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Rancho Los Banos is a 30,000 acre privately owned adventure travel guest ranch, genuine cattle ranch and nature preserve located at the foot of the Sierra Madres, a mere 55 miles south of the southeast Arizona town of Douglas in safe, secure northeast Sonora. Here you will find some of the most pristine, wild and scenic land anywhere. We offer stunning landscapes, world-class hiking and horseback riding, trekking, birding, wildlife spotting, jeep ecotours, lake and river kayaking, stargazing, fishing, mountain biking, great porching, delicious Mexican food and comfortable accommodations. The ranch has miles of stunning box canyons, high sierras and riparian riverbeds. It borders 20 mile long Lake Angostura and amazing Bavispe River. The sheer vastness of this land will enchant you and our hospitality and service will make for a great vacation. Experience adventure travel at its very best at Mexico's premiere guest ranch.
We first knew we were going to have a great experience at Rancho Los Baños when we had to suddenly cancel our reservations in spring of 2020 (for reasons that should be obvious LOL). That was when Manuel and his staff first impressed us with their hospitality, by not only providing the 50% refund on our deposit per policy, but they then proceeded to extend the "expiration date" of our remaining 50% deposit by not 1 year, but 2, and then 3 years before we could finally make the trip! The entire experience was simultaneously magical and rugged. The property is literally in the middle of nowhere, which is what makes it so attractive. Once you experience the 4WD 2+ hour drive along the dirt/rock/river called a "road" to the ranch, you know you're in for a real "ranchero" time -- yet when you drive into the ranch compound, and see the beautiful guest houses nestled between cliffs, you also realize that you have not left all the "comforts of home" behind. The vistas and the laid-back pace of daily life on the ranch are so conducive to full mental relaxation -- but your body will get quite a work-out, with daily horseback rides that are NOT your typical "nose-to-tail, sleepy time" rides (You spend at least 4 hours on horses every morning, conquering inclines, ravines, flowing rivers, and plenty of thorn bushes!). Plus each evening typically involves a couple hours of hiking in canyons or along ridgelines. You will quickly come to appreciate the 2-hour siesta after the hearty lunch (dibs on the hammocks in the sunshine!), plus the comfort of your bed at sunset while the wood stove heats your bedroom. (We visited in late February, so the wood stoves were key -- temps easily drop to low 30's F overnight, but then reached 70's at mid-day) The experience is enjoyable by anyone with a taste for the outdoors and who can stand being away from the internet for a while. Yes, there is a cell-phone repeater that will allow your AT&T phone (with international plan) to access internet -- although even that signal is iffy and slow; you won't be streaming video or jumping on Zoom with it. The ideal target for this experience is families with kids around ages 8-15. The kids can be as involved as they want with the ranch experience, helping to prep the horses before rides and curry them afterwards. The plethora of friendly ranch dogs and "tolerant" cats (about 5 and 15 respectively, when we were there) makes for fun times; and the dogs often accompany the horse rides, running about exploring the mountainsides. The food is excellent! Our cook, a soft-spoken Mexican woman with a wealth of cooking skill, kept us well-fed with 3 home-made meals a day; they did their best to accommodate our dietary needs/wants (we try to eat vegan when possible), and she eventually even managed to tone down the spice level of the dishes so that my wimpy gringo tongue could handle it, LOL. The ranch also provides a layout of many many snacks to stocking your hiking packs and for casual munching; all included in the cost of the vacation. The staff at the ranch are all focused on providing a safe and enjoyable experience. A couple staff speak limited English; this is a great opportunity to practice your Spanish. Sometimes they have volunteer workers from around the world, too. The ranch's history is fascinating, be sure to talk with Manuel about the journey that has led him and his family to focusing on eco-tourism and conservation. They are clear-headed about the realities of trying to raise cattle in terrain that isn't really suitable, and are adjusting accordingly. I applaud their dedication to this. Communication with the ranch is usually quick and easy, via email; once your reservation is all set, you'll eventually be able to contact Manuel by WhatsApp too for any quick questions or last-minute adjustments before you arrive. I recommend packing jeans (or tear-resistant hiking pants); you will need long pants to protect your legs from the thorny plants, and you will certainly appreciate cowboy boots if you have them (otherwise at least wear some ankle-high hiking boots). You can burn easily in the UV at the high elevations, pack sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats, and you will really be glad to have sunglasses. I liked wearing a thin pair of gloves during the chill of the morning when out riding; these also were handy when pushing thorny branches out of the way as you rode through tight brush. The horse saddles are not very forgiving; if you need extra padding in the rear, consider bringing padded bike/crash shorts; I also ended up using a