacket with hood.
