Ride Criollo horses alongside real gauchos in Corrientes, Argentina. Enjoy authentic horseback riding, wildlife, Criollo horses, and estancia life. If you’re looking for the ultimate gaucho experience in Argentina, keep on reading! If you like not knowing what tomorrow might bring, working alongside locals, trying authentic Argentinian food, and sharing stories around the fire with a glass (or bottle) of wine and a guitar - you’ve found it on Hooves Around Corrientes, Argentina.
Book your trip to Corrientes here!
Trips hosted (and blog written) by Stine Andersen
Dates: 23 to 29 May 2026 & 2 to 8 June 2026
Price: 2450 USD
Included: All meals and drinks, horses and tack, shared accommodation, transfers to and from Esquina to the Estancia, general insurance (we still recommend having your own travel insurance that covers horseback riding), working alongside local gauchos, English & Spanish-speaking host.
Excluded: Flights to and from Buenos Aires, bus from Buenos Aires to Esquina (approx. 40-50 USD), personal travel insurance that covers horseback riding, tips.
Additional info: Vegetarian, vegan, and celiac diets can all be accommodated. Private rooms available upon request for an extra fee.
Having known Darío for a few years already, I knew that if anyone was the perfect host to introduce and welcome travellers wanting to learn about life in the Argentinian countryside, it was him. For over 20 years, Gaucho Argentino has been owned by Darío Gallardo, a real gaucho through and through. He founded his business after he had worked in the special forces and returned to his home in the Corrientes province, where after a while he realized travellers were interested in experiencing and living the Gaucho lifestyle.
Our Corrientes location is an eight-hour bus ride from Buenos Aires. At the start of these trips, we will meet at Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires and travel together to Esquina, where we will be picked up. The transfer from Esquina to the Estancia is about 40 minutes. The bus departs around 3PM on the day before the trip, arriving late at night. You can get then get a good night's sleep, and start the first day of riding at a slower pace to get into the flow of the trip.
This is not your typical all-inclusive estancia holiday. Even though everything is included, every day is different. We work alongside the gauchos, helping with whatever tasks need to be done. Some days involve herding cattle, vaccinating herds, or riding out to look for “wild” horses. It all depends on the week’s agenda. Some days the work runs smoothly and finishes early; other days, if cattle are missing or a horse has strayed, the work continues until the gauchos say the job is done. A true immersive experience.
Darío breeds his own Criollo horses. He currently has around 80 trained horses on his 3,000-hectare estancia. All horses are trained by the gauchos, with two working full-time on training. The horses live together in herds, meaning they know each other well, which makes riding together relaxed and social — perfect for sharing stories and cigars along the way. Each horse has its own personality, and there is a suitable horse for everyone, from beginners to experienced riders.
We strongly recommend that you are comfortable riding at walk, trot, and canter before booking this trip. As we work with livestock, things can sometimes move quickly, and you’ll need to have good reactions. Riding takes place in wide open fields as well as bushy areas where branches occasionally need to be avoided.
You can check Stine’s Instagram highlights “GA Corrientes” to see the horses and their incredible variety of shapes and colours.
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Thanks to the rich grass in the region, the horses require no additional feed and have plenty of energy for long gallops along riverbanks and through open fields. Riding in this area is spectacular — from endless grasslands to sandy river beaches.
The wildlife is just as impressive. Hundreds of bird species, caimans, deer, iguanas, armadillos, and capybaras make it feel like a safari on horseback.
Shoes are not necessary on the soft, sandy ground. Hoof trimming is done in a very traditional Argentinian way — using a machete and a piece of wood to trim excess hoof.
You will also be introduced to a new way of catching the horses. Once all the horses are gathered in the coral, the Gauchos tie a lasso to the fence on one side, then herd the horses into the corner and with the help of the lasso, the horses will be lined up in a row, ready to have the bridle put on. It might sound slightly complicated, but it is an efficient and less chaotic way to how it is done at many other estancias!
The Gaucho culture, which dates back around 300 years, is a vital aspect in this region of Argentina. The life of a Gaucho includes, among other things, working with cows, sheep and horses, herding them, checking up on them, vaccinating them – the list is endless. Unlike what we are used to in Europe, the animals live out 24/7, and trying to find cows in a 1000-ha field can take a while.
On one of our previous trips to Corrientes, one of the days went like this: We loaded horses onto the trailer and hauled about an hour to another Estancia where we met other Gauchos who would join us for the day of work in the campo. Once all the horses were saddled, we took off. After riding for a while, the guys pointed at a family of wild boars that was walking in the distance. As we got a little closer, two of the Gauchos grabbed their lassos and started galloping towards the mother boar and her kids, so we would get a chance to see them up close. Even though they missed them by very little, it was amazing to see this little family out on their stroll in the wild. Just a few minutes later, another Gaucho came riding up next to us out of nowhere, holding a baby Nandu in his hand that he had just found. Gauchos are definitely always full of surprises!
