Deep in Chile’s Aysén Region, Melimoyu Lodge sits beneath its namesake volcano amidst pristine Patagonian wilderness.
It is surrounded by ancient Valdivian rainforest and a vast network of crystalline rivers, hanging glaciers, and lakes. Nearby lies the 105,500-hectare Melimoyu National Park, much of which can only be reached by water or air.
Owner Segundo Gomez originally built the lodge as a private retreat, later opening it to travellers drawn here by the exceptional fly-fishing and sheer remoteness of the landscape. Days are spent fishing wild rivers, hiking through native forest and exploring with guides who know this seldom-visited corner of Patagonia intimately. Let us take you there.
What we love about Melimoyu Lodge
- Just four rooms and a maximum of eight guests at any given time – meaning the attentive staff are able to cater to visitors’ nearly every need.
- Dinners are multi-course affairs served at a communal table, fostering a sense of community among guests.
- The organic greenhouse and riverside quincho (barbecue pavilion) for traditional Patagonian asados (barbecues).
- The incredibly open, welcoming lounge with massive windows framing the surrounding landscapes.
- The Rio Melimoyu runs through the heart of the property, passing by two wood-fired hot tubs where you can relax after a long day of adventuring.
- The incredible all-inclusive exploration programme includes fishing, boat trips, hikes, all with a bilingual Spanish-English guide.
Melimoyu Lodge is renowned for its fly fishing, particularly for salmon and various types of trout.
For keen anglers, fishing licences, Patagonia waders and boots, fly-fishing lessons and even fly-tying sessions are all included.
In addition to fishing, the lodge offers a variety of excursions and outdoor activities, including kayaking, hiking, buggy rides, and mountain biking, along with trips to Queulat National Park and the Piti Palena Fjord.
The lodge’s on-staff fishing guides are true experts, passionate about their craft. They lead guests to neighbouring rivers and streams by ATV’s, or to secluded lakes and lagoons by helicopter. At the end of the day, the riverside hot tub is an ideal location for cocktails.
The lodge is located in the heart of Torres del Paine, a national park in Chilean Patagonia and the southern tiers of the Andes.
To reach Explora Torres Del Paine, you can fly into Santiago, Chile, and then take a connecting flight to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales. From there, Explore can provide private transfers that take you through the Patagonian landscape to the lodge. The journey from Punta Arenas takes about five hours by car, while from Puerto Natales, it takes around two hours.
When to Travel
While Melimoyu is a year-round destination, our favourite time to visit this part of Patagonia is from November to April. January is often the warmest month, with average temperatures of 17°C (62°F), and January is the driest.
During the summer (December – February), the coasts of Melimoyu are estimated to be home to 10% of the world’s population of cetaceans, and blue whales, orcas, and humpbacks can often be spotted feeding along its shores.
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Looking for more inspiration?
Financial Times: In Patagonia – Another Journey to the End of the World
Remote Routes: Four Extraordinary Road Trips in Chile and Argentina
Condé Nast Traveller: The Tempestuous Magic of Chilean Patagonia
