Ride into the Heart of Wild Corrientes
Set in wild, watery Corrientes, this ride plunges you into the heart of gaucho country – splashing through lagoons on sure-footed Criollos, lassoing cattle, sharing maté beneath eucalypt forests and feasting on Argentine cuisine as your horses graze nearby.
Trip Highlights
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Learning to swing a lasso and work cattle like a gaucho
- Wade through wither-deep waters and swim your horse across lilypod-spotted lagoons
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Spotting colourful wildlife in the wild landscapes of Corrientes
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Maté-sipping, hammock-swinging siestas in the shade of ancient trees
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Riding alongside a herd of up to 20 free-running Criollo horses
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Chowing down on Argentina’s national dish, asado
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Loping across pancake-flat plains and water-filled meadows
Details
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Riding levels
Estancia-Based Ride: beginner to advanced.
Estancia Explorer: intermediate to advanced.
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
Traditional Argentine ‘recado’ and ‘montura correntina’ saddles are used, both of which provide exceptional comfort.
- Horse breed
There are around 80 riding horses in the herd, all pure or crossbred Criollos. On the Estancia Explorer, you will be paired with two horses.
- Accommodation
Estancia-Based Ride: You’ll stay the entire week at your hosts’ family-owned estancia in an ensuite room (king or twin), with options ranging from standard to luxury suites at varying price points.
Estancia Explorer: Nights 1, 4, 5 and 6 are spent at the main estancia, while nights 2 and 3 are at simple, historic estancias along the route — rustic, no power, and chosen for their heritage rather than comfort.
- Pace
The pace varies from a walk right through to a canter depending on your riding level and the terrain. There are fast-paced sections with long canters for those who are fit and able.
- Weight limit
A maximum of 90kg / 198lbs.
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
Estancia-Based Ride: the estancia can host up to 20 guests at any one time, but you’ll always be split into smaller groups of 6-10 when riding.
Estancia Explorer: a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 10 guests. At least 1 gaucho per 2 guests.
- Minimum age
8 years of age
- Time in Saddle
Between 4 and 8 hours per day.
- When to go
Available year-round.
- Languages
Instructions spoken in English.
Guides speak Spanish and English.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- Estancia accommodation
- All meals and drinks including alcohol
- Riding activities outlined in the itinerary
- Guides and equipment (BYO helmet)
Excluded
- International or regional flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Transfers to and from the ride
- Staff tips
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
4 days, 3 nights
Riding level
Beginner • Intermediate • Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of $1,474 USD
Payment plans
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Accommodation types
Single
Private accommodation for one guest (room, tent, or similar). A supplement may apply on departures where a sharing option is available.
Share
Willing to room share with the same gender or travelling with a companion.
Couple share
Sharing a bed with companion.
Non-rider
Sharing a room with a riding companion.
Per person
2026
Estancia Explorer
June 1, 2026
Estancia Explorer
July 1, 2026
Estancia Explorer
August 18, 2026
Estancia Explorer
September 1, 2026
Estancia Explorer
October 1, 2026
2027
Estancia Explorer
7 days, 6 nights
CUSTOM DEPARTURE DATES 2026 are available all year round upon request and subject to availability.
Estancia Stay
CUSTOM DEPARTURE DATES 2026 are available all year round upon request and subject to availability.
*Prices listed are per day and will vary depending on room category available.
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of $1,474 USD
- All bookings are charged in the local currency of the ride destination.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
Please note
Solo travellers will be required to pay the single rider rate unless we can find someone for you to twin share with.
Estancia Explorer
Whilst a single supplement is available for nights spent at the main estancia, single rooms cannot be guaranteed at the two other estancias you visit in the itinerary.
Itinerary
Please note, the following are suggested itineraries only and subject to change due to weather conditions and other influencing factors.
- Estancia Explorer
- Estancia Based Ride
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Arrival: Buenos Aires
Non-riding dayDepending on your travel plans and budget, we recommend arriving a few days early and spending a night in Buenos Aires to explore this vibrant city and recover from jet lag.
**Please keep in mind, the bus transfers go overnight. This means that if you’re booked to start your ride on January 1 (for example), your overnight bus will depart Buenos Aires the night before on December 31 at 8.30pm.
