El Colibri, Cordoba

rooms

With just 9 tastefully-furnished, cosy rooms, a stay at El Colibri offers an intimate, authentic country home experience. All rooms have a wood-burning fireplace, plus satellite TV, DVD player and sound surround, minibar, safe and free Wi-Fi. All have open views of the gardens, and the seven suites also have private terraces.

facilities & activities

Styled in the Spanish Mission baroque style with white-washed walls, curved gables and high ceilings, the property has a calm and airy feel to it. Akin to a grand country residence guests are very much made to feel like house guests and there is great attention to detail and warm service imbued with a desire to share a love of rural living in this beautiful corner of Argentina. On arrival you'll more than likely meet the owners themselves who will happily guide and give you suggestions about what to do during your stay.

In terms of the propert itself, there is a relaxing lounge with bar and fireplace, perfect for curling up with a book. Or perhaps luxuriate in the spa and outdoor solar-panel heated pool which enjoy views over the fields where the Estancia's herd of beautiful criollos horses roam against a backdrop of the Sierras de Córdoba. A massage, spa treatment or yoga lesson is the perfect way to unwind after a day outdoors and if you want to maintain your fitness regime whilst on holiday, there'a a fully-equiped gym at your disposal. 

El Colibri will particularly appeal to those keen to explore the beautiful local area on horse-back. The owners are jusifiably proud of their criollo horses - the workhorse of the gaucho and will happily saddle you up whether you're an experienced rider or a novice who needs the guiding hand of one of their experienced gauchos so you can fully explore the extensive plains, forests and rivers of the property.

Polo is a great passion of owner Raoul Fenestraz, and it is played assiduously at Colibri! The hotel gave its name to the El Colibri Polo Club, a team that competes in regional and national tournaments, on horses bred and trained on the property. Learn the basics or perfect your passion for the “king of sports’’ from professional players. The two maximum size grounds are equipped with an irrigation system to ensure optimal grass conditions year round. Tournaments conclude with a friendly drink or an asado at the Club House.

For those who prefer two wheels, there are mountain-bikes available at the entrance of the hotel so you can explore the paths of the property at your leisure.

If horses or mountain-bikes are not your cup of tea, lace up your boots to walk the 10km of trails through the property. Bird-watchers are in for a particular treat as the preservation efforts of the owners ensures the estancia attracts many species. They say there is one species per hectare so more than 170 species. Will you spot the elegant Colibri Hummingbird after which the Estancia is named?

Off-site there's even more to entice you out and about: there is golf nearby but for something rather different, try your hand at turtle-dove hunting. The Córdoba region is considered the best region in the world for turtle-dove hunting, with an estimated population of 32 million birds. Set off early across the fields with your assistant, who will look after the ammunition, and enjoy a morning of instruction and hunting. Break for a gaucho lunch before an afternoon siesta in a hammock to garner your energies ahead of the afternoon hunt. Enjoy the fruits of your labour as the chef will cook up a feast for dinner.

Of course the areas is famous for its Jesuit history and the staff can arrange guided tours of the Jesuit estancias nearby.

dining

Guests stay on a full-board basis with food virtually cooked to order thanks to the intimate nature of the property.

Expect ingredients as fresh as they come and a seasonal menu which makes the most of everything produced on the Estancia - from beef, milk, eggs, fruit, vegetables and aromatic herbs to cured cut, cheese and honey. Using these ingredients the chef creates delicious traditional Argentinean recipes, from classic grilled steaks accompanied by salad to fresh pasta and fish dishes. 

Breakfast is a small buffet featuring pastries, cereals, fruit and eggs to order. For lunch, if you're out and about exploring on horse, mountain-bike, or by foot, make your way to the banks of the Santa Clarita River, which serpentines throughout the property for a freshly-prepared pic-nic rounded off by refreshing dip in the river. Or perhaps, enjoy a healthy and light lunch in the shade of the garden trees, before taking a refreshing nap. If a day of polo is on your agenda, the Club House offers the perfect setting for lunch or dinner under blue skies. It's also the venue for mouth-watering asados under a star-lit sky for that perfect gaucho experience; throughout the evening, 12 types of meat are cooked on the parrilla, accompanied by salads from the farm and enhanced with a typically French touch: the Savoyard gratin. Needless to say, the wine list offers an exclusive selection of Argentina’s best wines.

Talking of wine, don't miss the wine-tasting opportunities in the cellar. The Estancia offers a selection from the three major Argentinean wine regions – Mendoza, Salta and Patagonia – and completes the experience with a selection of breads, cheeses and dried meats produced at Estancia Don André. 

family

Families are welcomed and the Estancia caters for little ones with practicalities such as free cots and baby equipment.

The farm is the perfect place for children. Activities include milking the cows, collecting eggs, picking vegetables and fruit and cooking them with chef Leo, gathering up the sheep and taking care of the rabbits and there is a a plethora of family-oriented activities including cycling, horse riding and birding.

location

The Estancia is about 60km from Cordoba Airport - approx. a 45-minute drive and about 110km north of Argentina’s second city, close to the Unesco-listed Jesuit estancia of Santa Catalina and a short drive away from the towns of Jesús María (site of another Jesuit estancia) and Ascochinga. With its rural setting amidst rolling pampas the Estancia is the perfect base for hores-riding,walking and relaxing.