Enjoy life on the estancia and accompany the gauchos in their daily work. You can ride as much as you like. You can help to herd horses together, brand them and vaccinate them. Practice lassoing like a real Argentine gaucho.
You will stay at one of the historic estancias in the Corrientes region outside the town of Esquina - a very remote area that has hardly been touched by civilisation. This is rural Argentina, where the gaucho is a valued and important profession. Saddle up and become part of the daily life on the estancia! The national sport in Argentina is polo. You are welcome to join a few rounds of stick and ball polo on your own polo field - on excellent polo ponies.
Private lessons on request. Various activities and rides are offered for all levels.
Non-riders will be delighted by the immense abundance of birds and other wildlife. The surrounding waters are excellent for fishing.
The cook will be happy to prepare the fish you have caught yourself for dinner. Dinner is usually taken in the large dining room or outside by candlelight. If you would like to learn how to tango, there are even professional dancing instructors available.

Itinerary

Itinerary (example)

You accompany the gauchos in search of horses and cattle, drive them to the corrals and have lunch on the estancia. In the afternoon, you can practise polo or to ride through the magnificent, expansive landscape, which gives you a feeling of freedom. End the day with a cup of tea and a view over the lagoon.

Day 1: You arrive by night bus from Buenos Aires, rest a little or take a walk around the estancia and meet the family for lunch. If you have enough energy, you can also go on your first horse ride in the morning. On the afternoon ride, you explore the plains of the Corrientes region and enjoy your first liberating gallop across wide fields.

Day 2: Today you will experience a completely different landscape. You to ride through the pampas with its wide expanses of water and visit a rural school. Here you will get an intensive impression of the culture of the region. In the afternoon to ride (or ride in a horse-drawn carriage) through extensive forests and stop at a small grocery store, a "pulperia", on the way. This is where the gauchos get their supplies and meet for a drink. On the way back, your hosts will be waiting for you on the banks of the lagoon with afternoon tea. There is time to relax and admire the sunset on the horizon.
If you like, you can help milk the cows early in the morning. The Ranch produces its own milk and cheese.

3rd and 4th day: They actively accompany and support the gauchos in their tasks (rounding up horses and cattle, tagging, vaccinating, etc.). They locate scattered cattle and drive them back to the corrals. Time and again, individual animals try to escape. They have to be driven back to the herd. In the corral, the calves are separated from the cows on horseback and examined. After lunch and a short nap, you finish the work and drive the cattle back to the pastures. On the 4th day there are opportunities to fish in the Corrientes and Parana river.

Day 5: You set off on horseback to the Estancia Don Joaquin. Passing several estancias, you reach your picnic spot, an old corral in the middle of the vast landscape. You arrive at Don Joaquin in the afternoon. You will be delighted by the hospitality of the owners and the excellent food. Optional massages can be booked.

Day 6: In the morning to ride you will go to the nearest town- Esquina and visit it on horseback. Lunch in a nice restaurant on the riverbank and back to the estancia.

Day 7: In the morning you will practise polo with some stick and ball exercises or even a small polo match. After lunch, you will take the 11:25 bus back to Buenos Aires. If you wish, you can stay on the estancia in the afternoon, play another game of polo and only take the 22:40h night bus to Buenos Aires after dinner (small surcharge).
(Program schedule variable and open to your wishes)


Other available activities - included

• Stick and ball (polo)
• Fishing in the estancia's lagoons (equipment provided)
• Guided bird watching, binoculars, bird checklist

Other activities available - extra charge (upon request)

• Polo lessons with a 2-goal handicap instructor
• Polo match with 4 chuckers (book at least 15 days in advance)
• Sunset boat trip, 4 hours, max. 5 people per boat
• Full day fishing with boat (trolling or spinning) or max. 2 people for fly fishing
• Bird watching with special guide
• Tango lessons
• Massages
• Hunting: Mainly birds (partridge, duck, and pigeon)

 

Accomodation
Known for its comfort, the ranch is an old estancia in typical Corrientes style, with low ceilings and wide corridors. On site you will find a pool, a solarium, 2 living rooms (one of them with satellite TV), an evening room + thatched roof area (barbecue) ("quincho"), very spacious verandas and a private polo field. Laundry service and WIFI are available at no extra charge.

There are 8 rooms in total: 4 with private bathroom and 4 rooms with adjoining bathroom (1 bathroom for 2 rooms). All rooms are equipped with air conditioning and individual heating.

The meals are composed of regional and international cuisine. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the price.

All meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day are included. Breakfast, afternoon tea and appetizers are varied and rich. Regional lunches and gourmet dinners are offered. The meals are served with wines from renowned wineries. Special requests or intolerances can be taken into consideration by prior arrangement.Alle Mahlzeiten vom Mittagessen am ersten Tag bis zum Mittagessen am letzten Tag sind inbegriffen. Frühstück, Nachmittagstee und Vorspeisen sind vielfältig und reichhaltig. Angeboten werden regionale Mittagessen und Gourmet-Abendessen. Die Mahlzeiten werden mit Weinen von renommierten Weingütern serviert. Nach vorheriger Anmeldung kann gerne auf spezielle Essenswünsche oder Unverträglichkeiten Rücksicht genommen werden.

Saddle & Tack: Argentine saddles with sheepfur.

Experience: We ride in all gaits, but the riding speed is also adapted to the wishes and riding skills of the guests.

Horses: Criollo Mix and Polo Ponys.