German
French
SpanishHorse riding in Salta, Jujuy, Córdoba & crossing the Andes
By: Gyöngyi Molnár Posted: 13/11/2020
Ampascachi only offers horse riding holidays in Argentina.
Horse culture is part of Argentina’s traditions.
Exploring this country on horseback is an unforgettable experience.
Argentina as a horse riding destination
Argentina, our land, goes far with top-level equestrian holidays, providing magnificent horse trail rides in the Provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Cordoba, and the special crossing of the Andes.
Discover our landscapes and local traditions in these cultural places with our gauchos that will guide you on your horseback riding tour.
Argentina is located in the south east of South America. It may be far from your country, but without a doubt, it is a perfect destination for a horse riding holiday, if you love horses and want to explore incredible landscapes on horseback, immersed in local culture.
Argentina offers riding tours with incredible landscapes of hills, mountains, ravines, rivers, lakes, open fields and hidden paths that are waiting for you if you dare to discover them.
In each stretch of each route, you will find a new story that you will never forget after hearing it from the lips of your local guides.
Argentina has a wide variety of climates and landscapes, and we want the world to know about them.
It doesn't matter what time of the year you come to Argentina. Here you will find varied climates and landscapes where the customs of the Argentine gaucho, who embodies the spirit of rural life, reveal the most amazing aspects you can imagine.
The Gaucho and his culture
The gaucho is the epitome of rural traditions and customs, which vary from region to region.
What do we associate the word "Gaucho" with?
First of all, with horses and cattle farming, but also with the estancias (ranches), family, hard work, guitars and folkloric music.
In fact, in a broad sense, the gaucho culture refers to the combination of several elements such as knowledge, arts, tools, gastronomy, habits and country life, which are different in each area, just as the costume that gauchos wear.
Gauchos from Salta
The main values of the gaucho are solidarity, loyalty, hospitality and courage.
For centuries, this nomadic and colourful horseman and cowhand has been in charge of cattle-related tasks and rural activities. Today, this gaucho identity is still alive and you can get to know it.
What is the best way to understand the gauchos and their culture?
Going to their domain, sharing in their tasks, seeing what they do and how they live. On our horseback tours in Argentina, you will certainly get to know them.
Argentinian gauchos
Would you like to be part of a group with an equestrian soul?
Join the Ampascachi Community. Obtain exclusive benefits for your holidays.
We tell you how to start, train and take care of your horse.
Interviews with direct providers of riding tours around the world.
Opinions of outstanding equine scientists and personalities in the equestrian sport world.
Northern Argentina
In northern Argentina, the Province of Salta invites you to explore its incredible landscapes in the Calchaqui and the Lerma Valleys.
While the Province of Jujuy features a highly rich cultural heritage and impressive geological formations in the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
There are many varied activities in the different regions. To get a brief idea, we will single out the most interesting aspects of each of the programs you can choose for your horse riding holidays.
Choose what you’d like to see from the back of a Peruvian Paso horse!
Salta and the Lerma Valley on Horseback
Before the ride, you will take a city tour around Salta.
After that, you will discover the natural charms of the Lerma Valley on horseback.
You will visit the caves of Las Juntas to see its cave paintings.
At the estancia of the Diez family, you will have the opportunity to share some rural tasks with the gauchos.
At the end of the equestrian trip, you will visit the villages of Cafayate and Cachi, and their renowned vineyards.
The entire Calchaquí Valley on horseback
This is an exceptional horseback route that takes you throughout the Calchaquí Valley and its lovely villages.
Leaving Cachi, the route goes through Seclantás, Molino, Angastaco and San Carlos.
To our great joy, the mountains and the rivers will reward us with their best views, plenty of fresh air and the freedom that such wide expanses will make us feel.
A representative route of northern Argentina!
