Improve Your Polo: A Full-Board Polo Holiday with Daily Coaching and Chukkas

Mornings are for technique. After breakfast you spend two hours riding with Nico, working on whatever needs fixing — swing, backhand, seat, reading the play. Depending on your level this might be pure tuition, stick and balling, or polo drills. With four ponies available for the morning session, you can rotate through different horses depending on what you are working on and how you ride.

Lunch is served at the finca, followed by a proper break — a siesta, or a swim in the pool if it is hot. This is a working polo establishment, so there is always something happening around the yard while you rest.

Afternoons are chukkas on the full-size polo field. These are relaxed practice games rather than serious tournaments, but they are real games with real players: Nico, Lolo, other guests, resident players and local friends. Nico is particularly good at matching players and ponies, so the teams tend to be evenly spread. You will get time on the ball and plenty of chances to work on positioning, strategy and team play. Every guest gets involved, regardless of level.

The setup suits a wide range of riders. Beginners can start on quiet, steady horses with close instruction. Experienced players can push on with faster ponies and more demanding game play. Nico has spent over 25 years in polo and is described by guests as eagle-eyed at spotting weaknesses — the kind of coach who changes one small thing and your swing feels different by the end of the week. Lolo and the resident grooms are on the yard every day, whether guests are staying or not, bringing on young ponies and keeping the older ones sharp.

The whole thing runs as a full-board stay with housekeeping, an open bar and super-fast wifi, so you are not nickel-and-dimed for a drink after chukkas. It is a sociable place rather than a silent retreat — you eat and drink together, and the mix of guests and local players means the evenings are usually as good as the polo. On the horse-buying side, if you are looking to build a string or add a pony, some of the herd is for sale and they can also source horses for you, having shipped over 120 to the UK and Europe over the years.

What's included

- Full board meals - 2 hours of morning riding with Nico - Afternoon chukkas on a full-size polo field - Use of up to four polo ponies for stick and balling - Selection of ponies for afternoon chukkas - Swimming pool access - Housekeeping - Open bar - Super-fast WiFi

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers (unless arranged directly) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Polo equipment (bring your own or ask in advance) - Horse purchase costs