William C. (Frederick, OK)
It has been a few months since my first visit to Patagonia River Ranch, but my memories of the entire experience remain very vivid...
It has been a few months since my first visit to Patagonia River Ranch, but my memories of the entire experience remain very vivid...
Merely to say that I was very impressed by the entire operation would be a vast understatement. I would rather characterize my experience in this way. During the past 25 years I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel to at least most if not all of the finer hunting and fishing lodges throughout the world. I would rate the Patagonia River Ranch operation as the finest operation I have had the pleasure to experience. The beauty of the ranch, the quality of the accommodations, and the level of service by the “all Argentine” staff was very special. Master Chef Claudio and the sommelier, Patricia, were truly outstanding in all that they created. The fishing? – It’s hard for me to imagine that there can be any better fishing anywhere in the world. I plan to return again this next season. I’ll be in touch soon. Please give my best regards to your crew in the Southern hemisphere.
Stan & Judy T. (Nashville, TN)
In early May of 2009 I made my 70th trip to Argentina since 1988. As you are aware, Judy and I have been to Patagonia River Ranch for 7 or 8 weeks over the past 4 years and on all occasions have found every aspect of the Ranch to be as fine as anything we have found anywhere in the world...
In early May of 2009 I made my 70th trip to Argentina since 1988. As you are aware, Judy and I have been to Patagonia River Ranch for 7 or 8 weeks over the past 4 years and on all occasions have found every aspect of the Ranch to be as fine as anything we have found anywhere in the world...
I have hunted and fished out of some of the finest lodges in Alaska, Chile, New Zealand and Russia over the past 15 to 20 years. Patagonia River Ranch rates at the top of the list. The accommodations, quality of the staff, food, fishing and atmosphere are as good as it gets. The attention to details is one of the strongest points of the Ranch. Of course, Salome has a way of making everyone feel very welcome and making sure that everything is coordinated and delivered to the client’s desire. The fishing has been some of the finest I have experienced in the world with both regards to quality of fish as well as quantity. As you are aware, I don’t think that you can beat scenery and quality of life in the Patagonia region of Argentina. The people are always very accommodating and pro American. Judy and I look forward returning to the Ranch in early March of 2010 with a group of couples. The women not only enjoy the fishing but the quality of the food, the atmosphere of the Ranch and the ability to shop and sightsee in the San Martin area when they are not fishing. You have done a fantastic job in putting this operation together and hiring the top quality staff that you have there. Thanks for the opportunity to enjoy such a wonderful environment.
Arnie G. (Cascade, MT)
I have been blessed to fly-fish in many wonderful spots all over the world. This past month I found my angling heaven...in Argentina in the St Martin de los Andes area with an operation called Patagonia River Ranch...
I have been blessed to fly-fish in many wonderful spots all over the world. This past month I found my angling heaven...in Argentina in the St Martin de los Andes area with an operation called Patagonia River Ranch...
The combination of beautiful accommodations, fine food, a superb group of guides and great access to waters in Patagonia that are otherwise unavailable to anglers makes it a one-of-a-kind experience. The single most important factor in the success and enjoyment of a fishing trip is having fishing options that can match the conditions and desires of anglers and be able to reach those fishing options. I’ve been on trips to Mexico, Belize and New Zealand that had few or no alternative options or they couldn’t be accessed reasonably or at all. Patagonia River Ranch has the best availability of any operation that I have ever seen. Patagonia River Ranch sits in the middle of the best section of Patagonia’s premier Chimehuin which gave us access to the two best floats on this world-class water. Several in our group just waded above and below from the lodge with their guides and had outstanding days. I chose to do a two-day float and camp trip on the Collon Cura. The Collon Cura with all the great trout rivers that I have fished, I would put in the top 5 in the world. The mattress, dining tent and food was four star camping! Patagonia River Ranch has a terrific lineup of waters and can get to them through their contacts that the average person would never see! Is this trip for fly fishers only, heck no!! The three ladies that joined us this past month, horseback rode, visited Lanin National Park, shopped in St Martin (great resort town in the mold of Jackson, WY or Sun Valley, ID or Banff, AB) going on a short float or just goofing off around the lodge. The host at the lodge is a wonderful lady that is full of ideas and enthusiasm to do things with her guests. It was the best fishing trip that I have ever done and I can’t wait to go back!
