Private Gaucho Day with Estancia and Areco town

This was an amazing tour and would definitely recommend to others travelling to Argentina! We started the day but travelling to San Antonio de Areco via private car. We had a brief coffee stop before visiting the silversmith and then a cool artist, with a focus around gauchos. We then went to the El Ombu de Areco ranch, which was absolutely beautiful and so quaint. There were also many friendly dogs to pat. We got an arrival snack and drink, which were the juiciest empanadas we’ve ever tasted. The horse riding was very pleasant and we got to view the countryside from horseback. We then had the best barbecue lunch before enjoying some folk music and dance accompanied by a horse taming performance. We then travelled back to our hotel in Buenos Aires. Our tour guide Jose was very informative, attentive and friendly! He went above and beyond to make sure we had a special experience. Could not recommend him enough!

The experience did not match what was advertised. We booked a private tour and were picked up by a very pleasant guide who took us to San Antonio de Areco. However, the visit was extremely brief, about 30 minutes with little context or exploration. Upon arrival at the estancia, the “private” aspect of the tour disappeared entirely. We were grouped with a large number of other tourists, and the experience felt highly commercialized. Activities were very limited: a short, approximately 15-minute horseback ride that was run continuously with large groups, offering little opportunity to learn or engage. The remainder of the day consisted mostly of waiting for lunch and a brief horse demonstration with minimal explanation or insight into gaucho culture or daily ranch life, so we decided to cut it short and asked to be returned to the city to try and reclaim whatever was left of our last day on vacation. Given the cost and the full-day time commitment, the experience felt inauthentic and offered very little educational value. We were hoping for a meaningful, immersive gaucho experience, and unfortunately this fell far short of that expectation.

Jose picked us up from our hotel in Buenos Aires for an amazing ride to the world of gauchos in San Antonio de Areco. He was an excellent guide with lots to tell us about the town and the farm that we visited. The Estancia was very picturesque and the food was fantastic. Take it easy on the empanadas as there is lots of meat coming your way. A very worthwhile trip.

Fantastic day trip with Jose! He is an accommodating, knowledgeable guide. You will also love his great stories!

Private Gaucho Day with José was outstanding! In charming Areco, we met a talented silversmith and explored the town’s heritage. The visit to a vast ranch was unforgettable—stunning landscapes, authentic gaucho traditions, and warm hospitality. A perfect blend of culture and adventure!