Estancia Buena Vista: Equestrian Tourism in the Northeast of Argentina

By: Natalia Imberti Posted: 29/05/2024

Northeast Argentina is a region of pristine natural beauty, a wilderness of rivers, floodplains, grassland and subtropical forests. In this increasingly popular destination for horseback riding enthusiasts, tourists can travel through remote areas that are inaccessible by car.

In the southern corner of the Province of Corrientes, on the banks of the majestic Paraná River, we find the beautiful city of Esquina.

The history of this rural town intertwines with that of the Liebig-Röhner family, who set out to restore an 1880’s farmhouse. Back in the nineties, they bought the estate and decided to turn it into an estancia to welcome guests from Argentina and from all over the world.

Pioneers in local equestrian tourism, this Swiss-German family have managed the ranch since 1920 and today they take pride in their family-run business.

Klaus Liebig, a third-generation immigrant, together with his wife Gloria Rosado, their children Bastián and Lisa, and their dedicated team work side by side to make each guest that comes to Estancia Buena Vista feel at home.

In this interview, we will learn more about the horse riding programs they offer at Estancia Buena Vista.

The Estancia Buena Vista

How did the idea of offering horseback riding come about?

Since my parents started their rural tourism business, we have always focused on horseback riding.

That unique experience of riding through incredible places, vast expanses of the authentic Argentine Pampas, of working side by side with the gauchos of the Estancia when they move, vaccinate or brand cattle. That’s what foreign guests are looking for, and that feeling of freedom when you ride in a working cattle ranch.

Also, since we have another Estancia near Buena Vista, we offer rides between the two Estancias, 2 or 3 days. These rides are an excellent opportunity for guests to see how people work in this rural area and to get up close and personal with gaucho traditions.

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What is the family message or legacy you want to convey to tourists?

First of all, we want them to feel at home, as if they were visiting their relatives. We make them feel like we've known them for a long time.

Always providing good customer service with all the comforts that a hotel of these characteristics requires.

We want our guests to experience the passion that we feel for tradition in Corrientes, the values of rural life in Argentina, the history and culture of the Argentine gauchos, with the respect they deserve.

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What other aspects of Argentina’s culture and rural life can you experience during the rides?

As I said before, we have deep respect for Argentinian traditions and gaucho culture in Corrientes. You can get a taste of the authentic gaucho way of life, with their typical clothes, foods and music (we always end our rides with a chamame folk band), and all the values they embody, such as friendship, generosity and the desire to share their traditions with guests.

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The horses at the Estancia

How do you select the saddle horses that you use at Estancia Buena Vista?

We select our horses according to their physical condition; they should always be well fed and in good shape.

Then we check saddle fit at the withers and back to avoid potential injuries when riding for several hours. We look for mild-mannered horses and we regularly check the way they walk or canter.

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What horse breeds do you have at the estancia?

Most of our horses are Criollo, but we also have some Thoroughbred crosses.

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As regards horse care and training, how do you keep your horses fit for the rides? What kind of food do you feed them?

I’ll answer these two questions.

Our horses’ health is central to us. Our groom Nico and the ranch manager Miguel are in charge of keeping the horses healthy and fit for the rides. When we see that something is wrong or to plan our horses' vaccination and deworming schedules, we call the vet.

As regards their feeding, since our horses are field-kept most of their diet is based on natural grass, but when they are on the move with guests, we give them alfalfa.

If we need to correct some of their movements, then we train them in a round pen.

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How do you ensure the safety of both horses and riders during tours?

First, what I said in the previous question – we have horses to match our riders' abilities. Properly fitting and adjusted tack (saddle, stirrups and bridle) is crucial.

We have helmets in case someone didn't bring theirs.

We check the weather conditions, if it is windy, too hot or if a storm is coming. We always carry water to stay hydrated and a basic first aid kit.

We also, depending on the group size, there are 1, 2 or 3 gauchos with them.

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Equestrian Routes at Buena Vista Estancia

Do you require previous riding experience in your rides?

