Included / Not Included: –
Included: Accommodations and meals at the lodges, alcohol, guided fishing days, ground transfers from Alto Palena airport to lodge.
Not Included: Airfare to Alto Palena, accommodations, meals, and transfers in Santiago and Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas, staff and guide gratuities, flies, fishing licenses, phone calls, and laundry.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Chucao Lodge you need to make flight arrangements to Puerto Montt (El Tepual Airport), Chile. The lodge itinerary is Saturday to Saturday. All guests need to arrive in Puerto Montt on Friday and overnight. (Hotel not included in package, please see hotel recommendations below.)
Getting to the Lodge: Saturday morning you will take a flight from La Paloma airport in Puerto Montt to Alto Palena. (Flight reservations will be made for you and included on your invoice.) The flight takes approximately one hour and twenty minutes. In Alto Palena, you will be picked up by a lodge representative and driven approximately one hour and twenty minutes to the Chucao lodge set on the Rio Yelcho.
Departure Information: On your departure day (Saturday) you will take a late morning flight back to Puerto Montt. Due to possible weather delays with this flight, we recommend spending Saturday night in Puerto Montt. (Hotel not included in package, please see hotel recommendations below.) If you do choose to continue your trip on Saturday, please book your flight out of Puerto Montt after 3:00PM .
Approximate Flying Times to Santiago: Los Angeles: 11 hours • Dallas: 9.5 hours • Miami: 6.5 hours • New York: 10 hours.
For assistance in making your travel plans (flights, hotels, airport transfers), please contact:
Alicia Regueiro
Holdy Tours
800.446.1111
2065 North Broadway #204
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
alicia@holdytours.com
Santiago Hotel Recommendations:
Grand Hyatt Santiago - Acknowledged as a superb hotel in Santiago, Grand Hyatt Santiago is located in an exclusive residential neighborhood, 20 minutes away from Santiago city centre and within easy access of Santiago's international and domestic airports. (Tel: +56.2.950.1234; Fax: +56.2.950.3155; Email: santi-info@hyattintl.com)
The Four Points by Sheraton - Located in the exclusive financial and commercial area of Providencia in Santiago. The exceptional location is near art galleries, boutiques, banks, clinics, bars, and restaurants, close to the subway, and 15 minutes from Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport. (Tel: +56.2.750.0300; Santa Magdalena No. 111)
The Orly Hotel - Located at the heart of Providencia, close to restaurants, stores, banks, and the subway station and the Metropolitan Park. The rooms are comfortable and quite charming and very reasonable. (Tel: +56.2. 231.8947; Fax: +56.2.334.4403; Email: info@orlyhotel.com; Website: www.orlyhotel.com)
Puerto Montt / Puerto Varas Hotel Options:
The Bellavista Hotel - Located at the shores of Llanquihue Lake; 100 meters away from the main square and the casino of Puerto Varas. This property is 20 kilometers from Puerto Montt and 30 kilometers from Ei Tepual Airport. The Bellavista offers modern in-room amenities. Guests can enjoy privileged view of Llanquihue Lake from some of the rooms. The onsite restaurant serves an assorted national and international dishes .This property offers a business center with internet access.
Cabanas del Lago Hotel - Located on a hill overlooking Lake Llanquihue and the town of Puerto Montt, offers sweeping view of the Volcanoes, Osorno and Cabulco. The city centre is 8 kilometers from the hotel while the airport is 10 kilometers away. Featuring 63 traditional guest rooms, equipped with all basic amenities, the hotel also provides a restaurant that serves international cuisine.
The Puelche Hotel - Located in the historical city of Puerto Varas, main city of the Llanquihue Lake, sheltered by the attentive gaze of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. Located in where guests have access to the quiet streets full of colorful rosebushes and gardens with a variety of azaleas and rhododendrons. Near stores, historical and tourist places with everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Located only 30 kilometers away from the El Tepual Airport in Puerto Montt.
Amenities include: 21 spacious rooms, equipped with TV, mini-refrigerator and high speed internet access, SPA with sauna and massages, Separate Dining room, and Bar Restaurant.
The Holiday Inn Express - Beautiful ocean views as well as a modern design with high quality standards. The Holiday Inn is located in downtown Puerto Montt, over the Shopping Mall “Paseo Costanera” (shops, restaurants, cinemas, supermarket...) and only minutes from the main port. The Hotel offers Wi-Fi access (fees apply), free buffet breakfast, business center and parking.
Documentation Requirements:
You need a valid passport to enter Chile and it must be valid for six months after the last day of your trip. *Please note: Chile charges a one-time fee to US citizens of US $140 upon entering the country. This fee is paid (cash or credit card) just before passing through customs in Santiago and is good for the life of your passport. This is a reciprocal fee equal to what Chilean citizens must pay to apply for a US visa.
Travel Insurance and Medical Evacuation Coverage:
Travel insurance is an excellent way to protect your investment in your trip. In addition, membership in an annual medical evacuation plan is recommended for anyone who travels internationally (or to remote domestic locations) on a regular basis. We recommend Global Rescue for medical evacuation coverage and Travelex Insurance for travel insurance. For more information on travel insurance and medical evacuation coverage, please see Travel Insurance and Medical Evacuation Coverage Explained.
Travel Regulations:
Before your departure we encourage you to review the current government and regulations for Air Travel. Current government rules can be found on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website.
Baggage:
We encourage you to visit the web site of your air carrier(s) to confirm their current rules for carry-on and checked baggage. The rules and regulations change frequently so please check these sites prior to your departure date.
