La Bandada

Those who do not stay at La Bandada can choose to enjoy a full day in the Argentinean countryside. Limited groups are received to ensure the exclusivity and comfort of all visitors (see maximums for each day in the countryside). Depending on the interest of the passengers, you can choose between 4 field day programs.

1. Gaucho Field Day: Regular full year outings, maximum 20 people. From 11 am to 6 pm. 

Reception, walk, horseback riding, cooking class of empanadas, barbecue, demonstration of gaucho skills and Creole tea. All activities at La Bandada. It is possible to add experiences such as folklore music group or typical dances group. 

2. Field day and Polo

• Polo Class: Arrival at 11 am at Los Morrales. Taqueo class. 13 h transfer to La Bandada. Cooking class of empanadas. Asado. Demonstration of gaucho skills. Creole tea. 17 h farewell. 

• Los Morrales match: Arrival 11 h at Los Morrales. Introduction to polo. Field polo match of 30 minutes duration. 13 h transfer to La Bandada. Cooking class of empanadas. Asado. Demonstration of gaucho skills. Creole tea. 17 h farewell

4. Bird watching day: Autumn/winter/spring schedule from 12 to 7 pm. Reception at La Bandada. Walk. 

Lunch. Guided bird watching inside the estancia and/or in a local lagoon

1) Gaucho Field day

Visitors who do not stay as guests in La Bandada may enjoy a full day experience in the Argentine countryside. 

The group is limited to up to 20 guests to ensure the exclusivity and comfort of all visitors. Recommended schedule from 11 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m.

Upon arrival, there is a reception with a glass of wine and soft drinks. Then there is a cooking class of empanadas where one can learn to make the traditional “repulgue”. During the preparation of the asado for lunch, there is enough time to go for a walk or on horseback through the estancia (up to 10 horses simultaneously). Upon return, the Argentine asado is ready: different varieties of meat, vegetables and salads. 

In the afternoon, it is time to enjoy the traditional gaucho skills. To close the field day, a typical teatime including tea, coffee and mate with pastry.

Gaucho Field Day Technical Data Sheet

• Available: from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. 
• Maximum and minimum: Minimum 2 people, maximum 20 people. 
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Guided in Spanish and English

2) Field day & Polo

La Bandada offers 2 programs that combine polo at the neighboring estancia Los Morrales, with a field day at La Bandada.

a) Individual Polo Class. Ground polo and horse tack class + field day.

New: Polo Class for groups. Tacking from the ground and rubber horse + field day.

b) Los Morrales Match. Field polo match + field day.

Both experiences are developed in the neighboring Los Morrales Polo Ranch, of the Estrada family.

Los Morrales, is a dream that began in 2004 with the idea of being able to bring polo to non-players. Within its facilities they have stables, a polo field and a comfortable country house. A place where you can breathe polo, and where you can enjoy both watching a game, as well as learning how to saddle the horse and handle the taco.

It is located in San Miguel del Monte Province of Buenos Aires on Route 41 km 115, just 10 minutes from La Bandada, access on asphalt.

Formerly this sport of stay was naturalized among neighbors and relatives as fun in times of recreation. At that time there were herds of mares and the space to have a polo field. Also the people who worked at the estancias had knowledge and skills as riders and tamers of the horses, so it was easy to organize polo matches.

Today polo has become both professionalized and transformed, and there is more than one way to get closer to know about the horse and the challenges of this sport. 

Tradition and polo family: The instructors, Martín and Santiago de Estrada are brothers, professional polo players and host the experience proposed by Estancia La Bandada. 

They are part of a family of polo players with a long specific career in Polo. His father, Tomás de Estrada, is a breeder of thoroughbred horses, and is also passionate about polo. His mother, Teresa Gyselynck, is a breeder of Peruvian Paso horses. Martin and Santiago are also cousins of Adolfo Cambiasso and Camila Cambiasso, mother of the Castagnola brothers.

Martín de Estrada, in charge of "Los Morrales Polo Ranch", has 4 handicap goals. He enjoys working in an environment surrounded by nature, and being with his horses, which are his passion. The experience he proposes together with Santiago de Estrada (7 handicap goals), is to experience and familiarize this tradition, which was and is part of the Argentine field.

A full-day experience that combines taqueo classes with the best of a day's stay.

The day begins at 11 am at estancia Los Morrales where the class is held with a professional polo player. The class lasts 1 hour in which the instructor performs an evaluation of the student's experience to plan the class. 

It usually continues with a driving range from the floor (200 balls), then on the wooden horse (200 balls) and finally practice on the real horse if the rider has the necessary skill on the horse. During the class there are fresh drinks available and fruits.

At 1:00 p.m. they move to La Bandada (10 minutes away) where they wait almost ready for the roast. After a brief introduction to the stay, we visit the grill area to learn about the traditional cuts of roasts in Argentina and grilled cooking.

