|
History of the Alto Puelo Lodge and Surrounding Area
Patagonia Adventures started exploring the Puelo River (Rio Puelo) system in 1988
and found the remote lakes, rivers and streams an excellent location for fly fishing.
At first, a well arranged camp was constructed for anglers, who wanted a Patagonia
pioneer experience into these virgin waters and catch trout that had never seen
the imitation fly before. Later, from the camp situation a lodge was built. Thus,
the Alto Puelo Fishing Lodge was born. It was built at the headwaters of the Rio
Puelo and a few short steps to the river in order to provide a more pleasant and
comfortable accommodation. Building
the Lodge
Building a fishing lodge or any type of building, in a mountainous terrain where
no roads exist, is a painstaking and patient endeavor. Many of our clients ask
us how we got all the building materials here. A combination of ox cart, airplane
and boat has been the bulk of the transportation of not only the materials for
this lodge, but also for our clients.
The Alto Puelo Lodge is constructed of local cipres (cypress) logs, cut and hand
fashioned into an attractive structure. It over looks the Rio Puelo and the Andes
Mountains, giving you a view of the many kinds of birds and wildlife
as well as trophy trout jumping out of the water. History
of Area
The Puelo area was first populated many years ago by pioneers who developed small
farms. The farms are nestled on the side of mountainous terrain hidden among tall
Coihue trees. The common tool was the axe and the main mode of transportation
was oxen and cart. The ox carts today, are still made by hand.
Because of the need to travel for supplies, horse trails were carved into the
virgin soil and thus isolated valleys began to be linked. Farmers with their horses
and ox cartstraveled from the small village of Segundo Corral, Chile to El Bolson,
Argentina for flour, oil and other basic needs. The pass came to be known as "Paso
El Bolson", and is used by vaqueros even today. The grandsons of those pioneers
now live on the farms. Not much has changed from early days as they still carry
on the traditional life style with their horses and ox carts. Our
Farm
At the rivers edge is our 150-acre farm. The Alto Puelo Lodge (Patagonia Adventures)
provides garden fresh vegetables, herbs and local fruits for our clients and guests.
During the growing season, the farm's produce are used daily by the chef for your
meals. Relaxing
at Alto Puelo
The reddish brown colored lodge has private baths for each room upstairs with
the main room a commanding view of the river and mountains. You are always invited
into the kitchen where the old wood stove warms the morning coffee and converse
with the chef on what is on the menu for lunch and dinner of which maybe your
prospective caught trout could be the subject. . Hiking,
Fishing, Exploring
Daily activities can be enjoyed besides relaxing. Fishing is
just outside your door and if you like hiking and exploring the many wonderful
trails.
Some of the trails will lead you to farms where you will meet pleasant folks (either
traveling by horse or ox cart) who will welcome you with the cordial "buenos
dias" . Other trails will bring you to rarely visited lakes or streams. Your
official tour guide (Jack, the black friendly Labrador) will usually accommodate
your hikes. Contact
Information
E-mail Kent at kent@ArgentinaChileFlyFishing.com
for more information about the fly fishing and other activities available at the
Alto Puelo Lodge.
| 
