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The Posada de los Farios opened for its first guests in January 1994. Los Farios itself is on a small (4,000 acre) working cattle ranch located in the heart of the Cisnes valley, far from any sort of organised civilization. The roads are not paved in this part of Patagonia and the only phone is close to an hour’s drive away in the village of La Tapera towards the Argentine border.

Fishing

The style of fishing from Los Farios varies enormously and includes wading, float-trips, and fishing some of the famed stillwater lagunas. Guides will tailor your fishing days to conditions as well as where you would like to fish.

The Cisnes is the closest river being literally outside the door and because there are numerous other tributaries and lagunas, you could not fish all waters over the course of a season.

Fishing conditions at La Posada range from the very easy to the demanding, and fishermen of all skill levels and ages can expect to do well in normal conditions. A mixture of dry and wet fly fishing is the norm during the course of any stay.

Here are three sample fishing days from Posada de los Farios:

Float-trip: The Upper Cisnes
Starts roughly one hour upstream to the east of the lodge. This is a ten mile float and can make for a very long day. However, it can be broken up into two parts if fishermen are willing to do a one-mile hike out from the river to the road at the half way point. (It is a moderately difficult walk along a dirt road with a short but steep uphill accent of about 300 yards). This float section is the highlight for many both in fishing terms and scenically. It flows through semi-arid mountainous terrain and can offer excellent dry fly action with the right conditions.

There is one Class III rapid to be navigated about three-quarters of the way through the float. They typically fish large attractor dries, however, streamer fishing can be very productive as well, especially with wet, high-water conditions. Wooly Buggers with white rubber legs typically work the best. Fish on this section average between 15 to 18 inches and rods often have casts at fish of 20 inches or more. They sometimes make stops to fish one of the several spring-fed lagunas or small, spring creeks that are accessible along the river where larger trout can be found and often sight-fished to. From the end of the float, it is about a 40-minute drive back to the lodge.

Wading: The Main Upper Cisnes:
About 50 minutes from the lodge, this is relatively easy wading with small gravel. Dry fly action can be excellent during the hopper season from (mid-January through to mid-March) and then afterwards as the mayfly action gets going, from mid-March on. There are three main beats to fish, all of which provide access to some of the spring-fed lagunas or small spring creeks that can provide good dry fly action for larger fish. Sight-fishing is often possible in these lagunas. A fair amount of walking (one to two miles) over easy terrain is required to best take advantage of the fishing options in the area.

Laguna: Lago Las Torres
Located about 20 minutes from the lodge, this laguna is surrounded by jagged mountain peaks that literally rise up to over one  mile above the lake’s edge. It is hard to imagine a more scenic setting. The lake is surrounded by a lush and ancient, old-growth, temperate rainforest and completely protected within the 40,000-acre Lago Las Torres National Reserve. There is a very healthy population of brown trout that average 18 to 22 inches and are spectacularly coloured, due to the rich, organic quality of the water. Dry fly action can be superb on warm days as the browns aggressively hunt adult dragonflies cruising just above the water’s surface. It is common to see large fish launch completely out of the water to capture dragonflies several feet above the water. They will often exhibit the same aggressiveness towards a large attractor dry fly when effectively presented. The explosiveness of the takes can be unforgettable. There is a tremendous amount of structure along the edges of the lake with numerous large logs, weed beds and reed areas. There are several shallow open areas between the reeds and the shoreline where large browns can sometimes be stalked and sight-fished.

Food and Lodging

The lodge caters for a maximum of six guests and the three guest rooms in the lodge are simple, spacious, and tastefully decorated, each with its own private bathroom. The timber-framed lodge and the atmosphere that Rex and his wife Maike have created is a relaxed informality that everyone loves.

The living room is surrounded by a bank of windows and is the gathering place for drinks before dinner. Breakfast and dinner is served in the dining room, just off the living room. Heat is provided by two wood stoves and electricity provided by a generator. There is no phone service at Los Farios, however they do have radio contact to Coyhaique in case of emergency.

The lodge food is excellent and importantly the dining schedule is built around the day’s fishing not the schedule of the guides or staff. Meals are always accompanied by fresh baked bread, salads, and fresh vegetables from the garden, and complemented by the finest Chilean wines. Lunches are served on the river and are prepared by your guide.

Why we rate it

An excellent choice for fishers and non-fishers as the lodge is set up to cater fully for non-fishers.

Price

Land packages are from $2,530 for a 4-night stay.