San Antonio de Areco is a small town on the pampas, 113 km from Buenos Aires along Ruta Nacional 8, known for its gaucho festival and its silversmiths. This guide is for you if you are thinking of giving it a whole day. It covers when to go, how the day is built, whether to try the bus, what to add, and who should save it for another trip.
When to go
November and the Fiesta de la Tradición
The town has held its Fiesta de la Tradición every November since 1939. It honours the gaucho, the horse and work on the land, and it is linked to 10 November, the Day of Tradition, which marks the birthday of José Hernández, the author of Martín Fierro.
The festival is spread over several weekends, and the build-up starts in early October. The main weekend, in November, brings a fireside evening, gaucho skills and country dancing in the Parque Criollo, a craft exhibition and the Desfile de la Tradición, the parade through town, on the Sunday. The dates change every year, so check the town's official channels for this year's programme.
If you want the parade, plan around that main weekend and expect the town to be full. If you want quiet streets and open workshops, pick any other week of the year.
The rest of the year
Areco works as a day out in any season. The museum's opening hours have followed the seasons, closing an hour earlier in winter than in summer, and the plan has you there before midday, so either fits. Hours change, so check the official site before you go.
How the day is built
You leave at 07:00 and the drive takes an hour and a half to two hours across flat farmland. The day in town then runs at walking pace: the main square, the silversmiths' and craft workshops, the gaucho museum by the river, lunch, and the old bridge. You start back at about 14:30 and reach your hotel in the afternoon, at around 16:00 depending on traffic.
Because the car is yours, the order can change. If the workshops hold you longer, the museum can move after lunch. If you would rather eat late, ask your driver.
What you are looking at
The town and the square
Areco was founded on 23 October 1730 around a chapel built by José Ruiz de Arellano, whose name the main square carries. The national government has declared it a town of historic national interest.
The workshops
Traditional crafts are still practised in the centre: criollo silverwork, leather for saddlery, plaited rawhide and weaving. Several workshops open their doors to visitors. If you want to buy, this is the place to take your time.
The gaucho museum
The Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Güiraldes opened in 1938 and covers about 90 hectares. It is named after the writer of Don Segundo Sombra, and the town is known as the home of that novel's gaucho. Its rooms cover gaucho and rural life and Güiraldes himself. Inside the park stands the Pulpería La Blanqueada, an old country store. A flood of the Areco river in 2009 damaged the museum, and it reopened in 2014. The entrance is not included in the tour.
The Puente Viejo
The old bridge dates from 1857. You had to pay to cross it, which is why it is sometimes called the first toll in Argentina: a keeper took the fee by day, and at night the bridge was chained shut. It was declared a National Monument in 1999.
By bus, or with a car and driver
Buses run to Areco from Retiro, with daily departures. It is a fair way to go if you are happy to stay the night or keep to the timetable. By car the usual route is the Acceso Norte and then Ruta 8 to the town entrance.
A private day gives you the door-to-door run, a car waiting while you walk, and the option to stop at Luján or drop at an estancia, which a bus timetable makes hard. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page. Our article on how private tour prices work explains why it costs less per person as the group grows.
What you can add
- Luján. The basilica at Luján can be added on the way back. It makes the day longer.
- An estancia. Ranch days with lunch and horses are sold by the estancias themselves. Book with one, tell us the time, and we drop you there and collect you. Riding is not part of the tour itself.
What to bring
- Local cash and a card for lunch, the museum and anything from the workshops. Museum entrances, lunch and estancia activities are not included.
- Comfortable shoes. The museum park and the riverside are best on foot.
- A hat and sun cream in summer, and a warm layer in winter.
- Something to do on the road. You spend three to four hours of the day in the car.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits a second or third day in Buenos Aires, once you have seen the city, and anyone curious about the country beyond it. Shoppers for silver and leather get the most from it.
- You only have one day. Spend it on the full-day city tour instead.
- You want water and green, closer in. The Tigre Delta and San Isidro half day stays much nearer the city.
- Someone dislikes long drives. The road time is the price of the day. A half day in the city may suit them better.
- You are more than 16. Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us with your numbers.
Questions people ask
Is one day enough?
For the town, the museum and lunch, yes. Areco is small. Stay longer only if you want an estancia or the festival.
Can we see the parade?
Yes, if your date falls on the festival's main Sunday in November. Expect a full town, and tell us when you book.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Decide whether you want the festival or a quiet town, then pick your date. Our guide to day trips from Buenos Aires compares this day with the others. The pick-up, timings and what is included are on the San Antonio de Areco private day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
