What our guest are saying
“This was one of the best experiences ever! What an absolutely lovely place. I came to Argentina to learn to play polo, and I left not just with a passion for the sport, but an absolute love of Argentina, and some friends for life. At Palo Alto the laid back attitude is all about inspiring confidence and having fun while learning to play. The ponies are fantastic (my favourites were Louis Vuitton and Hurricane). They live in a herd that can roam the grounds of the gorgeous estancia freely. Wake up early to catch them dozing by swimming pool! I was so lucky that the weather allowed me to play every day, with stick and ball practice in the morning and some exciting practice chukkas with visiting professionals in the afternoon, interspersed with a dip in the pool and a siesta of course! The accommodation is gorgeous, and lovely Veronica, the housekeeper, provides fantastic home cooked food. But perhaps the very best part of my stay was making such fantastic friends. Emily and Leo are truly awesome, the grooms fantastic, and the other guests were so lovely to hang out with. I have never felt more myself than when on the back of a horse riding through the dusk with lightening bugs flickering over my ponies ears. I loved my time at Palo Alto so much I extended my stay from 3 weeks to a full month. I left my heart in Argentina, and I’m counting down the days til I can go back.”
Elisa Colton London, England“I was lucky enough to spend a week at Palo Alto. Emily and Leo have done a fantastic job at setting up the perfect Polo getaway! They have a sound understanding of the sport and the patience and knowledge to teach anyone no matter their standard. The accommodation was comfortable and the cooking delicious! I would recommend if you’re going out there for any longer than 3 days to purchase your own riding gear which can be organised with Palo Alto prior to your visit. I purchased some custom made riding boots which made riding considerably easier and safer. If you like the outdoors, horses and meeting awesome people – Palo Alto is for you! I will definitely be back.”
James Ramia Melbourne, Australia“Our week at Palo Alto Polo Club was one of our favorite experiences in Argentina. We visited the new estancia and facilities about an hour and a half southwest of Buenos Aires near the small town of Villars.
From the beginning, Emily and Leo treat you like a part of the family. It’s not an overpriced tourist operation where you’re shuttled from a hotel room to the polo field and back. Instead, you eat all meals with Leo, Emily, and the other guests around a giant common table either in the living/dining room or outside under the trees on the days when they host an asado. You get to hear about the Austrian estancia owner, how Leo realized his dream of starting the polo club and school, and the estancia’s rumored history of once belonging to the Duarte/Peron family. Leo has plenty of funny stories to tell and is a good guitar player too. Emily makes sure everything is running smoothly, both before you arrive and during your stay. Even the dog, Filipe, aka “Lobito,” is friendly and makes you feel at home.
The rooms are large, clean, and comfortable. Veronica, the cook and housekeeper, is a gem. Her cooking was fantastic, no easy feat when accommodating both a gluten intolerance and a vegetarian. Her desserts were so fantastic that we asked for the recipe for the chocolate mousse, and got to watch how she prepares it as a special treat on one of our last days there.
The horses and polo instruction are great as well. The horses are healthy and well cared for. Superman had all the speed and agility necessary to catch up and ride off nearly anyone, and Prince the perfect match for for the beginner rider with a competitive streak that kept him constantly galloping after the ball. The equipment is well broken in, but still safe and functional. Leo sets the day’s pace based on your ability and desires, giving both riding instruction and teaching the rules and how-tos of playing polo. Most afternoons we played mock chukkas(sp?), starting at a slow pace and increasing it as we became more comfortable. Helpful grooms take charge of preparing the horses and cleaning them and the tack when you’re done, but helping out and learning all aspects of what all goes into playing polo is part of the experience. If you don’t feel like riding twice daily every day, you’re free to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. There are plenty of lovely places for lounging, and a sparkling pool for warm afternoons. They even have a sauna to help ease the ache as you get accustomed to using your muscles in a new or different way.
Once you get to Palo Alto Polo Club, you’ll never want to leave. We extended our stay twice, and hope we can return again someday. We truly feel like we made two new friends in Leo and Emily.
Our full review of Palo Alto Polo Club and photos are on our travel blog at www.Travel-Cowboys.com.”
