 Our 8 favorite places to
explore in Argentina and Chile.
A Message from Dave Parker, Managing Director, Orvis
Travel
There's never been a better time to explore Argentina and Chile.
The scenery is as stunning as ever, from the dramatic, snow capped
peaks of the southern Andes to the pastoral landscapes of the wine
districts, and Buenos Aires remains the vibrant, visitor-friendly
city it's been for a century. More recently, infrastructure
improvements have made it easier to get around and enjoy the
far-flung attractions, but without overwhelming them in most cases.
There are new lodges in Patagonia for fly fishing and hiking, small
ships to explore the remote coasts, and country inns in the wine
district. For the most part the development has been
environmentally sensitive and sophisticated. The inflation and
turmoil of the past is long gone, and you'll find good values.
Quality and service are on par with Europe and the United
States.
 Orvis Travel has been outfitting trips to
the area for many years and we have a solid network of friendly
landowners and outfitters who share the Orvis commitment to
quality, conservation, and customer service. We can take you to the
out-of-the-way places few others know, like the remote coast of
Chile or private estancias in the heart of Patagonia, where you can
see condors soaring overhead or fish miles of trout streams far
from any crowds. We will be delighted to share our knowledge and
our itineraries include hiking, adventure cruises, and wing
shooting trips as well as fly fishing.
Some of our favorites are listed below. If you don't see one that's
exactly right, contact our office and we'll arrange a custom
itinerary for you. Please, don't wait too long. The lodges are
small, and they fill up for the peak season from December through
March.
Best Wishes,
Dave Parker & The Orvis International Travel Team
Adventure Cruise - Patagonia
The first full season for this unique cruise was a success. The
Atmosphere is the small adventure cruise ship outfitted with a
helicopter and special boats to access the coast of Chile for fly
fishing, hiking, kayaking, and whale watching. The fishing guides
are getting a handle on the far-flung fishery, after their second
year of exploring the hundreds of rivers and lakes accessible from
the ship. Guests reported that the non-fishing excursions were
world class. We're taking reservations for the 2008/2009 season
now.
E-mail Jason Elkins
soon to discuss your plans for a trip next year.
For details about this adventure cruise, check out
the itinerary online.
Fly Fishing In Patagonia
The clear streams of the Andes have some of the best fly fishing in
the world from November to April, and Orvis has close contact with
the best lodges in both Argentina and Chile. Estancia Tecka and Rio Manso lodge are just two of our favorites and each
has its own distinct personality. Jason Elkins has fished both and can
help you choose. Now is the time to start planning your fly fishing
trip to Patagonia. The best lodges are small and will fill up if
you wait too long.
E-mail Jason to book
them, or other fishing lodges.
Visit Buenos Aires and
Argentina's Wine District
Explore Buenos Aires, a vibrant and friendly city, with outstanding
restaurants, shops, and museums. The wine district near Mendoza now
has a number of excellent hotels and has risen in popularity as the
country's wines have reached world-class stature. Jodi Hamilton put together our
"Best of Argentina" itinerary and can arrange it for
you.
E-mail Jodi to start planning your trip.
The Best Wingshooting Lodge
in Argentina
Argentina has legendary wingshooting, and the Orvis-endorsed lodge
between the Corrientes and Parana River is truly the best of the
best. Los Ombues, purpose-built for dove, duck, and perdiz hunters,
is the finest in Argentina; it gets rave reviews from Orvis guests.
We have a few spaces left in peak duck/mixed bag season:
July 14-18, 2008, and we are taking reservations
for dove shoots in January and February.
E-mail Jodi Hamilton
ASAP to reserve your space.
Get prices and shooting details for Los
Ombues.
Explora Lodge & Custom Itineraries
The Explora is located in the middle of Chile's famous Paine
National Park and can be part of a customized trip. They are an
all-inclusive lodge and operate wonderful guided hikes, wildlife
viewing, and other excursions. We highly recommend it, as well as
their other lodges in Argentina, Easter Island, and the Atacama
Desert. Explora fills up well in advance, but there may be some
space left for 2008/2009. Contact Jodi Hamilton to request a trip
including the Explora.
For more information about the Explora, see our
online itinerary.
Ibera Marshes - New Wildlife/ Conservation Lodge in
Argentina
This new lodge in the remote wetlands of northern Argentina has
been getting high marks from the first few visitors, including some
of our naturalist friends. We sent a scout from Orvis Travel in
February, and he was very enthusiastic about the setting, lodging
and service. There's fly fishing for dorado, but we only recommend
that for the independent, adventurous fly fisher at this time. The
fish are there and the lodge is developing a fly fishing program,
but the main attractions at present are the remote setting, upscale
lodge, and outstanding birdlife and conservation program. Socorro
lodge is owned by American conservationist Doug Tompkins and we
highly recommend visiting it now while it's truly off the beaten
path.
Send me information about the Ibera Marsh
lodge.
Explore The Most Scenic Part
of The Andes
The scenery of the southern Andes is protected in two big national
parks: Las Glaciares, Argentina, and Torres del Paine, Chile. There
are miles of hiking trails, glaciers, towering peaks, and excellent
wildlife viewing. We have a group trip that includes both,
operating January 24 - February 4, 2009 and private departures
are available on dates of your choosing.
E-mail us and we'll send you the
itinerary.
Why Orvis Travel
Our in-house travel service specializes in international trips for
people who love the outdoors. We scout exciting locations, make
sure they are authentic and can deliver the experience you desire,
and then take care of the logistics you need to make it happen.
Whether you want to travel up the Amazon in a riverboat, fly fish
in Patagonia, explore a castle in Ireland, or fly in a bushplane to
Namibia and see cheetahs, we can handle the details.
Based in Sunderland, Vermont, at the Orvis home office, we have the
technology to communicate with outfitters in the remotest
destinations. We can help you select a destination, then set up the
arrangements quickly.
And it costs no more to use Orvis Travel. We charge the same rates
as lodges and give you the security of paying through Orvis with
your credit card.
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