Patagonian Estancia Huechahue, Argentina
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
The farm itself is virtually self-sufficient. Water is drawn from an aquifer and our electricity is generated onsite with a water turbine. Deliberately planted trees provide firewood for all our needs and also make us carbon neutral regarding our use of fossil fuels. All our water and heating is wood fired.
Much of the food served at Huechahue comes from the land. Beef, lamb and kid make their way to the asado (BBQ) pit. Ham and bacon from our pigs are cured in the smoke-house. Venison and wild boar from the property are served fresh or smoked and preserved in oil for tasty snacks. Eggs come from the chicken run; milk, home made yogurt and cheese from the dairy cow. Berry patches line the paths and the orchard serves up plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots and apples. A massive garden provides fresh vegetables. Organic waste is composted or fed to the pigs.
Food and other supplies that cannot come directly from the farm come from other local farmers or artisans.
The Estancia borders on the Parque Nacional Villarica, the national park that includes the nearby ice-clad Lanín Volcano, rising to 12,000 feet. Horseback riding is a low impact way to explore the area. Bird life is prolific, including a condor viewing point nearby. Riders and fly fishermen will often spot local wildlife such a boar, red deer and the native guanaco.
Community
In the local area, we support other farmers by buying their meat, milk, honey and vegetables. Locally we can obtain incredible artisans products such as cheese and smoked meats.
We recommend local tour operators who have lived in the area for many years. We only use local, experienced, bilingual guides for our fishing trips, not large outfitters from outside the province who visit the area just for the fishing season.
As a working cattle ranch, Huechahue is a wonderful place to experience traditional estancia life. About 900 head of Hereford cattle and 80 horses are spread over 15,000 acres. Traditional Argentine cowboys, or gaucho’s, roam the ranch, tending to the animals and joining guests on rides and cattle drives. These men receive fair wages and housing for their families. Other support staff for the lodge are drawn from the small towns and rural communities surrounding Huechahue.
Huechahue is situated near a Mapuche reservation. This local Indian tribe is renowned for weaving and leatherwork. We can take you to visit them to watch them work and enjoy a mate, or you can support them by shopping at specific stores in nearby towns that display their wares. The lodge features their decorative weavings, carvings, saddle blankets and saddle bags. By incorporating traditional recipes and ingredients into our food offering, such as corn hummitas, quinoa salad and mote.
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