Santa María de Lobos Polo Ranch offers polo enthusiasts and professional polo players the ultimate ‘polo lifestyle’ living amongst some of Argentina’s leading professional polo players, right in the heart of the pampas in Buenos Aires province.

Situated just 16 kilometers from Lobos town, only one hour from the city of Buenos Aires and forty minutes from Ezeiza International Airport, this high profile, secure and idyllic polo club is unrivalled for both its polo facilities and outstanding natural beauty.

On the banks of the Culu Culu lagoon, a natural 1000 hectare water reserve that is both boundary and protection from future development, the Santa Maria de Lobos Polo Ranch has attracted polo aficionados, industrialists and movie stars looking for peace, tranquility and seclusion.

When one combines the estate’s natural beauty with the choice of excellent polo facilities, polo playing and tuition, directed by high goal players such as Guillermo Casset and Agustín Merlos (10 handicap), nowhere else in the world can you find either a home or polo facilities of such significant caliber.

Santa María de Lobos offers both professional players and polo enthusiasts a once in a lifetime opportunity to ‘live and breathe the true spirit and tradition of Argentine polo’ on a working polo estate.

Other residents include Hollywood celebrities and leading polo professionals establishing Santa Maria de Lobos as one of the most exclusive residential developments and polo clubs in Argentina.

Mainline Security Estate Management offers land and a number of exclusive properties for both SALE and RENT on Santa Maria de Lobos Polo Ranch.

Santa María de Lobos Polo Ranch is Fiducia Capital Group’s (FCG) first development venture, which officially opened its doors in May 2006. The estate benefits from considerable take up in sales and is popular amongst investors, reclusive celebrities and professional polo players who expect benefits of a working polo estate within an exclusive and secure gated community.

Other properties developed by FCG include the hugely successful Estancia Villa Maria, close to Ezeiza international airport and Santa María de Los Andes, in Mendoza.

We welcome enlightened investors and guests to consult the Mainline Security team about Santa de Maria Lobos Polo Ranch. Our property and tourist teams are happy to arrange accommodation (subject to availability), polo school and clinics, and tours of the estate at your convenience.



Argentina Countrywide is pleased to welcome Palmita Mendez, Polo enthusiast, to our growing team of expert guides who ensure that our clients find the best polo accommodation, polo schools and polo tours in Argentina.

Palma is a well-connected polo enthusiast who is currently developing her own women’s polo team in Argentina.

At Argentina Countrywide, we have many polo estancias, private polo estancias and casa quintas (country houses) for both rent and sale on the very best polo estates in Argentina.  Our polo estancias are found  mainly in Argentina’s Polo heartland  in the province of  Buenos Aires’ and more specifically in and around Pilar and Lobos, both just a short drive from Buenos Aires city.

Argentina Countrywide has many polo groups staying with us from both Australia and England during the polo season 2010/11 and Palma is responsible for coordinating schools, lessons, practice chukkas and accommodation.  Using her local knowledge, she is also responsible for buying the best value quality services for our clients.  Polo players who travel to Argentina during season will know how difficult it can be negotiating deals from afar – well here’s your chance to get an expert guide and find the best deals in Argentina!

Argentina Countrywide is pleased to welcome Palmita Mendez, Polo enthusiast, to our growing team of expert guides who ensure that our clients find the best polo accommodation, polo schools and polo tours in Argentina.

Recently, Palma wrote an article for our group…

My first love is Argentina polo

My name is Palmita Mendez, I was born in Mexico but I’m currently residing in Argentina.  I first came to Buenos Aires to work in 2004 and the beauty of Buenos Aires city and the warmth of my many Argentine friends immediately captured my heart.  Buenos Aires is a fascinating city of amazing diversity and culture, and so I decided to make of Buenos Aires my home.

I studied gastronomy at the Instituto Argentino de Gastronomia, History of Art at the Fine Arts Museum, languages at the Goethe Institute and Alliance Francaise.

I already had so many reasons to love Buenos Aires and Argentina, but in September 2009, I found my real passion in life, and that passion fast became the most important reason I now reside in Argentina: Polo.