Travel Cowboys Austin, Texas
What our guest are saying
“This was one of the best experiences ever! What an absolutely lovely place. I came to Argentina to learn to play polo, and I left not just with a passion for the sport, but an absolute love of Argentina, and some friends for life. At Palo Alto the laid back attitude is all about inspiring confidence and having fun while learning to play. The ponies are fantastic (my favourites were Louis Vuitton and Hurricane). They live in a herd that can roam the grounds of the gorgeous estancia freely. Wake up early to catch them dozing by swimming pool! I was so lucky that the weather allowed me to play every day, with stick and ball practice in the morning and some exciting practice chukkas with visiting professionals in the afternoon, interspersed with a dip in the pool and a siesta of course! The accommodation is gorgeous, and lovely Veronica, the housekeeper, provides fantastic home cooked food. But perhaps the very best part of my stay was making such fantastic friends. Emily and Leo are truly awesome, the grooms fantastic, and the other guests were so lovely to hang out with. I have never felt more myself than when on the back of a horse riding through the dusk with lightening bugs flickering over my ponies ears. I loved my time at Palo Alto so much I extended my stay from 3 weeks to a full month. I left my heart in Argentina, and I’m counting down the days til I can go back.”
Elisa Colton London, England“I was lucky enough to spend a week at Palo Alto. Emily and Leo have done a fantastic job at setting up the perfect Polo getaway! They have a sound understanding of the sport and the patience and knowledge to teach anyone no matter their standard. The accommodation was comfortable and the cooking delicious! I would recommend if you’re going out there for any longer than 3 days to purchase your own riding gear which can be organised with Palo Alto prior to your visit. I purchased some custom made riding boots which made riding considerably easier and safer. If you like the outdoors, horses and meeting awesome people – Palo Alto is for you! I will definitely be back.”
James Ramia Melbourne, Australia“Our week at Palo Alto Polo Club was one of our favorite experiences in Argentina. We visited the new estancia and facilities about an hour and a half southwest of Buenos Aires near the small town of Villars.
From the beginning, Emily and Leo treat you like a part of the family. It’s not an overpriced tourist operation where you’re shuttled from a hotel room to the polo field and back. Instead, you eat all meals with Leo, Emily, and the other guests around a giant common table either in the living/dining room or outside under the trees on the days when they host an asado. You get to hear about the Austrian estancia owner, how Leo realized his dream of starting the polo club and school, and the estancia’s rumored history of once belonging to the Duarte/Peron family. Leo has plenty of funny stories to tell and is a good guitar player too. Emily makes sure everything is running smoothly, both before you arrive and during your stay. Even the dog, Filipe, aka “Lobito,” is friendly and makes you feel at home.
The rooms are large, clean, and comfortable. Veronica, the cook and housekeeper, is a gem. Her cooking was fantastic, no easy feat when accommodating both a gluten intolerance and a vegetarian. Her desserts were so fantastic that we asked for the recipe for the chocolate mousse, and got to watch how she prepares it as a special treat on one of our last days there.
The horses and polo instruction are great as well. The horses are healthy and well cared for. Superman had all the speed and agility necessary to catch up and ride off nearly anyone, and Prince the perfect match for for the beginner rider with a competitive streak that kept him constantly galloping after the ball. The equipment is well broken in, but still safe and functional. Leo sets the day’s pace based on your ability and desires, giving both riding instruction and teaching the rules and how-tos of playing polo. Most afternoons we played mock chukkas(sp?), starting at a slow pace and increasing it as we became more comfortable. Helpful grooms take charge of preparing the horses and cleaning them and the tack when you’re done, but helping out and learning all aspects of what all goes into playing polo is part of the experience. If you don’t feel like riding twice daily every day, you’re free to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. There are plenty of lovely places for lounging, and a sparkling pool for warm afternoons. They even have a sauna to help ease the ache as you get accustomed to using your muscles in a new or different way.
Once you get to Palo Alto Polo Club, you’ll never want to leave. We extended our stay twice, and hope we can return again someday. We truly feel like we made two new friends in Leo and Emily.
Our full review of Palo Alto Polo Club and photos are on our travel blog at www.Travel-Cowboys.com.”
Travel Cowboys Austin, Texas
