ESTANCIA LOS POTREROS

3 Night Min| 7 nights from $3,528 pp sharing | Cordoba, Argentina

FIND YOURSELF AT HOME IN CORDOBA

Argentina. Land of the gaucho, wide open spaces, the finest beef and some of the world's best wine. Los Potreros, affectionately known as ‘Los Pots’ is a 6,000 acre working cattle farm that has been in the same family for four generations. Your hosts, The Begg Family wait to welcome you for a taste of authentic estancia life.

Easy to reach from Córdoba but away from the tourist trail. Offering a unique insight into rural culture and traditions, Los Potreros invite you to share their home and lifestyle.

Whether your passion is horseback riding, bird-watching, exploring scenic walking trails or simply relaxing amongst local tradition and culture, the Begg Family is proud to offer their guests a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Come and fall in love with Argentina as you eat, drink and breathe it alongside them.

'NIL SINE AMICITIA, NOTHING WITHOUT FRIENDSHIP'

Overview

RIDE GUIDE

Minimum: 3 nights

Cost: US$3,528pp for 7 nights or $560pp per night for a 3 - 6 night stay.

Operator: Los Potreros

Where: Cordoba, Argentina

When: All year round with the exceptions of May to July

Riding level: Beginner to Advanced

Maximum Capacity: 12 guests

Weight limit: Maximum of 95kg/210lbs

Time in the saddle: 4 – 6 hours per day

HORSES

There are over 80 riding horses, with the herd being a mixture of Criollos, Peruvian Pasos and polo ponies, which are forward-going, responsive and sure-footed. Los Potreros tend to change horses during a guest´s stay, giving guests the opportunity to try several different horses.

All the horses are trained to neck-rein and the saddle are Argentine ‘recado’ style, more similar to a western saddle, with sheepskins and english bridles.

ACCOMMODATION

The estancia has six simple, yet very comfortable rooms. You’ll find exposed wooden beams, equestrian decor, local textiles, and log fireplaces.

Twin or Double Rooms: South Room, Dolls House A, Carpintero A + B

King Rooms: Dolls House B, North Room

Single: 1945 Room

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HOW TO BOOK

Enquiry

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Shared accommodation, transfers from Cordoba airport, all horse riding, guides, meals, alcohol and soft drinks are included. Whiskey, gin, vodka, wine and beers are always available but please let us know should you have a special request.

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

The price does not include international or domestic flights, travel insurance, or staff tips ($10-$20 a day). Full medical and holiday insurance is required to join the ride.

Transfers to and from your hotel in Cordoba are $75 each way.

Single supplement charge is an additional thirty percent on total ride rate. For children aged between 10 and 16, there is a discount of 20% off the standard ride rate.

TRANSFERS

Your holiday begins at Cordoba airport, a 1h 15m domestic flight from Buenos Aires, where you will be collected and whisked away to the estancia (a 1 hour drive).

If arriving to Cordoba early there is a charge of $75 for collection from your hotel in town or you can make your way to the airport for the included transfer.

You are welcome to arrive at Los Potreros in time for lunch around 13:00. If you arrive before 16:00 you should be able to join the afternoon ride at about 16:30.

MEALS

Being in Argentina you’ll enjoy many an Asado - beef barbecue - but the kitchen at Los Potreros is well known for putting together beautiful meals of pasta, fresh produce, salsas, salads, quiches and empanadas. Desert is not forgotten with caramel tarts and delicious pastelitos filled with dulce de leche on the menu.

A huge part of the estancia is the food and all this comes back to where Los Pots source their produce, with farm-reared beef and pigs, the kitchen garden is the expanse of the estancia and every season provides something new.

WHAT TO PACK

Refer to our FA Q for what to pack on a horse riding holiday.

Should you wish to dress like a local for your ride, we are happy to recommend places in Buenos Aires to buy ponchos and the traditional gaucho boinas (beret), bombachas (riding trousers) and alpargatas (espadrilles) - all essential items in a gaucho’s wardrobe.

Hard hats are not obligatory (except for polo, gaucho games and children) but are strongly recommended. There are a number available to use at the estancia but for safety and fit we recommend guests bring their own.

INTERNET

There is no internet in the rooms but WIFI in the main house. There is intermittant cellphone reception when riding on the estancia. We recommend using Airalo e-sims while travelling in Argentina. You can get $3 off your first sim card with code: BLACKS3976

PRICES & AVAILABILITY

Los Potreros is open all year around excluding May to July. The estancia is especially wonderful to visit during the warmer months of October to March.

3 night minimum.

2024 PRICING

For a 3-6 night stay the rate is US$560pp per night.

For a 7+ night stay the rate is US$504pp per night.

7 NIGHT DEAL 2024 US$3,528pp sharing

2025 PRICING

For a 3-6 night stay the rate is US$600pp per night.

For a 7+ night stay the rate is US$540 pp per night.

7 NIGHT DEAL 2025 US$3,780pp sharing

Christmas rates apply from mid-December to mid-January.

A group of 12 will have exclusive access to the estancia.

To make a booking please fill in a Rider Form and we will get back to you with availability.

