Neuquén & Rio Negro Provinces of 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.

Arrival Buenos Aires

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 Patagonia 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 San Martin de los Andes or Bariloche

If you are fishing Estancia Tipiliuke, San Huberto, Lagunas del Collon Cura, Estancia Tres Lagos, Estancia Quemquemtreu, Estancia Tres Lagos or floating the Aluminé River your end destination in Patagonia will be the Chapelco Airport just outside the San Martin de los Andes, a beautiful little alpine village nestled in the Andes. Jorge Enrique Knull or one of his guides will meet you at the airport and provide transfer to the Estancia for the start of your fishing or a quaint little inn in San Martin. If you choose to spend the night in San Martin before heading to the estancia of your choice, the rest of this day is at your leisure to explore and relax. Restaurante La Tasca is fabulous and highly recommended.

If you are scheduled to stay at Arroyo Verde you will fly to Bariloche and transfer to the estancia. Chimehuin Safaris facilitates all meet and greet services and estancia transfers within Patagonia for your entire stay.

The Argentines have mastered the art of squeezing two days of fishing into one and the fishing schedule at the estancias is designed around the best fishing times. Argentines usually enjoy late dinners, and the schedules dovetail perfectly with the angling day, especially the evening hatch.

Fishermen start each morning with a light breakfast of fresh fruit, cereals, yogurt, toast and coffee, as well as a full American Breakfast (if they have the room), followed by a full morning of fishing. Each two anglers share a guide, vehicle and river beat for the morning secession. Fishermen typically return to the lodge by 1 or 2 o’clock in the afternoon where a delicious midday meal, perfectly complemented by local wines, is served, followed by a well-earned siesta.

Anglers, well-fed and rested, fish the evening session right up to (and sometimes beyond) the brilliant Patagonia sunset. They’ll then return to their respective lodges, in time to regale each other with tales of giant fish, then sit down to yet another meal that would put many five-star restaurants to shame.

Day of Departure

After breakfast and saying your goodbyes to the hosts and staff, Chimehuin Safaris will provide auto transportation to the Chapelco or Bariloche Airport a short drive from the Estancias. You will fly to the domestic airport in Buenos Aires, Jorge Newbery. You will need to retrieve your luggage and arrange auto transfer to the Ezeiza International Airport to catch your flight back home. Most international flights depart late in the evening, arriving into the States the following morning.

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