Glenn F. (Norman, OK)
I thought I would drop you a note to thank your entire team for your great hospitality during my recent trip to your fly-fishing paradise...
I thought I would drop you a note to thank your entire team for your great hospitality during my recent trip to your fly-fishing paradise...
What can I say about the Patagonia River Ranch…the beauty is absolutely unparalleled, the ambiance is authentic and superlative and the trout fishing is truly “world class”. The strength, size and sheer number of these Patagonian fish is legendary. The Ranch’s expert native fishing guides seem to have a real sense and feel for the waters which really adds to the package. Since the guest opportunity is apparently available to only a few clients each year, we feel fortunate to have been able to make the trip. The mix of unparalleled fishing and natural beauty provided complete satisfaction for my entire group, making my trip there one of the most memorable of my life. If having the best fishing of your life during the day and enjoying gourmet cuisine in the evening, while lounging and relaxing in a spectacular one-of-a-kind setting sounds like a ‘little piece of heaven,’ — let me tell you, it really is. I hope we can return.
Patricia M. (Menlo Park, CA)
As you know, I originally planned this trip as fishing excursion for my husband and sons...
As you know, I originally planned this trip as fishing excursion for my husband and sons...
Never in my wildest dreams did I think our stay would turn out to be a life altering experience. We have traveled all over the world, often staying at some of the world’s finest accommodations, but nothing in terms of hospitality compares to the River Ranch. Your staff, Hugo, Antonio, Santiago, Griselda, Marianne, Eduardo — really everyone — opened their hearts to us, pampering us at every moment like we were beloved relatives returning after a long journey. My boys adored the guides. Rusty, in particular, feels as if he’s found a mentor in Hugo and I know he plans to stay in touch with him. Having come from the States where so many of our natural wonders are under constant threat of being encroached by development, Argentina offered us a rare glimpse of something genuinely rugged and pristine. All of us were enthralled with the scenery and felt privileged to fish and walk among something that can only be described as monumental. The fishing has spoiled my kids forever. Both Rusty and Colin have commented that fishing in California just isn’t the same. All three of my men continue to speak of fishing on the Chimehuin and Caleufu as if it were a “religious” experience. I know that having Hugo and all the other guides by their sides allowed them to grow in stature as fisherman; but, more importantly, it allowed them to see, experience and feel the private Argentina, that part of Argentina that only a, proud, native son ever experiences. The boys and Patrick left Argentina with cherished memories of the fish they caught and the “ones that got away” and every one of their memories was warmed by the presence of the generous, loving, beautiful people, who were willing to share their exquisite country with them. It was the trip of a lifetime and we can’t wait to come back. Please convey our love and gratitude to everyone.
Robert U. (Raleigh, NC)
I have fished all over the world and this is the best experience that I have ever had...
I have fished all over the world and this is the best experience that I have ever had...
Fishing was great!! The best part of the experience was the people at the Ranch. The guides were great and the head guide, Hugo, is the best. However, don’t tell too many people about it because it will mess it up for those of us who ventured out and found a great place. We all had a great time and want to go back next year.
Joyce W. (Southbury, CT)
Patagonia River Ranch makes Shangri-La seem like a slum...
Patagonia River Ranch makes Shangri-La seem like a slum...
