Included / Not Included –
Included: Accommodations and meals at lodge, round-trip ground transportation from Ushuaia airport to lodge, cocktails, beer and wine with dinner, all fishing services including guiding, transportation, and local licenses and permits where applicable.
Not Included: Airfare to Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, accommodations and meals and transfers in Buenos Aires, personal equipment, terminal tackle, staff and guide gratuities.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Far End Rivers you will need to make travel arrangements to Ushuaia, Argentina. Most guests will fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina where they will overnight and then fly on to Ushuaia the next morning.
Getting to the Lodge: In Ushuaia you will be met by a member of the Far End Rivers team who will drive you approximately three hours to Maria Luisa Estancia, your lodging for the week.
Departure Information: Your final morning after breakfast and packing, you will be driven to the Ushuaia airport and assisted with check-in for your flight to Buenos Aires.
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 $800 – $1,000 for staff & guide gratuities, alcohol, licenses, etc.
Gratuities:
We recommend a gratuity per person, per week of about $400.00. This can be given directly to the lodge manager and will be split up between the house and guide staff with the guide staff receiving about 70%.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. Please be prepared to pay for these en route to the lodge with cash. See itinerary for details.
Climate:
The sea-trout season in the Irigoyen and Malengüena rivers runs from mid November to mid April. January and February are the warmest months and the windiest as well. Expect around (68ºF-72ºF) during the day and (46ºF-50ºF) during night-early morning. December, March and April are cooler months, not so windy. Expect (54ºF-57ºF) during the day and (37ºF41ºF) during night-early morning. The sun is strong during the day, but the wind chill factor makes the use of protective gear necessary all season long. Moving to the pools and between pools in ARGO 6x6 ATV´S makes necessary the use of rain gear.
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 220 volts generator power. A standard converter and European adapter for two pronged plug will work fine. Rooms and restrooms are equipped with emergency lights. Phone and internet service are also available.
Water:
Tap water is OK for brushing teeth but not recommended for drinking. Bottled water is available everywhere in Argentina and at the lodge.
Clothing:
The summer climate of this southernmost area of South America is extremely changeable; a wide range of temperatures and conditions should be expected within hours. We recommend layering clothes, enabling you to add or subtract garments during the day. Use thermal underwear such as Wool-4 or Capilene-3/4 from Patagonia® as a base layer. Polar fleece Windstopper® or Regulator-4 as a mid-layer, and a Gore-Tex® jacket as an outer shell, will keep you dry, comfortable and warm during the day. Windstopper® gloves, neck and cap, as well as wool or technical thermal socks are very important. Attire at the lodge is casual. Neat but casual is also the dress style in Buenos Aires.
Laundry:
Laundry service is not available. Please pack accordingly.
Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge provides alcohol, including fine Argentine wines and spirits. Guests may bring in their own.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rod: For a single-handed rod – 9, 9 ½ or 10 ft. for 7 and 8 weights are ideal. Light two handed rods are not necessary but will be useful in certain situations. 11 – 13 ft for 7 and 8 weights are ideal.
Reel: A strong, smooth drag is a must. Reels should have capacity for the fly line and 100 yards of 20 lb backing
Lines: Anglers should include at least 3 lines to accommodate different fishing conditions. Weight forward floating lines are typically the most common but anglers should be prepared with a multi-tip line with floating, intermediate, Type III, Type VI and Type VIII heads. A sinking shooting taper is also very important. The Teeny T-150 and T-300 lines are excellent, and at least one or both of these lines should be considered as must bring items.
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.
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 Grande. Also note that large tubes and leaches in the 3-5 inch range are very effective for night fishing.
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.
