Happiness could have been found much closer to home — perhaps in Tuscany or the South of France, if one were to follow the logic of her career path. As a certified Swiss wine sommelier and marketing professional, Nicole Siegrist had carved out a successful life for herself. But an old longing, a childhood dream, refused to fade. Eventually, she decided to follow it
Sueño Argentino – the Argentine Dream
Seventeen hours by plane from Switzerland and another ten by car from Buenos Aires, Nicole first discovered in 2017 the life that most closely matched her yearning.
In the province of Corrientes, along the mighty Río Paraná, the Gauchos live a life that seems to defy time — unhurried, unpolished, and proud.
Nicole remembers her first encounter vividly: “With their wide bombachas trousers and wool or felt boinas — caps reminiscent of French berets — they seemed like men from another world.” It was a world that captivated her instantly: raw, authentic, deeply rooted in the rhythm of the land.
A simple and genuine life
A life stripped of comfort and planning — rough-edged, improvised, and often demanding — also held the promise of freedom. “The deep desire to live among the Gauchos in this remote wilderness, to help drive cattle, emerged almost immediately,” Nicole recalls. And so she kept returning — to the vast pampas, to mud huts without running water, where chickens and pigs scratch in the yard and the day ends by the fire with a hot cup of mate, after long hours of labour beneath the open sky. Riding? Spanish?
She had neither. Growing up in the mountains of central Switzerland, Nicole had been far more comfortable in hiking boots than a saddle. But communication — with both locals and their sturdy Criollo horses — came naturally, without formal lessons. Determined to deepen her understanding, she set out to learn everything she could about the people, the animals, and their way of life. Before long, a new dream took hold; to share the Gauchos’ world with others. “At first, though, I was hesitant to share my enthusiasm,” she admits, “afraid that my companions might not like it.”
Personally guided riding tours in Argentina
Her fears proved unfounded. First came her eleven-year-old daughter, enchanted by the land, the horses, and the people. Then a friend — her first paying guest. Today, when Switzerland settles into winter, Nicole escapes to Argentina’s summer — and shares her passion with riders from across the German-speaking world. Her offer is as personal as her story and suitable for experienced riders, beginners, and even non-riders alike.
The medium-sized Argentine Criollos are truly reliable horses — calm, sure-footed, and steady-nerved. The selection is wide, and the training standards are high, so everyone can find exactly the horse they feel comfortable and safe with. All that’s needed is a sense of adventure, a touch of stamina, and a love of the outdoors.
Corrientes – Ride and herd cattle like a gaucho
Here, everyone lends a hand — swinging lassos, herding cattle, or helping with the vaccination of calves. Nicole has built a long-standing partnership with her Argentine friend from Equina, the heart of Argentina’s cattle-breeding country. Together, they offer guests the rare privilege of experiencing the Gauchos’ real working life.
Those seeking a gentler pace can opt for shorter rides, rest in a hammock, or try their luck fishing for piranhas (!) in the nearby Río Corrientes. Life here follows the rhythm of nature. Depending on the route, nights are spent either with the Gauchos themselves or on traditional estancias, their verandas overlooking the Corrientes River or tranquil lagoons that shimmer in the evening light.
Trail rides in Salta and the Andes
Further north, the province of Salta offers another kind of magic. Its capital — gateway to the Valle Calchaquíes — is surrounded by otherworldly landscapes where the rocks blush and fade with every change of light. The five-day trail follows a high mountain pass along an ancient Inca trade route, where centuries-old traditions still live on.
In the Andes, in the province of Mendoza, Nicole’s guests can immerse themselves in the lives of the indigenous Mapuche community, for whom the horse remains the heart of daily life. Here, the riding experience feels utterly real — far removed from the predictability of modern leisure riding. And when the day fades, there are the nights — endless skies pierced with stars, the silence broken only by the crackle of a fire and the cry of a condor gliding across the valleys.
.JPEG)