Alex and Leticia’s services, the wonderful ranch staff– especially the incomparable Salome!–and the Ranch itself was heaven on earth, and my fellow guests couldn’t have been nicer. I’m not a very good fly fisherman, but Eduardo greeted my missed strikes with a smile and my casts with cries of “Perfect, Joyce!” and by the end of the week, my flies reached the banks of the river more often than not. Over 100 fish caught, and at least 7 near or over 20 inches. I could go on and on about the food, the dramatic scenery, the crystal clear rivers, but perhaps my desire to repeat the experience next year sums it all up. My calendar is open, so I hope you will be able to shoehorn me in along with another equally compatible group. Thank you, Ken, from the bottom of my heart for providing me with this memorable experience, and thank you, Melanie, for helping it run so smoothly.I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed our visit to San Martin and specifically the River Ranch. Your staff was wonderful and I want to thank each of them. Hugo and Salome were very special to me. Only two in our party were true fishermen, however the others enjoyed the estancia and going on the river. We had a good friend of my wife’s with us who had never been trout fishing – nor is she an outdoors person – whom I forced to ride on the boat with me. When we stopped for lunch and I got her to shore, Paula said it was the most beautiful trip she had ever taken and was grateful I insisted on her going. My wife who is equally non-outdoors could not tell enough people how much she enjoyed the estancia, the food and how beautiful everyone was. It was a special trip for me. I do not believe there is a better trout fishing stream. It certainly would be in the top ten in the world. On the worst day, I caught 25 trout, 15″ or greater. We quit counting at 45 fish on two different days, most of which were over 20″. A high percentage were about 23″ – 25″. Due to my inexperience in trout fishing, I lost one that was at least 30″. It literally struck a fingerling that I had caught and snapped my 3-X liter. We are planning our next trip and are really looking forward to coming.
Bob C. (Afton, OK)
The experience of spending a week at Patagonia River Ranch is so complete with excellence that it is hard to point to a particular experience as being more incredible than another during my stay...
The experience of spending a week at Patagonia River Ranch is so complete with excellence that it is hard to point to a particular experience as being more incredible than another during my stay...
It starts with the entrance to the ranch and being met by a beautiful herd of horses running free in the field to meeting the greatest staff one will ever have the privilege of being with throughout the stay. The lodge is beautifully designed to accommodate fishermen. The meals are superb both at the lodge and on the river where wine is served daily. The fishing is so unique that I only saw five other rafts during six days of floating. Brown and Rainbow trout in the 20″ range were plentiful each day. The guides attend to your every need. A finer total experience of trout fishing cannot be found. Thanks for the experience.
John S. (Jacksonville, FL)
I can't tell you how much we enjoyed our visit to San Martin and specifically the River Ranch...
I can't tell you how much we enjoyed our visit to San Martin and specifically the River Ranch...
Your staff was wonderful and I want to thank each of them. Hugo and Salome were very special to me. Only two in our party were true fishermen, however the others enjoyed the estancia and going on the river. We had a good friend of my wife’s with us who had never been trout fishing – nor is she an outdoors person – whom I forced to ride on the boat with me. When we stopped for lunch and I got her to shore, Paula said it was the most beautiful trip she had ever taken and was grateful I insisted on her going. My wife who is equally non-outdoors could not tell enough people how much she enjoyed the estancia, the food and how beautiful everyone was. It was a special trip for me. I do not believe there is a better trout fishing stream. It certainly would be in the top ten in the world. On the worst day, I caught 25 trout, 15″ or greater. We quit counting at 45 fish on two different days, most of which were over 20″. A high percentage were about 23″ – 25″. Due to my inexperience in trout fishing, I lost one that was at least 30″. It literally struck a fingerling that I had caught and snapped my 3-X liter. We are planning our next trip and are really looking forward to coming.
Sonya P. & Douglas R. (Houston, TX)
Everything was classy and the people/service were better than we've enjoyed anywhere in the world...
Everything was classy and the people/service were better than we've enjoyed anywhere in the world...
Leticia has been extremely helpful and has taken a lot of stress out of the travel. We look forward to returning soon. After the ranch, Bariloche was beautiful, but boring. Let’s stay in touch.
