Enjoy a Day Trip to El Candelaria del Monte outside of Buenos Aires!

There are several popular day trips out of Buenos Aires, but going to an Estancia, or ranch, is one of the most popular. Maria Corbalan, our custom tour guide, sent us for a day to Candelaria del Monte, a working ranch two hours from Buenos Aires in the Argentine Pampas. The home has 7 guest rooms with a variety of layouts, and everyone Annie and I met that day was there for at least a couple of nights. We were there just for the day, but what a beautiful day!

Candelaria is owned by a local artist, Sebastián Goñi. It was built by his family in the traditional Pampas style. An artist, Sebastián has enriched the style of the house with art. Unique pieces infuse Candelaria with his rugged but welcoming personality. The open spaces of the house and ranch are green and welcoming. We enjoyed a lovely lunch with Maria Angeles, the hostess of the ranch, and the guests, a family from Australia and a couple from California. And in Argentina, a meal on a ranch had to be a barbeque! I don’t eat meat, but I had a nibble since I didn’t want to offend the cooks. Everyone said the beef and sausage was wonderful. The salad and side dishes were delicious!

After a swim and lunch, Annie and I went for a ride around the ranch. I did not have long pants, so I looked like a goof in shorts on horseback, but it was a lovely day and riding around the ranch was invigorating. My horse was Smoke. The Argentinian saddle is much less sturdy than Western or Eastern, and it took a bit to get used to. I felt unsteady, but I thoroughly enjoyed riding.

If you take a trip to Buenos Aires, plan a couple of extra days to enjoy a respite at Candelaria del Monte. I wish I’d had more than one day there!

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