BELLA SOFIA
The Rio Gallegos has become a very popular river for fishing for sea run brown trout – and with good reason! We welcome you to one of the newest lodges on the river – Bella Sofia Lodge has more than 60 kilometres of water to fish!
Location
Santa Cruz, Argentina
Fish
Sea trout
Season
Mid January to mid April
Information
The original lodge, Bella Vista, closed its doors in 2012. After many years of hard work, the lodge – now as Bella Sofi – was brought back to life in 2023.
Bella Sofia in combination with estancia Bella Vista is a beautiful wildlife-rich 617,000-acre complex on southern Argentina’s renowned Rio Gallegos. The Rio Gallegos is one Argentina’s premier sea-trout rivers With more than 10 kilometres of water per angler, including 50 premier sea-trout pools, the lodge has also private access to 22 kilometres of the Rio Chico, a classic spring creek packed with surface oriented brown trout in the 18-to 26-inch class. For fisherman who would like to combine sea trout fishing with creek fishing for resident brown trout, this lodge comes highly recommended!
ACCOMODATION
Bella Sofia Lodge has a capacity for 6 rods per week and guests will be housed in the main house, all accommodated in 4 en-suite single rooms and one large double room with 2 beds and en suite with maid and laundry service. The living room has a fireplace, a cosy seating area with library and a dining room which can seat ten guests. The adjacent conservatory has a stunning view over the gardens and accommodates the piano bar, where draught beer and drinks get served every evening after a busy day on the water – the perfect place to enjoy a tapas. The lodge also has a fly tying desk, should you want to tie up a few flies. There’s also a heated wader room where anglers can leave their wet gear to dry out before the next fishing session. Guests will also find a tackle shop with the most important flies, tippet material and clothing. With the town of Rio Gallegos an hour’s drive away; it is possible to for the lodge to obtain things you may have forgotten
Prior to your day of fishing, you will be served breakfast consisting of homemade breads and toast and local jams, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a variety of eggs including eggs benedict, scrambled or fried, omelettes. After an enjoyable morning session on the river, you will be served lunch at the lodge’s dining table, dining on local produce such as steak, game and lamb and vegetables grown on .A lighter 3-course meal, including chicken, rabbit or seafood, will also be served in the evenings. Fine Argentinian wines are served at both lunch and dinner, carefully chosen to match the meals.
Committed to respecting the environment, the lodge use photovoltaic technology to reduce the use of fossil fuels and is the first lodge in South America to use a wood pellet cooker as a heating system for guests’ homes and staff.
Non-Angling Activities and Options
This is a fishing-focused destination with very few non-angling options.
Internet / Communications
The lodge has Wi-Fi available for guests.
FISHING
The fishing schedule, of approximately 8 hours; is split in to two sessions – a morning session and an evening session. The morning session typically starts just after breakfast at 08.30 and you will fish until around 12.30 where lunch will be served back at the lodge. After lunch, you may enjoy a siesta and prepare for the evening session which will typically start around 18.00 and fish until dusk.
Guests will fish two anglers per guide and move about the estancia in 4 wheel-drive trucks with rods racks. The fishing is very accessible with wading with short walks from the car to the pools, whilst further walking is expected if fishing on the Rio Chico. The wading is generally shallow, usually less than 50 cm; however, in some pools it will be necessary to move a little further forward, not only to reach the other bank, but also to get the right angle when drifting a fly.
The Rio Gallegos, unlike the Rio Grande, is a wide river. A double handed rod in the 14-15 foot range is ideal for most fishing, complemented with a a fast actioned single handed rod of 9’6” – 10” for those that might like to dry fly or skate a fly when conditions allow. Floating lines and light intermediate tips are the most effective and flies are typically twitched or stripped during the swing. For the Chico a 4-5 wt fast action rod is recommended, with floating line for big and medium size dry flies.
With over 10km of river per guest, it makes Bella Sofia one of the most exclusive fisheries in all South America. Additionally, the Chico River offers an unmatched dry fly fishing experience for brown trout.
With more than 65 kilometres; the fishing at Bella Sofia is varied. Classic pools, large and deep, are the centre of attention when the water is low. Long, fast runs are very productive during periods when migratory fish enter the system for migration. Large rocks and high bank structures tend to hold fish and this is where most of the pools are found.
All the guides have fished and guided for many years on various Patagonian rivers and have fished for sea trout for most of their careers. They are all experts in casting techniques with one-handed and two-handed rods and will help our guests find, hook and enjoy fishing in this magnificent fishery.
TRAVEL
Guests fly into Buenos Aires International Airport and we highly recommend at least one overnight stay in the city, giving yourself time to relax after a long flight and acclimatise to the fabulous country. Commercial airlines typically fly out from the domestic airport in Buenos Aires to the airport of Río Gallegos in Santa Cruz in about 3 hours. From there, the lodge will collect you and transfer you to the lodge. It is a 60-minute transfer. Transfers to/from Rio Gallegos airport are included for in the standard rates.
When is the best time to visit?
The Rio Gallegos season starts in late December as the Sea Trout begin to enter the river in small numbers. Prime time for Bella Sofia Lodge is considered from mid-January to the end of March. The season finishes in the middle of April.
Typical Length of Stay
The typical length of stay at Bella Sofia Lodge is seven (7) nights with six (6) days of fishing.
Typical Itinerary
Thursday: Depart home
Friday: Arrive Buenos Aires and overnight
Saturday: Fly from Buenos Aires to Rio Gallegos and transfer to the lodge
Sunday – Friday: Six full days of guided fishing on the Rio Gallegos and/or Rio Chico
Saturday: Depart the lodge. Fly from Rio Gallegos to Buenos Aires and overnight stay.
Sunday: Depart for home
Documents Required
Valid passport. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and other Western European nations do not need a visa for tourist trips of up to ninety days.
Travel Insurance
Prior to booking, please ensure that your travel insurance covers for travelling to remote areas and for the type of activities you are planning. We highly recommend also considering a Global Rescue Membership
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
We have worked hard to be able to provide you with the best prices possible. If you are quoted a lower price we will endeavour to beat it.
