Fly Fishing in Chile – Cinco Rios

Located in the heart of Chilean Patagonia and 10 minutes away from Coyhaique, Cinco Rios Lodge opens its doors to invite you to an enjoyable, unforgettable stay. Our unique location on the banks of the Simpson River and spectacular view of the majestic Patagonian Andes gratifies our visitors with the pleasure of an endearing setting.

It has a very unique combination of spring creeks rivers and lakes that you could explore for months. HUge browns in tiny little creeks, free rising trout on freestone rivers, lakes with large trout cruising the weed line, a wide variety of terrain not found elsewhere in the world. Their sister lodge, Estancia del Zorro is not too far away so you can vist both lodges in one trip – getting in 10 full days of fishing!

Accompanied by the hospitality of its owners, our comfortable rooms, our exquisite cuisine, outstanding wines, the professionalism of our staff, and the various activities offered, Cinco Rios Lodge is the perfect place to enjoy your next vacation!

Come and live the experience of Cinco Rios Chile! Fly Fishing Heaven in Chile.

Lodging

Cinco Rios Chile, located above the historic city of Coyhaique is a full service lodge and can accommdate up to twelve guests each week. A main Quincho or Great Room invites guests to relax with a large fireplace and plenty of seating, a prefect place to swap fish stories, and make plans for the next day’s angling. Also located in the main building is the dining room where both breakfast and dinner will be served.

Our customers have referred to our chef as an artist in the kitchen. With lots of fresh fruits vegetables and meat from the immediate region he creates both artful and delicious meals. Breakfast and lunch are served here while lunch is served stream side. The dining room looks out over the river valley as most of the lodge does. This is also where the guests prepare their individual lunches and meet for social hour after fishing.

The guest rooms are large rooms comfortable rooms with queen or twin beds, sitting area and a private full bathroom. Each room has a beautiful view of the valley below the lodge.

Peaceful and secluded, the Rio Simpson area is a bird watcher’s paradise for Andean condors, Chilean Southern-ringed kingfishers, eagles, ibis, torrent ducks, and parakeets. Tropical wild plants abound: bamboo, fuchsia, lilies, honeysuckle, nasturtium, lupine, and mammoth rhubarb only begin the list. Nature’s wonders abound for fly fishers, photographers, and hikers. You encounter glaciers, tropical flowers pollinated by bees, and temperate rainforests without the dangers of poisonous snakes, spiders, and other creepy crawlies. Explore the city of Coyhaique with it’s woolen goods, other items, and historic places of interest.

Lodge Photos

The Fly Fishing at Cinco Rios

Each of our guides has many years experience fishing and exploring these waters. They are both native Chilean and Americans. We operate drift boats, rafts, 4 wheel drive vehicles and jet boats to take advantage of all the different waters we have nearby. You’ll be walking a 6 foot wide spring creek with some 3-10 pound brown trout population one day and drifting down the Simpson pounding the banks with big ugly dry flies the next.

Streams and fishing in this area are within 45 minutes from Cinco Rios Chile. Many of the streams have seldom, if ever, been fished; some have been discovered only recently. The streams offer diverse fishing; incredible, exciting dry fly action; and, challenging sight fishing in pristine, clean waters. Some brown trout, only accessible by our jet boats because of limited roads, have never seen a dry fly. Large fish abound with many Browns over 18 inches. Most fish are 15-18 inches but we land some 8 -10 pound browns and rainbows every season.

King Salmon and Silver Salmon have started to spawn and reproduce naturally in the rivers of the area and offer some great fishing towards the end of the season.

We drift and wade-fish to Rio La Paloma; the upper, middle, and lower Simpson; the rios Mañihuales and Aysen; lagos and bocas of the Azul, Desierto, Elizalde, Frio, Castor, and Pollux; and excellent small freestone streams such as the Megote, Guillermo, De Leon, and other unnamed streams. Lodge anglers do two jet-boat fishing days on the Paloma and Azul, two raft-float days on the Simpson or Mañihuales, and two walk-in days on the small freestone streams.

The Waters Around Cinco Rios

Simpson River
It is probably the most famous river in the Aysén region; the Simpson River tends to fish like classic Montana freestone and has significant caddis and mayfly opportunities. Browns and rainbows from 14-22 inches are your usual catch. However, trout up to 30 inches have been caught on a fly. King Salmon run this river from early January through mid March. We’ve taken Kings from the Simpson that push 45+ pounds. Our Lodge is located right on the Simpson River banks, then on top of enjoying the most gorgeous views of the Simpson River with the Andes peaks as a background, you will be able to finish a great drifting and arriving right in front of the lodge, where the Pisco sour will be waiting for you.

Paloma River
The Paloma River is a river that begins at the Desierto lake and runs northwest until it meets the Desague River about 15 miles away. A glacial freestone flows iridescent blue water and provides fantastic dry fly and streamer action. Predominantly a brown trout fishery, the introduction of rainbows in the late nineties has proven to be a success. Fish from 14-23 inches are taken from the crystal, clear Paloma. We generally drift at the Paloma River.