In September 2009, I accepted an invitation from a close friend to watch a Polo game and to take a polo lesson.  I had no horseback riding skills and so I thought the experience was just another to ‘chalk-up’ and add to my cultural knowledge of Argentina, but to my surprise, I loved it!

Just one polo lesson with the right polo people was enough for me to fall in love with polo.

What is it about polo in Argentina that gets you hooked?

I can try to describe Polo with words but you only feel the exhilaration and that addictive buzz of adrenalin when you actually play polo – I have invited many of my friends to play polo and guess what, polo is a common addiction!

Polo in Argentina is for everyone and affordable

If you consider Polo a sport for traditional polo families or the landed gentry or that you can only play polo if you have already good horseback riding skills – then think again – I have found that polo is for everybody – for every level, women and men.

Of course, if you ride well before you start your polo lessons you then have an important advantage but believe me when I say that you can start anytime and at any age!

Why I chose to play polo in Argentina

I have always loved sports; I played tennis all my life; I love skiing; I play golf, but I never experienced anything like polo!  Polo is the most beautiful sport that I have ever played and I cannot enthuse or recommend polo enough to any sports minded girl or guy.

Polo has its own culture, camaraderie with many intrinsic values such as friendship, courtesy, beauty, honesty, elegance and simplicity, and of course that long and powerful connection that humans have with one of gods most beautiful and majestic  beasts, the horse. If you couple the culture and being at one with nature with great doses of adrenaline that pump through your veins, you begin to get my picture!

I’m absolutely in love with polo, but I have found it is critically important to start your training (polo school) with the right polo instructors to get the best out of the game and ensure you play safe and well.

I was very lucky to start with great polo coaches, not only for their technique but also for their charisma. A true, noble, joyful, honest polo family introduced me to Polo.  Simple gentlefolk that made me feel welcome at all times.

I am so grateful to the people that introduced me to polo and allowed me to be part of their lives. Actually, a traditional polo family first opened the door to me and to many others who now practice this sport. They have played polo for generations and enjoy sharing their enormous knowledge of the game.

Let me show you why Argentina is tops for polo

I have been so lucky and therefore it is customary for Central Americans to share their luck!  If you would like to try this amazing sport, I am very happy to arrange day tours for polo lessons close to Buenos Aires city, Polo weekends and or weekly polo clinics.

It is with great pleasure that I collaborate with my polo friends and enthusiast at Buenos Aires Stay and Buenos Aires Experience and Argentina Countrywide to provide visitors to Buenos Aires with amazing accommodation and some the very best polo instructors in the world – I kid you not!

Polo changed my life in many ways.  The people, the places and the game have taught me many things about life and the way I want to live my own.  I have met many interesting people from around the world through polo and they all have left with me some of the greatest memories so far, even when just sharing the field for chukkas (all 7 minutes!).

Many of the people that I have met through polo became my closest friends and my favorite people. The simplicity of the terrain and the infinite skyline are all part of an invitation to live your life freely. The game teaches us the necessities of the team play and the true grit and determination that help redefine your personality – the battle on the polo field that shows you at your best… I have also learned about the beauty of a simple life, because as glamorous as polo may seem it is actually the simplicity and connection to nature that makes it all so worthwhile.

One day, I will have my own women’s polo team

Today my goal is to become a good polo player, to have my own women´s team to go around the world playing polo and to invite new people to join this popular sport – especially women. I want to promote polo for its beauty and to teach the fine polo and values that I have learned.

An open invitation to all -  play polo Argentina!

Given my experience and how much it has changed my life, I extend my invitation to everybody who arrives in Buenos Aires – please do not leave Buenos Aires without first trying polo in Argentina, I will endeavor to ensure that everyone who contacts me finds their way onto a polo field .

Contact Palma: info[at] argentina-countrywide.com

POLO ARGENTINA!

