Sea-run trout on the Rio Gallegos, Patagonia:
Bella Vista Lodge
Sea-run browns
Rio Gallegos
8 rods / 5 rooms
Overview
Bella Vista Lodge sits on a working sheep estancia in Santa Cruz, Patagonia, a five-minute walk from the Rio Gallegos and just north of the Strait of Magellan. The Gallegos is the bigger, more varied sister of the Rio Grande — holding pools mixed with riffles and boulder runs — and the estancia holds about 50 km of double-bank private water for eight rods a week. Five ensuite rooms take a maximum of eight guests. A day on the Gallegos Chico is dry-fly water for resident browns.
Guests fly to Buenos Aires, then about 3.5 hours to Rio Gallegos town. A 4×4 covers the last hour to the lodge — Bella Vista, Spanish for “beautiful view.”
Opened in 1995 on a working sheep farm. Lamb and beef from the farm go to the kitchen; the chef cooks Argentine meals with wines at dinner. Guests fish in pairs with an experienced guide.
Call or use the form for information about sea-run trout at Bella Vista Lodge.
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Fly fishing Bella Vista
The Gallegos is a bigger system than its sister river the Rio Grande, and the pools are more varied: slow holding water mixed with fast riffles and boulder-strewn runs. Anglers come for sea-run browns on a river that asks for real fishing.
The estancia owns nearly 50 km of double-bank private access, limited to eight rods a week. Guests fish in pairs with an experienced guide. When sea-runs can wait, a day on the Gallegos Chico is the nearby spring creek — lightly fished resident browns that come to a dry fly.
Bella Vista had a record-breaking year in 2007, with more than half of the sea-runs caught weighing over 10 lbs and one in three fishermen left with a 20-pounder.
The lodge
Opened in 1995 and renovated the following year, Bella Vista is a working sheep estancia a five-minute walk from the river. Five ensuite bedrooms take a maximum of eight guests. There is a living room, a large wading room, and a complimentary bar.
Lamb and beef from the farm go to the kitchen. The chef cooks Argentine meals, with wines at dinner. Guides and house staff run the week on the water and at the table.
5 ensuite rooms
Max 8 guests
8 rods a week
Since 1995
Rates
Call Angler Adventures for information
Use the form on this page or call 860-434-9624 for details on this lodge.
Our services are free. Call 860-434-9624 for information about Bella Vista Lodge.
Getting to Bella Vista Lodge
Fly to Buenos Aires, then a connecting flight of about 3.5 hours to Rio Gallegos. A 4×4 meets guests for the hour’s drive from the airport to the lodge.
Bella Vista Lodge FAQ
Where is Bella Vista Lodge?
Bella Vista Lodge sits on the Rio Gallegos in Santa Cruz, Patagonia, Argentina, north of the Strait of Magellan. Guests fly to Buenos Aires, connect about 3.5 hours to Rio Gallegos town, then ride about an hour by 4×4 to the estancia.
What do you fish at Bella Vista?
Sea-run brown trout on the Rio Gallegos, a bigger and more varied river than the Rio Grande. A day trip to the Gallegos Chico is the nearby spring creek for resident browns on dry flies.
How many anglers does Bella Vista take?
Five ensuite bedrooms for a maximum of eight guests. Fishing is limited to eight rods a week on about 50 km of double-bank private water.
When is the season?
Call Angler Adventures at 860-434-9624 or use the form on this page. We will tell you what we know about dates and availability.
How do I get there?
Fly to Buenos Aires, then a connecting flight of about 3.5 hours to Rio Gallegos. A 4×4 covers the last hour from the airport to the lodge.
What are the rates?
Call Angler Adventures at 860-434-9624 or use the form on this page. Our services are free. We do not publish a live rate table for this lodge.
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Call or use the form for information about sea-run trout at Bella Vista Lodge on the Rio Gallegos.
Bella Vista Lodge
Lamb and Beef raised on the Farm ensure quality ingredients on which the Chef bases an array of delicious, traditional Argentine specialities. Carefully selected wines compliment his mouth-watering menus. With a now legendary standard of service, throughout the house-staff and guide team, Bella Vista has become the benchmark other local lodges must reach.
Bella Vista had a record breaking year in 2007, with more than half of the Sea-runs caught weighing over 10lbs and one in three fishermen left with a 20lber!
A much bigger system than its sister river the Rio Grande, the Gallegos and its pools are far more varied in their character. Slow oily looking holding pools are interspersed with fast riffles and boulder strewn runs.
The Estancia owns nearly 50 kms of double bank private access fishing which is limited to a maximum of eight rods per week. Guided by one of a team of experienced guides, each pair of rods have only the the diverse wildlife of the river valley for company.
The Rio Gallegos has earned a deserved reputation as being a true “Fisherman’s River”. Even the most experienced angler will learn new techniques and skills that will improve his averages elsewhere. A challenging but infinitely rewarding river, the Gallegos’ list of devotees grows year after year.
Should fishermen tire of catching the mighty sea-runs, a day excursion to the beautiful Gallegos Chico is a paradise for trout fisherman. The Chico is one of the world’s best trout rivers and is lightly fished, resulting in free rising beautiful browns.