Finally, after almost stepping on a caiman in the shallow water that covered the grass, we found the first cattle. They were gathered and the ‘jefe gaucho’, or Gaucho in charge, gave orders on who was supposed to do what, and from there on, things rolled smoothly. We split up, some of us watched the group of cattle, and the others went off to keep looking for the remaining cattle.
Having travelled in South America and worked in different countries with horsemen before, I had the chance to experience many different life- and work styles. When previously working with cattle, it had some chaotic aspects to it and included yelling and shouting at the cattle, running around to make cattle go in the direction you would like them to. This time, however, there was none of that. There was no shouting, as Dario explained that this would stress the cattle and cause them to run off. Instead, the Gauchos worked closely together and were always aware of each other and paid attention to each other’s signs and body language. Just the open fields, the sound of 150 cattle and chitchatting in-between riders.
After a couple of hours, we had found most of the cattle and gathered all of them in one place. And then it was time to take them back to the Estancia, which would be another two-and-a-half-hour ride. The work of a Gaucho is no piece of cake. Many hours in the saddle, while the heat and mosquitoes are not to be underestimated (Mosquito season is November - December). Moving approximately 150 cattle for several kilometres demands good communication and teamwork. A day out with the Gauchos is an experience that you won’t forget easily. There is an incredible sense of community and it’s almost like a ceremony. Everyone shares their passion for this life and for a culture that is more and more difficult to keep alive. The many hours in the saddle give time to have some long talks with the gauchos and they always show an interest in us travellers when we visit. With a freshly prepared asado (BBQ) and cold drinks, we cheered to a successful day of work.
Apart from being at the beautiful Estancia where Darío’s rides are based, we might also get to stay at a neighbouring Estancia, depending on the work needing to be done. The hospitality in South America has always been something that I appreciate a lot. No matter where you go, people will always make sure that you are okay, that you have enough to eat and drink, and whatever else they might be able to help you with. And what’s better than sharing mate and laughing?
During our previous stay at this Estancia, we helped the guys take care of horses with injuries, vaccinate them, played (or rather attempted to play) ‘Corrida de sortija’, which is similar to ring jousting, and in the evening, we enjoyed our wine while Darío played the guitar. Music, more precisely Folklore, is a part of the culture that can’t be missed. If you ever join us on an adventure with Gaucho Argentino and Hooves Around the World, two things are guaranteed - music and good wine!
The passion and soul Darío has for what he does is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. There is a reason his wine is called ‘alma líquida’, or liquid soul, that is being produced (for private consumption mainly) in San Rafael, Mendoza. Money is not the drive of what he does, but it’s his incredible passion for keeping the Gaucho culture alive and giving other people the chance to get an impression of what this life is like. Working together with locals enables Darío to support the local community and keep the Gaucho culture alive. Hearing about the doors he has opened for people and families who were barely able to make it and can now live a sustainable life is heartwarming.
“Someone is not a Gaucho just by dressing like one. A Gaucho is a person who has the passion and feel for it, someone who has the soul for it, and it’s not something that you can fabricate.” - Dario Gallardo
It’s not often you meet a well-travelled Gaucho who, not only has seen other places, but also understands the differences of cultures and people. When sharing stories from his life, it becomes clear that Darío is a person who has seen it all in his life and knows how to use that experience well for a successful business. There has to be a reason why he says he could write eight books about his life!
You are introduced to a life that, like Dario said, can’t be described. You have to see it for yourself. It’s a complex life, with new and oftentimes challenging tasks thrown into your way daily. Having that many animals require a lot of work and caretaking. The infrastructure of Darío’s business functions because of one important thing – the passion everyone shares for this life. You need to be able to rely on people, especially when you’re not constantly present at one location.
Corrientes is the perfect place for an authentic gaucho experience: incredible riding, endless canters, and rich wildlife. Darío and his team take care of you 24/7, creating an experience you won’t forget. I've spent over two months travelling and riding alongside Darío and the gauchos, learning Argentinian traditions, folklore, and values. I will now host Hooves Around Corrientes with Darío, bridging the language gap while ensuring the stories, culture, and wine continue to flow.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to stine@hoovesaroundtheworld.com with any questions you might have. If you’re still not convinced, I highly recommend you check out Stine’s Instagram Highlights “GA Corrientes”.
