Fly Fishing in Patagonia: Zodiac & Glacier Lagoons

Cast your line from a zodiac amid glacier-framed lagoons with expert guides

A full-day fly fishing activity in Patagonia combines zodiac navigation down the Serrano River with 3+ hours of fishing for brown and rainbow trout in an isolated lagoon beneath the Paine massif. A guide handles all gear and instruction. The day includes a 30-minute river journey, a 30-minute trek to the fishing spot, and a picnic lunch with drinks.

The experience

Nine hours on the water and in the backcountry means you spend the morning sailing down the Serrano River in a zodiac, then hiking 30 minutes inland to reach a remote lagoon where brown and rainbow trout hold in the shallows. The Paine massif rises behind you across the water. You fish here for at least 3 hours with a guide who knows the rivers, lagoons and lakes well enough to read the conditions and set you up for success: all the tackle and technique come from them. The return follows the same route, with the boat ride back taking another 30 minutes.

Lunch is a full picnic: cheese boards, cold cuts, fresh vegetables and biscuits so you can build sandwiches to your taste, plus beers, wine and homemade pisco sour. The guide carries the food and the sticks for trekking, so you travel light. Private transportation gets you to the start and back to your hotel when the day ends around 1 PM.

What’s included

• Private transportation to and from your hotel.
• all fly fishing gear and tackle.
• trekking sticks.
• a full picnic lunch with cheese, cold cuts, vegetables and biscuits.
• beers, wine and homemade pisco sour.
• an accredited guide who speaks English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (30 to 50 years) · Senior (51 to 70 years) · Youth (12 to 29 years) · Child (10 to 11 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Hotel del Paine "Excursiones"

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a small, guided fishing day with a company that specializes in fly fishing and knows every river and lagoon in Patagonia. The zodiac and the trek mean you reach water most day-trippers never see, and the 3+ hours of fishing time gives you real chances to land fish rather than just cast once and move on.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 29 years); Child (10 to 11 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of trout and fish will I be casting for in Patagonia?

Brown and rainbow trout are the main species in the lagoon where you fish. Salmon also live in the rivers and lakes the zodiac reaches. The guide knows which waters hold which fish and will position you where they're feeding.

How much of the day is actually spent fishing versus traveling?

You fish for at least 3 hours in the lagoon. The zodiac ride down the Serrano River takes about 30 minutes, and the trek from the river to the lagoon takes another 30 minutes, so roughly half the 9-hour day is on the water or the trail.

Do I need my own fly rod and gear, or is everything provided?

The guide provides all necessary fishing equipment and handles the setup. You bring your own experience or let the guide teach you how to cast and read the water. Either way, the gear is covered.

What happens if the weather turns bad or the fishing is slow?

The zodiac operates in the waters around Patagonia year-round, and the guide adjusts the fishing spots based on conditions. If you're not connecting with fish in one lagoon, the guide can move to another location within the day's route.

Is the trek to the lagoon difficult, or can anyone do it?

The 30-minute walk is suitable for all fitness levels. Trekking sticks are provided, and the guide sets the pace. The terrain is manageable for anyone comfortable with a moderate walk in the Patagonian backcountry.