The Pampas, San Antonio de Areco

This excursion involves a visit to a historic estancia (country home) located on the Pampas, central Argentina's famed prairie, near the town of San Antonio de Areco. This charming town is located about an hour from downtown Buenos Aires and is notable as being the hub of Argentine gaucho tradition. It abounds with folk history, so much so that the area inspired famed Argentine author José Hernández's epic poem, Martín Fierro. The fictional narrative is told as a ballad, recounting the exploits of its eponymous hero as he endures life on the frontier. The poem represents the spirit of rural Argentina, which you'll feel all around you in San Antonio.

As for lodging, visitors stay at El Ombú de Areco, a late-colonial-style mansion built in 1880. It sits on expansive green grounds and offers visitors a magnificent setting for an unforgettable stay in the Argentine countryside. There are a wide variety of activities on offer, including horseback riding, hiking, or sightseeing in an old-fashioned, horse-drawn carriage. This estancia is also a working farm, and visitors can observe typical ranch-style activities such as herding animals, branding cattle, and milking cows. In the evening, the estancia serves a typical Argentine asado (barbecue) accompanied by musical performances and folkloric dance presentations.