NORTHERN Patagonia
Fly Fishing Expeditions

NORTHERN PATAGONIA DESTINATIONS

  • Neuquén Province

    Neuquén is the gateway to Northern Patagonia’s highland rivers, where Andean peaks give rise to some of Argentina’s most iconic trout waters.

    From San Martín de los Andes and Junín de los Andes, anglers access a remarkable variety of rivers — from broad, floatable freestones like the Aluminé and Collón Curá to technical, wade-only streams like the Río Malleo.

    Big browns and rainbows thrive in clear, cold waters framed by lenga forests, volcanic ridges, and highland meadows.

    With a combination of accessible float trips, intimate wade fishing, and tailwater runs, Neuquén offers both variety and trophy potential, making it a must-visit starting point for a Northern Patagonia itinerary.

  • Rio Negro Province

    Centered on Bariloche, the Río Negro Province blends alpine lakes, glacier-fed rivers, and remote backcountry waters.

    North of the city, rivers like the Filo Hua Hum, Traful, and Upper Limay offer world-class dry-fly fishing and migratory trout runs, while the Manso River provides scenic floats and pocket-water challenges.

    This province balances convenience with wilderness, giving anglers access to pristine trout waters just a short drive from lodges and local culture.

    Its mix of lakes, freestones, and spring creeks ensures every day delivers variety, making Río Negro a compelling centerpiece of any Northern Patagonia program.

  • Chubut Province

    Esquel and Trevelin anchor Chubut Province — a region of rolling valleys, clear steppe rivers, and high-country lakes.

    Rivers such as the Carrileufú, Corintos, Rivadavia, and Chubut offer float trips, technical wade fishing, and trophy browns and rainbows in scenic, often remote settings.

    The combination of wild landscapes, estancia hospitality, and multiple river types creates a rich, multi-day experience.

    Chubut is perfect for anglers seeking solitude, variety, and the chance to explore waters that feel truly untouched, completing the triad of Northern Patagonia’s premier trout destinations.

EXPLORING NORTHERN PATAGONIA: FLY FISHING PARADISE

Northern Patagonia is a vast and varied sweep of the Andes where rivers, lakes, and forests converge to create one of the world’s most complete trout-fishing regions. Stretching from the volcanic highlands of Neuquén to the deep forests of Río Negro and the rolling valleys of Chubut, this is the heartland of Argentine fly fishing — a place where each bend in the road reveals a new watershed, a new landscape, and another reason why anglers return year after year. The region’s combination of biodiversity, dramatic scenery, and healthy, wild trout populations makes it a natural focus for Isolation Outfitters’ expanded Patagonia program.

We selected these three provinces because together they offer unmatched diversity within a single, cohesive itinerary. Neuquén holds the iconic rivers that shaped modern Patagonia angling—broad freestones, canyon floats, and the famed tailwaters of the Limay. Río Negro, anchored by Bariloche’s alpine lakes and glacial systems, adds a mix of migratory rivers, intimate spring creeks, and spectacular backcountry access. Chubut, further south, provides the pastoral valleys and national parks around Esquel and Trevelin, home to some of the clearest and most scenic trout rivers in the Andes. Each province offers a distinct character, yet all share the same commitment to conservation, wilderness, and world-class fishing. You can fish them one at a time or we can provide a longer multi-week itinerary that covers each province.

This three-province approach also allows anglers to experience the full breadth of Northern Patagonia’s seasons and water types. In one journey, you can drift wide, sunlit valleys; sight-fish over glass-clear currents; explore glacier-fed systems; and cast across wild steppe rivers where solitude defines the fishing. The range of terrain and river styles ensures that every day feels fresh, balanced, and tailored to the angler’s preferences, whether you seek technical dry-fly challenges or broad, relaxed float trips.

By weaving Neuquén, Río Negro, and Chubut into a single destination program, we’re able to showcase the true scale and richness of Northern Patagonia. These are the provinces that offer the most compelling mix of access, quality, and diversity — and together, they represent the very best of what this legendary trout region has to offer.

Neuquén Province: The Northern Frontier of Argentine Trout

Neuquén is where Northern Patagonia truly opens up—broad valleys, towering Andean ridges, and rivers that have shaped modern fly fishing in South America. Basing out of San Martín de los Andes and Junín de los Andes, anglers can access an extraordinary range of waters, from technical spring creeks to long, sweeping freestones built for drifting dry flies. This is classic Patagonia country, with big skies, lenga forests, and the clear, cold rivers that made these towns synonymous with world-class trout angling.

Iconic rivers dominate the map. The Aluminé and Chimehuín are legendary for their healthy populations of browns and rainbows, prolific hatches, and broad, float-friendly flows. The Río Malleo, flowing through Andean meadows and willowed corridors, adds a distinct technical element. Its upper sections are intimate, wade-only streams, perfect for precise dry-fly work and sight-fishing, while its lower stretches provide more open water and deeper pools for both drifting and streamer action. Each river here offers a different rhythm and challenge, ensuring anglers experience true diversity within a single region.

