The Real Gaucho Experience at La Pampa
La Pampa is immensity, infinite horizons, it’s riding untamed lands with no limit, no boundaries, it’s the dream of any rider! Indeed, La Pampa is where civilization gives away to the wild landscape. This old ranch has more than 35 hectares and hostos thousands of cows, as cattle raising has been and is still their main business.
The estancia is located 150 km away from Santa Rosa – the capital city of the province of La Pampa – and it’s located very close from where the Desert Road starts (a 200 km road that joins La Pampa province to Neuquen province in North Patagonia). This makes this place a strategic point to stop when travelling by car to Northern Patagonia.
This is for sure one of the most special places we have to offer because it has very unique characteristics such as: countless kilometers to gallop, with a sandy floor, allowing riders to feel free. Is also home to a great variety of fauna such as guanacos, foxes, mountain lions, deers, antelopes and hundreds of birds. On top of Southern Patagonia lands, there is no other place in Argentina with such open spaces to discover and canter free.
History
Long ago, around in 1907, Mr. Juan Harriet decided to be independent and strat its own business of breeding cows. For that, he rode for hundreds of miles along with 6 other friends to the region of Chubut in North Patagonia. Let’s remind ourselves, that during those time Patagonian lands were inhabited by Araucano’s indians, and these lands were like the south america far west. Thanks to his riding ability and social skills he managed to make good friendships with the Indians and finally he got back with 5000 cows all the way to where today is his ranch in La Pampa. Since then, the ranch has been in the same family and they have managed to keep on breeding cows till nowadays.
Fauna
La Pampa is mostly plain with some sand hills making its landscape really special. Is not a complete desert, thanks to some water streams that run along the territory creating oasis which make good grass to grow in the area, specially good to feed cows.
Low bushes forest can be found around the whole territory, and there are many animals who have chosen these lands for the home.
- Destination
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Departure
Santa Rosa
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Departure Time
10 am
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Return Time
2 pm
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Included
AccomodationAdvancedAlcoholic DrinksBreakfastDinnerFull Board AccomodationLunchLuxuryprivate GuidesRiding HorsesTransport
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Not Included
BeginnerCaballos de equitaciónEconomicEndurance HorsesEquipmentGimnasioHalf Board AccomodationIntermediateJumping HorsesLocal ToursPolo HorsesSpaTickets to National Parks
From our gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Getting to the ranch from Buenos Aires is pretty easy, either a one hour and a half flight from Buenos Aires main airport or a 7 hour drive by car or bus from BA to Santa Rosa city. Once in La Pampa, the hosts of the ranch (Mery & Juan) will pick up riders and take them to the main house of the estancia. According to the arrival time, riders will first settle in their rooms and then if is still early they will be able to do a short ride in order to get to know the horses and hosts will be able to see their riding level, but also it will be time to meet the gauchos that will teach them how they work with their livestock the following day. Lets remember this whole experience is to get involve with the gaucho culture and the farm traditions in Argentina.
During the night, dinner will take place at the luxury lodge, probably having as a main course a patagonian lamb or any other local menu. While enjoying dinner with the hosts, they will discuss and plan the agenda for the following day.
Day 2: Feeling like a real gaucho! This is an authentic working estancia so guests will adapt to what the gaucho's weekly agenda which usually includes activities such as herding the huge cow rodeos, vaccinating, healing them, etc. This is one of the only places you will see gauchos work with ¨boleadoras” - an old indian instrument.
After a good breakfast, riders will get ready to go and meet gauchos and horses and strat the working day. Those riders who want to really get involved, they will be able to get and tack their own horses. The ranch is so big that the cows always need to be herd, so probably the main task will be to ride for some hours and gather the rodeo, which can be of about 1100 cows! Not an easy task on this wide open space!
Following lunch with the gauchos (probably a bbq by the corrals) the other part of the day will take place. It will probably be separating the rodeo and healing or vaccinating the cattle. After a long hard day of work, riders will head back to the main house. They will have some time to relax and take a good shower and then enjoy dinner with a good wine.
Day 3: The third day has to do more about riding and discovering the land than with gaucho work. This is an amazing place to discovery by horse and is full of animals to watch. During this day riders will head to Chañar Lake - a huge lake located 20 kilometers of the main house. For sure going to this place will be quite an adventure and there will be enough space to do long canters. Once at the lake, lunch will take place and those who wish to will be able to do kayak and take a bath in the Chañar Lagoon. If weather allows to, riders will be able to get into the lake with their horses. This lake is home of hundreds of flamingos! Going back will be other 20 kilometer ride, and will be the moment to encounter will all the wild animals that live in these lands. Sunsets in la Pampa are really special!
Tonight will take place the farewell dinner so it will be probably time to share a wine and talk about the last two amazing days!
Day 4: Last but not the end! Before leaving riders will do one more last ride to Don Juan old tavern, actually in Argentina we call this gaucho's bar "Pulperia". Here they will all be able to have a picada and enjoy a whisky or a wine before heading back to the lodge and preparing the luggage for check out.
A transport of the estancia will take riders bak to Santa Rosa if they need to head to the airport for their next destination.
Location
The estancia is located 150 km away from Santa Rosa near a small town called Caichue
Other activities for riders and non riders companions
Caichue is a very lonely place with not much population, there are not many things to do rather than enjoying the estancia and horses. However the ranch offers other activities for non riders companions such as kayak, fishing at the Chañar lake and also yoga sessions at the deck of the lodge with the most amazing views!
Also, the surroundings of the lodge are amazing to walk around and discover the landscape! For those that get to this place by car and aim to keep on travelling towards Northern Patagonia, they might find interesting a stop at the Lihue Calel national park which believe it or not it has the same size of the ranch and used to be home of the Araucanos indians, where famous indian chef Namuncura used to to live.
We highly recommend combining this experience with the 8 day cattle herding in Neuquen as the estancia is only 6 hours away from the meeting point for Patagonian cattle herding adventure.