We cater to riders of all skill levels, from people who have never ridden a horse or guests with very little experience to expert riders.

In any case, we first ask them a couple of questions to determine their level and then we pair them with the most suitable horse. If they lie about their skill level, we can tell right away by the way they mount the horse, ride, stop, turn, etc.

What I mean is that we give the right horse to the right rider. They can also change horses if they need to.

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Do you have any recommendations for guests who want to go riding for the first time? Is there any equipment they need to bring?

Get ready to experience something unique, exciting. Be open to discover a great culture with a history of its own. Embrace adventure and don’t miss our delicious food.

As regards the equipment you’ll need, bring your riding helmet, comfortable clothes for riding, your camera or smart phone, bug spray (we usually provide that), sunscreen.

Don’t forget to mention food allergies or any other dietary needs when you book.

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Are there any weight or height limits for riders who want to participate in the rides?

We have no height and weight limits for riders. We have the right horses.

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How would you describe the landscapes we’ll see during the rides?

There are several types of landscapes.

When we go to the Corriente River we visit an old cemetery from 1850, a natural forest with several trails and the banks of the river, which offer some pristine and beautiful beaches.

When we go in the other direction, Estero Pucu, we visit a wetland and the highlights of this ride are the native forest and our pine and eucalyptus plantations.

When we do the ride between the two Estancias, we can see the same landscapes and we also ride through farmland where we can see the corrals and the huts where the gauchos stay when they work.

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What other programs or activities do you offer at the estancia besides the rides?

We offer boat trips through the wetlands of Estero Pucu where you can see alligators, capybaras and many species of native birds.

If you visit the Corriente River, you will find other types of vegetation and wildlife (otters, monkeys and different birds).

We have options that are not included in the original price, but you can hire them separately, such as:

• Boat fishing with a professional guide in the Paraná and the Corriente Rivers, where the common species of fish found are jaw characin, catfish, pacu and boga
• Massage
• Spanish
• Yoga
• Tango
• Chamame lessons

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Can you mention some of the most memorable or exciting moments you’ve had with your guests during your rides at Estancia Buena Vista?

There are several, like:

When guests come to Buena Vista without knowing how to ride and end up nailing it. That’s very rewarding.

Families with children, who start crying when it’s time to leave because they want to stay for longer.

Foreign guests who fall in love with our culture, or tell us how much they’ve enjoyed this natural paradise or that this ride was the best part of their stay in Argentina.

That kind of recognition is what makes us want to carry on.

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Equestrian Tourism in Argentina

How has equestrian tourism evolved in recent years? Have you noticed an increase in demand for this type of tourism?

We have noticed a greater demand especially after COVID-19. Now more and more people want to enjoy the outdoors, nature and the simple things in life.

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Have you ever ridden a Peruvian Paso? What could you tell us about this breed?

Unfortunately, I’ve never ridden a Peruvian. I think it's a very attractive breed and the number of enthusiasts is growing a lot.

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And the most important question:

Why should riders choose you?

Because we are passionate about what we do.

What we show of ourselves is what we really are as a family. When my children are not in school, they join us on the rides. My wife pays attention to every detail. She likes to cook and is happy to share our culinary arts.

We really like to welcome guests and what we appreciate most is the human side of this business. Some of our gauchos have been with us for more than 25 years and that makes us a big family.

And since this is a working ranch, all the activities that you see are real and authentic.

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Thanks

Thank you very much for this interview with Ampascachi.

We hope that many riders choose Buena Vista and the province of Corrientes as their holiday destination, as this Argentine region is worth visiting because of its fascinating natural beauty. Many of these places are of paramount importance for the planet and the balanced.

/ Photos provided by: Estancia Buena Vista /

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Are you also passionate about the idea of travelling the world on horseback?

Argentina is a country with a long-standing tradition of horses. Exploring the country on horseback is something unique – a highly recommended experience. In our eBook "Discover Argentina, the Land of the Gaucho, on Horseback" you will find our options to enjoy Argentina on horseback.

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