A Perfect Rural Day Out in the Province of Buenos Aires

The countryside is the cornerstone of the Argentinean identity. The culture which is very much its own, where immigrants, mestizos, and locals founded villages and cities with their own customs, culture and gastronomy, was born on its endless green pastures.

Therefore, no visit to Buenos Aires is complete without spending a day in the countryside to get to know the gaucho customs: from horse taming to folk music, dances, local cooking, asados and bitter mate with tortas fritas.

This is also where the art of Creole knives can be appreciated, learning about the best craftsmen and their unique pieces which breathe tradition.

In Buenos Aires there are around 50 pulperias: traditional commercial establishments which invite people to experience and recreate life in the Pampas in the 18th century. They are perfect places for tasting local dishes and enjoying the famous guitar playing.

Picada, which owes its origins to the Italian “antipasto”, is almost a religion in Argentina. Whether as a main meal or just a snack before an asado, it is a custom that is an essential part of a true day out in the countryside.

Eating a picada on the Buenos Aires plains has the charm of allowing us to try fresh products made locally. The province of Buenos Aires is renowned for its huge variety of cheeses, sausages, and cold cuts.

A faultless pairing for a picada is craft beer, also produced locally. The “Fiesta de la picada y la cerveza artesenal” (Festival of the picada and craft beer) is celebrated each year in the enchanting Buenos Aires village of Uribelarrea in the partido of Cañuelas.

The crackling of the firewood on the fire announces the start of the asado. This is a rural tradition which involves much more than just food: it creates an atmosphere of togetherness and sharing with others.

Most commonly, the meat (whether beef, pork, or mutton) is cooked on a rotisserie, one of the most traditional and ancient ways of broiling in Argentina. The meat is cooked at a distance from the wood fire. This type of cooking can take up to 3 or 4 hours.

Ranch buildings with huge historical and architectural value invite you to enjoy gaucho culture in the Buenos Aires countryside. Here, visitors can get to know the productive processes in the countryside, experience the strong bonds with horses and visit the vast plains.

Asados are also accompanied by vegetables picked by local producers, like potatoes, maize, wheat, tomatoes, and artichokes.

Outdoor lunches invite you to appreciate nature and the impressive scenery of the countryside to its full extent.

There are activities to suit all tastes on the ranches, such as demonstrations of horse dressage or cattle ranching. Sports activities can also be practiced here, like polo, pato, golf, and fishing, as well as horseback riding.

The rural scenery of the Argentinean Humid Pampas is much more than just fields. There are also mountains, countless rivers, and beautiful lagoons across the plains.