Get readyMartínfor Pescador Lodge.
SUMMER PLANNING GUIDE | 2024-2025
Let’s Get Planning.
Your Eleven Experience Team is here to help you design the perfect adventure. This guide outlines what to expect during your stay and how to prepare for your upcoming trip. We look forward to meeting you at Martín Pescador Lodge, but until then, let’s start making some plans.
Getting Here
FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS
From the moment your booking is confirmed, your Eleven Team is available to help with travel arrangements. We strongly suggest planning your air travel as soon as possible to secure best fares and ensure availability. Your Experience Team will reach out shortly after you book to kick off this process.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
U.S. and British citizens entering Chile must have a valid passport. There is no reciprocity fee. U.S. and British citizens traveling to Chile for recreation, tourism, business, or academic conferences do not need to obtain a visa prior to their arrival in Chile. Citizens from other countries, please inquire. Upon arrival in Chile, customs will give you a small piece of paper that says PDI. Make sure to save that document for the duration of your stay, as you will be asked to hand it back to customs upon departure. We recommend that all travelers make copies of their passports and keep them separately.
By Plane:
1. International Flight to Chile | Your home → Santiago
• If you’re flying in from another country, you’ll first book a flight to Santiago, Chile (SCL)
• Recommendations
° Fly LATAM, based in Santiago, which offers nonstop routes from many U.S. and European hubs. American, Delta, and United also offer a variety of flights to Santiago from major U.S. cities including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and Houston.
° Depart two days before check-in to allow for overnight flights and a stopover in Puerto Varas (see below.)
° If traveling in a group, all group members should coordinate similar arrival times in Santiago.
° Please share a draft itinerary with your Experience Team for review before booking.
Domestic Flights Within Chile | Santiago → Puerto Montt 2.
• From the Santiago airport, you’ll book your own flight to Puerto Montt, a smaller airport further south.
• Recommendations
° Fly LATAM Airlines or Sky Airlines.
° Leave four hours between flights.
° Please share a draft itinerary with your Experience Team for review before booking.
Charter flight to the lodge | Puerto Montt → Martín Pescador Lodge 3.
• Each piece of your itinerary after landing in Puerto Montt will be coordinated by your Experience Team. Below is the typical route we arrange.
° After landing in Puerto Montt, we recommend staying in Puerto Varas, a scenic town 30 minutes from the airport. We will arrange for your ground transfer from the Puerto Montt airport to the hotel as well as confirming your hotel accommodations. Hotels in Puerto Montt are not included and come at an addditonal cost.
° The next morning, we’ll coordinate your ground transfer from your hotel to La Paloma Airfield, where your charter flight will depart. You’ll land at Chaitén Airport, where your lodge team will meet you to take you to the lodge.
• Important notes
° Luggage restrictions require that your bag weigh 15 kilograms (~33 pounds) or less. Any overages will be charged to your final bill.
° Any extra taxi rides and hotels in Puerto Montt are not included.
Angling
Learn what to expect on your Patagonian angling adventure.
FAQs
What water will we fish during our stay?
The experience at Martín Pescador includes stays at two separately located lodges, Rio Yelcho Lodge to the north and Rio Rosselot further south. This gives anglers access to two distinct areas and a huge variety of fisheries.
Rio Yelcho Lodge is set right along the Rio Yelcho and offers access to Rio Yelcho, Lago Yelcho, the lower Rio Futaleufú, and Rio Palena. Highlights include Lago Yelcho, where the famous dry dragonfly fishing is outstanding, as well as the lower Futaleufú River, which holds big browns and rainbows. Overall, our guides target suspended trout, cruising fish in the lakes, and miles of prime dry fly and streamer water.
The second lodge, Rio Rosselot Lodge, is set along the Rio Rosselot and offers anglers an entirely new area to fish. The numerous rivers and lakes here are all very lightly pressured with great scenery and easy access. You will explore Rio Rosselot and Lago Rosselot, Rio Figueroa, Rio Pico, and other wilderness rivers an hour away. Many days will give you constant dry fly action.
What are the most common flies?
Small dry flies, often size 8-18, are productive near the lodge. These waters teem with river-born insects like mayflies, caddis flies, and stoneflies, offering excellent dry fly fishing. Streamer fishing is good throughout the season. Lake fishing involves dry dragonfly patterns, dragonfly nymphs, dry-dropper and streamer fishing, along with the ‘eeling’ technique. Eels are actually a semi-transparent minnow, one to three inch long, and they school up and attract trout, leading to thrilling blitzes.
What is your guide team like?
Eleven’s group of highly trained, passionate guides makes your Patagonia experience. We ensure that our guides deliver the highest level of safety, experience, and industry knowledge. Beyond their qualifications, their enthusiasm in getting to know your angling style and sharing the native resources makes your trip not only dialed but also personal. If fly fishing some of the most stunning and productive trout water on the planet sounds exciting, our experienced guides are your guys.
What gear does the lodge provide?
We provide all equipment, including industry-leading rods and reels, waders and boots, nets, and flies.
Our fleet of gear includes Thomas & Thomas fly rods, Abel Vaya fly reels, Fishpond and Rising nets, Simms waders and boots, and Montana Fly Company flies as well as our guides’ custom-tied flies.
If you’d like to bring your own gear, check out our packing list for recommendations.
Food & Drink
Enjoy an all-inclusive experience that focuses on locally sourced ingredients and traditional Patagonia cuisine.
FOOD INCLUSIONS
Breakfast, lunch, après, and dinner are included and served daily, and we are happy to cater to dietary preferences and restrictions as noted in your guest information form.
