SAMPLE ONE WEEK ITINERARY:
Day 1
Arrive at Estancia Los Potreros and settle into your room. Take a sunset ride to
‘The Top of the World’ to get your bearings and enjoy the spectacular views, and
look out for condors. In the evening take part in Kevin Begg´s famous wine-tasting, and
sample some of the wines of the region, including Los Potreros own label wine.
Day 2
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
bring in the mares and foals.
Day 3
A full day picnic ride to a local Dominican church, and to visit the local
one-teacher rural school which is supported by Estancia Los Potreros. The fabulously
smooth and forward-going Paso Peruano horses make sure that the day in the saddle
doesn’t feel quite so long!
Day 4
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!
Day 5
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. Take to
the corrals in the afternoon for some lassoing and to see our horse-breaker at work.
Day 6
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 an unusual chapel as a memorial to his wife and daughter.
Day 7
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. 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.
Day 8
After a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, depart for your onward travel.
Additional notes:
The itinerary is flexible, and
subject to weather, particularly in the case of polo
Sunday afternoons are free for
guests to relax, allowing staff and horses to take a well-earned rest.
A two day/one night overnight
trail ride can usually be arranged for guests who are staying with us for 5 nights or
more, and with sufficient notice. This beautiful ride crosses through stunning
countryside, and overnights at ‘Chiche and Menta’s’ cabin, a brother and
sister who eke a meagre existence out of their smallholding. Enjoy a meal made entirely
from their home produce – an experience not to be missed! Accommodation is basic
bunkhouse style accommodation or camping. Ride also to Candonga church, a famous image in
many articles and magazines on Argentina.
Guests can expect to be in the
saddle between 4 – 6 hours per day. The horses are a mixture of Criollos, Paso
Peruanos and polo ponies, all of which are forward-going and sure-footed.