Those who wish can join a class of empanadas “repulgue” (tradicional pastry folding) in which they comment on the preparation of the filling, its characteristics according to the area of Argentina where it is prepared, and how is the recipe for the meat empanadas of La Bandada. 

Time to take photos and walk through the large park of centuries-old trees while baking the empanadas. At lunch the different varieties of meat are served, with grilled vegetables and salads with vegetables from the garden.

In the afternoon in the corrals there is a demonstration of gaucho’s skills: barrel race and ring game among other games. Then there is free time, to rest, walk or use the bicycles.

To close the afternoon, a well Pampas tea is served in which, in addition to tea and coffee, mate is served with Creole pastries. The time to start the return is at approximately 5 pm. 

Polo Class technical data shee

Available: From October 1 to December 23, 2023. From February 1 to April 10, 2024. On December 24, 2023 and throughout the month of January 2024 it is not operational.

Alternative of the program for dates when the horses cannot be used: From April 10 to September 30 (2023 or 2024), or from December 24th, 2023 to January 31st, 2024, the experience can be offered, without the practice on the real horse, since they are in rest season. Check availability.

Minimums and maximums:

• With practice on horseback: No minimum. Maximum 4 people at the same time. 
• Without practice on horseback: Minimum 7 people, maximum 14 people.
• Age: Minimum 12 years.
  
• Times: Arrival at Los Morrales 11 h. Suggested departure time from Los Morrales to La Bandada 13:00 h. End of field day 17:00 h.
• Equipment: Helmets available, chaparrera, leggings, boots, gloves, taco.
• Private experience.

The day starts at 11 am at Estancia Los Morrales where a professional polo player welcomes and an introduction to the game before settling around the court to watch a polo match as played on the field. The duration of the match is 30 minutes (3 chukkers of 10 minutes) 

It explains what the sport consists of, the necessary equipment, how a team is composed, the polo field, measurements and playing times. During the match, the instructor accompanies to relate and clarify the moments of the game. While enjoying the game, a snack and drinks are served.

When the match is over, there is time to take pictures with the cleats, bocce ball and horses before continuing to Estancia La Bandada at approximately 1 p.m. (10 minutes of transfer) where the roast is almost ready. After a brief introduction to the stay, we visit the grill area to learn about the traditional cuts of roasts in Argentina and grilled cooking.

Those who wish can join a class of empanadas “repulgue” (tradicional pastry folding) in which they comment on the preparation of the filling, its characteristics according to the area of Argentina where it is prepared, and how is the recipe for the meat empanadas of La Bandada. 

Time to take photos and walk through the large park of centuries-old trees while baking the empanadas. At lunch the different varieties of meat are served, with grilled vegetables and salads with vegetables from the garden.

In the afternoon in the corrals there is a demonstration of gaucho’s skills: barrel race and ring game among other games. Then there is free time, to rest, walk or use the bicycles.

To close the afternoon, a well Pampas tea is served in which, in addition to tea and coffee, mate is served with Creole pastries. The time to start the return is at approximately 5 pm.

Technical sheet Los Morrales Match

• Available: From October 1 to December 23, 2022. From February 15 to April 10, 2024. The rest of the year it is not operational.
• Minimum and maximum: Minimum 6 people. Maximum 20 people. 
• Times: Arrival at Los Morrales 11 h. Suggested departure time from Los Morrales to La Bandada 13:00 h. 17h end of field day.
• Guide in Spanish and English.
• Private experience

3) Bird watching day

Upon arrival there is a reception with drinks and petit fours. Time to meet with the bird guide who will give an introduction to the birds of the Pampa and plan the day's birding. Then there is time for a walk to get to know the estancia better. You will visit the park of centenary trees and the forest where you will make your first observations. 

San Miguel del Monte is located on a depression, in the Salado River valley, where a group of lagoons are formed which, together with the native forests and pastures, form ideal environments for bird habitat. Up to 108 bird records have been made in the area in one day, depending on the season, as many birds are migratory.

On the way back, lunch is served: different varieties of meat, with grilled vegetables and salads with vegetables from the garden.

The guided whale watching activity can be done in the morning or in the afternoon depending on the time of the year with the objective of doing as many sightings as possible. It lasts between 2 and 4 hours depending on the time of year. The different ecosystems of the estancia are visited and some of the lagoons in the area are visited to observe aquatic birds.

Snacks and beverages are offered during the whale watching tour.

Technical day viewer technical sheet:

• Availability and schedules: from July 1 to September 30, 2023; and from May 1 to June 30, 2024, from 12 to 19 h (winter schedule). From October 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (summer schedule). 
• Maximum and minimum: Minimum 2, maximum 3 persons.
• Regular daily schedule. 
• Equipment: Check List of birds, binoculars. Books in Spanish and English birds.
• Bilingual guide specialized in birds (Spanish and English)