Riding in Argentina

Estancia Los Potreros is a 6,000-acre working cattle farm that has remained in the same Anglo-Argentine family for four generations. The Estancia is secluded, on the top of the "Sierras Chicas" the oldest mountain range in South America, nestled between the pampas and the Andes in the heart of the beautiful region of Cordoba.

The Estancia dates from 1679 when breeding mules for the silver mines in Peru was the principal activity. Today the family home sets a high standard of professionalism in accommodation, food, riding and equine care, offering special attention to every guest’s needs. Your hosts, Kevin and Louisa Begg, delight in welcoming guests to share their home and lifestyle, providing a unique and unforgettable stay in first hand contact with the rural traditions of Argentina.

Whether your passion is for outstanding horses, beautiful scenery, walking, photography, bird-watching, soaking up the local culture or simply enjoying good company in a truly unique setting, Estancia Los Potreros has something for everyone.

Day 1: Friday, 5th October

London / Madrid

Depart London Heathrow on an Iberia evening flight to Madrid.

Day 2: Saturday, 6th October

Madrid / Cordoba / Estancia Los Potreros

Connect onto a very early morning Iberia flight on to Cordoba. On arrival in Cordoba in the morning, transfer to the Estancia Los Potreros where nine nights are spent. After settling into your room, there will be an introduction to the horses and the relaxed style of riding.

Lunch at the Estancia. Afternoon at leisure. Take a sunset ride to ‘The Top of the World’ to get your bearings and enjoy the spectacular views, and look out for condors.

Enjoy Kevin Begg´s famous wine-tasting, sampling some of the wines of the region, including Los Potreros own label wine, followed by dinner at the Estancia.

Day 3: Sunday, 7th October

Estancia Los Potreros

Ride to the waterfall, and take a refreshing dip in the pool.

Return to the estancia for lunch on the veranda, and after a well-earned siesta help the gauchos to round up the horse herd. Dinner at the Estancia.

Day 4: Monday, 8th October

Estancia Los Potreros

A full day ride with a picnic lunch to a local Dominican church, and to visit the local one-teacher rural school which is supported by Estancia Los Potreros and the kind contributions of its guests. The fabulously smooth and forward-going Paso Peruano horses make sure that the day in the saddle doesn’t feel quite so long! Dinner at the Estancia.

Day 5: Tuesday, 9th October

Estancia Los Potreros

No horse-riding holiday to Argentina would be complete without trying your hand at the ‘Sport of Kings’ – Polo! Ride down to the polo field, have a short lesson and some practice ‘stick and ball’ and then play a few chukkas of this highly addictive game.

A barbeque lunch at the polo field is followed by a visit to ‘El Vergel’, the oldest building on the estancia dating back to 1639. If that wasn’t enough, try your hand at ‘sortija’, a gaucho game on horseback that involves threading a stick through a small ring at speed. This day is in preparation of our final day tournament! Dinner at the Estancia.

Day 6: Wednesday, 10th October

Estancia Los Potreros

Ride to the north of the farm – Potrero de Niz – to soak up some of the family history of the farm. This was the original family home of the Begg’s some four generations ago, and the landscape is peppered with shrubs along running streams.

Lunch at the Estancia. Take to the corrals in the afternoon to see our horse-breaker at work. Dinner at the Estancia.

Day 7: Thursday, 11th October

Estancia Los Potreros

Another full day’s ride to the far south of the farm, enjoying a picnic by the stream next to a small museum in what used to be the house of Guido Buffo, an art and science lover, who built a unique chapel as a memorial to his wife and daughter. Dinner at the Estancia.

Day 8: Friday, 12th October

Estancia Los Potreros

Visit Chiviquin on horseback, the main working cattle part of the farm, perhaps seeing the gauchos in action with the Aberdeen Angus cattle which are the backbone of the farm today. Try your hand at lassoing, cutting or driving cattle across the hills. Ring the ‘Bellstone’ on the way back, and on returning to the estancia enjoy a traditional Argentine ‘asado’ and a leisurely afternoon dip in the pool. Dinner at the Estancia.

Day 9: Saturday, 13th October

Estancia Los Potreros

Day at leisure.

The Cordoba region is steeped in history, with a thriving rural community, thanks in part to the Jesuits. As with many communities, the area has been bound together by religion over the centuries, and now there are many examples of churches and places of worship scattered throughout the countryside. The Estancia is also an ideal place to set out and explore some of these national treasures, including the Jesuit estancia Santa Catalina, and the emblematic Candonga church. Lunch and dinner at the Estancia.

Day 10: Sunday, 14th October

Estancia Los Potreros

The Tournament! Argentina is renowned for having the best polo players in the world and here you will have your chance to play a tournament of this highly addictive game with some of our local players. The Cup, prizes, champagne and much more welcome the champions back at the estancia house.

The farewell dinner comprising of a famous Argentine “Asado” with beef from the estancia finishes off an amazing few days, with folkloric music, dancing and plenty of wine.