Estancia San Jose Lodge

Welcome to Estancia San Jose Lodge, a private home on the Rio Grande that breaks the mold for how anglers access Argentina’s sea-trout fishing in Tierra del Fuego.
Located upstream of Kau Tapen Lodge, the ranch opened its private residence in 2022 to only 4 anglers per week, granting exclusive access to 12 private river miles that were historically inaccessible. Being on the middle-upper Rio Grande, sea-run brown trout are present in good numbers from February through mid-April. This scenic stretch is shallower and narrower than the lower river, allowing single-handed anglers to effectively fish most pools.

Estancia San Jose provides an intimate, fishing-focused lodge experience with single rooms for all 4 anglers and a high level of attention, hospitality, and cuisine.

Estancia San Jose is a 24,000-acre sheep ranch on the Rio Grande, situated above Aurelia Lodge and Kau Tapen Lodge, and below Camron Lodge on the Chilean side. For years the main private residence was used only a few weeks each season by an American owner, his fishing friends, family, and distinguished guests. He installed wind turbines in 1999, which still power each building on the estancia today. In 2024, the estate was acquired by an Argentine angler and long-time friend of Fly Fishing Patagonia, who has since made several improvements.

The house can accommodate up to 10 people in 4 large double rooms, each with expansive windows and a private bathroom. However, the lodge limits the number of anglers to 4, allowing each angler a private room. Surrounded by southern beech trees, the lodge atmosphere is welcoming and quiet. At any time of day, guests can gaze out the windows and see guanacos grazing in the front yard.

In the massive sheep shed, a carefully designed dining area is dedicated to San Jose’s highly anticipated weekly asados. Anglers should expect an experience more like being a guest in a high-end private vacation home with a dedicated chef than a conventional, regulated fishing lodge.

Estancia San Jose Lodge owns 12 miles of both banks along Argentina’s Rio Grande. Because much of the river flows in Chile, this stretch is best considered part of the middle–upper river. Most lodges on the Rio Grande sit on the middle and lower sections, where the river is wider and deeper. San Jose’s water is narrower and shallower, making for easier casting and, at times, higher concentrations of fish in the deeper pools. Despite the shallower water, anglers still need a good cast and a soft fly presentation. The soft, sandy riverbed provides easy wading, and anglers rarely need to wade past their knees to reach either bank. Most of the water can be fished with a single-handed rod; however, a double-handed rod is usually the best tool for efficiently covering the pools.

Highly skilled sea-run brown trout anglers are likely to hook multiple fish each day. Catch rates at San Jose Lodge are similar to the lower river: roughly three fish per angler per day, averaging 9–10 pounds. The lodge has two professional Argentine guides for the four angling guests. Drive time to the river in the lodge’s 4x4s is about 15 minutes. With 12 exclusive miles on the Rio Grande for just four rods, anglers can be confident they’re fishing well-rested water.

Learn More about the Rio Grande and it’s Sea Run Brown Trout fishing…

ESTANCIA SAN JOSE LODGE
(7 nights/6 days)

Sunday:  Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to Rio Grande (RGA) or Ushuaia (USH.) Guides will pick you up and transfer you 1.5-4 hrs to San Jose Lodge. Cocktails and dinner.

Mon-Sat:    Six days sea trout fishing the upper-middle Rio Grande

Sunday:  Check out, the lodge transfer back to the region airport for your flight to Buenos Aires.

Rate: $7500/rod
Included: Lodging in single, meals, open bar, Wi-Fi, guided fishing, transportation to/from the Rio Grande Airport.
Not included: Flights, license (~$380/rod), fishing gear, transfers to/from Ushuaia (~$250/passenger/leg, paid onsite) and services in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia and Rio Grande.

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) on Friday and transfer 45 minutes to their hotel.
• On Sunday, anglers will transfer to the Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport (AEP) and fly 3 hours south to Rio Grande (RGA) or Ushuaia (USH) depending on flight schedules.
• Anglers staying at Estancia San Jose Lodge are picked up at either the Rio Grande or Ushuaia Airport and driven 1.5-4 hours to the lodge.
• On Sunday, San Jose Lodge will transfer you back to the regional airport for your flight to Buenos Aires and home.