Rent Buenos Aires CASA de LORD polo estancia for up to 10 guests

Trekking on a glacier – Perito Moreno Easter Argentina

The Argentine Easter vacation begins today, it is fall, April 1st, and looking outside the weather is going to be a little overcast, but very pleasant!

Today,  we leave Calafate and travel to the Perito Moreno Glacier to view the glacier from a boat and then tomorrow we head off for a trekking expedition over the glacier, both should be marvelous!

The weather forecast for much of Argentina during the Easter break is a mixed bag with lots of sunshine – a little cooler further south.

We take this opportunity to wish all our clients a happy Easter and hope that next year more travellers will choose Easter break as a fantastic time to travel to Argentina.

Stay in a remarkably tranquil Buenos Aires estancia and enjoy horse riding across the Pampas, small game hunting in season or just walk for a far as the eye can see. Enjoy being one with nature, with not another soul in sight for many hours – this is gaucho country!

Lounge by the pool with a good book or accompany the dogs as they wander the estate marking their territory and exploring every nook and every cranny.

Estancia La Margarita, built in 1870, is an un-spoilt country retreat where time has stood still for visitors who seek out the authentic ‘Campo’ (country farm) estancia stay in the heart of Buenos Aires’ fertile Pampas.

Located just 280 kilometers from Buenos Aires, the location could not be more idyllic for country pursuits enthusiasts and visitors who seek out peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of frenetic Buenos Aires City .

La Margarita is just far enough away to avoid the crush of tourists, but close enough to enjoy a weekend break without “the madding crowd.”

This is not one of those overly commercialized havens for day-trippers trying to capture the essence of life on the ‘camp’ (farm). This is a very special estancia is for those travelers who really want to know how the land owning class of Argentina lived yesteryear.

David Cummings AKA ‘the English Gaucho’, an ex-musician from London, has ensured that La Margarita stays a traditional working estancia. David has painfully (we know) toiled to sympathetically refurbish both the house and self-catering units over the last three years to create a comfortable and homely environment for no more than 8 to 9 guests at any one time.

David offers one of the most reasonably priced estancia experiences in the province of Buenos Aires.

We have stayed with David many times, but last week, guests staying at the luxury Kavanagh apartment asked us to arrange an atypical country estancia for five people who were accomplished equestrians and who needed a break from Buenos Aires.

Robert Goldmeir told us, ‘our travel took just a few hours at a slow and safe pace from Plaza San Martin and we arrived at La Margarita for lunch and chose our rooms.  From the moment that we arrived – driving so long down the driveway until we thought we had got lost, that was until two Pointers rushed to greet us – we knew that your advice was spot.  La Margarita is not a five star hotel masquerading as is an estancia for those who need constant attention. La Margarita is a sanctuary. The team is always on-hand, but scarce, appearing as if by magic when needed. We had lunch on arrival. We went out horse riding that evening and then showered for a good supper.  We had breakfast the next morning and then went horse riding again followed by a lunch and a few hours relaxing by the pool. We left at six and we each paid just USD$190 for over 24 hours of pure bliss with riding, food and wine included.  It was a great escape and even greater value.’

We recommend at least two days at estancia La Margarita and even a little longer if you really need to unwind or improve your riding skills.

We recently spent three days relaxing at the Santa Maria de Lobos Polo Club at Casa de Lord  – Polo Estancia No. 1.  So-named, because it overlooks the Santa Maria de Lobos Polo field number one – close enough to watch polo matches, but far enough away to ensure privacy and perfect seclusion.

Alain Levenfiche AKA the Luxury Lord, built his private estancia, which sleeps up to 10 guests in great comfort, with every amenity you could possibly add to a vacationers’ wish list, including a gentleman’s den or ladies, you make the rules, wine cave, disco, swimming pools – for a truly amazing vacationers’ paradise. If you want a fun packed getaway or a quiet retreat, this is THE perfect private Argentina estancia – you choose the beat and pace of life.

Whether you play polo or want to play polo or not, it really does not matter. This estancia is designed for luxury travellers who want sumptuous luxury living and a whole lot of fun. It is a wonderful entertaining space for vacationers and parties or vacationers who want to party and guest numbers (visitors), who knows, you could comfortably entertain a dance troop or two.

