The Polo Experience

Pilar, Argentina

The Experience

Five days immersed in polo and traditional estancia life in the heart of Argentina.

5 Days · 4 Nights
6–8 Guests
Based at a private estancia in La Pampa
Available in October & December–March
Flexible dates
Private departures available upon request
Enquire for dates & availability

- Wildlife watching across the estancia
- Horse riding
- Learn traditional lasso techniques
- Ride and work with the cattle
- Experience the manga, where the gauchos traditionally tend to the cattle
- Sleep beneath the stars
- Seasonal hunting in March
DAY 1 · ARRIVAL IN LA PAMPA
Pick-up from Santa Rosa and transfer to the estancia. Settle in before a traditional asado lunch, followed by your first ride across the farm to discover the landscape and meet the horses. Dinner is served family-style for your first taste of life on the estancia.
DAY 2 · LIFE WITH THE GAUCHOS
Saddle up in the morning and join the gauchos as they gather cattle from across the estancia and bring them into La Manga — the working heart of the farm.
After lunch and a well-earned siesta, return to La Manga to experience the day-to-day work of a working cattle estancia, from veterinary care and vaccinations to branding and separating the herd. Finish the day on horseback, moving the cattle back to the corrals for the evening.
DAY 3 · RIDING & LASSO
A slower morning ride across the estancia, checking on the cattle and spotting wildlife along the way.
Return for a full gaucho asado lunch followed by the traditional afternoon siesta. Later, learn the art of throwing a lasso before putting your new skills to the test in a friendly competition.
DAY 4 · A DAY ON THE ESTANCIA
An early start for a full day in the saddle alongside the gauchos, taking part in whatever cattle work needs to be done across the estancia.
End your final evening with dinner beneath the stars and a bottle of classic Argentine Malbec.
DAY 5 · LAST RIDE & DEPARTURE
One final morning ride followed by an early lunch at the estancia, before transferring back to Santa Rosa for afternoon flights to Buenos Aires.
Most flights depart Santa Rosa at approximately 4–5pm. We recommend spending the night in Buenos Aires before continuing your journey the following day.
EXTEND YOUR EXPERIENCE
A private polo experience can be added either before or after your stay in La Pampa.
Cruz’s estancia is located in La Pampa, Argentina.
How to get there
Fly internationally into Buenos Aires, followed by a domestic flight to Santa Rosa. On arrival in Santa Rosa, a private transfer will collect you from the airport and take you directly to the estancia.
We recommend arriving in Buenos Aires the day before the experience and taking a morning flight to Santa Rosa the following day.
On your return, we also recommend spending a night in Buenos Aires before continuing on to your next destination.
We would be delighted to share our favourite hotel, restaurant and activity recommendations in Buenos Aires should you wish to extend your stay.
$6,500 per person with your own bedroom
Included
- 4 nights’ accommodation at the farm with full board
- All lunches and dinners in Bariloche and at the farm
- All transfers to and from the farm from Santa Rosa Airport
- Horseback riding at the farm
- All excursions detailed within the itinerary, including equipment and guides
Not Included
- Flights to and from Buenos Aires
- Flights to and from Santa Rosa
- Tips
- Hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires
- Any experiences in Buenos Aires
We have plenty of recommendations for Buenos Aires and would be happy to help arrange these if required.

Enquire

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La Pampa is a vision for the eyes, mind and soul.

Known for its dramatic, almost African-like landscapes and spectacular storms, La Pampa offers an immersion into the true Argentine gaucho lifestyle.

Days are spent on horseback alongside the gauchos, working cattle across the estancia and learning traditions that remain deeply rooted in life on the Pampas. Long rides are followed by traditional asados, local cuisine and evenings beneath the vast Argentine sky.

This is not simply a riding experience, but an opportunity to become part of the rhythm of estancia life and experience rural Argentina from within.

Meet your host, Cruz

Polo and horses have always been at the heart of Cruz Novillo’s life. His family is deeply rooted in Argentine polo, having won the prestigious Palermo Open in 2003.

For this experience, Cruz welcomes you to his family’s farm in La Pampa, offering the opportunity to experience estancia life as his family has lived it — from days on horseback and working alongside the gauchos to cattle work and long evenings around the table.

More than a host, Cruz invites you into his world, offering a rare and authentic insight into the traditions, horses and way of life that define La Pampa.

THE ITINERARY

Day 1: Welcome to Las Pampas

Your adventure begins with a pick-up from Santa Rosa, followed by a scenic drive through the vast countryside to the estancia.
On arrival, settle into your room and take some time to unwind before your first taste of estancia life: a traditional asado lunch, accompanied by chimichurri and local wines.
In the afternoon, saddle up for your first ride across the Pampas, getting to know your horse, the landscape and the rhythm of life on the estancia.
As the sun sets over the plains, return for a relaxed family-style dinner and your first evening immersed in the gaucho way of life.
Day 2: Cattle herding & Estancia life

Rise early and saddle up alongside the gauchos for a morning of cattle herding, gathering the herd from across the estancia and moving them to La Manga — the central station where the day-to-day cattle work takes place.
After a well-earned lunch and traditional siesta, head back to La Manga to work alongside the gauchos, taking part in the realities of ranch life, from vaccination and branding to veterinary care, artificial insemination and sorting the cattle.
As the day draws to a close, ride the cattle back to the corral for the night before returning to the estancia for a hearty dinner beneath the Pampas sky.
Day 3: Scenic Rides & Lasso

Start the day with a relaxed ride across the estancia, checking on the cattle and taking in the local wildlife along the way — from guanacos and deer to carancho birds soaring overhead.
Return to the estancia for a traditional gaucho-style asado, with whole cuts of meat slowly cooked over an open fire, accompanied by local wines.
After lunch and a well-earned siesta, learn the traditional art of lasso throwing before putting your new skills to the test in a friendly competition.
End the day with a relaxed evening at the estancia and, perhaps, a sunset mate shared with the gauchos.
Day 4: A day in the life of a Gaucho

Saddle up early for a full day alongside the gauchos, helping with the cattle and experiencing the true day-to-day rhythm of life on the estancia.
Break for a well-earned lunch and traditional siesta before heading back out for an afternoon of ranch work.
As your time in La Pampa draws to a close, gather for a special farewell dinner beneath the stars, accompanied by a classic Argentine Malbec — a final toast to life on the Pampas.
Day 5: One last ride

Enjoy one final sunrise ride across the estancia, taking in the vast landscapes of La Pampa before returning for a farewell brunch.
Afterwards, transfer to Santa Rosa Airport for your afternoon flight back to Buenos Aires, with flights typically departing around 4–5pm.
We recommend spending the night in Buenos Aires before continuing your journey the following day.

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Optional Add-On: Polo Experience

For those looking to extend their adventure, we can add a Polo experience either at the beginning or end of your trip, giving you the chance to learn and play Argentina’s most prestigious sport.