Estancia Rio Pelke

Estancia Río Pelke is a family-run destination offering remote Patagonia brook and brown trout fishing in southern Patagonia. With just 6 rods per week, anglers enjoy exclusive access to a network of intimate spring creeks and small rivers—each private, lightly pressured, and home to trout averaging 17–20 inches with some reaching 4–7 pounds.
Guests stay in a newly constructed lodge and enjoy an optional overnight at the lodge’s wilderness eco-camp. The experience is hosted by three accomplished Argentine guides who combine world-class spring creek fishing with warm hospitality, authentic home-cooked meals, and a rare glimpse into rural Patagonian life.

Whether you stay for a full or half week, Estancia Río Pelke is ideal as an add-on to a visit to other nearby lodges or national parks.  You can even travel light, as the latest high quality Sage rods and Rio lines are available free of charge.

Estancia Río Pelke offers an experience unlike that of most trout lodges or ranches in Chile or Argentina. This remote and modest family-run homestead has deep roots in Patagonia’s ranching traditions. Built in the 1930s, Estancia Río Pelke provides an authentic, down-to-earth atmosphere where guests are welcomed like family. The old sheep-shearing shed was recently converted into a new, intimate lodge for only six anglers. All guests get a single room and the stay feels personal and relaxed—more like visiting a friend’s ranch than checking into a lodge. Estancia Río Pelke is powered by solar electricity and guests will appreciate 24-hour high-speed internet.

The culinary experience is equally genuine. Meals are delicious, featuring recipes passed down for generations, with ingredients mostly sourced from the ranch. Paired with hand-selected Salentein wines, each meal reflects a true campo way of life.

A highlight for many is the optional overnight at Estancia Pali Aike Eco-Camp. Nestled in a remote valley, guests sleep in geodesic domes with private bathrooms, heating, hot showers, and electricity. From camp, sweeping views stretch to the jagged peaks of Torres del Paine, and wildlife sightings are a daily occurrence.

Between the Estancia Río Pelke and their remote wilderness camp, guests fish a variety of small rivers and spring creeks holding wild and super strong Patagonia Brook and Brown Trout.  Brown Trout on these waters readily fall to large terrestrial dry flies such as beetles or mice patterns twitched on the surface. The really big Browns tend to be caught on small streamers fished in the deeper pools. The fishing pressure is so minimal that most of their Brook Trout are actually caught with dry flies -even skated dry flies! But should that prove unproductive, a slowly stripped small dark streamer usually does the trick. These intimate spring creeks sometime require the angler to match the hatch when terrestrials and terrestrials fall short.

All rivers can be fished with 4-5 weight rods but a 6 wt rod comes in handy when the winds pick up.  A floating line, 9–10 ft. 3X leader, and one medium sink-tip poly leader are all you’ll need to cover the range of water.
Despite the delicate nature of these rivers, Estancia Rio Pelke is an excellent destination for novice anglers.  The walking and wading is easy, fish can be spotted and the friendly guides at Rio Pelke are some of the most talented, and patient instructors in Argentina.

Ask us about combining Rio Pelke with one of seven nearby premier lodges, a visit to a UNESCO site, or a few days fishing and sightseeing in Chile.

ESTANCIA RÍO PELKE
(7 nights; 6 days fishing)

Sat:    Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to El Calafate (FTE.) At 4:30pm, the staff will meet and transfer anglers 1.5 hrs to Rio Pelke. Catch a trout in home pool before dinner.

Sun-Tue:   Three days fishing Estancia Rio Pelke

Wed:   Drive 2 hours to Estancia Pali Aike Eco Camp, fish the remainder of the day.

Thu:   Full day fishing before returning to Estancia Rio Pelke.

Fri:   Full day fishing at Estancia Rio Pelke

Sat:   Check out. At 9:30am, the lodge will transfer anglers back to the airport for their flight home.

Rio Pelke offers half weeks in Nov and Dec only, running Wednesday morning to Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon to Wednesday morning. Rate: $3,200/angler

Full Week Rate: $6300/angler/week
Half Week Rate: $3400/angler (Nov-Dec only)
Included: Single rooms, meals, beer & wine, guided fishing, quality loaner rods/reels, and scheduled transfer to/from El Calafate/Rio Gallegos.
Not included: Flights, license, flies, spirits, waders, and off schedule transfers to and from the lodge, services in Buenos Aires.

With over 26 years organizing trips in exclusively Chile and Argentina, we make travel planning efficient and worry free. We’ll give you the domestic flights you need for your lodge dates and our travel team ensures your international flights connect smoothly. If preferred, we’ll even have our team in Buenos Aires meet you when you land.

• After an easy overnight flight, anglers land at the Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), transfer 45 minutes to the Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport (AEP) and fly 2.5 hours south to El Calafate (FTE) or Rio Gallegos (RGL.) Four hours minimum is required between your international and domestic flights in Buenos Aires.
• Anglers are picked up at 4:30pm at the either airport and driven 1.5 hours to Estancia Rio Pelke.
• Checkout at 9:30am and transfer back to either airport for a flight back to Buenos Aires or to continue to your next lodge.