THE SIERRAS CHICAS

The estancia is located on the beautiful but little-known range of hills known as the ‘Sierras Chicas.’ Nestled between the Pampas and the Andes, the area is designated provincial reserve, renowned for its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and rural traditions. Despite its privileged location, the estancia is less than an hour's drive from the international airport of Córdoba, with connections to Europe, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Panama and the United States. The closest town is Valle Hermoso.

Currency

Currency is the Argentinian Peso (ARG$). Banks in Argentina greatly limit daily withdrawals so bring USD$ in cash to convert in Buenos Aires. You can pay your tips in USD. Card are readily taken in Buenos Aires. If you need to withdraw cash Western Union can issue larger amounts than ATMs at a much better rate.

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

When to travel to Los Potreros?

The estancia is open from August to April, with the most popular months being December to March. Northern Argentina experiences showers over the summer months and the winters are usually dry.

January has an average maximum temperature of 28°C and is the warmest and the sunniest month with an average of 255 hours of sunshine.

December tops the wettest month list with 145 mm of rainfall.

Time Zone: GMT -3

YOUR ITINERARY

Every day at the estancia is different. The would-be gauchos amongst you can canter along grassy hilltops, take a dip in natural rock pools, visit local churches on horseback, help round-up the young horses (to protect them from the elusive puma), learn how to lasso, or have a go at polo.

Your transfer will meet you at the international airport of Córdoba. Just under an hour from your pick-up you will arrive at Estancia Los Potreros in time for a late lunch.
Around 4:30pm you’ll set off on your introductory ride to get used to the ‘gaucho’ style of riding – long legs, deep seats and neck reining, whilst enjoying the comfortable sheepskins on the saddles.
After your ride, the Begg family invite you to dinner in what has been the family home for over 100 years
Ride to the ‘Top of the World’, the highest point on the estancia, to appreciate the spectacular views out over the Sierras Chicas. The trail along the ridge is perfect for condor and eagle spotting, before returning to the estancia in time for lunch on the veranda.
Demonstration and introduction to the very special Peruvian Paso horse. Learn more about this amazing 5-gaited horse, before trying out their super smooth paces yourself. All the horses are home-bred on the estancia and are forward-going and extremely comfortable.
A long morning’s ride to the far south of the farm, dropping into the local village to visit a unique and unusual chapel and museum that was built as a memorial to his wife and daughter by Guido Buffo, an art and science lover. Enjoy a traditional Argentine ‘asado’, sampling several different cuts of the estancia’s home-reared beef, washed down with plenty of Malbec.
Take the rest of the afternoon to relax by the pool and in the evening, you are invited to an informal wine-tasting, sampling local wines of the region before sitting down to a candle-lit dinner.
Cattle day! Discover your inner gaucho as you help the boys round up our herd of award-winning Aberdeen Angus, collecting them and moving them across the hills to our cattle station.
Following lunch ´gaucho style´ under a shady tree, see if you can master the art of the lasso in the corrals, before some lovely long open canters along the top of the hills as you return to the estancia for tea and cake on the veranda.
The ride this morning drops down to our hidden waterfall where you can take a dip or just take a few moments to relax in the cool shade. From there a wonderful long canter takes you up to ‘Potrero de Niz’, the original family home of the Beggs, and a delicious picnic lunch on the porch. Perched on the top of a hill, the house has stunning views over the valleys, and we warn you that once there you will never want to leave!
In the afternoon we ride back via the ‘Bellstone’ which will have the geologists amongst you scratching your heads. Tonight, our chefs open the farm kitchen doors and invite you to join them in preparing some traditional local dishes whilst sampling some more fabulous Argentine wines.
No horse-riding holiday to Argentina would be complete without trying your hand at the ‘Sport of Kings’ – polo! Ride down to the polo ground where you will be given a short lesson followed by some practice ‘stick and ball’ and then play a few chukkas of this highly addictive game.
After a barbeque lunch, challenge our gauchos to some gaucho games – barrel racing and ‘sortija’ – a race that involves spearing a small ring with a stick at speed!
On your final day, ride through plunging gorges and over soaring mountain tops to reach ‘Las Tasas’ – a gorgeous natural swimming-hole where you can dive, swim or just take a snooze in the sun.
After a shady picnic lunch, help our gauchos round up the mares and foals to protect them from the elusive puma.
Tonight, enjoy some live traditional Argentine music with a glass of wine in the garden before sitting down to a fabulous farewell dinner.
After breakfast depart for your onward travels.

LOS POTS KITCHEN

Argentine Malbec is legendary and best enjoyed with the traditional ‘asado’ - a beef-based barbeque, often comprising many courses and often lasting many hours.Los Pots chefs love to invite guests into the gorgeous farm kitchen to learn how to make traditional favourites such as empanadas and homemade breads and pastas. Although they are known for their beef; empanadas, pasta and pizza play a big role in the country’s food and are a large part of the menu at Los Potreros.

Dishes have been taken from some of the favourite and most popular recipes across the country and alongside European twists we have a menu which is constantly changing but some of our old favourites remain the highlights.

LOCATION