Quebrada de Humahuaca on horseback
To begin with, we will visit the city of Salta. Then, the horseback expedition takes us to the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a World Heritage Site, where we will explore its small villages:
Volcán is the first stop of our route. After that, we’ll ride to Tumbaya, which is surrounded by hills of different shades of red. Purmamarca with the Hill of Seven Colours and its lively Artisans Market. At 3,860 meters above sea level, you will visit Punta Corral, a pilgrimage site. We will arrive in Tilcara and discover the Pucará de Tilcara, built more than 900 years ago. And at the end of the trip, you can see the village of Humahuaca.
An imposing and beautiful journey not to be missed!
From the Lerma Valley to the Calchaquí Valleys on horseback
A visit to the city of Salta followed by a horseback ride to the Lerma Valley and the Calchaquí Valleys.
Along the route, we’ll stop at the villages of Chicoana, Cachi, Seclantás, Molinos, Angastaco, the Quebrada de las Flechas (the Arrows’ Ravine), with its spectacular formations, and Cafayate, with its renowned vineyards and wineries.
A true pleasure for the senses!
Central Argentina
In the centre of the country, the Province of Cordoba offers several tourist destinations and equestrian activities. Below, you can see the options you have for a special holiday.
Estancia Haras Ampascachi
Do you feel like doing something different on your vacations?
Get an inside look at the everyday life of an Argentine estancia, which is totally focused on breeding, raising and training the best Peruvian horses for trail riding.
Enjoy this fabulous experience riding in complete harmony with nature in the Traslasierra Valley, province of Córdoba, Argentina.
Indulge yourself and your equestrian spirit!
Learn to ride in the Traslasierra Valley
Would you like to learn how to ride a horse?
Come and spend your holidays in Argentina and we will teach you everything about horses so that we can ride together in the Traslasierra Valley.
Holidays can be the perfect time to learn the basics of riding. With no rush but with a lot of fun, of course.
To make the most of your vacation, you can also discover different places, cultures and people while having a great time.
From the Traslasierra Valley to Los Gigantes Mountains
On this route, you can explore the magical corners of Nono. Then, Panaholma, a tranquil, simple and warm place.
La Taruca Pampa is a working estancia that we can visit on our way to San Gerónimo, another village where agriculture and farming are the main activities.
Our journey on Peruvian horses will then take us to a Jesuit Estancia – La Candelaria. This wonderful architectural complex was inscribed in the World Heritage Site List in 2000.
After the equestrian route, you can visit Olium an extra virgin olive oil factory.
Another place you can visit is the Noble Winery, in the village of San Javier.
Crossing the Andes on horseback from Argentina to Chile
Crossing the Andes mountain range on horseback is on the wish list of the bravest riders, who have some riding experience.
Join us for an adventure of a lifetime!
Our expert gauchos will guide you from Argentina to Chile.
There are departures in December, January, February and at the beginning of March, summertime in Argentina.
Are you ready?
Peruvian Paso Horses
At Ampascachi Horse Riding Holidays, the type of equestrian tourism we provide has been carefully thought out to offer you comfortable, safe and interesting horseback riding tours.
For that reason, a good horse is essential. At Ampascachi, we breed, start and train our Peruvian horses.
We believe that these horses are the best for trail riding, because they are strong enough to withstand the long days of our programs on any terrain, from the 4,000-meter-high Quebrada de Humahuaca to the slippery and rocky hills of Traslasierra and Los Gigantes.
In addition, their smooth gait is very comfortable and it won’t hurt your back, even after several hours, and even days, in the saddle.
At Ampascachi Horse Riding Holidays, we have a great logistics capacity, supported by two Equestrian Centres that enable us to keep our horses and store the equipment for our riding programs in central and northern Argentina.
Thanks to these equestrian centres, we don’t need to move the horses back and forth, which is very stressful for them.
Our equestrian centres
One of them is located in the province of Salta, in the town of Chicoana, in the Lerma Valley. It is known as la Casa de la Tradición (House of Tradition) and it also houses the headquarters of the squadron of Gauchos led by Colonel Luis Burela.
