Horseback Riding in the Andes: Gaucho ranch & asado

Three hours in the saddle, then lunch cooked over fire in the mountains.

Horseback riding in the Andes near Mendoza combines a morning ride through mountain valleys and creeks with a traditional Argentine asado lunch cooked over an open fire, all at a family-run ranch away from tourist crowds. You're picked up from your Mendoza accommodation, matched with a horse suited to your size and experience, and guided by bilingual local horsemen who share the land and their connection to it. The full day lasts around nine hours and includes the welcome snack, riding equipment, insurance, wine, and the return drive to town.

The experience

You'll start with pickup from your accommodation in Mendoza and travel into the Andes to Rancho Don Daniel, a working family ranch where horses are still part of daily life. On arrival, the local team serves homemade tortas fritas and a hot drink while they saddle your horse (selected for your size and riding experience), and help you settle in before the ride begins.

The ride itself lasts around three hours, usually split into two sections that follow natural mountain trails through open valleys and across clear creeks at a calm pace. Midway through, you'll stop in the mountains for a traditional Argentine asado cooked over an open fire, with local-style appetizers, homemade bread, and Mendoza wine. This is not a staged meal. It happens where the family cooks for themselves. After lunch, you continue riding before returning to the ranch and the drive back to Mendoza.

What sets this apart from larger tourist ranches is the scale and the people. You spend the day with Daniel's family and local horsemen, not a rotation of guides, and the setting is genuinely rustic: the kind of place where gaucho culture is lived, not performed. A bilingual guide is with you throughout, so language is not a barrier to conversation or to understanding what you're seeing.

What’s included

• Pickup and return transport from your Mendoza accommodation.
• welcome snack of homemade tortas fritas and a hot drink.
• horse and riding equipment selected for your experience level.
• personal accident insurance.
• bilingual guide throughout the day.
• traditional Argentine asado lunch cooked over an open fire with local appetizers, homemade bread, Mendoza wine, and dessert.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (17 to 75 years) · Youth (12 to 16 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Destino Montaña

Is this one for you?A full day means you'll need to clear your schedule, but it also means you're not rushing between a morning ride and afternoon sightseeing. You're spending real time at the ranch and in the mountains with the people who live there, which is what makes the experience genuine rather than a quick gaucho photo stop.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 16 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the actual horseback riding part of the day?

The ride lasts around three hours, usually divided into two sections with a stop in between for the asado lunch. The full day from pickup to return is approximately nine hours.

What happens if I've never ridden a horse before?

The local team selects your horse based on your size and riding experience and helps you get comfortable before you set off. The pace is calm throughout, and you're riding with experienced local horsemen who know the trails and the horses.

Is the asado lunch included, or do I pay extra?

The traditional Argentine asado with appetizers, homemade bread, Mendoza wine, and dessert is included in the full-day experience. Dietary options are available if you have preferences.

Do I need to bring my own riding clothes or helmet?

Riding equipment and saddlebags are provided. Personal clothing and equipment are your own. The operator can advise on what to wear for a day in the mountains.

What's included in the pickup from Mendoza?

Round-trip transportation from your accommodation in Mendoza is included, within the designated pickup area. Your guide is bilingual and travels with you both ways.

What's the landscape like on the ride?

You'll follow mountain trails through open Andes valleys, cross clear creeks, and stop for lunch in the mountains. The ride moves at a calm pace, so you have time to take in the scenery and the land the family works.