Fly fishing in Chile, Patagonia with Chile Trout  

Guests should plan to arrive in Balmaceda, Chile, Sunday and depart the following Saturday, early afternoon. Air Canada, American, Delta, and Lan Chile, the Chilean National Airline, offer daily flight service to Chile. Direct flights originate from Toronto, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and Miami. Most flights depart the U.S. in the evening and arrive at Santiago International Airport the following morning. After collecting your luggage and clearing customs, proceed to the domestic terminal.

Since the only direct flight to Balmaceda leaves Santiago at 8:30 Am on Sundays you may opt to arrive in Santiago on Friday or Saturday and enjoy the night life and culture of Chile's capital city. The flight from Santiago to Balmaceda is three hours in length. Once in Balmaceda you will be met by our representative and transferred via a scenic one-hour drive to the The Lodge. You will be returned to the airport the following Saturday for flights at 12:30 and 14:35 to Santiago and points beyond.

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Santiago

We suggest an overnight in Santiago to break up your travel. Time permitting, you may wish to tour the city or surrounding areas. We can help you with those arrangements. Available tours include: Cousiño Macul or Concha y Toro Winery and Maipo River Canyon, Historical Santiago, Panoramic Santiago, or Viña Del Mar and Valparaiso.

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Patagonia

Chilean Patagonia encompases the southern provinces and regions of Aisen and Magallanes, including western Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn. The population density of Patagonia is .97/km2.

The Austral Highway links Patagonia to the rest of the country. It runs about 1,240 kilometers from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins through rural Patagonia. It is mostly unpaved and receives little traffic therefore Patagonia remains relatively pristine and wild.

Chile has the most stable government (Democratic) in South America and Patagonia specifically is very safe. It is common to see Euorpean visiters hiking, biking and hitch-hiking along the Austral Highway.

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Coyhaique

Coyhaique, the capital of Region XI in southern Chile, is a three hour flight from Santiago. With a population of 55,000, Coyhaique offers good restaurants, shopping, and tourist attractions in a wilderness valley setting surrounded by the Andes and braided by the Simpson and Coyhaique Rivers.

The people of Coyhaique live a modest life by North American standards and are friendly and accomodating. They understand the importance of Tourism in the area.

A valid passport is required to enter Chile. Prior to clearing customs, you must purchase a visa, obtainable at the port of entry (Santiago) upon payment of a fee (currently $130). The visa is valid for multiple entries to Chile and remains valid until the expiration of the passport. You will be issued a Tourist Card upon entry that must be surrendered upon departure. Customs officials can hassle or fine you if you don't have the card when exiting the country.