The Collón Curá and Caleufú rivers expand that diversity further. Collón Curá’s long, powerful drifts are ideal for covering water with streamers or dry-dropper setups, while the Caleufú offers a more intimate float with canyon and meadow scenery that is a photographer’s and angler’s delight. These waters reward patience, stealth, and local knowledge, making them particularly appealing to those seeking both trophy trout and peaceful solitude.

Further east, the Limay Medio provides some of the most dramatic trout encounters in Argentina. Its cold, teal-blue waters flow from the upper lakes, creating a tailwater-style system famous for large browns that migrate in and out with changing seasons. Strong currents, big structure, and long drifts make it a river for confident casters and expert guides. Together with the Aluminé, Chimehuín, and Malleo, these rivers form a destination that offers both depth and variety, where every day delivers exceptional fishing in truly iconic Patagonian landscapes.

NORTHERN PATAGONIA: THREE PROVINCES, ONE REMARKABLE TROUT REGION

Río Negro Province: Lakes, Glaciers & the Bariloche Backcountry

Centered around San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro Province offers a blend of alpine beauty and blue-ribbon trout rivers framed by the region’s vast national parks. This is a place where granite peaks, native coihue forests, and deep glacial lakes set the scene for both floating and wading opportunities. It’s also a hub for anglers who want premium accommodations, excellent cuisine, and quick access to some of Patagonia’s most soulful waters.

North of Bariloche lie the Filo Hua Hum, Traful, and the upper Limay — rivers that reward patience, precision, and an appreciation for low-pressure fishing. The Filo Hua Hum is a remote, crystalline stream known for its sight-fishing and beautifully marked browns. The Traful, flowing out of Lago Traful’s green depths, is revered for its migratory fish and the occasional landlocked Atlantic salmon. The Upper Limay, with its lake-run migratory browns, is simply one of the most dynamic fisheries in the Andes.

To the southwest, the Manso River and its tributaries wind through a dramatic landscape of waterfalls, deep pools, and glacier-fed currents. The Manso’s mix of pocket water, smooth glides, and emerald pools creates a stage for both classic dry-fly fishing and targeted streamer work. It’s a river with character — wild, scenic, and blessed with sections that feel far more remote than their distance from Bariloche would suggest.

This region combines variety and convenience better than almost anywhere else in Patagonia. Anglers can fish an intimate spring creek one day, a powerful migratory river the next, and a lake-fed system in the shadow of snow-capped peaks the day after. Paired with Bariloche’s thriving food scene and well-run lodges, Río Negro Province is ideal for anglers looking for an elevated blend of wilderness, culture, and exceptional trout fishing.

Chubut Province: Esquel, Trevelin & the Heart of Wild Patagonia

The Esquel–Trevelin corridor in Chubut Province is the gateway to some of Patagonia’s most beloved and diverse waters. Here, Los Alerces National Park, vast estancias, and high-country basins give shape to rivers that seem tailor-made for fly fishers. The landscape is softer and more pastoral than the north, with rolling valleys, crystal lakes, and long, quiet waters that run clean across volcanic and glacial terrain.

The Río Corintos, Río Carrileufú, and Río Rivadavia are among the crown jewels of this region. The Carrileufú is a standout—an ideal float trip river with changing personalities along its length, from smooth meadow stretches to deep channels holding powerful browns and rainbows. The Rivadavia, often described as one of the clearest rivers in the world, offers electric sight-fishing and technical fishing to educated trout. The Corintos provides a smaller, more intimate option perfect for wading with light tackle and dry flies.

Venture further and you reach the expansive Río Chubut, a long, meandering river that delivers productive multi-day floats through classic Patagonian steppe. The Tecka and Percy systems, along with the remote waters around Río Pico, add even more depth—from spring creeks to estancia-controlled beats with surprising fish size and consistency. Few regions offer such a spread of water types within such manageable travel distances.

For anglers who want a complete, multi-day immersion in Southern Andes trout country, Chubut is hard to surpass. The mix of wilderness, estancia hospitality, highly varied fisheries, and the welcoming feel of Trevelin and Esquel makes this one of Patagonia’s most sought-after regions. Whether on a drifting river, a turquoise lake edge, or a tucked-away tributary, Chubut offers authentic, endlessly rewarding Patagonia fly fishing.

Our Northern Patagonia Program releases February 2026

Isolation Outfitters will be releasing our 2026/2027 Southern Hemisphere summer program for Northern Patagonia in February ‘26. We are preparing a series of 2-3 angler hosted trips exploring these three northern provinces from November 2026 through to February 2027.