small pillow in my pants, to tolerate the achy butt by the end of the week! You are not required to wear helmets while riding horses, but I strongly recommend them -- again, this is NOT your typical trail rides, you will be riding on rocky paths at sharp inclines, and if you do fall and damage yourself badly, you are at least 3 hours away from medical care by bumpy roads (unless you bring your own helicopter) :) So be smart, and bring along a bike helmet for every rider in your group! Speaking of medical emergencies, bring a good first aid kit with you too; slivers and thorns, ticks, cuts, stings, sprained ankles -- all are possible! I particularly was so glad to have ibuprofen and tylenol as the posterior aches of horse-riding gradually built up, LOL. We hope to do this trip again at least once more while our boys are young enough to enjoy the time away from the internet and on the back of horses. Give it a try, you will bring back incredible memories (And pictures! We took along a drone, which helped a bit to capture the immense grandeur of the region; you just can't fly the drone near the horses or they can spook!)…
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Date of stay: February 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just returned from my second visit to Rancho Los Banos. I loved horseback riding and loved the sights, etc. This is one holiday that includes well-trained horses and great Mexican cowboys to guide you around the huge property. On this trip, I did not go hiking but on the last visit, I went for a short hike which provided an interesting view of the area. The 'off-grid' ranch has solar panels providing power, making the accommodation very comfortable. The three meals per day are prepared by a great cook. All the staff are simply great and really enjoy showing me the complete ranch. From the time, I requested information to the very end, I felt relaxed as if I was staying with family. Their website shows exactly what I saw. My pictures don't show the beauty of the Sonora area.
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Date of stay: December 2022
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Room Tip:All rooms have a great view of the surrounding mountains.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had high expectations from what I read and the reviews. This "eco adventure' is one step above car camping, as succinctly stated by my friend who traveled with me. As an intermediate/advanced rider, I've had better, more varied rides at other ranches with riders of the same ability. Hospitality, accommodations and food were basic, and in my opinion, the cost was high for what was received.
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Date of stay: November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Tierra Chamahua, Owner at Tierra Chamahua Eco Adventures
Responded Dec 6, 2022
Thank you for your response. This is a review we feel is a genuine subjective assessment of this guest's stay. She truly does feel this way, and there is nothing to be done about it. We would be remiss if we didn't confess to knowing this review was coming. We knew it was coming from the first day this guest stayed with us. While we please and provide a wonderful time to the vast majority of our guests, there are exceptions. Some guests' expectations are simply too much to sustain, or meet, where glass half empty personalities and negative prisms of the world get in the way of a really nice holiday. These reviews are rare for us, but they do appear, because the Ranch is an experience not meant for everyone. We try our best to prepare guests, and be as transparent as possible, so guests know exactly who and what we are, but those who are not destined to enjoy the ranch do end up visiting. Luckily for us, and future guests, they are the exception, not the rule. While we knew this reviewer was a difficult guest, we tried our best, as we always do. In the end, doing our best was not good enough. We thank Ms. Claudia for her review. Sometimes a place and a person are just not a good fit. But for the vast majority of former guests, the Rancho truly is. And in that we take great pride.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Our stay at the Rancho was everything we could have asked for, and more. From the preparation emails we received to our pick up and the trip to the ranch, it was all professional and very competent. Manuel the owner was always there to help in anything we needed and to answer any and all questions we had. His team were absolutely amazing at their duties and truly terrific people. Our week in October was filled with fun filled activities, hospitality and terrific scenery. The horses are amazing! The trails fun. And the canyon hikes? Wow! Lupita's food was the type you want to return to, with her kitchen becoming a comfortable home away from our casita. At no time did we feel we were not being well taken care of. On the contrary, the hospitality and planning behind our activities was amazing. While the ranch is not luxury, they do have great attention to detail. It provides plenty of firewood for the very warm stoves at night, great and hot showers daily, a terrific and clean casita, amazing food and all the snacks, fruit you could ask for, ice or refrigerator for cold beverages, all the warm blankets one may need, and the great service we truly appreciated. At the ranch, we were treated like family, and it showed. Manuel and team run a very smooth operation, as always with friendly smiles and the warm hospitality Mexico is famous for. It's hard to believe how in such a remote wilderness setting they manage to get most everything right. We will return for more!…