You can use the disco within the house’s internal courtyard, with laser lights, bubble and dry ice machines, as loud as you like, pump up the volume and no one cares – for those of us who value our space, privacy and our own vibe without interference it is just the ticket.

We blasted Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance Marches, the Coronation ode, a bit of Parry just to test this theory and not a squeak! The Argentine cows looked a bit miffed and a few hawks decided to leave in a hurry, but no complaints – it was loud! That was just to test the water, we later pumped up the volume again with some 70s disco, that was of course after we had enjoyed the pool, eaten a first-class Patagonian asado (BBQ) with a leg of Lamb and watched the sun disappear over the horizon.

As you know, we do not publish estancias to our blog and various websites unless we have used them ourselves and can give you ‘horse-mouth’ information and advice, or what is the use of having local guide – right?

Getting back to the house, it is just so perfectly relaxing, with the right balance of everything you might need for a perfect private Argentina estancia stay where you call the shots – no plan – no rules – just you and whatever staff you want us to provide.

We decided to take you on a photographic tour rather than a just write about the various features of the house, so please click each of the photographs galleried above for further information.

We have the Luxury Lord’s keys and should you wish to stay, please contact our Terry Clarke, Mainline Security Estate Management – help@sos-prop.com.

Argentina Countrywide offers comprehensive and knowledgeable Argentina estancias, travel and tours consultancy. 

Sunflowers, we are surrounded by a carpet of beautiful Sunflowers for a far as the eye can see on a bright, warm and sunny (a touch overcast and changeable) New Year’s Day 2010 Argentina. 

We are just 50 kilometers from Tandil in Buenos Aires Province, just 310 kilometers from Buenos Aires City.

We are in the heart of Buenos Aires’ Pampas, the fertile and lush flatlands that makes Argentina South America’s bread basket, or more accurately, South America’s ‘Soy Bean Capital’.

We have spent most of the festive period reviewing estancias in Buenos Aires Province and latterly we have been guests of David Cummings, “the English Gaucho”, at La Margarita, one of the most rustic and beautiful estancias we have visited this year.  More to the point, David’s La Margarita estancia is the only one of three estancias we visited that will feature on our website.  We are not about quantity, we look for quality and value. 

David an ex-musician, an earthy bohemian type, farms soya and ‘lords’ over a late nineteenth century French style Argentine estancia surrounded by nothing, that’s right, nothing, for a far as you can see, walk or ride.  This is a truly idyllic getaway with horse riding, small game hunting in season and comforts of country home for under USD100 a night!!!  Fantastic value!!!

The feeling of space (a very precious commodity) and being at one with nature are key components of David’s estancia experience.  This is not a five star estancia, David has got this just right for those of us who are a little bit country and maybe not quite as rock ‘n’ roll as in the past.

We have eaten well, very well, and enjoyed early morning and late afternoon horse riding every day and lounged ‘like mad dogs and Englishmen’ with our books and mate by the pool.

Our able and loving guides Hero and Jak (two wonderful Pointers) have been our constant companions and showed us every nook and every cranny of the La Margarita estate.  

It is Argentina 2010, we feel at perfect peace, well rested and ready for the next part of our journey to Tandil and then on to Carilo and Pinamar on the Atlantic coast of Argentina.

Next week, check out our blog for further information and our comprehensive review and photo gallery of estancia La Margarita Buenos Aires, Tandil and Buenos Aires’ Atlantic coast where the Argentina Countrywide team will stay just meters from the beach in a luxury cabana.

Argentina Countrywide has stayed at every estancia we recommend.  If you want to know about Argentina ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’ speak to us for comprehensive and knowledgeable Argentina travel, estancias and tours consultancy.

Happy New Year!  Argentina 2010!!

We are closed both Christmas and New Years Days.

We are most interested in Argentina’s estancias that historically raised livestock (cattle), but more recently many Argentine estancias have developed their properties to provide quality accommodation and amazing sporting estates that specialize in tourism and providing some of the best outdoor and country pursuits found anywhere in the world.

