The 15 Best Estancia & Gaucho Days near Buenos Aires

1.Gaucho Day Tour Ranch at an Estancia from Buenos Aires

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,025 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $168Our pick

Spend a full day on an Argentine estancia with gaucho traditions, horseback riding, asado, wine, music, and countryside scenery from Buenos Aires.

“Victoria was a terrific guide. 5+stars. The food at the ranch was disappointing but the wine was plentiful and good. Both beef and pork were overcooked, tough and dry. The folk dancing and gaucho show were interesting. There was a lot of downtime waiting for lunch, waiting for the show, etc. but overall a pleasant day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Gaucho Small-Group Full Day at a Farm in Buenos Aires

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 937 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $168Top rated

Spend a full day near Buenos Aires with gauchos, horseback riding, asado, music, dancing, and hotel pickup to San Antonio de Areco.

“This Gaucho tour was so fun and I can definitely recommend. We starting off by stopping in the local town for 5 minutes to see how the town lives before heading off to the ranch. We first rode a horse, then had a tour of the ranch before having an amazing Aregentine BBQ lunch. All drinks were included so we had plenty of wine. The gauchos then performed a traditional dance for us and showed us how well they could tame their horse. Finally Hernan was the best guide we could have asked for. He was so friendly, loved telling stories and was always smiling and laughing. Keep it up…”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Gaucho and Ranch Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 809 reviews · 9 hours · from $168

Escape Buenos Aires for San Antonio de Areco, horseback riding, gaucho skills, folk dancing, empanadas, and a generous Argentine asado.

“Emelia, our guide was great. she's very personable , attentive and informative. The gaucho farm experience was just what we wanted, the hosts made sure we had a good time. I can highly I ly recommend this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Gaucho Day Trip from Buenos Aires: Santa Susana Ranch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 272 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $313

Review of the Santa Susana gaucho day trip from Buenos Aires, with ranch rides, barbecue, wine, music, and practical booking advice.

“Be sure to bring mosquito repellent! Nice day in the country. Superb dancers, lots of good meat, fun to watch the Gaucho's in action.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Gaucho Experience: A Day Trip to Don Silvano Ranch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 148 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $244

Don Silvano Ranch review: horseback riding, asado, gaucho shows, mate, transport, costs, drawbacks, and practical booking advice from Buenos Aires.

“A soul destroying experience!!! This was not a trip to anything resembling a gaucho ranch. It was a hotel with grounds, some chickens, peacocks and 20 or so horses. And the experience was commercial garbage for the most part. You arrive at the ranch and are given a ticket if you want to 'ride' the horses. For the next 2 1/2 hours there is nothing organised except for some mediocre empanadas and drinks and a 15 minute walk on horses that are so sedate we wondered if they might be drugged. The signs said trotting was forbidden, but they needn't have bothered as the poor creatures barely wanted to walk.…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Estancia Cristina Mirador del Glaciar Upsala

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 122 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $285

Review of Estancia Cristina’s Upsala Glacier tour from El Calafate, with boat views, icebergs, ranch history, 4x4 rides, costs, and tips.

“Fantastic tour. Views were amazing, guide was fantastic. Tour went like clockwork. Snacks offered on boat to and from ranch, but will either need to bring your own lunch or pay for lunch at ranch. Lunch is huge and two people can share. Pick-up/drop off from hotel included. Is FULL DAY--pick up before 8 AM and drop off was at about 9 PM so plan accordingly. A must-do.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Private Tour to San Antonio de Areco: Gaucho town & Estancia from Buenos Aires

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $285

Ride across Argentina’s Pampas, tour gaucho-era San Antonio de Areco, and enjoy an asado, music, and horsemanship at a private estancia.

“That was great day, it is really worth! Horses, dancing, show, very tasty BBQ, excellent guide. Thank you!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Full Day Tour of Cabo San Pablo and Estancia Pirinaica

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $180

Review of Ushuaia’s Cabo San Pablo and Estancia Pirinaica tour, with wild scenery, the Desdémona wreck, local fish lunch, and practical advice.

