Our Story

We share a common passion for polo. Silke from Germany and her Argentine husband Marcos Antin Güiraldes met at a polo tournament that took place at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (Spain), where Marcos was participating as a professional player and Silke as an amateur. At the time, Marcos, whose great-uncle was the famous author Ricardo Güiraldes, who wrote the well-known Argentine novel “Don Segundo Sombra”, was managing the Buenos Aires polo club Los Pinguinos, one of the most prestigious polo clubs in Argentina. A few years on, in 2002, while looking for the ideal place to live in Argentina, they came to San Antonio de Areco, the place where Marcos had grown up. Their dream was to found a polo club and a small hotel to host Marcos´ polo friends and all the other people who were passionate about the sport and outdoor activities in general.  With a great deal of luck, they discovered La Sofía, a perfect place. While still living in Barcelona they started the project and the construction work. In the meantime, they had two children and finally moved in at La Sofía. After 5 years their dream had come true: Their home in the middle of the peaceful countryside, a marvelous boutique hotel, two polo fields, customized quality customer service, and meticulous attention to detail to make sure their guests have an unforgettable stay.  La Sofía is now an active member of the Argentine Polo Association and its polo fields have been officially approved. Marcos manages the club, teaches polo, oversees the training and breeding of the horses and every once in a while he plays official tournaments in Argentina and abroad. Marcos and Silke always play together at La Sofía. Silke also plays women´s polo and AAP (Argentine Polo Association) tournaments with her La Sofía team. La Sofía even won the first women´s polo tournament organized by the AAP in 2010, (Primer Torneo Femenino por la Copa Apertura Handicap 2010). Each November the Copa de la Tradicion is staged at La Sofía during the La Tradicion festival in San Antonio de Areco. Marcos, Silke and their children were able to combine the passion for polo with their family life and are glad to share this magnificent place with their guests.