The
estancias in Argentina are ranches in which the main residence, generally mansions built last century, have been converted to receive guests. They are laid out in large tracts of land where the cattle graze freely and the sown fields take advantage of the land's exceptional conditions. In some cases, the ranch consists of a mansion, a small palace, or an English or French style mansion, luxuriously furnished, and the amenities of a first-class hotel. Others maintain the attraction of the colonial style, with an austere and refined elegance.
An
estancia Argentina can be found in the Pampa,
Patagonia, or in other regions, and besides offering comfortable lodging, they give visitors the chance of taking part in typical Argentinian field activities.
Guests can go horse riding, take part in sports, go on excursions to observe fauna and flora, and share in the daily chores of the Gauchos working in the fields.
The usual tasks are driving the cattle, sheep shearing, and branding the animals and cattle. It is also common to witness taming or a show of horsemanship, a "Payada" — a competition of improvised verses sung to guitar music — amongst other activities related to the field and local folklore.
Staying in an
Argentina estancia, visitors can enjoy exquisite gastronomy based on excellent meats and famous Argentinian wines. Think of the estancia as the production center where the meat that has achieved worldwide reputation originates. Therefore, an "asado de tira" (crosscut ribs), the "Achuras," or an Argentinian-style "Bife" will be of the finest quality.
The arrival of the
estancias in Argentina brought about the transformation of the large empty spaces of rural Argentina, converting them into rational areas of production and placing the country amongst the foremost meat and grain producers in the world.
This conversion had a remarkable influence on the life of the Gaucho who, normally a roving and rebel inhabitant of the plains, became a worker, foreman, and a basic element in the life of these establishments.
Another central figure in the life of the estancias is the "Estanciero or Hacendado" (rancher), the owner of the land and cattle. In better times, when the mansions that today serve as lodging for the visitor were built, it was common practice for the Estancieros to spend autumn or winter in Paris or London, and return in spring and summer to care for their possessions in Argentina.
Modern technologies implemented in agricultural establishments and the demands of the international market made the Hacendados realize that they needed to devote more time to agricultural exploitation. They understood that the exceptional land and weather conditions were not enough to ensure profitability — rational administration was also necessary.
Today, all these establishments have agriculturists and administrators, and the Hacendados spend their time between their land and the city.
In other words, the mansions and palaces of European style and elegance, vestiges of colonial times with a creole ambience, built by pioneers within a prodigious natural setting, now make up the suggestive and touristic proposal of the Argentinian
estancias. Many tour operators who organize excursions to Argentina include tours to the estancias, offering their clients the possibility of staying in such a place and enjoying a very special type of holiday, or simply discovering a unique lifestyle that is typical of Argentina.
Once the trip has been decided, certain aspects relevant to staying in an estancia must be considered. In the estancia, as opposed to a hotel, the visitor receives a more personalized service which makes them feel like a guest of the house rather than just a tourist.
One of the main purposes of this type of tourism is to connect with a unique environment, living the customs and traditions of the Argentinian countryside and participating in a wide range of sports and leisure activities.
The estancias give visitors the possibility of sharing moments in the daily life of the Gaucho, working long days in the saddle.
The horses, brought by the Spanish Conquistadors in 1536, started to play a more important role after the first attempt to found Buenos Aires failed. From then on, their numbers grew rapidly on the immense plains of the Pampa. Their easy adaptation to this new habitat gave birth to a new breed of creole horses.
Noble and loyal by instinct, docile, agile, and highly resistant to long distances, they befriended man. Indigenous peoples used them to travel and carry out surprise attacks on border villages. Both the regular army and rebels used them in guerrilla warfare and the wars of liberation. In peacetime, they became the vehicle of progress. Above all, it was the Gaucho — galloping across the vast plains — who forged the legendary image of the untamable centaur of the Argentinian Pampa.
The descendants of those Gauchos, today’s creole countrymen, and of those horses, still carry on their tasks in the fields. They can still be seen in Argentinian
estancias, preserving the traditions of their forefathers.
In this way, what may seem audacious is just experience and ability accumulated throughout time. To understand it, one only needs to observe colts being broken in, witness the rodeo of hundreds of cattle driven to their destination, or admire the mastery of horsemanship during branding.
The
best estancias in Argentina not only preserve these traditions but also allow visitors to take part, providing a living connection to Argentina’s past and present.
The estancias are agricultural establishments with a unique way of life where old traditions are still maintained and respected.
The estancias are an integral part of Argentina’s history and, even today, play an active role in the country’s economy. Since the end of the last century, numerous estancias have been built throughout the territory, from the northern Valle de Lerma in Salta to the southernmost region in Tierra del Fuego.
They provide visitors with a unique opportunity to discover the diverse scenery and traditions of
Argentina — from the Pampas to Patagonia — while staying in historic and authentic
estancias in Argentina.
