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Estancia Ranquilco is a family-owned 100,000 acre working ranch and adventure vacation destination nestled in the Andean foothills of Northern Patagonia. A refuge in deep nature, guests come from around the world to experience miles of unfenced horseback riding, world class fly fishing, and a cultural experience unlike anywhere else. Ranquilco is remote and vast, stretching across leagues of high steppe, river valleys, meadows, and jagged cliffs into the heart of the Argentine cordillera. The western property boundary abuts the Chilean border - sitting atop a horse on one of the mountain passes affords sweeping views of active volcanoes, snow-capped peaks, and weeks of wandering potential. Vacations at Ranquilco are a unique and magical combination of fun, adventure and tranquility, blending authentic Argentine ranch culture with high-quality and familial service, ruggedly beautiful landscape, off-the-grid living, and topnotch horseback riding. The lodge is open from December 1 to April 1. Shoulder season visits are possible by special arrangement.
We visited Estancia Ranquilco in a group of two families, with 5 kids aged up to 14. We were a mix of experienced and novice horse riders, and stayed a week at the Estancia, out of season. Ashley and Jen were the perfect hosts, ably assisted by a fantastic team of volunteers and staff.
We had an absolutely amazing experience that none of us will ever forget. The food was exquisite, the staff and volunteers friendly, accommodating, enthusiastic and welcoming, and really made us feel part of the Estancia family. The horses were incredible - solid, sure-footed, well-trained and confidence inspiring, even for our more inexperienced gauchos.
The rooms were charming and perfect for our little group, and the ranch itself a beguiling and exciting sanctuary nestled above a beautiful section of river in this little (100,000 acre!) patch of paradise.
Whilst we would all like to think of Estancia Ranquilco as our secret, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. The perfect family holiday.
Thank you Ashley and Jen for letting us share your wonderful home!
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
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 been looking at Estancia Ranquilco for at least 15 years on the internet. It’s a place just beyond the end of the world and miles of dirt roads beyond the grid.
I personally loved the fact they are able to generate their own electricity with three small hydro generators. Also loved that much of the food was from meat from the ranch or from the garden. Overall the food was a great experience with quite a lot of variety.
The staff were very warm and welcoming. Everyone always seemed happy to see each other and spend hours together. The host Katarra was exceptional. The horseback guides really made riding enjoyable even for a novice like me.
There were a lot of unexpected pleasant surprises like seeing around 40 condors on our drive out.
It is hard work to get to this estancia at the end of the world. It is hot and dusty. For those of you who love this type of travel (and trout) fishing, you know who you are and you will love the estancia.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip 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.
Outstanding! We went to Estancia Ranquilco for a week in 2023. The weather was perfect, the food was outstanding, the scenery was spectacular, and the adventures were plentiful. But none of this compared to the incredible hospitality of the hosts!! We were treated like royalty. If anyone is looking for a remote location to get away from it all, this is the place. Expect to be moderately challenged with with essential horseback rides for transportation and plenty of hiking over diverse breathtaking terrain. Each daily adventure included meals from the local raised livestock and gardens, and the opportunity to mingle with other guests, volunteers, and permanent residents. We will be talking about this trip for many years, and I hope we can return to Estancia Ranquilco again one day soon.
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Date of stay: December 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Hard to find words to describe Ranquilco because it completely redefines superlatives. Yes the setting is epic, the hospitality unmatched, the rooms stunning, the people beyond wonderful, the food exceptional, and the horses simply sublime, yet it is the aggregate of all these things that make the whole of the experience greater than the sum of its parts. Simply put, I have never met lovelier people that cared more about guest experience, have never ridden more sure-footed, level headed horses, have never seen a more epic landscape, never eaten better meals, have simply NEVER experienced better on any count!! Do yourself a favor, stop reading reviews, and just book your trip. You will have an experience of a lifetime, guaranteed. Shout out of thanks to the entire crew- T.A., Lulu, Kaitlin, Ethan, Anna-Marie, Ellie, and the hostess that redefines excellence in hosting Kitara, as well as all the wonderful staff that endeavor with such sincere authenticity to ensure an exemplary guest experience. Ranquilco is unmatched!!!
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Date of stay: January 2025
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Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Give yourself a few days in Buenos Aires before and after the visit.
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.
Oh Ranquilco....words cannot describe the tranquility and transcendence of this place.
We booked a six night lodge stay nearly three years ago to come with our family of four (two adults, two teen girls) over Christmas of 2024. I'm not sure what I expected, but it far exceeded any ideas I had going in. We stayed in the Castillo room and Dossie's house. The rooms are quaint, private, and clean. The main house is a few short steps away. Is this the Ritz? No. But for where you are in the world and the remoteness, it sure seems like it.
I was worried about the food, especially with two picky teen girls. However, my girls loved every meal and still remind me how much they miss Bob's popcorn and homemade breads. The food is excellent. Clean, simple ingredients elevated to deluxe meals. Their garden is quite the sight. Ask for a tour.
