About

The El Encuentro Difference

From our early days, we know that the best fishing trips are about much more than just the fishing.

It’s the friendships that develop between you and your guide as you refine your fishing skills. It’s about being immersed in the culture of Patagonia, with all the tastes, sights, and sounds that are unique to our part of the world. It’s the stunning scenery, and watching large, wild trout rise silently on a gin-clear river miles from other anglers. And at the end of the day, it’s about enjoying great conversations over a glass of local malbec as the sun sets over the Andes.

These are the memories that will stay with you long after you have returned home.

To make sure you have those memories and many more, we listen to your fishing priorities and what you want to take home with you from your trip. Mixing this information from you with our many decades of fishing and our deep roots in the area, we’re able to create a unique experience tailored specifically for you. We mean that!

Thanks to our family’s long-standing ties within the region, we have acquired exclusive access to some of the most productive waters in this part of Patagonia. We have created distinctive lodging options to ensure you’re well taken care of at the end of each day.

We’re looking forward to working closely with you in planning your ideal Argentine fly fishing experience — and to welcoming you to the ever-growing list of El Encuentro clients whom we are honored to consider our friends.

Video: El Encuentro

Learn about El Encuentro Fly Fishing in this short video narrated by owner Benjamin Beale, as he shares his perspectives on the El Encuentro fly fishing experience, and how he and his staff strive to deliver a custom-crafted trip for every guest.

Our Team

Our History

El Encuentro Fly Fishing's legacy is all about family. Our home lodge, El Encuentro, was built by our grandmother in the early 1980s with a vision to establish a place where her children and grandchildren could gather for generations to come on the banks of the scenic Rio Grande/Futaleufú — in fact, El Encuentro means meeting place in Spanish.

By 1985, Grannie's daughter, Jane Pettit, and husband Michael Beale, started welcoming fishing guests to share in the remarkable experiences that were enjoyed from their compound. Michael, a seasoned guide himself, taught all five of his children — Benjamin, Nicolas, Tomas, Antonia, and Cecila — about fly fishing, Argentine culture, and the land they call home.

Today, El Encuentro is proud to offer the authentic warmth of our Argentine family-owned business combined with unparalleled opportunities to create what many have described as the ultimate Patagonian fly fishing experience.

  • "How lucky are we to go exploring all the fabulous waters of Patagonia with the most caring, fun and thoughtful guides… and then to return to the warmth of El Encuentro, always like coming home!"

    — PAM & BILL B., MONTANA USA

  • “This trip will be one of the most memorable trips of my life. Thank you for the wonderful food, fishing, and enlightened conversations. I hope to return to see everyone again.”

    — ODOM W., TEXAS USA

  • “The lodge is so beautiful and comfortable, and the food has really been next level. Josefina has been a great host and Marcelo has been one of the best guides I have fished with. Thank you so much!”

    — STEVE JENSEN, WILD ON THE FLY

  • “It’s difficult to put into words to sum up our experience, but I’ll try: what a time we had, the fishing far exceeded our expectations; your guides are without doubt the finest we have ever had the pleasure to fish with; the accommodations first rate”

    — BILL G., UNITED KINGDOM

Let’s Start Planning

We are excited to design an unforgettable Patagonia fly fishing experience for you.