On the charter flight from Puerto Montt to Alto Palena the baggage allowance (including carry on) is 35-40 lbs. per person. Excess weight is charged per kilo and is paid directly to the airline in cash. Please pack light and keep in mind that laundry service is available at the lodge.
Travel and Health Considerations:
You may want to check the U.S. State Department travel website. This site gives country specific information, travel alerts, etc. There are no mandatory inoculations required for travel to Chile; however, we encourage you to check out current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for Chile. Bugs, generally, are not a problem at the lodge; however, horseflies and the occasional mosquito can be bothersome. Pack a bottle of repellent with DEET as the active ingredient.
Currency:
We have found from our experience that you do not need to exchange dollars for pesos for your travels in Chile. US dollars are welcomed at the lodge for paying gratuities, and additional services at the lodge (laundry, souvenirs, etc).
Travel Cash:
The lodge only accepts cash and personal checks. We recommend each guest travels with approximately $750.00 - $1000.00 (per week of travel) for gratuities, alcohol, and miscellaneous gifts. Most of the restaurants and shops in the larger cities take credit cards.
Gratuities:
We recommend guide and staff gratuities of approximately 10% of your package price. Please tip your guides directly at the end of your stay. Staff tips are pooled and divided up between the kitchen and housekeeping staff. Please leave your staff tip with your host at the end of your stay.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are NOT included in your fishing package. Please be prepared to pay for these onsite with US Dollars. See your itinerary for details.
Climate:
The summer (November-April) weather in Chilean Patagonia can most aptly be described as variable. Conditions can range from hot and sunny (80°F+) to cool and rainy (40ºF). Anglers should be prepared for either type of condition.
Alto Palena Weather:
Medical Facilities:
The closest medical facility is in Puerto Montt, approximately a two to three hour flight from the lodge. In emergency situations, a charter flight may be required to reach a medical facility and guests may want to consider medical evacuation coverage. We recommend Global Rescue coverage. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time.
Power and Communications:
The lodge has 220 volts and takes the rounded two prong adaptors. The lodge recommends you bring an adaptor rather than a converter; however, the lodge does provide adaptors for use during your stay upon request. MOST phones, computers, and cameras, electric razors have 110 -220 capacity so they do not need a converter, just an adaptor plug. Hairdryers are supplied in every room.
The lodge does have a phone onsite that can be used with a calling card and cards can be purchased at the lodge. If AT&T is your cell phone provider, there is usually AT&T cell phone service at the lodge. The lodges do NOT offer Wi-Fi . The nearest computer access is at the Cyber Café in La Junta which is approximately 15 minutes from Rosselot Lodge.
Water:
Bottled water is available at the lodge and everywhere in Chile. The lodges have very sophisticated water purifying systems that purify water using OZONE. We advise guests NOT TO DRINK from the faucets, and only from pitchers available in the dining area and in your room.
Clothing:
Dress at the lodge is neat but casual. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton.
Laundry:
Laundry is available upon request to guests during their stay. Please be prepared to pay for this service onsite.
Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge offers an open bar with an excellent selection of Chilean wine and local beer and a full array of spirits; however, if you are interested in a 30 year single malt scotch, you will want to purchase at the airport.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: Multi-piece #7 and # 5 or #6 weight 9 foot rods will cover most of the fishing situations you’ll encounter in Chile. We strongly recommend a multi-piece travel rod (3, 4 or 5 piece). If you had to bring just one rod, bring a six weight. However, two rods are recommended. It is useful to rig one with a floating line and other with a sink-tip/sinking line.
Reels: Good quality, lightweight fly reels, with simple disk drags or pawl drags, are the best choice. Reels should be filled with fresh 20 pound backing (about 75-125 yards)
Lines: #5 or #6 – floating line only; #7 or #8 – floating line and plus Teeny 200 or equivalent; a 200 Teeny-type line is essential
Leaders/Tippet: 9ft. 5X leaders with tippet spools of 5X & 6X (Scientific Anglers or Rio)
7-½ ft. 0X and 1X leaders with fresh tippet spools of 0X, 1X, 2X (Maxima or equivalent)
Flies are NOT included in your package so please bring down a nice selection.
DRY FLIES
• Dragonfly*: blue / olive; size 4 & 6 (mid January through first week of March)
• Bomber: black / gray / orange; size 2 & 4 (2 each)
• Chernobyl ant: size 6 & * (2 each)
• Fat Albert: size 8 and 10 tan and black (4 each)
• Parachute Adams: size 12 & 18 (3 each)
• Royal Wulff: size 12 & 14 (3 each)
• Elk hair caddis: tan / gray; size 12 & 14 (3 each)
• Stimulator: size 8 & 10; (3 each)
• Midge (Griffith Gnat): 18 & 22 (2 each)
• Midge pupa: white and black; size 20 & 22 (2 each)
NYMPHS
• Hare’s ear: size 10 & 14 (2 each)
• Pheasant tail: size 10 & 14 (2 each)
• Gold bead nymph: size 10 & 14 (2 each)
• Stonefly nymph: black, size 2 & 6 (2 each)
STREAMERS (WEIGHTED)
• Wooly Bugger: black / olive, tied with lots of crystal flash or flashabou; size 2 & 4 (6-12 each)
• Bunny Leech: black / olive; size 2 & 4 (4 each)
• Muddler: size 2 & 4 (4 each)