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Day 1: Main Estancia Arrival
Approximately 5 hours in the saddle.Yippee, your Corrientes adventure begins today! You will arrive in Esquina at 4am this morning, where representatives from the estancia will be waiting at the bus station to escort you to the estancia itself. Here, the Solanet family will welcome you with open arms and you’ll get to know them over breakfast. Then it’s time to head to the stables! You will ride two horses during your stay, and your guides will ensure they’re a perfect match, encouraging you to try as many as you like.
Astride one of your chosen horses, the debut ride begins with an exciting introduction to the Argentine riding style, followed by a super fun mini cattle drive, or perhaps some corral work with horses and cattle – your official induction into the world of the gaucho!
Afterwards, you’ll have lunch at the estancia (asado – Argentine barbeque) then try more horses on the afternoon ride, by the end of which you’ll have chosen your two perfect equine partners. Each day, the selected horses that aren’t being ridden will run freely alongside your group – a true highlight of this itinerary.
Come evening, you’ll sit back with a sundowner and tuck into a drool-worthy dinner as dusk settles over the estancia and the cicadas hum you their sunset song.
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Day 2: Colonial Estancia
Approximately 7 hours in the saddle.Waking to unfamiliar birdsong and the occasional far-away moo, you’ll fuel up with a delicious breakfast before your first full day’s ride. Initially, the trail leads northeast across the open plains, with nice long canters along sandy tracks and grasslands, accompanied by the ringing of cowbells as up to 20 loose horses trot and canter around you. Pure magic!
At lunchtime, the gauchos will light a fire and cook traditional empanadas and meat (vegetarian options available) over the flames. Then, under the shade of the trees, you’ll lie back on your sheepskin saddle cover for a siesta.
The afternoon brings a change of scenery, with 360° views of the surrounding wetlands. The wetlands offer a chance to see capibaras, antelopes, caiman and the unmistakable greater rhea (if you’re lucky!) – a flightless bird that stands 3 to 5 feet tall.
Riding towards the broad open plain of the pampa, out of nowhere, a stunning colonial estancia will appear, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Here, you’ll wine, dine, talk and laugh the night away beneath a sky of brilliant stars, as fireflies flicker in the dark.
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Day 3: Mediterranean Estancia
Approximately 7 hours in the saddle.After breakfast, you’ll ride along lagoons and scrublands, eventually reaching the Corriente river. Lunch (another hearty asado) will be whipped up on the river bank while you absorb the unforgettable view over the water. Hammocks emerge for today’s siesta, or you can simply chill out and watch the horses grazing by the river’s edge.
Later, a series of canters along sandy freshwater beaches brings you to a Mediterranean-style estancia nestled on the riverbank. You’ll be welcomed with afternoon tea and sundowners on the terrace, followed by a delightful dinner.
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Day 4: Main Estancia
Approximately 7 hours in the saddle.Today, you’ll herd the unridden horses back to the main estancia through vast eucalypt forests. Eventually, you will come across a remote cattle corral, where the gauchos will once again cook lunch before everyone takes a rejuvenating siesta.
In the afternoon, you’ll follow the chime of the cowbell as the ‘godmother mare’ leads the horses back to Estancia Don Joaquin, where dinner and another restful night await.
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Day 5: Cattle work
Approximately 3 hours in the saddle.Today brings a delightful change of pace, with a half-day in the saddle following the gauchos in their daily cattle routine, getting down and dirty for a taste of real estancia life. Ever tried your hand with a lasso? Now’s your chance! It’s a real treat to see the gauchos and their clever, athletic horses at work.
After a three-course lunch at the estancia (yes, really!), the afternoon is yours to enjoy, most likely lazing around the swimming pool with a cool drink.
In the evening, your hosts will delight your tastebuds with a blind tasting of outstanding Argentinian wines before a scrumptious dinner.
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Day 6: River Lodge
Approximately 3.5 hours in the saddleThis morning, you’ll ride with the gauchos to explore a new part of the estancia. The grassland in this area is ‘hedged’ with acacia trees and native forests, creating the perfect ecosystem for a variety of birds and wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled, globetrotters!
Lunch will be served back at the main estancia, then in the afternoon, you’ll either drive to the River Lodge*. Located on the other side of the estancia, this lodge boasts gorgeous sunsets over the water, which you’ll soak up over dinner before returning to the main estancia.