Stephen G. (Jackson Hole, WY)
What a wonderful experience we had at Patagonia River Ranch...
What a wonderful experience we had at Patagonia River Ranch...
I caught among other fish, a 27 1/2 Brown Trout on the first day – putting me into the famous Blue Label Club at the lodge. The ranch itself is very beautiful and scenic with lovely gardens overlooking the river – a magical spot. The ranch has the best staff I have ever seen at any lodge. They understand what a wonderful place has been created; they love their jobs, appreciate the beauty of the surroundings and couldn’t do enough to make each guest happy. Having traveled throughout the western US and being a student of Western history, I appreciated that being in Patagonia at the Patagonia River Ranch was like going back to the old west 100 years ago, when there were very few people in a wild and sparsely settled country. In seven days of fishing we saw almost no one else on the rivers, which were pristine and filled with native fish that had never seen a fisherman. At night the sky was ablaze with stars, including the Southern Cross, and in the evenings, the huge, wild, red deer were calling to each other at sunset. Lastly, I need to add that the most exciting water I have ever fished anywhere, was the Devils Throat section of the Chimehuin River, where the guides had to carry the boats down a steep embankment into the pristine boulder strewn river canyon, the beauty of which is almost indescribable, with huge lurking brown trout. In three days on this river we saw no other fishermen and few signs of any human impact on the land. An amazing experience in the 21st Century to find such a place.
James V. (Ada, MI)
We 6 Michiganders had a fabulous time at Patagonia River Ranch!
We 6 Michiganders had a fabulous time at Patagonia River Ranch!
Your staff there is wonderful, helpful folks, and Salome kept everything running smoothly. She is a great asset to your program. Also, enclosed is a picture of Hugo with the beautiful Brown I caught on Caleufu. He wanted me to hold the fish while he took the picture, but I was shaking so hard I was afraid of dropping the fish before we had proof! I have fished and hunted in various parts of the world, but never had a more wonderful week than we had at Patagonia River Ranch. Terrific in every way! Thanks again for a wonderful fishing experience.
Eric H. (Potomac Falls, VA)
My sincere thanks to the Patagonia River Ranch for sharing an incredible life experience with me...
My sincere thanks to the Patagonia River Ranch for sharing an incredible life experience with me...
Argentina was spectacular, the scenery breathtaking, the service of your attendants in Buenos Aires was awesome, the ranch was truly epic and authentic, and the fishing was challenging, but the fish were willing. Those fish, pound for pounds, fought better than speed fish of the salt water world. I can’t remotely convey the level of care and friendship I experienced from your staff, from the hostess to the guides. I have never been to a destination with more attentive and dedicated personnel. After fishing all over the world, the Patagonia River Ranch ranks as my favorite destination.
Bill & Adrian N. (Sun Valley, ID)
Our Patagonia River Ranch week of fishing was unlike any travel event we have ever experienced anywhere from the very moment of arriving at the front gate...
Our Patagonia River Ranch week of fishing was unlike any travel event we have ever experienced anywhere from the very moment of arriving at the front gate...
welcomed by the entire staff and the three adorable dogs to the tears in our eyes as we waved good bye a week later with who knows how many dozens of glorious trout caught and released into the magnificently beautiful and productive Chimehuin River on which we spent many unforgettable hours on our own requested schedule, lovely sandy beach luncheons along the way, to return to scrumptious fine wining and dining at the end of the day finally to retire to the most inviting quiet and decor of our wonderful rooms. From charming hostess to dining staff, chef to housekeepers and groundskeepers, and wranglers and of course the most incredibly able and willing fishing guides/oarsmen we were extravagantly served and charmed by their loving attention to hospitality. Oh my goodness need we say more…..what fishing, what elegance, what freedom and what hospitality…please refer any guest inquiries to us for kind words from totally awed guests…