What is the Private Estancia Experience?

Patagonia River Guides North is based around San Martín de los Andes, where legendary rivers, intimate spring creeks, productive lakes, and vast private estancias create one of the most diverse fly fishing destinations in Argentina.

Rather than asking every guest to experience the region from a single lodge and fish a predetermined program, PRG North was built around a different idea: stay closer to the best fishing, maintain access to an enormous variety of water, and give our guides the flexibility to create the right experience for each guest.

At the heart of that philosophy is PRG’s Private Estancia Program, a collection of carefully selected properties throughout the region that provide authentic Patagonian accommodations, warm hospitality, chef-prepared cuisine, and access to some truly remarkable places.

For anglers who want to experience the fishing, culture, landscapes, and character of northern Patagonia, there may be no better way to do it.

Estancias have been part of the landscape and culture of Patagonia for generations. Spread across enormous tracts of land, these working ranches offer a glimpse into a way of life that has helped define rural Argentina.

PRG’s Private Estancia Program brings guests into this world without sacrificing the level of comfort and service expected from a Patagonia River Guides experience.

The properties are intimate, comfortable, and full of character. Days begin with breakfast and coffee before heading to the water and end back at the estancia over appetizers, Argentine wine, and chef-prepared meals. Depending on the property, guests may find themselves surrounded by rolling grasslands, river valleys, working ranches, or the dramatic peaks of the Andes.

It is an experience that feels distinctly Patagonian because it is. These aren’t replicas of estancia life built for tourism. Guests are staying on properties that are part of the fabric of the region.

The Private Estancia Program becomes especially powerful when combined with PRG’s fishing program.

Northern Patagonia holds an extraordinary concentration of fisheries. The Chimehuín, Collón Curá, Malleo, Aluminé, and many smaller streams and lakes each provide their own character and fishing opportunities throughout the season.

Rather than being tied to one piece of water, PRG guides have the ability to think bigger.

Conditions, weather, hatches, water levels, fishing reports, and the interests of each guest can all influence where the day leads. One morning might begin with a float down a broad Patagonian river. The next could mean stalking trout on an intimate spring creek or walking a piece of private water tucked into an estancia.

That flexibility is one of the defining characteristics of PRG North.

The plan for tomorrow often begins the night before. Guests talk with their guides about the day’s fishing, current conditions, what they enjoyed, and what they might like to experience next. From there, the guide begins putting together another day.

The goal has always been simple: **fish the best water, at the best time, with the best guides.**

Rinconada Lodge: A Cornerstone of PRG North

For many guests, their introduction to PRG North begins at Rinconada Lodge.

Located near the confluence of the Chimehuín and Collón Curá rivers, Rinconada Lodge occupies an exceptional position within the northern fishing program. Some of Patagonia’s most storied trout water is within easy reach, while the lodge provides a comfortable and intimate place to return after a long day outside.

Rinconada Lodge represents much of what guests love about PRG North. The setting feels remote without sacrificing comfort. The fishing opportunities are immense. Meals and evenings at the lodge become as memorable as time spent on the river.

For many itineraries, Rinconada Lodge can serve as a home base for an entire stay. For others, it becomes one chapter in a longer journey through the Private Estancia Program.

That is one of our favorite questions because there is not a single answer.

A seven-day itinerary could include several days floating larger rivers, a day walking and sight fishing a spring creek, private access through an estancia, and an entirely different fishing experience on a lake or smaller freestone stream.

Some guests prefer to settle into one property for the week. Others split their stay between two estancias, creating a natural progression through the region.

And sometimes the best plan is to leave room for the unexpected.

If a particular river is fishing exceptionally well, the guides can take advantage of it. If conditions suggest another fishery would be more productive, plans can change. If a guest discovers that they absolutely love a particular style of fishing, the remainder of the week can often be shaped around it.

This is why PRG doesn’t believe the best Patagonia trips should be built around rigid daily schedules. We begin with an exceptional network of water, properties, and guides, then use that flexibility to create the best possible week for the people who are actually here.

More Than a Fishing Lodge

The Private Estancia Program also gives guests an opportunity to experience northern Patagonia beyond the river.

The drives themselves reveal an enormous landscape of mountains, valleys, ranchland, wildlife, and small communities. At the estancias, afternoons and evenings unfold at a different pace.

After fishing, guests return to refreshing beverages and appetizers before dinner. Chefs prepare meals that reflect both Argentine traditions and the ingredients of the region, accompanied by exceptional Argentine wines. On traditional asado nights, meats and vegetables are slowly prepared over an open fire, turning dinner itself into part of the experience.

Lunch on the river receives the same attention. Guides set tables and chairs along the water, often preparing warm proteins alongside salads, sides, and dessert. It is a chance to stop fishing for a moment, enjoy a real meal, and take in wherever Patagonia has brought you that day.

These details matter.

At PRG, the experience between fishing sessions has always been just as important as the fishing itself.

PRG North is particularly special for anglers who value **variety, flexibility, and authenticity**.

If the idea of fishing different water throughout the week appeals to you, North provides an extraordinary canvas. If you’d rather let your guide follow conditions than adhere to a fixed itinerary, it gives them the tools to do exactly that. And if experiencing Patagonia means more to you than simply staying at a fishing lodge, the estancia program offers an intimate connection to the region.

It is equally well suited to first-time visitors and longtime Patagonia anglers.

For someone making their first trip, PRG North can provide a remarkably broad introduction to Patagonian fly fishing. For returning guests, the size and diversity of the program means there is always another river, estancia, or experience to discover.

For anglers looking to make Patagonia a larger journey, PRG North also pairs naturally with PRG South.

Some guests spend four to seven days exploring the rivers and private estancias surrounding San Martín de los Andes before traveling south for another week at PRG’s Lodge at Trevelin or Tres Valles Lodge. It creates two distinctly different experiences within one trip: the authentic, highly flexible estancia program of PRG North followed by the refined signature lodge experience and entirely different fisheries of PRG South.

For those with 10 to 14 days to explore, combining North and South may be the ultimate way to understand just how diverse Patagonia really is.