*On some departures, this is instead a lunchtime excursion.
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Day 7: Main Estancia
Approximately 3-5 hours in the saddle.Your last day certainly packs a punch! After breakfast overlooking the serene river, you will return to the main estancia, then mount up and spend the rest of the morning helping the gauchos herd cattle into the corral, lasso calves for tagging, and anything else that needs doing!
After lunch at the main estancia, you can either saddle up your favourite horse (it’ll be a tough choice between your two noble steeds!) for one final ride on the estancia, or visit the nearby town of Esquina to check out a local tack shop, where you’re bound to find a useful souvenir or two.
Finally, in the late afternoon, you’ll return to the main estancia and revel in one last delightful evening of great food, fine wine, tall tales and good company.
If you’re taking the public overnight bus back to Buenos Aires, you will be driven to Esquina in good time (the bus departs at 10:30pm).
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Departure: Buenos Aires
Non-riding dayHaving boarded the luxury overnight bus at 10pm the previous evening, you’ll arrive back at the main bus station in Buenos Aires at 7am.
Please note, your flight home must not depart until after 11am today.
All riding abilities welcome.
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Arrival: Buenos Aires
Non-riding day.Depending on your travel plans and budget, we recommend arriving a few days early and spending a night in Buenos Aires to explore this vibrant city and recover from jet lag.
**Please keep in mind, the bus transfers go overnight. This means that if you’re booked to start your ride on January 1 (for example), your overnight bus will depart Buenos Aires the night before on December 31 at 8.30pm.
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Day 1: Estancia
Approximately 2 hours in the saddle.Welcome to Corrientes, globetrotters! You will arrive in Esquina after your luxury overnight bus transfer at 4am where representatives from the estancia will be waiting at the bus stop to escort you to the estancia itself. Here, the Solanet family will welcome you with open arms and you’ll get to know them over breakfast. Then it’s time to meet your beautiful Criollo steed!
The debut ride begins with an introduction to the Argentine riding style, followed by a relaxed two-hour loop around the serene grasslands surrounding the estancia, where herds of horses and cattle graze contentedly.
Afterwards, you’ll have lunch at the estancia (asado – delicious Argentinian barbeque) then bask in the tranquillity of your surroundings during the first of many midday siestas.
In the afternoon, your hosts will lead a nature walk around the estancia, pointing out many rare species of flora and fauna and imparting a strong sense of place to enhance and inform your stay.
As dusk settles over the plains, you’ll be plied with fine Argentinian wine and a cheese platter in the garden before tucking into a drool-worthy dinner.
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Day 2 onwards: Estancia
Daily hours in the saddle: optionalFor the duration of your stay, each day will be tailored to your heart’s desires. The longer you’re in Corrientes, the deeper you’ll be immersed – we recommend a 10-day stay if you can spare the time. You’ll wade through the wetlands on horseback, spotting caimans, capybaras, and vibrant, incredibly diverse birdlife. In the untouched scrublands, you’ll duck and weave through dense native vegetation. You can join the gauchos in their traditional cattle work, herding livestock, tagging calves, and driving cattle across the vast estancia, learning (or at least witnessing!) techniques passed down through generations.
Another highlight is swimming the horses bareback in a serene lagoon – a magical and incredibly fun experience! You’ll also have the chance to practise gaucho skills such as lassoing and Sortija, which will test your coordination and deepen your connection with your horse. And on a very special moonlit ride, you’ll see a totally different side of Corrientes, listening to nocturnal calls, chirps and croons as you ride beneath the dark, star-studded sky.
There’s plenty of free time at the estancia to swim, indulge in a massage, or take a polo lesson, while an excursion to the tack shop and saddlery in Esquina offers a chance to purchase traditional leather goods and beautiful Argentine riding apparel. For the non-riders, there’s also fishing, bird watching, hiking, 4WD wildlife safaris, wine tasting, and cooking lessons to ensure a well-rounded holiday.
Each day at noon, you’ll all chow down on delectable asados and enjoy a relaxing afternoon siesta. Then come evening, the kitchen team will prepare a three-course feast of Argentinian cuisine. And of course, the wine and cocktails will flow freely!
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Final day: River Lodge
Approximately 3 to 5 hours in the saddle.After another delectable breakfast, you will mount up and relive your all-time favourite ride. Whether swimming bareback in the lagoon or cantering across the plains, this promises be a ride to remember!
