Aguas Arriba Lodge

What Aguas Arriba Lodge does

Aguas Arriba Lodge is an exclusive boutique hospitality operation located on 1,700 acres of private property on the east bank of Lago del Desierto in Argentine Patagonia, 37 km from El Chaltén and 15 km from Los Glaciers National Park. Founded and owner-operated by Ivor Matovic and Pato García, the lodge was constructed over three years using salvaged wood from partially burnt Patagonian forest and accommodates a maximum of 12 guests across five smoke-free suites: two Fitz Roy corner suites (20-27 sqm) with views of Mount Fitz Roy and Vespignani Glacier, and three Glacier Suites (17-20 sqm) with front-lake views. The property is accessible only by a 15-minute boat transfer from the lake's south point or a 3-hour forest hike, creating a natural exclusivity barrier, and operates seasonally from November through March.

The business model is direct-to-consumer all-inclusive full-board lodging, priced per person per night in USD, with a 3-night minimum stay and tiered seasonal rates across Mid (Nov 1-Dec 22, Feb 15-Mar 31), High (Jan 7-Feb 14), and Festive (Dec 23-Jan 6) seasons, with Festive Season bookings being non-refundable. Ancillary revenue streams include private fly fishing guide services (USD 155-200 per guest), private trekking and specialized guides (USD 180-350 per day), equipment rental, and fishing permits. The lodge employs approximately 13 staff supporting an operation with no third-party booking intermediaries; reservations are handled via website contact form and email, with 30% deposits due within 7 days and balance payments 30 days before arrival. Marketing is concentrated on organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) and TripAdvisor, where the property has earned the Traveller's Choice Certificate of Excellence for eight consecutive years.

The technology stack is intentionally minimal: satellite internet and limited connectivity infrastructure designed to deliver a digital-detox experience, with no cell phone signal on the property. There is no proprietary software, no mobile application, no API integrations, and no disclosed data assets. The customer base draws from international adventure and luxury travelers — primarily from the US, UK, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada — seeking fly fishing, high-mountain trekking, photography, birdwatching, and wellness experiences in remote Patagonian wilderness.

Name

Aguas Arriba Lodge

Legal name

Aguas Arriba Lodge

Website

https://aguasarribalodge.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aguas Arriba Lodge is an owner-operated boutique wilderness lodge on 1,700 private acres on Lago del Desierto in Argentine Patagonia, accommodating up to 12 guests in five suites for direct-to-consumer all-inclusive stays focused on trekking, fly fishing, and wellness.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Eco-Lodge Hospitality

NAICS

Accommodation (721), All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Lodges (Sustainable/Nature-Based) (THAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE), Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE), Eco-Lodges (Low-Impact, Nature-Integrated Lodging) (THAAAHAA)

Keywords

• Luxury eco-lodge
• Patagonia adventure tourism
• Guided fly fishing
• Private trekking experiences
• Wilderness hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

El Chaltén

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Full Board Accommodation: All-inclusive lodging package including accommodation, breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks/tea, dinner, non-alcoholic beverages, daily guided trekking activities, yoga/meditation sessions, boat transfers from South Point, and entrance to private properties (Huemul & Vespignani Glacier). Rates quoted per person per night in USD.
2. Guided Fishing Services: Private fly fishing guide services and equipment rental. Full day guide: USD 200 per guest, half day: USD 155 per guest. Equipment rental (waders, rods, boots): USD 40+TAX per guest per stay. Fishing license available upon request.
3. Private Trekking Guides: Specialized high mountain trekking guides available for hire. Private trekking guide: USD 180+TAX NET per day per reservation. Specialized guides (birdwatching, geology): USD 350+TAX NET per day per reservation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aguas Arriba Lodge operates a five-suite, twelve-guest boutique lodge on 1700 acres of private property on Lago del Desierto in Argentine Patagonia, offering full-board accommodation, guided trekking on private trails, fly fishing on the lake, yoga and meditation sessions, and gourmet regional cuisine. Access is exclusively by a 15-minute boat transfer from the lake's south point or a 3-hour forest hike.

