Plan Your Visit
Join us for a life-changing vacation in Patagonia.
Ranquilco is more than just a ranch - it is a refuge in deep nature where guests come from around the world to experience miles of unfenced horseback riding and world class fly fishing. It is a vast expanse of land, stretching across leagues of high steppe, river valleys, meadows, and jagged cliffs into the very 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 riding adventures.
-
Pack Trips
Journey deep into the Patagonian wilderness on an 8 or 10-day horseback expedition.
-
Lodge Stays & Day Rides
Stay at our lodge and enjoy day rides, river activities, farm-to-table meals, and immersive off-grid living.
-
Horsemanship Clinics
Join a unique, hands-on clinic exploring relationship-based horsemanship in one of the most stunning settings on earth.
“Riding up to the ranch was like something out of a dream. There was a sun shower behind the main house as we crossed the river - the setting sun reflecting off of the rain drops to make it appear as though the air itself was shimmering with liquid gold sparkles. We were then greeted with warm smiles and cold beer as the sun went down…all that within the first few moments of arriving at the ranch. The subsequent days were equally incredible, and I will say it is something you must experience for yourself.”
How to Get to Estancia Ranquilco
Worth every minute of the journey.
Estancia Ranquilco is located in the remote and scenic Patagonia, Argentina. The 100,000 acre ranch reaches to the Chilean border of Patagonia's northernmost province - Neuquén. The nearest small towns are El Cholar and El Huecu, and the nearest city is Zapala.
In a nutshell, to get to Ranquilco one must first travel to the Neuquén province, drive to the ranch outpost, then mount horses for the beautiful ride into the lodge. See below for detailed travel options.
-
The most direct route is to fly from Buenos Aires (BA) to the provincial capital Neuquén. The flight is an easy hour and a half, and there are several each day from the domestic airport in BA - Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP). See despegar.com for flight options, and be sure to choose a flight that arrives to Neuquén by 10am at the latest. We will arrange for our driver to pick you up at the airport to drive the remaining five hours to the ranch outpost, Buta Mallin (write ta@ranquilco.com for up-to-date- pricing on this ride). There, our guides will be waiting to greet you with your horse. When ready, mount up for a beautiful three hour ride into the ranch lodge, arriving in time for evening beverages on the patio followed by a delicious welcome dinner.
-
From Buenos Aires, there are daily flights to the delightful lakeside town of San Martin de los Andes, in Patagonia's Lake District. From there, catch a four hour bus to Zapala where our driver will meet you for the remaining three hour drive to the ranch. Or, if you'd prefer, we can arrange for our driver to pick you up in San Martin de los Andes.
San Martin makes a great base for exploring the famous Lake District. We can connect you with housing and a guide if you'd like - just let us know!
-
From Chile's capital city, Santiago, fly, bus or train down to the town of Temuco in Chilean Patagonia. From Temuco, take a scenic bus ride over the Andes, passing through many transitions in climate and vegetation as you cross over the continental divide and drop into Argentina. Disembark in the town of Las Lajas, Argentina, where our driver will pick you up and drive you the remaining two hours to the ranch outpost. Keep in mind that this route includes an overland border crossing, which can be time consuming.
-
If you have the time and would like to experience more of Patagonia, consider traveling from Santiago to the port city, Puerto Montt, in Chile's Southern Patagonia. Flights or busses are available to reach Puerto Montt. Board a bus in Puerto Montt and then several ferries to cross into Argentina's Patagonia by way of gorgeous lakes, eventually disembarking and taking a bus to Bariloche. We can arrange for our driver to pick you up in Bariloche for the six hour drive to the ranch outpost.
Don’t hesitate to reach out for help with travel plans!
FAQ’s
-
Estancia Ranquilco is a remote, family-owned 100,000-acre property located in the foothills of the Andes of Northern Patagonia. It is operated year-round as a horse and cattle ranch. During the southern hemisphere summers (December - April), Estancia Ranquilco hosts guests at its beautiful eco-lodge, attracting horse-lovers and wilderness-seekers to its landscape of sprawling grasslands, pristine river valleys, and dramatic geological formations.
