Esquina Gaucho Week

Introduction
Corrientes Argentina
Enjoy estancia life and join the gauchos on their daily activities!

Ride as much as you wish: help rounding horses and cattle, pitch in with branding, vaccination and use the lasso as a work tool in the real environment of an Argentinean Gaucho. You stay at one of the historic estancias of the Corrientes region outside of Esquina - a very remote area still largely untouched by civilization. This is rural Argentina, where the Gaucho is a valued and important profession. Ride out with us and become part of the daily activities.

Of course the national sport is polo, so you are invited to join us for some "Stick and Ball" on the private polo field - on excellent Polo ponies. Private lessons are also available on request.

There are activities and horseback rides for all levels. Non riders will be delighted by the immense bird and wildlife in the countryside. Fishing opportunities are available in the large river system - catch a Dorado and we will cook it for you at night. Dinners are usually in the great dining room or outside with candlelight. Professional Tango dancers are available to teach you the Tango - Argentina Style - with passion and romance.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so all nights are spent in the same location.

Description
Located 620km Northeast from the Federal Capital, Esquina, Province of Corrientes “Argentine Mesopotamia”, our family, for several generations, has been breeding cattle and enjoying life. Our authentic estancia first opened its doors to visitors during the 90's, and has since showed them the Corrientes province and its enchantments. Well-known for offering comfort, the ranch is an old estancia of typical Correntino style, low ceilings and ample galleries. Onsite you'll find a swimming pool, solarium, 2 living-rooms (one of them with Satellite TV), dinner room + Thatched asado (barbecue) area: (“Quincho”), very spacious verandas, and our own polo field. 
Laundry and WIFI are available at no extra cost.

We have 8 rooms total: 7 with private bathrooms and 1 rooms with adjoining bathroom. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioning units, individual heating and maid service on a daily basis. Supplied with all grooming amenities

Room Occupancy
Single supplement is mandatory if you are traveling as a single rider.




Meals
All meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7 are included. 

In our menus, textures, smells, colours, flavours, and decoration are taken into account. Breakfasts, afternoon teas, and appetizers are varied and abundant. We offer regional lunches and gourmet dinners.

Our meals are served with wines coming from renowned wineries (included). 

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to all dietary restrictions given prior notice. 

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Level
This trip is all about you! We welcome all riding levels, from those who have never been on a horse to those who have been in a saddle all their life. All rides are gauged to your measure. They may be unguided or guided, so long as you are a good rider. For several hours a day you will be able to ride excellent horses, every day if you wish. You will be able to choose how long each of your rides will take. From cattle work to polo games, there are so many options that it will be difficult for you to experience all of them. You may even be able to ride by moonlight!

Horses
We have over 180 horses  at our Estancia, so can guarantee we'll find a match for you! Our horses are born, raised, and trained at the Estancia. We therefore instill proper care of our horses and ensure they are trustworthy for riders. If your stay coincides with the training process you will be able to watch and/or take part. (Participation is limited by prioritization of safety reasons).

Itinerary


Experience country life. Accompany gauchos in their search for horses or cattle, driving them to the corral for work, have lunch at the estancia and in the afternoon practice a little polo or go riding along the countryside enjoying the feeling of freedom given by this immense landscape. Finish your day with a cup of tea at dawn overlooking the lagoon.


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 0: Transfer to Estancia
Depart from the bus depot in Buenos Aires for the 8:30 PM luxury sleeper bus transfer to Esquina, arriving the next day at 4:30am. 
(The bus can be booked directly by you or by us. Please let us know your preference at the time of booking)
Dinner is included in the overnight bus service.
No overnight included

Day 1: Arrival & Introductory Ride
Arrive by overnight sleeper bus from Buenos Aires in the morning, check in, rest, stroll around the estancia and meet the family for lunch. If you are very energetic - you can even go for a short morning ride. A nice afternoon horse ride takes you along the Corrientes gaucho plains, experiencing various landscapes on your first canter across the wide open fields.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Estancia

Day 2: Pampas Ride
Today the landscape is different and new because we will be heading up the pampas, large water extensions and we will be visiting a rural school, a place where you will understand cultural issues of the region. In the afternoon, on horseback or by horse-cart, we will ride along native forests, stopping in an authentic grocery store or “pulperia” (place where gauchos buy their basic provisions and have a drink). Before getting to back the house our hosts will be waiting for us next to the lagoon with a cup of afternoon tea. Here, we relax and enjoy the calm of the countryside and the sunset at the horizon.
*If you like: watch or participate in milking the cows in the morning before breakfast. The ranch produces its own milk and cheese.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Estancia

Day 3 & 4: Helping Gauchos
We accompany and actively participate in gauchos tasks (herding horses and cattle, marking, vaccination, etc.). We go out looking for stray cattle and bring them back to the corrals. Along the way we chase after calves and cattle that try to escape and bring them back into the herd. Once in the corral, we will separate cows from calves on horseback to be able to start sanitation works. After lunch and a short nap, we finish our work taking the cattle back out to the range. There are some fishing opportunities on Day 4 in the Corrientes and Parana Rivers.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Estancia

Day 5: Ride to neighboring Estancia
We begin our trip to a local Estancia. Passing various estancias and local people along the way, we reach our lunch place, an old coral lost in the immense landscape. In the afternoon we arrive at the estancia. We will be delighted with the owners’ hospitality and excellent homemade food. Optional massages are available.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Estancia

Day 6: Esquina Ride
In the morning we begin our trip to the nearest town, Esquina. Sightseeing on our horses. Lunch in a particular restaurant in the river’s coastline and back to the estancia.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Estancia

Day 7: Polo & Departure
We enjoy some Stick and Ball and maybe even a short Polo game in the morning before lunch.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Note: Itinerary subject to change and open for your suggestions



Other Available Activities - no extra cost
-Stick and ball
-Fishing on the Estancias Lagoons (we provide all needed)
-Bird watching (not guided by bilingual, we provide somebody to help to find the best places (not a specialist on birds but somebody that know the fields perfectly), binoculars, bird check list.

Other Available Activities - extra cost (please inquire)
-Polo lessons by 2 goals handicap teacher
-Polo match 4 chuckers (book minimum 15 days in  advance )
-Sunset Boat Excursion 4 hrs. Maximun 5 persons per boat 
-Full fishing day by boat (trolling or spinning), or 2 fisherman max on fly fishing.
-Bird watching with specialist guide
-Tango lessons
-Massages
-Hunting: Mainly bird (partridge, ducks and pigeon)

Rates and Dates for Esquina Gaucho Week

Dates Note: Arrival is available daily. Shorter stays possible.
Daily rate set per day, not per night as arrival is 5:00am and departure is 11:00pm.

Other Info
Meeting: Esquina
Airport: Buenos Aires
Transfer: Buenos Aires by luxury sleeper bus

Climate:
                                                Santa Fe area