Product overview

Aguas Arriba Lodge is an exclusive boutique lodge hotel offering a unified hospitality experience in Argentine Patagonia. The property features five well-appointed smoke-free suites (two Fitz Roy premium corner suites and three Glacier front-lake suites) providing accommodation for up to 12 guests. The experience centers on immersive nature activities including guided trekking on private trails, fly fishing on Lago del Desierto, and wellness sessions combining yoga and meditation in forest settings. All-inclusive dining features fresh, homemade regional cuisine. Access to the remote lodge is via a 15-minute boat ride or a 3-hour forest hike from the lake's south point.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fitz Roy Suites Two premium corner suites (20-27 sqm) with views of Mount Fitz Roy and Vespignani Glacier, featuring three large windows and private bathrooms; can be configured as double or twin and located on ground or upper floor.
• Glacier Suites Three front-lake view premium suites (17-20 sqm) on the upper floor of the lodge with views of Lago del Desierto and Vespignani Glacier, with private bathrooms; configurable as double, twin, or triple occupancy.
• Trekking & Hiking Experiences Guided and self-guided trekking excursions on private trails within the lodge's 1700 acres, including medium and high-difficulty hikes to glaciers, mountains, and forests in Argentine Patagonia.
• Fly Fishing Fly fishing experiences on Lago del Desierto with access to rainbow and brown trout averaging 1-2 kg, including private guide services, equipment rental, and fishing permits.
• Yoga and Meditation Yoga and mindfulness sessions practiced in the forest or inside a dome, offering wellness activities for guests seeking contact with nature and meditation.
• Gourmet Cuisine Full-board dining service featuring fresh, local, and regional products with homemade recipes, including breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner, and customized menus for dietary restrictions.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Llao Llao Hotel & Resort: Iconic large-scale luxury resort in Argentine Patagonia (Bariloche). Broader incumbent in the same country and Patagonia region but serves a different (resort/MICE) segment and is not focused on remote wilderness exclusivity.
• Six Senses: Global luxury hospitality brand operating remote, low-impact resorts with strong wellness and sustainability narratives. Comparable on eco-luxury positioning and digital-detox/wellness guest segments, though at much larger scale and broader geography.
• Belmond: Global collection of luxury hotels including remote wilderness and safari-style properties. Comparable on ultra-luxury experiential lodging and curated activity programming, though at portfolio scale across multiple geographies.
• &Beyond: Operator of luxury, low-density safari and wilderness lodges across Africa with strong conservation branding. Comparable on exclusive private-property lodge model, guided nature activities, and HNW nature-traveler positioning, though in a different geography.

Direct peers

• Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa: Boutique adventure hotel inside Torres del Paine National Park offering all-inclusive programs with guided excursions and a spa. Comparable on Patagonian wilderness positioning, all-inclusive pricing structure, and activity-led stays.
• Estancia Cristina: Historic Argentine estancia in Los Glaciares National Park offering upscale lodging and guided glacial/trekking excursions. Comparable on remote Argentine Patagonia all-inclusive experience near El Chaltén.
• Awasi Patagonia: Ultra-luxury private-villa lodge near Torres del Paine with all-inclusive packages, private guides per guest, and a similar low-density, high-touch wilderness model. Highly comparable on exclusivity, ADR, and guest profile.
• Explora Patagonia: Premium all-inclusive adventure lodge in Torres del Paine, Chile, targeting affluent international travelers with guided trekking and exclusive trail access. Closest direct comparable in positioning, pricing tier, and experiential offering to Aguas Arriba Lodge.
• Eolo Patagonia Lodge: All-inclusive luxury lodge near El Calafate with curated daily excursions and views of the Patagonian steppe and Lago Argentino. Comparable on Argentine Patagonia all-inclusive model and high-net-worth adventure traveler focus.
• The Singular Patagonia: Luxury heritage-property lodge on the Last Hope Sound in Chilean Patagonia offering full-board with excursions. Comparable on premium pricing, immersive nature experiences, and small-capacity luxury positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrfuqL2_28gqr_So48NGFpA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AguasArribaLodge
• Instagraminstagram.com/aguasarribalodge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aguasarribalodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aguas Arriba Lodge