Magic Waters Patagonia Lodge offers some of the most diverse fly fishing opportunities in the world. Anglers can fish emerald green mountain rivers in a lush forest one day and small spring creeks in the arid pampas the next. Expect to fish a different water every day of your trip. This region offers spectacular dry fly fishing and the fishing pressure is virtually non existent. Huge attractor beetle patterns, hoppers and mouse patterns rule the day and big browns are common.
Our host, Eduardo Barrueto and his family have spent their lives in the valley and have access to an incredible amount of private water on numerous massive estancias. The lodge also sits near a huge national park with spectacular wilderness rivers. Eduardo and his team of guides are extremely experienced and are on par with the very best Montana guides - they are easily the best we have fished with in all of Patagonia. The lodge is in a spectacular remote valley and sits on a chain of private lakes filled with wild trophy trout.
Magic Waters Overview
The Coyhaique region of Chile offers some of the most incredible diversity of fly fishing options for wild trout in the world. Some days you are floating large freestone rivers in a rainforest setting and on others you are in drier pampas with sweeping views. At the end of the day you return to the rustic yet very comfortable lodge on a private lake to enjoy some wonderful Chilean wines and a delicious gourmet dinner. On most visits you will fish a different body of water every day of your trip. When fishing conditions warrant or if you are on a longer trip Eduardo and his guides will often take you to other regions that are seldom visited to stay at rustic cabins on beautiful lakes. Our host Eduardo grew up in the valley and his family has extensive access to many smaller private fisheries. After studying international cuisine and also attending law school he returned home to start Magic Waters with his wife Consuelo. The Magic Waters team also operates the River of Dreams Basecamp which can be incorporated for a longer custom trip.
Past trip reports to Magic Waters:
February 2024 Trip Report
February 2023 Trip Report
March 2022 Trip Report
February 2020 Trip Report
March 2018 Lodge/Camp Trip Report
March 2017 Lodge/Camp combo Trip Report
January 2016 Trip Report
March 2015 Trip Report
February 2015 Trip Report
January 2015 Trip Report
February 2014 Trip Report
Rates
Fishing
Accommodations
Travel
Rates
Rates
$6500 for 7 nights and 6 days of fishing double occupancy
(2025/2026 season rate will be $7500/week)
*($200 per night single occupancy fee for guests that request a single room)
**($300 per day for a single angler, private guide)
Ask us about an optional extension for a 2 week or 11 night program that combines Patagonia Baker Lodge and/or the River of Dreams Basecamp
Included:
Meals, flies and terminal tackle, wine and beer, transfers from Balmaceda airport (BBA), guided fishing, fishing licenses
Excluded:
Gratuities, flights, rods and waders (rentals available)
Montana Angler hosted trips to Magic Waters
We host several trips to Magic Waters each season - call us to inquire about joining a Montana Angler host to Chile
Fishing
When fishing with Eduardo and the rest of the Magic Waters team you target rivers, spring creeks, lagunas, and lakes. This is one of the most diverse fishing programs in the world and the team at Magic Waters will customize your trip to target multiple areas of Chilean Patagonia as conditions permit.
Rivers and Spring Creeks
From Magic Waters Lodge you can wade and float some of the region's best rivers. During the summer months anglers can engage plenty of sight fishing to "hunt" large browns with dry flies. Some of the rivers fished include the Paloma, Simpson, Blanco, Huemules, Emperor Guillermo, Ñireguao, and many other unnamed and unknown streams and spring creeks.
Lakes and Lagunas
The guides love to float lakes, casting big dry flies toward shore, waiting for quick and violent strikes. The big summer browns wait all day to consume huge Cantarra beetles. There are several terrific lakes and lagunas within 15 minutes minutes of the lodge. Additionally, there are two private lagunas in front of the lodge that contain brown trout 18’ to 24”.
Typically, guests can fish lakes such as: Tamango, Ardillas, Zapato, Fontana, Barroso, and the ‘five star lakes’ - Misterioso, Los Juncos, and Lapparent.There are also many other ‘unknown’ lakes and lagunas and many days are all about ugly dry flies. Most of these resemble the wide variety of large beetles found in Chilean Patagonia. Here, there are 7 different kinds of beetles – some of which are 2-3 inches long! Trout take these big flies with a vengeance! Sometimes the weather dictates that streamers are fished, which are also very productive in lakes and lagunas. At dusk, some of these waters produce very large caddis hatches.
