Rual San Martin's Ghia de Pescas
Chubut Providence, Argentina • Patagonia

Getting there

Traveling to Argentina is relatively simple and a painless. There are a wide choice of convenient, daily flights from Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Miami, and New York. Most flights are direct departing the States in the afternoon or early evening and arriving early the next morning. Airlines that service Buenos Aires daily include American, United, Continental, Delta, LAN Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Lufthansa and Varig.

Flying Times to Buenos Aires from: Los Angeles: 13 hours, Dallas: 11 hours, Houston: 10 hours, Miami: 9 hours New York: 11 hours, Chicago: 11 hours.

Almost all the international flights into Argentina arrive at the Ministro Pistarini (Ezeiza) International Airport of Buenos Aires, 35 Km from the Federal Capital. You are required to fill out a customary arrival form, which will be handed out to you on your flight down. First you will clear Immigrations (Passport Control) then you will retrieve your luggage, and clear Customs. The entire arrival process in Buenos Aires should take between 1 and 1 1⁄2 half hours.

Specific flight details for Ghias de Pescas
Arrival Buenos Aires
Getting to Patagonia is not difficult. It is actually very simple: take an overnight flight to Buenos Aires from one of several major cities in the U.S, get a good night’s rest and awake in Argentina. If you have so pre-arranged, you will be met by our professional agents at the airport and transferred to your hotel or to the domestic airport for immediate departure to Patagonia.

Our agents in Buenos Aires will re-confirm flights, make dinner reservations, share a cocktail, and take you on a city tour if you wish.

Buenos Aires has two airports, an international and a domestic. You will arrive from your country of origin at Ezezia (EZE) and depart to Esquel (EQS) from the domestic airport, Aeroparque (AEP). It is necessary to transfer by ground from the international airport to the domestic airport for your flight to Patagonia. Our agents can set up your transfers. Depending on the time your international flight lands, you might be able to travel directly to Patagonia on the same day (If you want to travel directly to Patagonia, you should plan at least on one hour to clear immigrations and customs, one hour to transfer between airports, and to arrive at the domestic airport at least one hour before your flight to Patagonia.).

Flying to Esquel and transferring to your lodging

Esquel has five flights scheduled per week for 2010 departing on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. At the time of this writing, the flight to Esquel departs Buenos Aires around 10:30 am and takes about two hours. Flying to Bariloche is possible on all days of the week and there are several options per day; however, there will be an additional charge for the four-hour transfer to Esquel.

Upon your arrival, you will be met by Raul San Martin, or one of his representatives, and transferred to a comfortable hostería. On the ride to the Hostería, Raul (or a member of his staff) will let you know what the best of the regional fishing is during the time you have chosen to visit. Given those options, you and your group will decide what type (dry fly, streamer, etc.) of fishing you'll want for your first morning in the Park or at the Camp.

Part of the charm of Ghias de Pescas operation is the informal, but very professional, approach to the angling. Each day begins immediately after an early breakfast, and wouldn't be complete without a streamside meal, and fine native wines. Your interests, ability, and the best of the fishing during your stay will determine fishing destinations.

Departure from Esquel to Buenos Aires

Raul San Martin or one of his guides will provide auto transfer to the Esquel Airport along with check-in assistance for you flight back to Buenos Aires and home or the continuation of your South America travels.

Immigration Requirements for entry Into Argentina:

A current passport is required with or without visa depending on your nationality. For all U.S. citizens, passports must be valid for a minimum of three months beyond the visitor's proposed date of departure. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days for tourism and business. All visitors must be in possession of a return passage to a country for which they have a right of entry.

Customs:

Generally, foreign tourists (especially tourists carrying fly rods) are not bothered by customs officials upon entry. You are allowed to bring personal items such as clothing, footwear, toiletries, etc., as well as; any fishing equipment needed during your stay and personal medications. You are allowed to enter Argentina with 2 liters of alcoholic drinks, 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars. Expensive camera and video equipment should be declared and you will have to bring it out with you when you leave.

Inoculations and Health Concerns:

There are no formal requirements, or recommendations for immunizations and very little risk of infectious disease in Argentina. The risk would be about equivalent to what it would be for a trip to Colorado. You should check with your personal physician if you are concerned. We recommend that anglers be up-to-date on their Tetanus, Hepatitis-A and Hepatitis-B vaccinations.

Political Situation:

Argentina is a safe, pro-American country. Argentineans are overall a very friendly people & welcome foreign tourists. The hospitality of the country people in rural Argentina (where all the fishing takes place) is genuine and warm. Like in Chile the current president of Argentina is a woman, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Make it easy on yourself. Alicia Regueiro and here expert staff at Holdy Tours (800) 446- 1111 or alicia@holdytours.com are a full service travel agency. They’ve been our first choice for ticketing for years because Holdy professionals are intimately familiar with the intricacies of travel to Chile, Argentina and all South America.

Holdy gets rave reviews from us for arranging reasonably priced flights as well as city tours, hotels, transfers, and optional add-on travel packages to our fly fishing trips. They know the best routes and connections for even the most complicated Patagonia angling destinations and they’ve teamed up with LA to offer the best airfares and service to South America. Make it easy on yourself and contact Holdy Tours for your flight accommodations to, from and within Argentina. www.holdytours.com