The other equestrian centre is in the province of Córdoba, more precisely in the Traslasierra Valley, which is where Estancia Haras Ampascachi is located. This is the place where our Peruvian horses are bred and trained for the rides we offer in more than eight riding programs, through which you can discover Northern and Central Argentina with a very professional and comprehensive service. Then, all you have to do is get on the horse and start your chosen route.
Subscribe to the Ampascachi Community and obtain benefits and exclusive content. Furthermore, we offer free advice on horses and equestrian tourism.
Livestock farming in Argentina
Argentina has a significant role in the production of cattle meat, which has been widely recognized for its high quality.
Producers are using innovative technology to maintain the high standards of their sector and ensure more efficient, accurate and forward-looking production.
Meanwhile, the emerging trends for organic products are promoting a return to natural food production - the roots of livestock farming.
The superior quality of our pastures in extensive plains is responsible for the superb flavour of our meats.
To see what life is like around a cattle-breeding estancia, in some Ampascachi Horse Riding Holidays programs, you can visit some of them and participate in their farming activities.
Our national cuisine
The “asado” (barbeque) is a typical Argentine dish and with our top-quality beef, we Argentinians prepare delicious, tasty and tender asados.
Gauchos are specialists in asado, which requires several hours over wood embers and a lot of work. The cooking method is very important. Heat is gradually transferred to the meat, which is placed on the grill grate, and charcoal or wood can be used.
Traditionally, men focus on cooking the Argentinian barbecue, while women make the salads that are usually served with the roasts.
Argentine asado
Argentina's national drink is the mate, a beverage brewed from the dried leaves of a shrub called “yerba mate”, using hot or cold water.
Drinking yerba mate is a social activity, just like coffee to the Spanish. As is the case of tea or coffee, mate has a stimulating effect due to the caffeine it contains.
Mate - Argentina’s national drink
Argentine empanadas
If you visit us, do not miss the opportunity to taste our typical empanadas – ground beef and vegetable-filled pies.
Argentine quality wines
Argentina has always been full of traditions and novelties at the same time. It’s a country where everyone wants to come and visit, because it has so much to please all your senses.
Thanks to their ever-growing desire to improve, wine producers in Argentina aim to provide products of unmatched quality, thus competing freely with wines from other parts of the world.
As an example, in the case of the wonderful Uraqui red wine, we grow and harvest organic grapes in the province of Jujuy, in the town of Uquía, at more than 3,000 meters above sea level in the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
With these special characteristics, it is no surprise that these are some of the best Malbec, Syrah and Merlot wines.
At the same time, Uraqui Minero is a rich and delicate wine, with unique flavour and aroma thanks to the production conditions of wine grapes.
Visit our land, explore these immense valleys and amazing mountains on horseback, and after an action-packed day, enjoy a delicious dinner and taste the best wines of Argentina!
As you can see, there's plenty to see and do in Argentina.
Come with us, put on your boots and get on a Peruvian Paso horse!
Do you like Argentina as your next horse riding holiday destination?
We encourage you to download the catalog of our horseback riding tours in Northern, Central and Western Argentina. Discover Argentina on the back of a Peruvian horse and with our team of equestrian tourism experts.
~
THIS COULD ALSO BE INTERESTING
Travel on horseback in the Quebrada de Humahuaca
The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a fascinating horseback riding destination in the Province of Jujuy, Argentina. Stunning and beautiful throughout its extension!
Planning a horseback riding route
You need to take into consideration various aspects when planning a riding route, especially the trails that must be comfortable for riders and horses.
Sightseeing in Salta & horse riding in the Lerma Valley
Salta’s old town & a horse riding surrounded by the geological formations & exceptional colours of the Lerma Valley captivate all riders who visit Argentina.
~
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? LEAVE A COMMENT
Planning your horse riding holidays?
Join the Ampascachi Community. You will get exclusive advantages and guidance for your next horse riding holiday.