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Our trip to Argentina wouldn’t be complete without
a visit to San Antonio de Areco in the heart of the
Pampas and gaucho tradition. Gauchos are Latin
American cowboys, cousins to our old west American
cowboys celebrated in movies and on television. While
the cultural popularity of American cowboys has faded,
the gaucho still thrives as an emblem of Argentinian
identity.
There are several tours available for single and multi-
day stays in San Antonio de Areco. We chose Areco
Tradicion that specialized in small groups between
two and seven and offered hotel pick up from Buenos
Aires. Our day trip included a guided tour through the
historical center of the town and Museum Ricardo
Güiraldes, followed by lunch and an afternoon of
gaucho activities at the picturesque Estancia El Ombu
Our driver whisked us through the streets of Buenos
Aires which were relatively empty because it was an
early Sunday morning and the G20 Summit had led
many city residents to leave town for the weekend.
The hour and a half, 70-mile ride gave us an excellent
opportunity to see just how sprawling Buenos Aires,
taking in an hour’s worth of suburbs before entering
wide-open ranch and farmland.
We were a little disappointed as we entered San
Antonio de Areco, known “the prettiest town on the
Pampas.” What greeted us resembled the dusty,
utilitarian farm towns of California’s central valley. But
it didn’t take long for us to regain our enthusiasm when
we entered the heart of the village around the large
beautifully landscaped Plaza Ruiz de Arellano where
we met our charming your guide Carola Vieytes.
Carola and her husband, who has a successful
designer jean business, moved from Buenos Aires to
raise their young family in a quiet, less stressful rural
atmosphere. She told us she loves her new life and the
people of the San Antonio de Areco have embraced
her family. Carola was the perfect guide, a local who
spoke excellent English and was both friendly and
professional.
She led us around the plaza, bordered by well
maintained and restored 18th- and 19th-century
historic buildings, and crowned by a simple but impos-
ing parish church. Its sanctuary was richly appointed

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