Located in the heart of Patagonia, there is a lodge and outfitter that lives up to the hype.

Earlier this month, Chelsia and I were lucky enough to be invited down to Vista Patagonia Lodge for a week of fishing by the owner Diego Guerro F. and his wife Macarena Alarcon.

The purpose of this trip was to partner with Vista to begin hosting trips starting as early as 2024. We are excited to help our Fly Box Family make a trip of a lifetime possible.

THE FISHING

Since Chile is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the weather was similar to spring here in the U.S. A perfect storm of rain and glacier runoff created high river conditions. Even with double the flow levels, the water was still gin clear. These weather conditions made for a great opportunity to put our Skwala RS gear through the ringer.

The fishing was totally worth the trip. The quantity and quality of the fish lived up to the hype. Everything we fished was big. Big rods (6-8wts), big tippet (0-2x), and big flies.

THE GUIDES

The guides were local Chileans who spoke great English and were awesome to fish with. Their excitement for fishing was contagious. They were not overly demanding but they cared about you having success. It was easy to tell they love what they do and were a joy to fish with. Additionally, they were all extremely informative about the fisheries and area. Coyhaique has a unique history and it does not get better than hearing it from the locals.

THE LODGE

As soon as we walked in, we felt like we were in an extension of The Fly Box, 6000 miles south. The look and feel is so similar to our shop. All of the rooms were clean and the beds were very comfortable.

The lodge hosts 8 anglers at a time which makes for a very intimate and personal experience. Getting to know the staff and guides was one of the highlights of the trip. It truly felt like the Vista crew was a part of our Fly Box family.

THE FOOD

Everyday our chef, Christian, knocked it out of the park. For breakfast we ate fresh pastries, scrambled eggs, bacon, homemade bread, and french-press coffee. Our river lunch was typically a Gaucho-style sandwich with a side salad. After fishing we always had charcuterie, appetizers, and wine waiting for us back at the lodge. For dinner we had local, regional recipes that were amped up with a Vista touch. At the end of the week, all guests get to enjoy a traditional Chilean lamb Asado.

THE TRAVEL

Let’s be real. The travel is no joke.

You can expect a full 24+ hours of travel and a layover, essentially two full days of travel each way. Lesson learned: Stay an extra night in Santiago. This happened to us due to a missed flight, however it was a blessing in disguise. For our future trips, this will be a part of the standard program. Having extra time allowed us to be ready to rock and roll when we made it to Coyhaique. Fishing for a week straight is no-joke hard “work”. Being rested up is wise so you can make the most of your time. It’s well worth it.

*Some photos shared from the fine folks at Vista Patagonia

VISTA PATAGONIA LODGE 2022 TRIP RECAP