Don Joaquin River Lodge

Set above the Corriente River, the veranda at Don Joaquín frames the water where it meets the Paraná, a few kilometres upstream from where the two rivers join. Leather armchairs, reclaimed wood furniture and French chandeliers fill the living and dining rooms, and wide windows keep the delta in view from breakfast onward. It is a working fishing lodge, not a resort. Boats leave at dawn for golden dorado, known locally as the tiger of the river, with local guides working fly rod, spinning gear and baitcasting tackle across islands, deltas and submerged timber. There are 12 rooms in total, split between four master suites, four doubles and four triples, each 38 square metres with air conditioning and a private bathroom; the suites add antique furniture, local textiles and a tub. Beyond fishing, the lodge runs horseback rides across the river and delta, half- and full-day wildlife safaris by 4x4 or boat, and a countryside spa for treatments after a long day on the water. Guests can also join a cheese and wine tasting served without labels, meant to be worked out by taste alone. Meals draw on regional cooking, and asado lunches are sometimes taken out on an island. The pool sits within the lodge grounds for the hours between outings. Ramón and Diego Solanet, raised in Esquina, run the operation and its guiding team.