Formerly called Candelaria del Monte, Estancia la Bandada triumphs in the outskirts of San Miguel del Monte as it sits on a 250 acre plot of pastureland in the heart of the Argentine Pampas. Just an hour from the Buenos Aires International Airport, this working farm is an ode to traditional country living in the pampas with easy accessibility enchanting visitors at the beginning or end of their Argentine adventures.
Having opened its doors to guests in 2004, Estancia la Bandada quickly became a launch pad for Patagonian adventures. Years later, we can now say (from first hand experience!) that whether it be 2 nights or a week spent at the estancia, the comfort and excitement of estancia living never gets old. With understated luxury and comfort at their core, Estancia la Bandada’s seven bedrooms are beautifully decorated and perfumed with fresh pine and jasmine from the garden.
Good food is central to life at Estancia La Bandada and all produce is locally sourced from the farm or kitchen garden by Chef Mariana Dacruz. The breakfast table groans with homemade jam, local honey and freshly squeezed juices, and the estancia asados (barbecues) are of local legend.
When it comes to burning off the excesses one is sure to pick up in Argentina (have no shame!), there are horses and bikes to ride, a good-sized pool, and polo can be played during the summer. Guests can also get involved in Estancia la Bandada’s daily rural tasks. The local town, San Miguel del Monte, is a ten-minute drive away and is perfect for a potter or picking up some fine leather goods at non-tourist prices.