Azul River
Located between Lago Azul and Lago Desierto, the Rio Azul is accessible by boat as it gets you into a remote area. Flowing beneath the shadows of Cerro Castillo, it is probably one of the world’s most beautiful fishing locations. Browns from 17-21 inches are quite common with even larger fish that are taken. Jet boats take you to and from the Rio Azul, however, we prefer to wade once we arrive.

Desagüe River
The Rio Desague drains Lago Elizalde and runs for about five miles until it enters Lago Caro. Within this short stretch of river are browns and rainbows 17-23 inches with many larger trophies lurking in its depths. Jet boats will run into this remote river for some spectacular scenery and dry fly fishing.

Emperador Guillermo River
It is one of the jewels of the area. There are many pools and riffles loaded with hungry trout, averaging 12 to 16 inches, sometimes over a 100 fish a day.
Other Rivers
Mañihueles, Ñirehuao, Mogote, Río Blanco, Río Aysén, Río Coyhaique, Lago Elizalde, Lago Azul among many others.

Fishing Photo Gallery

Tackle & Gear

Here is a list of the basics you will need for your trip.  Many of our destinations are pretty remote with no chance to buy things on site.

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Fly List

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Bring some of your favorite big and ugly dry flies or streamers with you, they will work!

Packing List

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The week is scheduled from Saturday to Saturday. Sunday being the first day of fishing, we start the morning with breakfast, which varies from day to day. Later, one of our guides will take you in a truck to the scheduled fishing beat. Every day you will enjoy exquisite lunches served on a beautifully arranged table, with good wines, soup, a main course and dessert which can be served on the bank of the river.

Late afternoon we return to the Lodge so you can rest and recover for the next day. An exquisite dinner is held in the evening, with wine and an open bar included, the perfect way to end your day.

The Fly Fishing Seasons in the Coyhaique Area

The fishing season officially opens in mid October and runs until the first Sunday in May. The best dry-fly fishing generally occurs from January to the end of March, although Nov. and Dec. are great spring months and very large trout on the move, generally taken on steamers, can make an angler’s dream come true. March brings cooler mornings and evenings and the rivers reach their lowest volume, but the cooler days bring the truly big fish out of the lakes and into the rivers for spawning. The pre-spawn streamer fishing can be incredible from mid March to mid April. Those that want lots of big fish will endure fishing the shorter days in April, to have an experience of a life time going after very large trout with large dries.

Photo Gallery

Please take a look at the  photo and video galleries related to the lodgee.

Fishing Photo Gallery

Lodge Photo Gallery

Scenic Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

 

 

 

 

Non-Fishing Activities near Coyhaique and Cinco Rios

Queulat National Park Tour
Located about 220 km north of Coyhaique, we find the Queulat National Park, discovered in 1767 by a Jesuit monk Jose Garcia Alsue, who sought the mythical lost city of the Caesars.

General Carrera Lake Marble Caves Tour
They are found on the General Carrera Lake, located in the town of Puerto Tranquilo, 223 kilometers (139 miles) South of Coyhaique. General Carrera Lake is shared by Chile and Argentina, but in Argentina the name is Buenos Aires Lake.

Day out in the country, Estancia del Zor
Located 45 kilometers from Coyhaique and in the Coyhaique Alto sector, the Estancia del Zorro allows visitors to enjoy a day out in the country where you can engage in different activities from our region.

Hiking
Cinco Rios Chile, may provide the visitor different trekking routes for the day, in which you can enjoy beautiful views of the region. Each of the routes to travel is unique and special.

Bike Tours
For those who love bikes, we can offer equipment renting as well as show you the best routes in our city or region in order to perform this sport.

Bird Watching
Cinco Rios Chile invites you on a journey to see a variety of birds in the wild. The beautiful flight of the Condor gliding through the Patagonian heavens captivates every visitor.

City Tour and Shopping
Coyhaique, with more than 50,000 habitants charms its visitors. Founded in 1929, makes it one of the youngest cities in our country. It is nestled in the mountains of the Patagonian Andes, near Cinco Ríos Lodge.

Horse Back Riding
Horses are a way of life here in Chile. Ride with some real gauchos and help with a round up!

Getting to Paloma River Lodge

Air Travel: Guests fly to Santiago, Chile and typically overnight there to relax and spend a day touring the city and its nightlife. The Lodge can then be accessed from Santiago via commercial airline to the local airport of Coyhaique or Balmaceda. From Coyhaique or Balmaceda you will be transferred to the lodge, by a lodge representative, via a 20-40 minute drive.

Passport and travel Documents: You will need a valid passport to travel to Chile. No visa is required for U.K or U.S.A citizens, other nationalities should check with their local consulate.