El Saltamontes Lodge - Chile Fly Fishing Lodge

A new chapter in the storied El Saltamontes legacy

After 34 years of operating one of the all-time classic fly fishing lodges in Chile, Patagonian, Jose Gorroño and family are turning over the reins to Dane and Chiara Emerson, owners of Espiritu Santo Bay (ESB) Lodge, the single most sought after flats fishing lodge in the world. The connection between the two families started in 2019 when Dane and Chiara hosted a week at El Saltamontes with friends, and has now blossomed into a family partnership.

“Ever since I was a kid growing up in Michigan, devouring everything I could on fly fishing (including my annual catalog from The Fly Shop®, I’ve dreamed of fishing the storied waters of El Saltamontes. When the opportunity arose to host a week, Chiara and I jumped on it and we fell in love with the Gorroño family, their ranch, and the Ñireguao Valley. Since then, we have been working with Jose and his family to set a foundation of excellence that will bring their legacy to a new level, and we couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to now take the reins – a dream come true for a trout fanatic like me. We will incorporate many ingredients from our ESB “recipe”, blending them into the new El Saltamontes program while at the same time honoring the heritage and traditions the Gorroño family have built over the last 30+ years. With the Gorroño family’s blessing and full support, we will redefine Patagonia fly fishing and usher in a new era worthy of past and future accolades.” – Dane Emerson

“After 34 years of hosting fly fishers from around the world, new winds are blowing across El Saltamontes. With Dane and Chiara at the helm, a recharged dose of enthusiasm will be pumped into the fishing program – and the hospitality presentation – by two of the most qualified and professional hosts I have ever met. I am profoundly grateful for their dedicated spirit to bring El Saltamontes to the forefront of Patagonia trout fishing. Muchos Saludos, Jose Gorroño.” – Owner Emeritus, El Saltamontes Lodge

Welcome to the NEW El Saltamontes

Headed out on your next adventure with us? The Fly ShopⓇ has you covered. As a thank you to our travel guests, enjoy 15% off all retail purchases for a year! — the perfect chance to gear up before your trip.

Whether it’s flies, leaders, apparel or a new rod and reel outfit, we’ve got everything you need to make your journey more comfortable, more successful, and more fun. (some exclusions apply)

Seasons

Spring in Chile begins in December. Trees have dropped their blossoms and warm summer weather lands in Patagonia even before all the Christmas presents have been opened.

Opening day in Chile is in November, traditionally a time when North American fishermen are preoccupied with family and holidays. Schools in South America release their students just before Christmas and the rivers of Patagonia don’t see much pressure until after the first of the year. The landscape is ablaze with a mind-baffling wildflower display, known locally as "Chocho" (Chilean word for “Lupine Season”). European Lupine carpet the landscape in an explosion of violets, reds, purples and yellows. Fish are on the surface, targeting caddis and mayfly emergences, as well as sometimes blizzard hatches of small creamy moths.

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Primary Season

Getting There

Travel from home to Santiago, Chile: Travelers usually arrive in Santiago, Chile, in the morning. There, you typically will fly to Balmaceda, then transfer to the little town of Coyhaique and a hotel of your choice, (this is not included in the package) and enjoy the town for the rest of the day and prepare for an afternoon driving transfer to the lodge the following afternoon. Or if you arrive Balmaceda on your day of arrival to the lodge, you will be met and transferred to the lodge.

Lodging

El Saltamontes Lodge is situated within the Gorroño family ranch, “Estancia Adelaida”. The river Ñireguao meanders through this 5,000-acre property, nestled in an Andean valley, surrounded by dramatic mountains.

The infrastructure of El Saltamontes consists of four independent buildings, all constructed of local river-worn stone and rough hewn logs. It is the creative mixture of rustic building materials and fine furnishings that lends El Saltamontes Lodge its unique charm. Electricity is produced 24 hours a day on the ranch by an eco-friendly and sustainable, private hydro-electric turbine. 220-volt outlets are available throughout the lodge and cabins but adapter plugs must be used for North American 120-volt appliances and chargers. The water supply is sourced and filtered from a pure mountain spring, gravity-supplied to the lodge.

Fishing

"I've never seen a river so full of big browns that were so totally hooked or spoiled on hoppers as this place." - Dave Whitlock

John Randolph, editor and publisher of Fly Fisherman magazine, states that the ranch's home river, the Rio Ñireguao, is, "arguably the best wild, resident brown trout river in South America and perhaps the world."

As an avid trout fisherman (and after several trips down to El Saltamontes in recent years), former Colorado outfitter, Dane Emerson, is reinvigorating and expanding the fishing program to take full advantage of the private water beats on the ranch, as well as a vast number of regional fisheries within close proximity of the lodge. Some, though certainly not all of these will include:

Rates

Saturday - Saturday:
• 7 nights / 6 days (Saturday - Saturday) $7,000 per person, double occupancy
• 7 nights / 6 days (Saturday - Saturday) $10,230 per person, private room & private guide
• Two single & private rooms available on a first come, first serve basis at the double occupancy rate

Inclusions:

Your angling package at El Saltamontes includes: Meet and greet at the Balmaceda Airport, round trip auto transfers to the lodge, all meals, accommodations (double or single occupancy), (wine, beer, & pisco sours), fishing permits/license, and daily guided fishing (two anglers per guide).

Non-Inclusions:

Not included in your El Saltamontes package are: Airline accommodations to Santiago and Balmaceda, hard alcohol, gratuities, items of personal nature, tackle, and equipment.

Travel Insurance:

The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses.
• Travel Insurance Information

El Saltamontes Lodge 2.0

A new chapter in the storied El Saltamontes legacy

Welcome to the NEW El Saltamontes

Seasons Details

Seasons

Getting There Details

Getting There

Lodging Details

Lodging

Angling Details

Fishing

Inclusions Details

Rates

Why We Endorse El Saltamontes 2.0

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