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Date of stay: October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My sister and I have visited Rancho Los Banos twice in the past two years, and it continues to hold a special place in our hearts because of its unique qualities. It is truly an experience like no other, a true adventure. The remote accommodations allow us to completely unplug, be present, and enjoy the simplicity and beauty of life on the Rancho. Manuel and his staff take excellent care of guests, ensuring experiences are tailored to personal preferences and skill sets. Our daily rides become more challenging and rewarding as the week goes on. We love the company of the cowboys- their knowledge, expertise, and humor are undeniable. Our rides and hikes offered new breathtaking views each day. Manuel and his team are excellent stewards of the land, and their effort to preserve it are obvious. And of course, the homemade Mexican food is absolutely unbeatable- I've basically turned into a tortilla by the end of the trip. I recently went to a luxury Dude Ranch - the service and accommodations were five-star, and very opulent. But in the back of my head, it all felt a bit counterfeit. I would choose Rancho Los Banos over a luxury resort ranch in a heartbeat every day, no questions asked. I cannot recommend Rancho Los Banos enough if you are seeking an authentic ranch experience full of excitement, laughter, and true Mexican culture.…
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Date of stay: November 2022
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Read the emails Manuel sends you. You will be confident in exactly what to expect. They are crucial.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I wanted to surprise my wife with the best horseback riding experience I could find and it didn't disappoint. Rigo and Francois the two Vaqueros who went out with us were terrific and helpful. The scenery is beyond description, as a matter of fact we ran out of "Wows" within a couple of hours and just let our mouths drop in wonder. Victor, Erika, Guadelupe, and Rosita made us feel right at home at part of the family. Four year old Rosita was a dear and made us laugh and smile all the time. I was looking for a different, off the grid experience and that is what we got. The staff was wonderful and welcomed us into their world and family. This is not a dude ranch, it's the real deal. If you are looking for the Four Seasons with horses this is not for you but you'll be missing an incredible experience. Dark skies with more stars than I'd ever seen in my life. We didn't hear a car or airplane the entire time. I can't imagine a place that could be anymore peaceful. Manuel, the owner, was super helpful with lots of information prior to our arrival so everything went smoothly and the staff was prepped for our arrival. If you want an experience that is different from anything else this is the place.…
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Date of stay: November 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband said he would have left if we would have had our own vehicle and not stranded at their mercy in the middle of nowhere- when the owner stopped chewing the worker out for a few things and then walked over to us sitting at the table outside and told us to do him a favor, and not be late for breakfast… We should have said, whose vacation is this?” I personally don’t care for breakfast, especially served on the dot at 7:30 and do t be late or your goat until lunch is served (pun intended lol) Not to mention, the mountain of mandatory reading prearrival that said bring plenty of beer it’s a long ways for more! He failed to mention bring your own ice and cooler or you will have warm beer on your hot hot summer day! We were given a half of a small cooler with ice for the whole 5 days and (7 for the two European ladies who were visiting at the same time as us.) So we had WARM beer in over 100 degrees temps and all week long not one warm or hot shower. Talk about roughing it. And the owner said we had to go horseback riding early in The morning. Absolutely could not take anoeisurely sunset ride even though I was so incredibly sore I could hardly walk. Ride now or not at all! He told us the morning after our first hard ride in 10 years on horseback. Ouch I could go on and on about the owner and his arrogant mean way of treating his employees and lack of checking in or hospitality and even respect to the four of us who were guests paying a great deal of money for roughing it in the middle of nowhere. We just came back from Rocky Point and spent less money during our entire paradise vacation with top notch service world class food and spectacular scenery. My husband said he never wanted to go back to Mexico after our experiences with Tierra Chamahua. Fortunately, he gave it one more chance and had a wonderful time. The final and hugest complaint was his complete lack of safety tree hat left the two European guests stranded in Mexico, and denied public transportation. They had emailed the owner asking if they could get their tourist card when we all went through the border. The owner rudely told me why try tourist stamp wasn’t necessary, but we answered their call at midnight and drove all night to meet them in Nogales at 4am while they took a cab ride from hell. Did I mention their rancho vehicle sounds like hell and that it will fall apart any minute on the at times terrifying two track into the rancho!? No, I highly recommend you choose somewhere else for you’re next dream vacation, although the regular staff were wonderful and the scenery was beautiful. In my humble opinion, this company should not be allowed to be in business if they are going to tell Europeans heading to the beach after their week stay at the rancho they don’t need to follow the rules of Mexico and immigration and get their tourist cards. You simply cannot imagine how terrifying the whole experience was for those two ladies, but I will spare you all the details and keep it short and sweet. I cannot recommend this business because the owner is arrogant and disrespectful and failed to provide safety and comfort.…