More importantly, equestrian pursuits, hunting, angling and polo camps, often the pastimes of the landed gentry north of the equator, are affordable to most tourists visiting Argentina who want to ‘lord’ over the land.

Argentina’s estancias date back to Spanish colonial rule when free roaming cattle rearing gave way to land ownership and ranching, mainly in the Pampas.  Estancias had permanent farm buildings and livestock branded to show their ownership.

The estancia’s ranch workers covered huge areas on horseback, and so the Argentine cowboy, the gaucho, was born.  In the past, when cattle roamed free, gauchos were outcasts and the term ‘gaucho’ synonymous with roughnecks.

Gauchos were generally nomadic, and lived on the pampas, the plain that extends north from Patagonia, bounded on the west by the Andes and extending as far north as the Brazilian state of Paraná. The gaucho became the the predominant rural workers on estancias and as time marched forward their important place in Argentina’s cultural history and folklore is today unblemished.

Argentina’s estancias and their gauchos are figures romanticized in song, poetry and film, and their prowess on horseback is legendary.

Argentina Countrywide represents the leading Argentine estancias, sporting and wine estates, and some of the finest polo camps.

Our reservations team help travelers plan Argentina tours and travel, and arrange accommodation from just a few nights leisure or longer estancia and sporting vacations for equestrian professionals and enthusiasts, hunting and angling parties and polo camps Argentina countrywide.

No Argentina tours and travel are complete without vacationing at least few days on an Argentine estancia.

Our Argentina estancias range from basic quality rooms in fine country houses to five stars estancia accommodation with the splendor of the world’s top rated hotels.

Argentina Countrywide is not a website about Buenos Aires City, we specialize in advising clients on travel, tours and estancias Argentina Countrywide.

However, most of our clients arrive to Buenos Aires City, and we represent many estancias (country houses) in the Province of Buenos Aires, we therefore provide information and links to other websites and services that we highly recommend to those travelers starting their travel and tours in Buenos Aires City.

Most vacationers traveling to Buenos Aires fail to make the distinction between Buenos Aires the Province and Buenos Aires the City.

Buenos Aires Province is the largest and most populous of Argentina’s 23 provinces. Buenos Aires Province has 134 districts called “partidos” and a population of 15,011,248.  The Capital of Buenos Aires Province is La Plata.

In 1994, Buenos Aires City became “Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires” (Autonomous City of Buenos Aires) and comprising of 48 “barrios” or districts. This is the first blog in a series of articles that will explore the most important barrios for sightseeing and tourism in Buenos Aires City and later, the most important and interesting partidos for sightseeing and tourism in Buenos Aires Province.

Today, we start of first article in the series of two where most travelers arrive to and start their tours of  Argentina, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires is a city of faded elegance, romanticized by many and often characterized by the melancholy melodies, and the sensuality and passion of the tango.

However, there is much more to the city than the tango.  Buenos Aires City is an amazing metropolis of enormous culture and its barrios are each unique with distinctive characteristics and histories, their contrasts make Buenos Aires a wonderful tourist destination for all tastes, budgets and seasons.

Before going on it is important that travelers realize that the Buenos Aires barrios most favored by tourists are located in a relatively small area of the city close to the city center (Centro and Downtown) , but not in the city center , that would be Caballito.

The barrios recommended and described are the safest and most interesting for tourism and sightseeing.

If you look at the map below, you will note that we are referring to an area that includes Belgrano and Colegiales in the north of Buenos Aires  to La Boca and San Telmo in the south of Buenos Aires, and Caballito to the west. The eastern boundary of the city center barrios we recommend is the Rio del la Plata.

In total, we only recommend 13 out of 48 Buenos Aires barrios to tourists, as we believe them both safe and great for tourism.  We caveat that statement by saying that we do not recommend La Boca as a place to stay, but most certainly, no stay in Buenos Aires would be complete without visiting La Boca.

