Fly Fishing on Private Andean River Including Barbecue Lunch

About this tour

When Tom from our team headed out on this full-day fly fishing trip in Mendoza's Uco Valley, he found himself alone on a private stretch of fast-flowing river with rainbow and brown trout rising regularly. The setup is honest: you're based at a mountain ranch in one of Argentina's most isolated valleys, fishing from the bank with all gear supplied. The real highlight hits at 2pm when your guide fires up a proper asado with local beef and Mendoza wine overlooking the water. It's eight hours total, including the drive from Mendoza city, and works equally well for absolute beginners and keen anglers.

Highlights

• Solitary access to private river sections — no crowds, just you and the trout
• Asado lunch at 2pm featuring grass-fed beef and regional wines
• Desert wildlife: foxes, distant puma sightings, and soaring condors overhead
• All fishing gear and waders sorted; no prior experience needed
• Mountain ranch setting in genuinely remote Andean valleys
• Afternoon fishing session after lunch when water cools
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Mendoza included

What to expect

You'll be collected from your Mendoza hotel early and driven toward the high desert valleys of Uco — roughly 90 minutes of scenery. Once at the ranch, your guide fits you out with rod and flies, then walks you down to your stretch of river. Expect to be casting within an hour. The water moves fast and the trout respond; Tom's guide read the conditions well and offered real-time coaching without being overbearing. You'll fish steadily until around 1:30pm, when you head back to the ranch.

Then comes the barbecue. A proper spread of beef, fresh salads, and wine appears, and you eat overlooking the valley. It's a genuine pause, not rushed. Afternoon fishing resumes around 3:30pm and runs until pickup around 6pm. The whole day has a relaxed rhythm — you're not hammering it non-stop, and the guide manages the pace so you're not knackered by the end.

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