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Tierra Chamahua, Owner at Tierra Chamahua Eco Adventures
Responded Nov 28, 2022
This review, based on what we feel is a complete, malicious fabrication of multiple accusations, and one which goes against the truth inside 245 five star reviews positive reviews, is part of a concerted effort by a disgruntled couple, including Sunshine623166 in the other one star review, to tarnish the Rancho's reputation due to our strongly worded, truthful rebuke and emails to them in response to highly illogical and inflamatory scapegoating, defamation and lies made about us. Taken together, these two one star reviews, from the same couple, have no bearing on reality or truth. To fight each claim individually would be a waste of time, as there is no basis in reality for the supposed horrible stay. In truth, these people stayed one extra day, at our expense, without complaint or insistence to be taken home. As such, this defies their claim that they wanted to leave days before their stay expired. Additionally, they indicated on multiple times the happiness of being at the Rancho, including a wish to return, with more family, in the Fall. Again, this goes against the narrative that their experience was horrible, worthy of a one star review. Finally, they should be informed that our team has been together for years, hardly in line with the narrative that we treat our Crew badly. Fact is, they love their job, they come back year after year, going back 8 years, for a reason: they get treated with honor, respect and equality. They are treated very well, and get paid even better, no matter what fictions are created by dishonorable people. This response, when read together with the one we left after Sunshine623166's review, should give the reader an indication as to the level of malicious and libeluous nature of the reviewers, with an intent to damage the guest ranch's reputation. Pause should be considered when new accusations emerge, a month after the initial review by Sunshine623166 was made. Clearly, then, more concocted stories were added to the narrative being created. We ask readers to use critical thinking and to weigh these two reviews, by the same couple, against the overwhelming weight of our over 245 five star reviews. When suddenly, out of the blue, one review [or two by same couple], is an exception, after year after year of consistent high quality reviews, rather than the rule, then perhaps the exception should be carefully analyzed and scrutinized, for it goes against the complete preponderance of the evidence presented by the vast majority of reviews. Perhaps it is the anomaly that is the issue, and those writing it, rather than a place that offers a consistent, year after year, level of review unmatched in the guest ranch industry. We hope the reader can see through this charade, based on an incoherent, blabbering and horribly put together narrative created out of thin air meant to damage, not inform. We will not stoop so low, to their level, and will leave our previous response to speak for our position regarding an incident that occurred a full week after they left the ranch, in a completely different part of Mexico. The accusations are in direct contradiction to our history, and it is extremely sad that actual human beings stoop to these levels in failed attempts to smear, defame and try to cause harm. Unfortunately this site does little to combat false accusations, so angry, frustrated and limited individuals can simply create stories out of thin air if they feel it makes them feel better to abuse the site. And there is little a manager of a guest ranch can do to have these accusations erased. As such, let these accuasations stand, not as a reflection of the Ranch and its team, but of the sad psychologies who undoubtedly had their year made by having little moral compass in the pursuit of vengeance and fixing insecurities. We do thank them, however, for posting a wonderful photo of the Rancho, showing, once more, that they were indeed having a truly terrific time. One, in fact, that left them wanting more. Sad.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We would have rated this much higher for the spectacular scenery and wonderful staff…..but we had terrible issues with the owner, his hospitality, and his safety measures. When my wife informed the owner that we had to pick up the other two European guests who called us terrified at midnight because they were denied the ability to get on a bus (they had a ticket but not a tourist card). His manner of reply was through the roof outrageous insulting and belligerent to my wife. Absolutely no respect. We drove all night to rescue them in Nogales at 4am, absolutely terrifying more details than I will share here. Definitely not recommended for $2000 for 4 nights
