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Rio Palena Lodge
Palena, Chile · Eleven Experience · Core Luxury
Eleven Experience bought an old fly-fishing lodge on Chile's Rio Palena and, in managing director Ian Wick's words, took it down to the studs, rebuilding it into a seven-room, 45-acre hideaway with a wraparound terrace over the river. It opened in November 2019, closed four months later when COVID hit, and reopened in December 2020 as a fully staffed base for helicopter-supported fly fishing, rafting, glacier treks, and heli-skiing in northern Patagonia.
- 7 rooms
- Opened 2019
- Neighborhood: El Malito
- Rooms from 162 sq ft (15 m²)
About Rio Palena Lodge
- The 45-acre property has seven en-suite rooms that can host up to fourteen guests, plus a helipad used for heli-fishing, heli-skiing, and glacier trips.
- The lodge closed only four months after its November 2019 opening when COVID-19 hit the region, and did not reopen until December 2020.
- Wood-fired hot tubs and a sauna sit alongside the wraparound river terrace, part of the full gut renovation that turned a working fly-fishing lodge into an all-inclusive adventure base.
- Entry-level rooms start at 162 sq ft (15 m²).
History
Rio Palena Lodge is Eleven Experience's remote adventure retreat set on the banks of the Rio Palena in the untouched northern Patagonia region of Chile's Los Lagos. The Colorado-based luxury adventure company Eleven purchased an old fly-fishing lodge near the town of Palena and, in the words of managing director Ian Wick, "took it down to the studs," transforming it into a seven-room, 45-acre hideaway with a wraparound terrace overlooking the river.
The reimagined lodge first opened in November 2019, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to force its closure roughly four months later; it effectively re-launched in December 2020. Today it operates as a fully staffed, all-inclusive base for helicopter-supported adventures ranging from fly fishing and rafting to glacier treks and heli-skiing.
Restaurants and bars
- Outpost — Restaurant
Experiences
- The Asado Dinner at the Outpost — Gaucho-style evening a short stroll from the lodge: traditional grills, outdoor ovens, archery, music and cueca dances.
- Whitewater Rafting on the Futaleufú River — Class 3–5 rapids with seasoned guides, drysuits and PFDs; included in stay.
- Walk and Wade Fishing — Fish for rainbow and brown trout from the lodge's location on Rio Palena, with casting instruction on the lawn or pond. Included in stay.
- Float Fishing — Two anglers and one guide per boat on upper and lower Rio Palena and Lago Yelcho; included in stay.
- Heli-Fishing — Helicopter flights to fish high-country rivers and remote lakes such as Lago X and Lago Rosas; fee varies.
- Heli-Accessed Glacier Hiking — Land on glaciers to explore the ice with crampons and trekking gear; up to two heli-assisted activities included.
Amenities
- Bar and game room (darts, billiards)
- Two helipads
- On-property outpost for asado celebrations
- Large deck
- Common area snack and drink assortment
- Chef-prepared breakfast, lunch, après and dinner
- Asado dinner experience
- House beer, wine, liquor and non-alcoholic beverages
- Custom pre-arrival planning with Experience Team
- Ground transfers to and from activities
- Guided adventures with all gear included
Open Rio Palena Lodge in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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