Included / Not Included –
Included: Lodging and meals; ground transportation from Rio Grande airport to lodge (round-trip); cocktails, beer and wine with dinner, all fishing services including guiding, transportation; Buenos Aires transfers and hotel accommodations if elected as part of the package price. Please see invoice for your specific package.
Not Included: Airfare to Buenos Aires and Rio Grande, meals in Buenos Aires, personal equipment, staff and guide gratuities, and fishing licenses. Buenos Aires hotels and Buenos Aires transfers unless elected as part of the package price. Please see invoice for your specific package
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Villa Maria, you will need to make travel arrangements to and from Rio Grande or Ushuaia, Argentina, via Buenos Aires. In most cases you will need to overnight in Buenos Aires before departing on a flight to Rio Grande (or Ushuaia).
Getting to the Lodge: If you arrive into the Rio Grande airport (recommended) you will be met by a lodge representative and driven to the lodge, roughly one hour and a half
Departure Information: Villa Maria will arrange the auto transfers to Rio Grande or Ushuaia to start your trip home or continue your travels in South America.
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 - $1,200 for staff & guide gratuities, expenses in Buenos Aires, etc.
Gratuities:
We recommend a gratuity per person, per week of roughly $400-$600. The gratuities can be given directly to the lodge manager who will we split up between the house and guide staff with the guide staff receiving roughly 70%.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. The lodge will issue your license when you arrive. Please be prepared to pay $200 for your license onsite.
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. Ice in the guides is not uncommon during the late season.
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. A lodge computer with internet connection is available to guides at no charge. Clients are also welcome to use the phone and international calls are billed at $3US per minute.
Water:
Tap water is O.K. for brushing teeth but we recommend not drinking it. Bottled water is available everywhere in Argentina and at the lodge.
Clothing:
It is recommended that anglers layer their clothing, enabling the adding and subtracting of garments throughout the day. Pack polar fleece jackets, thermal underwear, polar neck, wool socks and a wool cap to be prepared for the extreme. Flannel or chamois cloth shirts and polars are ideal for the stream. A reliable windstopper/rain jacket is also recommended. Attire at the lodge is casual and laundry service is available.
Laundry:
A bag for dirty cloths is provided at Villa Maria. The rate is $3 per item. Please double check this policy with the manager as policies can shift over time!
Beverages/Alcohol:
The lodge provides cocktails, beer and wine. Guests may bring in their own.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rod: For a single-handed rod – 9, 9 ½ or 10 ft. for an 8 weight is ideal. 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 13 to 15 ft. for a 9-11 wt. line.
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 variance in water levels and wind conditions. Weight forward fly lines are generally used n the Rio Grande. 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.
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.
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.
A quality headlamp is essential.
