The best journeys
slow you down and
bring you closer
Leentje Toering
For almost 14 years, Leentje Toering was Director of the tall ship Bark EUROPA, leading sailing expeditions to Antarctica and across the world’s oceans. These voyages shaped her passion for exploration, authentic encounters, and creating transformative travel experiences.
Born in Friesland, in the north of the Netherlands, Leentje grew up close to the water and has been a sailor since childhood. The rhythm of the sea taught her about freedom, patience, and respect for nature. These values continue to guide her life and work today.
Through her work with Bark EUROPA, Leentje first came to the far south, where she fell in love with the raw and untamed nature of Tierra del Fuego. During an IAATO conference, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, she met Hernán, who owns a port agency in Ushuaia. Their shared love for eachother, the sea, the south, and a life connected to nature eventually led her to make Tierra del Fuego her home.
Since 2019, Leentje has been rooted in this southern land, where she sees both immense natural beauty and unique opportunities for meaningful, sustainable tourism. Together with her family, she is developing Estancia Las Loicas, a place where land and ocean meet, and where adventure, nature, and gastronomy come together.
Leentje holds an International Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Leisure Management, and besides focusing on building up Las Loicas, she maintains a close connection with the Antarctic community through her work for the IAATO Gateway Committee and in her role as advisor for Bark EUROPA.
At the estancia, her attention to detail, experience in organizing events, and passion for decoration and design all come together, along with her constant curiosity for learning new skills, her adventurous spirit, and her love for animals and nature.
When the opportunity arose to take over Estancia Las Loicas, Leentje immediately saw its potential and felt an instant sense of excitement and peace. Her heart settled here; this land feeds her soul. She feels deeply passionate about developing the project further and sharing it with others who seek connection, authenticity, and the quiet beauty of Tierra del Fuego.
Leentje believes the province is still a hidden gem, a place with extraordinary diversity and potential that many travelers only glimpse for a few days before continuing to Antarctica. Through Las Loicas, she hopes to inspire visitors to slow down, to look beyond the city and the national park, and to discover the richness of the Fuegian landscape, its people, its stories, and its wild, unpolished beauty. For her, Tierra del Fuego is a raw diamond, one that deserves to be appreciated, understood, and cared for with time and heart.
Argentine at
heart Fuegian by
choise
Hernán Baserga
Hernán Baserga grew up in the region of Buenos Aires, where his mother worked for a family who owned Estancia Arroyo Verde in Patagonia. Through her work, he was introduced from an early age to life on the land, learning to make fires, ride horses, and prepare a traditional Argentine asado. That early connection to the countryside shaped his character: practical, curious, and deeply rooted in the rhythm of nature.
At the age of twenty, Hernán moved south to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. There he began working as a tour guide, leading small groups of travelers on off-road expeditions through the rugged landscapes of Tierra del Fuego. He specialized in intimate experiences; 4x4 adventures, storytelling by the fire, and sharing local food and folklore under the open sky.
After several years of guiding, Hernán transitioned into the world of maritime logistics, working with port agencies that supported Antarctic expeditions. His hands-on experience and deep understanding of expedition travel led him to found his own company, Ushuaia Shipping, in 2012.
Beyond the restaurant, Jorge finds joy and inspiration in cooking outdoors, surrounded by the raw beauty of Patagonia. Our estancia, Las Loicas, has become one of his favorite places to create. A place where he brings together talented chefs from around the world to cook over open fires, share stories, and connect with the land and sea that inspire his work.
Hernán believes that both logistics and hospitality can be more than services, they can be platforms for regeneration, innovation, and long-term impact. His vision is rooted in clean energy, circular systems, and a deep connection with people, place, and purpose.
Outside of work, Hernán’s passions remain close to his roots: good food, music, and open fires. Give him a guitar and a night under the stars, and he’ll fill the air with the sounds of Argentine folklore, the heartbeat of the land he calls home.
At Las Loicas, he loves to slow down, work with his hands, and find energy in the simplicity of daily life. For him, the estancia is not just a project, it’s a way of living that brings balance between the intensity of his work at the port and the peace of spending time with his loved ones at the countryside.
Before the first settlers arrived, this land was home to the Selk’nam people, the original inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego. They lived in close connection with nature, moving across the island following the rhythm of the seasons, the guanacos, and the winds. Their presence can still be felt in the silence of the steppe and the names that remain on the map.
In the early 20th century, the region transformed with the arrival of pioneering sheep farmers who established large estancias across the north of the island. Life here was harsh and remote, marked by long winters, fierce winds, and an enduring spirit of survival. Over time, many of those estancias disappeared, but the traces of that past are still part of the landscape today.
Las Loicas stands where the forest meets the ocean, near Cabo San Pablo, a place that has always been shaped by both people and nature. It’s a land of contrasts and resilience, where every wave and gust of wind seems to carry a story. We feel honored to continue writing our own small chapter here, with respect for the land and gratitude for those who came before us.
Our dream is to share not just a place, but a way of life: one rooted in simplicity, adventure, and respect for nature. Whether you are riding the horses, enjoying a good meal, or walking through the forest, we hope you’ll find here a space to slow down and at the same time feel deeply alive.
We live here together with our team, each bringing different skills: gardening, fishing, horse riding, preparing an asado, sailing on the beach, cooking, and much more. We complement one another, and living far from the main road means we do everything as a team. Together, step by step, we keep shaping and growing this dream.
Estancia Las Loicas
Homepage
Estancia Las Loicas
Accomodation
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Tierra del fuego
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Las Loicas Adventures
Antarctica expedition
Adventure forest
Las Noches del Loica
Argentine asado or cordero
Mountainbiking from Las Loicas
Visiting the Desdémona
Faro Cabo San Pablo
Food experience
Beach Sailing
About Las Loicas
Our History
About Hernan Baserga
About Leentje Toering