Each chef-prepared meal focuses on seasonal ingredients that are thoughtfully prepared and locally sourced. Dishes are served family-style, and deliver an authentic culinary experience true to Chile and Patagonia’s traditions. Guests will also experience two customary Chilean-style asado BBQs, which are special evenings at each lodge that many guests remember as the trip highlight.
DRINK INCLUSIONS
Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included in your stay at Martín Pescador Lodge. Guests are treated with local cocktails served by the manager, and there is a self-serve bar with a fine selection of liquor, beer, and wine. If you have a special beverage preference, please discuss it with your Experience Team in the pre-trip planning process.
Preparing for Your Trip
Check out the essential information you need to know before you go.
Packing List
DON’T FORGET TO PACK:
Passport
Wallet with Chilean Pesos, cash, and cards
Prescriptions and medication
Cell phone and charger
International adapter
Camera and charger
Batteries for devices
Personal toiletries
CLOTHES YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU PACKED:
Long-sleeve fishing shirts
Warm capilene layers
Fleece tops
Windbreaker
Rain and quick dry pants
Comfy clothes for the lodge
Casual dinner wear
Warm layers for chilly summer nights
Puffy jacket
Bathing suit
Wool socks
Socks (lightweight and thicker wool)
Comfy shoes for the lodge (sandals, clogs, slip-ons)
Light hiking boots (Gore-tex recommended)
Sun gloves and fleece gloves
Waterproof fishing jacket
Sun protection (sunscreen, lip balm, sun mask, and gloves)
Polarized sunglasses (two pair) and Croakies
*Guide tip: We recommend wearing light, natural colored clothing (and avoiding dark blue/navy) to avoid bug attraction.
Angling Gear List
All gear is provided, but here is a list of suggestions if you’d like to bring your own.
Rods
We recommend two medium-fast to fastaction rods that deliver accuracy in the Patagonia wind.
9’ 6-weight
9’ 7- or 8-weight
Reels
Large arbor reels are best for quick retrieve and less line memory. We recommend 75 to 100 yards of 20-lb backing.
Lines
#7 floating line for 6-weight rod
#8 floating line for 7-weight rod
20–24’ integrated sinking line for your 7wt 200-250 grain
Leaders
9ft. tapered leader 0X–4X
7 1⁄2 ft. 0X and 1X leaders with tippet
Tippet spools of 0X, 1X, 2X, 3X
10-lb Clear Maxima for streamers
Equipment List
Spools
Extra fly line
Leader and tippet material
Waterproof tackle bag
Dry/Waterproof bags
Floatant, pliers, forceps, nippers, hook sharpener, fly line dressing, and cleaning pad
Wearables
Waders
Wading staff
Wading boots (rubber sole recommended)
Good to Know
COMMUNICATION SERVICES:
• If you have cell service in the U.S. with Verizon or AT&T you can sign up for a plan specifically for Chile for about $40 USD per month. This should cover your trip for cell and internet/email service wherever there is coverage. Santiago and most cities and towns have good coverage. At Rio Rosselot lodge, there is cell service and internet available, but weather conditions can interfere with both at times. Rio Yelcho Lodge does not have cell service but does have WiFi when the internet is working. The lodge has a telephone for use in emergencies.
LOCAL TIME ZONE:
• Time in Santiago, Chile is (GMT3). U.S. Eastern Time is +1 hour. Chile does change to and from daylight savings time with the U.S.
LOCAL LANGUAGE:
• Spanish is the official language of Chile. English is widely spoken in tourist areas and in most hotels in Santiago. All Eleven hosts and guides speak English.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE:
• The Chilean peso (CLP) is the official currency of Chile. The exchange rate does fluctuate and is currently inflated, so please check the exchange rate before you depart for your trip. Don’t change USD or euro before arriving in Chile. You can exchange at the airport, at most hotels, at banks (ATMs are available in Santiago and other cities), and exchange houses. Exchange houses (Casa de Cambio) usually give the best rates.
GRATUITIES:
• While gratuities are not expected at our properties, guests wishing to leave a tip for the lodge team may consider $100.00 - $150.00 USD per guide day and $50.00-$75.00 USD per night for the lodge staff. This amount will be distributed among all in-house lodge staff who have contributed to your stay. Gratuity can be left in cash or in the local currency on your final bill.
General Tipping Standards:
• Taxis in Santiago: No tip or small change. Airport transfer drivers in Santiago and Puerto Montt: $10–20 USD per way. Porters: $1 USD per bag. Restaurants: 10% of bill.
ELECTRICAL CURRENT:
• Throughout Chile, the power sockets are type C and L. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. U.S. guests will require a voltage converter for 110 volt devices. Electrical sockets have two or three holes and accept round (European) plugs. You will need an adaptor for your U.S. plugs. We have adaptors at the lodge, but not converters. Please bring them for devices not already equipped. Most laptop computers and cell phones have chargers with converters, requiring only an adaptor.
CASH AND CREDIT CARDS:
• You will need Chilean pesos (cash) to pay for taxis and incidentals around Santiago and other cities and towns since foreign currency is not widely accepted. It’s always good to have $50 to $100 USD in Chilean pesos. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants. Depending on your credit card, this is the way to get the best exchange rate. It is best to use MasterCard or Visa. AMEX is less commonly accepted.
SPECIAL REQUESTS:
• Please take care in filling out the pre-trip questionnaire, which you have received separately via email and other correspondence. It is crucial that our team is aware of any food allergies, physical limitations, and medical needs. Please also share any special requests like favorite food, wine, or alcohol; any celebrations taking place while you’re with us; any requests related to the type of fishing you prefer; or anything else that could make your trip more enjoyable. We do everything possible to meet all special requests.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
• We highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. The Sales Team can help you arrange trip cancellation insurance prior to your trip. Please let us know if you would like us to connect you with our preferred insurance partner, Global Rescue, to provide you with a quote.
