Itinerary Inspiration | Gaucho Life

Estancias

of Argentina

Best of rural Argentina

Arrive to Cordoba to commence your nine-night journey. Check into Estancia los Potreros for a three-night stay, a working family-run ranch on 6500 acres of land. The family know the land well – having lived there for four generations, and having fostered a reputation for personalised serviced and a friendly atmosphere, a family-based stay will be perfect for you all. Make the most of riding out and about the farm, perhaps watching the gauchos bring in the young horses to stop them from the puma, help move and count cattle, try lassoing or polo, or aside from ‘horse-based’ experiences perhaps take a dip in the many nearby natural rock pools, admire the land and its flora and fauna.

Fly down to Bariloche and the journey continues at Huechahue, also a family-run working farm in Argentinean Patagonia. Explore some of its 15,000 acres, its rivers and canyons and the Andes Mountains in the distance. Enjoy more riding along with fishing, hiking, birdwatching, rafting, swimming and with the opportunity here to learn about the Native Indian past. At the end of the day enjoy gaucho life with home-cooked food and a roaring fireplace for storytime.

The final leg of your itinerary takes you South once more, right into the heart of Patagonia and its wilderness. Arrive at El Calafate and after an hour or so driving past stunning scenery, arrive to Nibepo Aike. A sheep-breeding farm in a rural environment in Los Glacieres National Park, the Argentine Gaucho experience lives on. Hike in the National Park, explore the ranch, sail to the glaciers, ride, watch cattle and the general farm life that continues to evolve each day.

10 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS

DAY 1 | CORDOBA

Arrive to Cordoba and road transfer for approx. 1.5 hours to reach and check into Estancia Los Potreros. The afternoon is at leisure to rest and acquaint to the surroundings.

DAY 2 | CORDOBA

Enjoy activities at the estancia such as trail riding, working alongside the gauchos or challenging yourself at gaucho games.

DAY 3 | CORDOBA

Participate in more activities onsite as a family and as Argentine gauchos such bringing in the foals and the cattle or maybe you might elect to swim in a waterfall and ride more on the horses.

DAY 4 | NEUQUEN

Road transfer back to Cordoba airport and fly to San Martin de los Andes. After a 40 minute drive, reach Estancia Huechahue and check in with the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure.

DAY 5 | NEUQUEN

Enjoy a day of riding at the estancia with an asado lunch. Ride through the Huechahue stream, explore where the Andes rise and with the vastness of Patagonia before you.

DAY 6 | NEUQUEN

Spend the morning riding before heading out with the gauchos working with cattle. Stop for lunch – beef cooked on an open fire. After a siesta, try your hand at separating the cows on horseback, or perhaps lassoing.

DAY 7 | EL CALAFATE

Road transfer back to San Martin del los Andes and fly to El Calafate. After an hour’s drive check into Nibepo Aike and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.

DAY 8 | EL CALAFATE

Spend part of the day together either on the South Glacier Adventure departing in the morning or on the South Pioneers Glacier leaving after lunch. Head out for the earlier/later part of your day hiking in Los Glaciares National Park

DAY 9 | EL CALAFATE

Enjoy farming activities such as horseback riding on and around the estancia, cattle branding, sheep shearing, learning about the orchard and general gaucho life.

DAY 10 | END OF ARRANGEMENTS

Check out after breakfast and return to El Calafate town where your journey comes to an end.

WHERE YOU’LL STAY

A selection of unique working ranches and estancias

Estancia Los Potreros – Cordoba

Estancia Los Potreros is a working cattle farm, delightfully secluded at the top of the Sierras Chicas in the heart of beautiful Córdoba. Accommodation is simple and traditional but provides all the necessary creature comforts. Enjoy an unforgettable adventure filled with the rural traditions of Argentina. Read More

Estancia Huechahue – San Martin

Estancia Huechahue is a working cattle ranch in Argentine Patagonia near San Martin de los Andes. During your stay onsite discover life as a gaucho and spend days riding out through the vast Patagonian landscape of huge open plains and flat topped hills, following rivers and streams that twist through rocky canyons. Read More

Nibepo Aike – near El Calafate

Estancia Nibepo Aike is located inside Los Glaciares National Park, on the banks of the Southern Arm of Lago Argentino, approximately 1.5 hours from El Calafate. During your stay join in on the rural work in the corrals (cattle branding, dressage, milking), cattle herding and sheep shearing along with participating in authentic rural life. Read More

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