Guides
Your guides out of Magic Waters include our host Eduardo and several other highly experienced local guides that have spent their lives targeting trout in the region. All guides are bilingual or trilingual. These are some of the finest guides we have had the pleasure to fish with and we guarantee you will be impressed.
Accommodations
Lodge
Magic Waters Lodge is located just beyond the north end of Lago Barroso – about 25 miles southwest of downtown Coyhaique. The Lodge has a very strategic location. At less than 1 hour drive, we have access to the prime rivers and spring creeks of Coyhaique area. The rustic and comfortable lodge built of native woods and stone, provides 6 bedrooms for 10 anglers, kitchen, great room, and fly tying facility. A stone’s throw from the lodge’s front porch is the first of two private lagunas – each with wonderful fishing. The bedrooms include 2 rooms with 2 king beds, 1 room with 1 king bed, 1 queen room and 2 rooms each with 2 twin beds.
Dining
The meals at Magic Waters Lodge are prepared by a talented trained chef and are inspired by the family recipes (Eduardo's mother Sandra was a trained chef). He specializes in regional dishes, using the finest ingredients available to create exciting Patagonian and Chilean cuisine. Each meal is accompanied by a choice from their excellent collection of Chilean wines.
Travel
Magic Waters Lodge is located about 45 minutes southwest of the town of Coyhaique. Guests fly into the Balmaceda airport (BBA) which is approximately a 50 minute drive to the lodge.
Sample Itinerary (for a week stay, lodge only):
Thursday - depart US or home country (Friday departure also possible to bypass a night in Santiago - we recommend one night in Santiago to enjoy the local culture and to break up the travel) - overnight international flight
Friday - arrive Santiago in the morning - transfer to a local hotel in the Bella Vista neighborhood (we will set this up for you at added cost) - enjoy a vibrant neighborhood, markets as well as a unique dining experience at one of Santiago's best restaurants (we will make your dinner reservations for you).
Saturday - take a morning direct jet flight to Balmaceda (BBA - Montana Angler staff will guide you in booking flights). Meet Magic Waters team at BBA, arrive in time to settle in and do a little fishing on the home lagunas before a welcome dinner at the lodge.
Sunday-Friday - guided fishing on local waters. Guests can plan to fish new waters every day of their trip. The region offers an amazing variety of float fishing, wade fishing and sight casting on large clear lakes.
Saturday - fly back to Santiago, connect and fly home (overnight international flight)
Sunday - arrive back home
Sample Itinerary (Magic Waters lodge/River of Dreams Basecamp 11 night/10 day fishing program):
Thursday - depart US or home country (Friday departure also possible to bypass a night in Santiago - we recommend one night in Santiago to enjoy the local culture and to break up the travel) - overnight international flight
Friday - arrive Santiago in the morning - transfer to a local hotel in the Bella Vista neighborhood (we will set this up for you at added cost) - enjoy a vibrant neighborhood, markets as well as a unique dining experience at one of Santiago's best restaurants (we will make your dinner reservations for you).
Saturday - take a morning direct jet flight to Balmaceda (BBA - Montana Angler staff will guide you in booking flights). Meet Magic Waters team at BBA, transfer to Magic Waters Lodge 1 hour from airport. Enjoy some local fishing on the home laguna, enjoy dinner
Sunday-Friday - enjoy an incredible variety on local waters while fishing new waters every day. Fishing options include floating local rivers, wading spring creeks and smaller freestone streams, and sight casting on lakes to large trout
Saturday - After breakfast drive to trailhead to meet the local gaucho (2 hour drive). The horseback ride in is about 2 hours. Once arriving at the river the fishing guides will great you with jet catarafts for a 1 hour boat ride upriver to the camp in time for several hours of fishing followed by appetizers, cocktails and dinner.
Sunday-Tuesday - guided fishing blending float and wade fishing on three different fisheries, Friday afternoon guest will boat and ride back out of camp to arrive at the lodge or hosteria for the evening
Wednesday - fly back to Santiago, connect and fly home (overnight international flight)
Thursday - arrive back home