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Tierra Chamahua, Owner at Tierra Chamahua Eco Adventures
Responded Nov 27, 2022
How unfortunate that this couple decided to leave a one star review based not on their actual experience at the Rancho, which was, per usual, very good, as exemplified by our consistent five star reviews, but on their experience assisting other guests a week after their own visit, completely outside the purview of the Rancho's responsibility. This, even after we allowed one of these individuals to ride daily, despite being 50 pounds heavier than our riding weight limit, by switching two horses on the same trails. This, in spite of us finding out that she imported cannabis through Mexican customs, unbeknownst to us, putting the safety and legality of our driver in serious peril. If caught, her vehicle would have been taken away, and she would have faced serious legal jeopardy. This, despite us offering to extend their stay one more day, due to heavy rains, which they eagerly obliged. This, despite, even after the cannabis incident, crossing them back into the US by car, and not by foot, because of the overwhelming amount of luggage they carried [ but terrible safety measures, right?] It should also be pointed out that their stay was not in October, as they list on this review, but in mid August 2022. This couple, up to the point that they left the Rancho happily, adding more tips even once back home, even enthused about returning promptly in the Fall with family and friends, [but terrible hospitality, right?] has decided to smear us because a third party bus company, completely independent of the Rancho, a full week after guests had left the Rancho, enacted their own ridiculous passport policies on two unsuspecting European tourists traveling inside Mexico. This issue was completely independent of the Rancho, and it was completely at odds with current Mexico customs policies. Unfortunately, this bus company made life difficult to two guests traveling in the state of Sonora, far removed from us, and they reached out to this couple, which then led the wife of this couple to lash out at us, targetting us as a scapegoat, responsible for something we had nothing to do with, leaving the impression she was more frustrated by her own actions than anything else. She proceeded to become mean-spiriited, patronizing, threatening and xenophobic as well, in a 25 email tsunami [most of which went unresponded to, most sent in one single day]. In the end, the two guests who had troubles did not blame us, as sane individuals realize, as people judged under the reasonable person standard do, and have not tried to tarnish our reputation either, because they understand the reality of the situation. In fact, they wish to return one day. As for the couple, however, they were told long ago they were no longer welcomed at the Rancho, not for their behavior while with us, which was not stellar, but for the truly creepy correspondence of the wife subsequent to them leaving. We have never experienced an individual quite like her, and we hope never to again. Never before have we had to ban guests from the Rancho, until now. Our consistent, now over 14 years long, reviews go in direct contradiction to this person's critique, and it betrays not our consistent guest service and relations, our hospitality and attention to detail, our advenutres and professionalism, but their own individual frustrations, life dynamics and psychology.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We were totally blown away by the experience at Rancho Los Banos. A million wows and thank you (s) are not enough. We drove to Douglas from our home in New Mexico and we were warmly greeted by Manuel Sr. Promptly, Manuel arrived and we were on our way for a great adventure. During the ride Manuel gave us a thorough history of the ranch and region. We arrived to be greeted by the whole staff. We were immediately introduced to our horses for the week that were perfect fits. Manuel gave us a guided tour of the property and it was just as he described in his emails. We went for a short sunset guided hike and the WOWs began. Everyday we rode, hiked and even learned how to rope. The meals were perfect Mexican family fare and served with warmth and a smile. The chemistry with the whole staff was superb. Our host and his father, our Vaqueros, our Hiking Guide, our Chef and her daughter were integral parts of our enjoyment and education. Thank you, Manuel (x2), Victor, Erica and daughter, and, of course, our fearless and funny vaqueros Rigo and Francois. See you next year!!!! With much appreciation, Leon and Jo…
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Date of stay: October 2022
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Read the literature sends via email. It is informative and accurate.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rancho los Banos is a special place for committed equine travelers! Truly, everyday you will see the most scenic vistas, local wildlife, and of course cows! It is a working ranch where cowboys lead the way on the ranch’s beautiful and well trained horses. The accommodations are extremely comfortable and meals all delicious! The best part of my trip was the sunset ride! Watching the colors of desert change before your eyes and the dramatic shadowing of Sierra Madres was an experience that is calling me back for more. I am already planning my next trip!
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.