“This trip is a scam. I was not picked up and the operator would not return my calls. This despite communicating with me the evening before the tour. Very disappointed! My overall experience in Ushuaia has been fantastic.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Horseback riding and barbecue in a private ranch – La Carrera, Mendoza

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $200

Ride well-cared-for Criollo horses through Mendoza’s Andes, then enjoy empanadas, wine, asado, and dessert at a private family ranch.

“This was one of the coolest experiences we did in South America. Gilda, Lucia, and Angel were incredible guides and made the experience unforgettable. Great views of the Andes along the entire ride and then a delicious asado and wine lunch to cap off the day. Cannot recommend this enough!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.The Real Gaucho Day Trip from Mendoza – Don Daniel Ranch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $290

Ride into the Andes from Mendoza, learn mate traditions, enjoy ranch-made sopaipillas, and share an asado at 2,700 meters.

“The scenery was worth the price alone! Great day trekking through the mountains and taking in the wonderful views, broke for lunch and a drop of wine with only our horses and the farm dogs for company! Our guide was really helpful and spoke excellent English, would highly recommend this trip!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 52 reviews · 5 hours · from $109

Review of Estancia 25 de Mayo near El Calafate, with sheep herding, lamb dinner, folkloric music, transfers, tips, and honest value advice.

“Très bonne activité d’un point de vue culturel. La Estancia est magnifique. Beaucoup d’histoires, d’anecdotes et d’explications sur leur manière de vivre et de fonctionner sont abordées. Le personnel est très sympathique. Toutes les activités liées à l’élevage du mouton nous sont montrées. Un vrai enrichissement et une vraie découverte culturelle. Le repas en revanche n’est pas le meilleur que nous ayons pu tester en Patagonie. Un peu déçu de la qualité des viandes proposées. Le spectacle de danse quant à lui est super. Les danseurs et musiciens ont su mettre une bonne ambiance et inciter les gens à participer. Nous recommandons cette activité.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Patagonian Ranch: Nibepo Aike Adventure with Horseback Riding

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 25 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $183

Ride horses through Patagonia at historic Nibepo Aike ranch, with Andes views, lamb asado, rural traditions, and hotel transport from El Calafate.

“A bit of a disappointing day, considering what is available in the area. Very uncomfortable 90 minute drive to and from the ranch, and more of a day suited for small children than adult couples. The staff work very hard and welcoming - and the meal was well prepared.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Horseback Riding in the Andes, gaucho experience & BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $290

Ride horseback through the Andes near Mendoza, meet a local gaucho family, and enjoy tortas fritas, an asado, and Mendoza wine.

“Tim was excellent! From the moment he picked us up to the end of the day, we had a great time. As experienced riders, we appreciated the attention to detail and the not-overbearing attitude. The food was incredible.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Nibepo Aike Ranch with Horseback Riding

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 17 reviews · 7 hours · from $175

Ride with gauchos at Nibepo Aike Ranch, enjoy Andes views, learn ranch traditions, and share a Patagonian lamb asado near El Calafate.

“Me encanto ! Fue una gran experiencia: paisajes hermosos, ambiente agradable y hospitalario, comida deliciosa, muy interesante la interacción con animales de la estancia y un espectacular paseo a caballo. Altamente recomendado”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Trekking and Roasting in the Precordillera at Family Ranch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $65Best value

Hike Mendoza’s precordillera, spot wildlife, and enjoy a family-style asado with Malbec at a ranch outside the city.

“Hiking in the foothills of the Andes was a breathtakingly beautiful experience, with the majestic mountains and their energy enveloping you. Ezequiel and Cecilia shared their passion, knowledge and deep respect for the mountains and their surroundings. Following the hike, we enjoyed a complete asado, skillfully prepared by Ezequiel and his family, accompanied by Malbec! I am grateful to the family for sharing their culture with us and doing it with love in their hearts. Thank you!”

Check availability →Read our full review