After lunch at the estancia, the gauchos will take you on one final ride across the wetlands you’ve come to know so well. As the day softens, the estancia staff will welcome you with drinks served on the edge of the lagoon, overlooking the water as the sun slips toward the horizon.
Back at the estancia, you’ll have time to freshen up before settling in for one last unforgettable evening of exceptional food, fine wine, tall tales, and wonderful company.
If you’re taking the public overnight bus back to Buenos Aires, you will be driven to Esquina in good time (the bus departs at 10:30pm).
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Departure: Buenos Aires
Non-riding dayHaving boarded the luxury overnight bus at 10pm the previous evening, you’ll arrive back at the main bus station in Buenos Aires at 7am.
Please note, your flight home must not depart until after 11am today.
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Non-Riders
Activities availableNon-riding partners and friends are warmly welcome, with fishing, 4WD adventures, birdwatching, hiking, cooking classes, and an oh-so-tempting pool all on offer. The estancia is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and soak up the Argentine sun.
*Additional charges apply for fishing (license, equipment hire etc).
Transfer information
Transfers to and from the estancia are not included in the price. Most guests take the luxury 8-hour overnight bus (approximately $250 USD per person round trip) from Buenos Aires to the nearby town of Esquina, where the estancia staff will be waiting to collect you in the morning on day 1. The same route can be booked at the end of your stay. This is the best option, as you’ll travel overnight, avoid losing any riding days, and the scenery along this route is not a highlight.
**Please keep in mind, the bus transfers go overnight. This means that if you’re booked to start your ride on January 1 (for example), your overnight bus will depart Buenos Aires the night before on December 31 at 8.30pm. And if the last day of your ride is January 7, your bus will depart from the estancia that evening, which will get you back to Buenos Aires at approximately 7am on January 8 (for example). Please keep this in mind when booking your flights!
Alternatively, you can self-drive from Buenos Aires (6 hours), Corrientes (3.5 hours) or Santa Fe (3 hours). This is a great option if you intend to visit Argentina’s famous Iberá National Park or Iguazu Falls after your ride. Hire cars tend to be very well-priced in Argentina, or your hosts can arrange private car transfers for up to 4 people for $500 USD each way (paid direct).
Please note
Globetrotting will automatically arrange the overnight bus transfers for you and send you instructions unless otherwise advised.
Accommodation
Estancia-Based Ride: This ride is based at your hosts’ family-run luxury estancia, where you’ll stay in an ensuite room with a private veranda, configured as either a king bed or twin doubles, and enjoy access to an on-site swimming pool.
Estancia Explorer: On nights 1,4, 5 and 6, you will stay at your hosts’ estancia (see description above). On nights 2 and 3, you’ll stay at two remote estancias, each full of eclectic charm and character. They are simple and basic, not luxurious. There’s no electricity or Wi-Fi, unless the generators are running, but running water and hot showers provide comfort while immersing you in the authentic life of this distant region.
Main estancia
Main estancia
Main estancia
Main estancia
Host estancia
Host estancia
Food
Loosen your belts, globetrotters, you’re about to sample some of Argentina’s best-loved cuisine! While meat is a big part of the Argentine diet, the estancia also offers an abundance of locally-sourced salads, fruits and vegetables. This ride can cater to vegetarians, vegan, dairy free, and gluten free dietary requirements.
Breakfast offerings include fabulous omlettes, eggs (your way), homemade breads, croissants, tortas fritas (gaucho fried bread), jams, cakes, eggs, fruits, fresh orange juice, and the famous dulce de leche. Lunches are either prepared out on the trail by your gaucho guides or served at the estancia, where you can expect a multi-course feast.
Appetisers such as homemade chorizo, fresh and dried fruits and cheese will be enjoyed with sundowners at the end of the day. Dinner involves three courses, centred around favourites like the national dish, asado (barbeque), and empanadas straight from the oven.
Reviews
Felicity R
Bernadette Kelly
What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
Stories from the saddle
A Day Spent in Buenos Aires
‘Sexy, alive and supremely confident.’ That’s how Lonely Planet describes Buenos Aires, and we would have to agree. Spend even a small amount of time here and this beautiful city will get under your skin. If you’re heading off on