One of our trusted partners, BuenosAiresStay, has some of the best guides and information about Buenos Aires City found anywhere on the Internet, so it would be foolish to ‘recreate the wheel’. We link Buenos Aires Stay’s comprehensive tourist guides for your convenience:

• Belgrano Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• Caballito Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• Downtown Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• La Boca Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• Monserrat Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• Palermo Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• Puerto Madero Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• Recoleta Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• San Nicolas Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides
• San Telmo Apartments, Tours and Restaurants Guides

Many clients ask us about accommodation in Buenos Aires City and if we would recommend hotels or vacation apartments, it is not our specialty and so we refer clients to one of two trusted partner websites dependent on tourists budget:

• Buenos Aires Stay provides premier and budget Buenos Aires apartments. There services are highly recommended all over the Internet and in just two short years under new ownership they have a well-respected brand in Buenos Aires.  Owned by British expatriates, BuenosAiresStay.com is just one of many quality vacation rental agencies operating in Buenos Aires.

• Their sister website Luxury BA Stay cater to the high-end luxury market and uniquely, their apartments are listed subject to a published  apartment criterion, with a full range of luxury services and a full time concierge team run by Buenos Aires Experience, their services are geared totally for travelers who want and can afford a Luxury BA Stay.

When deciding where to stay and between a Buenos Aires vacation apartment or a Buenos Aires hotel, the articles linked below help travelers make an educated decision:

• Where to stay in Buenos Aires
• Buenos Aires Apartments-V-Buenos Aires Hotels
• Argentina – Buenos Aires hotels – Save 60% ONLINE NOW!

If you want help planning your travel and tours in Buenos Aires Province and City, we highly recommend Buenos Aires Experience. Buenos Aires’ leading provider of private guided tours.

Buenos Aires Experience is a group of well-traveled Argentines dedicated to promoting the Province of Buenos Aires and especially Buenos Aires City, their Buenos Aires tours reveal the real Buenos Aires travelers yearn to see, but more often miss.

If guided tours or travel is not in your budget, here are some further links by BuenosAiresStay.com  to ‘Do-It-Yourself’  tours of Buenos Aires City:

• Buenos Aires Best Walks – Recoleta to Palermo Soho
• Buenos Aires Walking Tours – Do-It-Yourself Centro
• Buenos Aires Park – Parks, Squares & Garden Tours
• Buenos Aires Best Attractions – DIY City Tour
• Sightseeing by Buenos Aires bus (colectivo)
• Weekend walking (taxi) tour Buenos Aires
• La Boca Sightseeing Tours

Argentina Countrywide trust that our recommendations and referral links to our trusted partners ensure that you have a wonderful stay in Buenos Aires.

The skiers and the snow boarders are soon replaced by outdoors enthusiasts for fun days of white water rafting and kayaking, trekking and mountain biking, scrambling and rock climbing, and by travelers who seek some of the most breathtaking and beautiful scenery seen anywhere on planet earth.

The spring sun, still low, but hot, has energized the land. The flora and fauna is bursting with new life.  The Patagonian Hare (the Mara) pictured above is standing guard, watching over his life-partner who attends her new crèche.

Patagonia is the southernmost portion of South America split not quite down the middle between Argentina and Chile by the imposing Andes Mountains Range to the west and south, and plateau and low plains to the east.

We are most interested in the Argentine Patagonia, which moving north to south includes the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego, as well as the southern tips of Buenos Aires, Mendoza and La Pampa.

Patagonia is a huge land expanse and discovering the idyllic and extreme would take many months. Argentina Countrywide advises travelers touring Argentina on travels and tours using our own experience of one of our planet’s last unspoilt frontiers.

Our advice ensures that your Patagonia travel is an unforgettable journey and a highlight of your vacation in Argentina.

Argentina Countrywide has Argentina’s most extensive database of estancias, polo camps and schools, sporting and wine estates. Whatever your passion, horse riding, fishing, hunting or pleasure travel, Argentina Countrywide helps thousands of satisfied travelers plan itineraries, buy travel and find quality Patagonia travel and accommodation.