El Ombu de Areco

El Ombu de Areco is an historical estancia just under two hours drive from downtown Buenos Aires. It is located in San Antonio de Areco, birthplace of the gaucho tradition. The late-colonial style mansion, built in 1880 by Lieutenant-general Pablo Riccheri, offers visitors a magnificent setting for an unforgettable stay.

The 750 acre estancia is dedicated largely to breeding Hereford and Aberdeen Angus cattle.

El Ombú offers nine spacious, modernised bedrooms (6 doubles and 3 triples), with en suite bathrooms, large windows and an interesting array of period furniture. In winter, you can enjoy the warmth of central heating in every bedroom, augmented, if desired, with the friendly glow of the gaucho's typical wood-burning fire.

The estancia's living room is now a spacious common area in which guests can enjoy satellite TV or videos, a round of billiards, a game of chess or hand of cards. On the adjacent gallery, there is ping-pong and metegol (table football). The main house is surrounded by a covered gallery typical of the late-Colonial period with a richly tiled floor and cascaded steps that lead into the gardens of the park.

Presiding majestically over the park is the estancia's namesake, the great ombú (Phytolacca dioca), a plant as characteristic of the pampas as the baobab is of the African savanna. Nearly as ancient as well: gauchos have been hitching their horses to the estancia's main ombú for over a hundred years. Centennial oaks, araucarias (monkey-puzzle trees), palms, eucalyptus, casuarinas and magnolias adorn the four-hectare (ten-acre) park, tempting one to stroll about and enjoy the scent of gardenias, roses and lime trees. The park and surrounding ranch land, with its natural lagoons and small water courses running to the Areco River offer a rich habitat to a large proportion of Argentina's 1000 bird species.

No stay will pass without at least one 'asado', the typical Argentinean barbeque of the world's finest beef raised free-range on the estancia. In the summertime lunch is served al fresco in the shadow of the great ombú. Drinks and snacks are available at any hour, and of course, guests are always welcome to share the famous Argentine maté with Eva and her family, your friends and the gauchos.

“It's a great place for a lively lunch. The main house has nine country-style rooms. They will lend you binoculars, teach you how to milk cows or charter you a light aircraft. The best time to visit is the Dia de la Tradicion (10 November) when the gauchos have a massive roast.” The Independent, February 2006