Villa Maria - Zefix Flyfishing

V I L A M A R I A

About Villa Maria

Villa Maria is the second De Las Carreras family lodge to open on the Río Grande, following Kau Tapen. Located on the middle section of the river, it offers anglers a first cast for newly rising monster sea trout on the lower Río Grande. For those who enjoy the challenges and rewards of two-handed rods, this is a dream destination.

PRICE FROM: $6,950 - $10,950 | ANGLERS: 6 | SEASON: Jan 02 - Apr 30 | Catering: Full board

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General information

Villa Maria is the second De Las Carreras family lodge to open on the Río Grande, following Kau Tapen. Located on the middle river, it offers anglers a first crack at newly rising monster sea trout on the lower Río Grande. For those who enjoy the challenges and rewards of two-handed rods, this is a dream destination.

Tierra Del Fuego (TDF) is home to the world's largest population of giant sea trout. Located at the southernmost point of Argentina, the Rio Grande River meanders quietly through the grasslands of TDF, offering perfect fly fishing pools at every turn. It may be the only place on earth that offers anglers a realistic chance of catching a highly coveted 20-pound sea trout - or even 30-pound+ for a lucky few. Unlike many Atlantic salmon rivers, the great sea trout runs are consistent throughout the season, meaning that Villa Maria Lodge catches a consistent number of fish every week.

This unique destination offers every angler the opportunity to spend a week swinging flies on the mighty Rio Grande for these amazingly strong and large fish, with guests breaking personal bests each week.

The lodge hosts 10 rods each week, with just over 60 named pools on the Villa Maria beats, providing ample water for each angler. The serpentine course of the river allows guides to use the famous TDF winds to their advantage when trying to swing flies for these wonderful fish. Most of the time, the wind is at your back.

Fishing

Villa Maria Lodge hosts 10 rods weekly and is located on the lower reaches of the Rio Grande, just a short distance from tidewater. With over 60 named pools, it allows plenty of water for every angler, which means you'll never fish the same pool twice - unless you want to, of course!

The river meanders through the grasslands of the TDF with a steady flow throughout the system and beautiful gravel beds throughout most of the river make for comfortable wading. Accompanied by top-notch guides, guests will leave the lodge around 9:00 am after breakfast and fish until approximately 1:00 pm. After lunch and a siesta, guests return to the river in the late afternoon and fish until dark.

The main target is, of course, brown trout from the ocean. Similar to steelhead in the northern hemisphere, anadromous browns of Tierra del Fuego enjoy a cult following. Chromefish crowd the river in January, and by mid-March fly fishermen are targeting and catching fish that average in the teens but regularly top the 20-pound mark.

The highly professional guides who work at Villa Maria Lodge have years of experience, and their mix of nationalities makes for a well-rounded experience. Each angler fishes with a different guide each day, allowing you to learn a wealth of new sea trout fishing tricks and tactics.

Accommodation

Villa Maria Lodge is located on the Jose Menendez Estancia. This property dates back to 1894 and once supported a bustling village of families and workers who raised sheep. The property is still surrounded by more than 120,000 acres of pasture and is still home to 40,000 sheep and 1,500 head of cattle. Located near the mighty Rio Grande, the property looks like a tidy movie set with white picket fences and colorful flower gardens. The lodge building that is now Villa Maria was once the ranch manager's family home. In recent years, it has been completely transformed into a modern fishing getaway.

The lodge has six double and single rooms with private bathrooms, elegant furniture and spacious and elegant living areas. Delicious meals are prepared daily by the lodge's dedicated chef. Each evening, a blazing fire and well-stocked bar greet you after your day's adventures. The on-site tackle store is stocked with quality LOOP rods, reels, flies, lines, clothing and other gifts and water and tackle essentials. In addition, guests have full use of the fly tying table and equipment storage areas.

And as if one lodge wasn't enough, Villa Maria also offers a riverfront day lodge for fishing expansion. The day lodge has three cozy parlors perfect for a midday siesta. Its convenient location extends fishing time and offers our anglers a place to relax after lunch, such as steak or lamb cooked over open coals.

Food & Kitchen

At Villa Maria, the kitchens come to life through the use of fresh and regionally representative meats and produce. By combining these elements, they create delicious flavors and varied textures that harbor hidden stories and traditions on every plate.

A top-notch team of experienced national and international chefs, trained in both classic and avant-garde cooking techniques, execute the dishes. With skilled craftsmanship, the chefs prepare each dish from scratch to be served within a minute. At Villa Maria Lodge, enjoy fresh pasta and fire-roasted meats like the famous Patagonian lamb - roasted over charcoal, gaucho style - alongside ocean-fresh flavors like king crab. And don't forget to leave room for dessert. From homemade ice cream to classic sweets and pastries, guests are truly taken care of.

Finally, Villa Maria firmly believes that the food they serve and the wines they pour should reflect the fishing opportunities they offer. As such, they use the renowned wines of Bodega Catena Zapata, a fabulous reflection of Argentine culture that competes on the world stage.

Travel example

DAY 1 - HOMETOWN OF BUENOS AIRES (BA)

- Fly from your hometown to Buenos Aires International Airport
- Taxi from the airport to the selected hotel
- Check-in at the hotel and overnight stay - Please contact us if you need more information about hotels.

DAY 2 - BA TO VILLA MARIA LODGE

- 7:30 AM Taxi from hotel to domestic airport
- Flight to Rio Grande Airport (approx. 3 hours)
- A member of the team will greet you upon arrival
- Transfer to the lodge by car
- Enjoy a fully prepared lunch at the lodge
- Tackle setup followed by an evening of fishing
- Continue to the lodge for overnight stay.

DAY 3 TO 9 - FURTHER FISHING (6 FULL DAYS OF FISHING)

- Continue fishing and spend the night at Villa Maria Lodge

DAY 10 - LODGE TO BA

- Pack your bags in the morning and a member of the lodge will load the luggage into the cars
- Transfer back to Rio Grande Airport
- Board the flight to BA
- Overnight in selected hotel in BA

DAY 11 - BA TO HOMETOWN

- Flight to hometown
- Continue with own arrangements

Services

Recommended equipment

Since the river is medium in size and the climate is often windy: anglers usually fish 13-foot or 14-foot two-handed rods class 8 # / 9 #. This allows anglers to cover the entire water and cast flies well when needed despite the wind . Although the wind is often at your back, it is useful to practice upwind casting. Leader materials vary depending on the weather: a mix of 8 lbs - 25 lbs will keep you covered for all occasions.

Fly selection on the Rio Grande can be very specific and we encourage you to contact us directly for more information.

The weather in Tierra del Fuego can be brutal, with strong winds and potentially cold evenings, which means you need to be well equipped. The best way to combat the elements is with our Torne wading jacket, Onka jacket and pants, and hats!

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