As for the horses and riding experiences, Ethan, the head horse wrangler, does a great job of pairing mounts with riders. My horse-shy husband even fell in love with his steady mount. The horses are in excellent shape...fat, happy, and well trained. My girls spent a morning learning horsemanship and loved bonding with their mounts on the ground as well as in the saddle.
My husband also enjoyed fly fishing at Ranquilco. Bring your rod and flies as the river is top notch. Jay, the de facto fishing guide, helped him navigate the river and was truly wonderful.
The guests were all amazing and by the end of the week it felt like a family. My husband and I remarked how we all felt like we were staying with a host family rather than staying at a lodge. If you want an authentic, family friendly, relaxing experience immersed in nature and the splendor of Patagonia, this is your place. My kids are already talking about going back.
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
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 family and I traveled recently, and if anyone needs a third opinion, here you go. The ranch was awesome, as it sits on 100,000+ acres. There are plenty of riding trails for all abilities. The scenery is unbeatable, with views of the river and gorgeous mountains right from the outside patio. The experience here is once in a lifetime. The river has beautiful swimming holes and is great for fishing. I came here mostly to ride, but I did plenty of swimming as well. The riding was the best I have experienced. I love to ride, and I did everything from swimming with the horses to cantering bareback to doing my first roundup. My horse for the week was an absolute legend. He really matched my riding level. The staff was absolutely amazing, and they were so accommodating. Thanks to Ethan, Maddi, Iris, Gaylynn, Conner, Bea, Annie, Josh, Liz, Laura, Lara, T.A., Lulu, and of course, Tajoe, for making our stay so memorable. The ranch is perfect for anyone seeking a good adventure. The accommodations were so magical, with so much history throughout the ranch. The Guachos came up to the ranch frequently and did an Asado while we were there. Leaving the ranch was heartbreaking, but you leave with new friends, horses, and humans alike.
Thank you to all the Estancia Ranquilco team for making our stay with y'all so special. We'll be back!
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Transparently, we didn't end up staying here because of the complex itinerary and work situation. However, in my research, planning, experience communicating with them it was 5 stars and we can't wait to actually do a proper week-long trip to their Estancia. Thomas and the team's communication was quick, detailed and pricing was the best value compared to other estancia's. all the information we needed. Thank you, keep it up, and looking forward to a trip there
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Date of stay: January 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.
What an amazing experience for my family. To sum it up, we arrived home after 28 hours of travel. As we walked into our home, our 15 year old daughter stepped in ahead of us, held her hands up and said "STOP - I want to thank you for the best experience of my life." My husband and I looked at each other with amusement for the gratitude shown by a teenager. Parents do not experience teenager gratitude often, so her thankfulness says more about our trip than any words I can share!
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Date of stay: January 2025
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Trip type: Traveled with family
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 family recently spent 3 weeks travelling the Patagonia of Argentina and Chile. Balancing a fine line of fishing and the typical tourist experience we travelled the countryside to see everything we could. The last week we finally reached the Trocoman house at Ranquilco. Upon arrival we were greeted by Jen and Ashley and our horses. After explaining everything we needed to hear before entering the ranch, we were each given our horses for the week and road in. Being an outdoorsmen and fond of nature i was blown away by what the beautiful oasis of Ranquilco had to offer. Everyday was spent fishing, exploring the ranch, and horseback riding. The time just seemed to fly by with a never ending flow of adventure and beauty tucked behind every hill and river bend. The fishing was amazing and after a week of steady fishing we left with epic memories of Rainbows, Browns, and Perca that didn't fit in the net! The guides, Selvanna, Alejandro, Manuel, and Martin, were cheerful, entertaining, and would help you catch your horse in the morning if you forgot your apple. Altogether after spending our final week of vacation on the ranch it was both the highlight of the trip and first place I would return on my next trip. They did and amazing job of coordinating, explaining all of the options for us, and listening to individual group needs to give us the most enjoyable vacation possible. The food was fresh daily with the vegetables, bread, and meat all coming from the ranch itself( tasted amazing). Would recommend to everyone! My family and I will have memories for life and hopefully you will too.
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Date of stay: December 2019
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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 family just spent a week at Ranquilco riding horses and fishing. The place is spectacular. Totally remote but very comfortable. If you are looking for an authentic Argentine experience, this is it. The staff is incredible and warm. The food was second to none. Our Chef, Liz, put extraordinary dishes out every night. They harvest their own meat and grow their vegetables. Ranquilco is truly a special place where you can disconnect from technology and connect with nature and your horse. My wife and daughter had tears in their eyes as we were leaving. We have traveled extensively to some wonderful places but none of them brought tears at departure. Before we made it back to a paved road, my daughter, through the tears, was asking when we could return.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Hi--I'm so sorry, I never saw your question, I didn't realize there was a questions feature. The answer is yes! Ranquilco is a great place for a one female traveler, as we have a very comfortable and welcoming community. It's also an ideal place for getting away from the stresses of life, especially for horse lovers. Please let me know if I can answer any additional questions. Next time I'll answer, I promise!
There are more places to choose from in the Ranquilco area.
LOCATION
ArgentinaPatagoniaProvince of NeuquenRanquilco
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
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