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About Andes Journeys. |
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We are a travel agency specialized in angling destinations worldwide, we work with anglers looking for exceptional fly-fishing experiences. Based in Missoula, Montana, Andes Journeys LLC is owned and managed by partners Anne-Marie Williams and Cristian Dufflocq. Andes Journeys mission is to find and explore unique natural and cultural treasures. Anne-Marie (left) was born In New Zealand and has also lived in Tahiti, Chile and the United States. Cristian, a native from Chile, has been guiding anglers for more than 30 years. He is also a senior partner at Rios Azules Ltd., a Chilean outfitting company that owns and operates renown fly fishing destinations in Chile. Cristian has managed Fundo el Salto lodge and Estancia de los Rios lodge in Chilean Patagonia. For the past 15 consecutive seasons he has guided anglers to the Chilean Fjords aboard their 53 ft motor vessel; Rio Azul. He has a deep knowledge of the rivers of Chile & Patagonia and has explored fly fishing destinations in the most remote corners of the world. Andes Journeys LLC is a proud member of the American Society of Travel Agents, ASTA.
OUR STORY Our passion for fly fishing started very early in our lives. (see this picture). Like many kids, this passion was passed along from our fathers, following a long family tradition that started with our father Adrian Dufflocq in 1959 when he first started guiding anglers in the rivers of central Chile, then with a mayor step in 1963 when he built his fly fishing lodge along the famous Cumilahue river in Chile's lakes district and continues uninterrupted to this day. After guiding at our family's lodge for many years, we started our own outfitting company Rios Azules Ltd. Based in Chile and owned by my brother Marcelo (right) Dufflocq our friend Claudio Pumarino and Cristian Dufflocq. Our families loved fly fishing and living in a country like Chile, they took full advantage of the many opportunities to pursue this passion. In those early days in the mid 1960's, most of the rivers and lakes in the south of Chile and Patagonia, were practically unknown and very difficult to get to. The lack of information and vast unexplored areas of Chile lead to the birth of another passion, exploration of remote rivers and lakes. As long as we can remember we listened attentively as our parents and grand parents talked with great passion about fantastic fly fishing trips in remote territories of southern Chile & Patagonia. As soon as we were old enough we followed them on wonderful fly fishing adventures and later continued exploring for dream-like rivers in far away river valleys in the Andes of Chile. One day we took out our maps and started organizing a fly fishing expedition to explore deeper into the Andes of Chile search of a lost valley where there were rumors of a beautiful river teeming with wild Brown trout. To make a "short story long", we got to this valley and all of our expectations were fulfilled and surpassed. At the end of the most amazing week where we fished miles and miles of rivers without another human in sight. We felt that we had to share this wonderful place with other passionate anglers and right then and there decided to start our first fly fishing lodge in Chile, Estancia de los Rios. My brother Marcelo decided to quit his job as an agricultural expert and chose to manage and guide at the new fly fishing lodge. Claudio and I were going to support the new venture through our respective engineering jobs. And the rest, as they say, is history. Today after 20 years, we continue exploring remote corners of Chile in search of greater fishing and beautiful natural wonders. We currently own and operate the leading fly fishing lodges in Chile, each one located in what we believe are the best areas for fly fishing in Chile. We invite you to share our passion.
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©2007-2011 Andes Journeys, Llc. All content and photography in this web site may not be reproduced without permission.