Horseback Riding from Buenos Aires: 4 Hours in the Pampas

Four hours in the saddle crossing dirt roads, wheat fields and acacia forest with working gauchos.

Full-day horseback riding from Buenos Aires to the colonial town of Carlos Keen in the Argentine Pampas, where you spend four hours on a criollo horse with gauchos Marcelo and Pablo. You ride through farmland and forest, alternating between walking, trotting and galloping, then share a traditional asado lunch at the stud farm before returning to the city. Groups stay between two and seven riders.

The experience

The day starts with pickup at your Buenos Aires hotel at 8:30 am and a one-hour drive to the stud farm. Once there, the gauchos walk you through the criollo horses (how to read their temperament, how the saddle and bridle work, what each piece of equipment does), then help you dress and saddle your own horse. By 9:30 am you're mounted and heading out across the Pampas.

You spend the next four hours in the saddle, moving through a working landscape: wheat and soy fields, cattle farms, estancias, and a stand of acacia trees. The pace shifts between walking, trotting and galloping depending on the terrain and how you feel. At 1 pm you stop for lunch at the farm: a full asado with grilled meats from the parilla, salad, fruit, drinks and coffee. This is also when you try maté, the traditional South American drink, sitting in the rural quiet. After eating, you ride again for another two hours, this time through the old center of Carlos Keen and the meadows where the herds graze. By 4:30 pm you're back at the stud farm and heading back to Buenos Aires, arriving around 6 pm.

The gauchos Marcelo and Pablo speak both English and Spanish, so language is not a barrier. Children from age six are welcome. The vehicle is air-conditioned for the drive, and the ride itself is built around the rhythm of the horses and the land, not a fixed schedule. If you want to gallop longer or walk slower through a particular stretch, that choice is yours.

What’s included

• Four hours on horseback through the Pampas.
• air-conditioned vehicle pickup and return from your Buenos Aires hotel.
• asado lunch with grilled meats, salad, fruit, drinks and coffee.
• maté tasting.
• all riding equipment and a criollo horse matched to you.

Information

Lasts 10h, runs Monday to Saturday at 08:30, from US$ 275 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, in groups of up to 7 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 08:30Another day? ›

GroupUp to 7 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 95 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Areco Tradicion

Is this one for you?The day runs ten hours total, with four of those hours in the saddle, so plan for a full commitment and some muscle fatigue the next day. If you want a shorter ride or prefer to stay in the saddle for just an hour or two, look for a half-day option instead.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of horse will I ride?

Criollo horses, the breed native to Argentina and traditionally used by gauchos. The gauchos help you meet your horse and explain its temperament before you saddle up, so you know what to expect.

Do I need riding experience to do this?

No prior experience is required, but you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The day involves four hours in the saddle with walking, trotting and galloping, so your legs, back and core will work.

What happens if I'm not comfortable galloping?

Galloping is optional. Throughout the day you alternate between walking, trotting and galloping depending on the terrain and your comfort level. The gauchos set the pace and you can stay at a walk or trot if that suits you better.

Is the asado lunch included, or do I pay extra?

Lunch is included. You share a traditional BBQ with the gauchos: grilled meats from the parilla, salad, fruit, drinks and coffee, all prepared at the stud farm.

How far is Carlos Keen from Buenos Aires?

The colonial town of Carlos Keen is about one hour from Buenos Aires by car. Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the stud farm.