-
Ranquilco is not for everyone. The location, landscape, activities, and community provide for a unique experience where guests can truly get away from the rush and busyness of the modern world. This also means getting away from some of the modern conveniences that we are accustomed to. While we pride ourselves on hosting a full and rich experience with lovely accommodations and great food, we are not a 5 star luxury hotel, and do not strive to be. Ranquilco is rustic, rugged, remote, spectacular, and adventurous - if this is what you’re looking for, look no further.
-
The accommodations at Ranquilco are handcrafted out of stone and wood, and beautifully furnished with antiques. Each room is spacious, unique, and has a private bathroom and wood-fired boiler for hot showers. The lodge, Casa Grande, is the gathering place. We enjoy most meals on its spacious, shaded veranda.
Read more here: Accommodations.
-
Food is an integral part of the guest experience at Estancia Ranquilco; whether at the lodge or on the trail, meals are always fresh, diverse and creative. Meals are composed of our garden vegetables, homegrown meat, and fresh dairy products. Our meat is born, raised, slaughtered, butchered and prepared right here on the Estancia. Bread is baked daily. Supplementary produce, grains and spices are brought in from town. Once a week, everyone gathers for an asado, the roasting of a whole chivito or cordero (young goat or lamb) over a fire. On the pack trips, we enjoy hearty homemade granola, coffee and tea for breakfast, sandwich spreads and fruit for lunch, and a variety of delicious backcountry dinners including steaks, curried vegetables, and stews.
We are happy to accommodate dietary needs or food allergies - please email us at info@ranquilco.comwith inquiries about food.
Read more here: Food.
-
The power at Ranquilco is generated by a small hydro-electric system; it generates enough power to light the place and run a few key appliances. Voltage in Argentina is 220, versus 110 as used in the U.S., but almost all electronics have transformers built into their chargers which will convert the voltage automatically. Do bring a plug adapter for use in Argentine outlets. Please do not bring high-draw items such as hair dryers (or anything that produces heat). There is wifi internet via Starlink near the lodge. There is no phone. A satellite phone is available for emergencies.
-
Though generally quite pleasant during our open summer season of Dec-Apr., the weather at Ranquilco can be unpredictable. Temperatures range from 60-85°F in the days and can drop as low as 30°F in the nights. It is important to come prepared for hot, high-elevation sun, persistent Andean winds, spontaneous cloud cover, rain, and cold.
Check the weather here: AccuWeather
-
We host guests during the South American summer months - from December 15 to March 31. December is early summer - lush and green with generally cool days, and beginning to get hotter around Christmas. January and February are the middle of summer - the days stretch out and are typically quite warm. Temperatures begin to cool in March, with days becoming quite crisp toward the end of the month and leaves beginning to change colors. Shoulder season visits in November and April can occasionally be arranged. During the winter months of June - September, the lodge is largely inaccessible due to snowy passes and high rivers.
-
We have room for up to 10 guests, based on double occupancy. Group sizes of 6 or 8 are more common.
-
We attract a wide variety of interesting and adventurous travelers from all over the world who want to get off the beaten tourist track. A love of horses and wild places is a common thread, and we find that the people who make the long journey, ride over the pass and finally cross the river to the arrive at the lodge are fun, engaging and a joy to be around.
-
A visa is not required for entry into Argentina. When you arrive in the country you will be stamped with a 90 day tourist entry stamp.
-
Argentina has suspended the fee for U.S. citizens, but still charges a one time fee for visitors from Canada and Australia, which can be paid here: https://dnm.provincianet.com.ar/
-
The currency in Argentina is the Peso. You can exchange money at the airport, or at various exchange houses in Buenos Aires, especially in the city center. ATM's are fairly widely available in Argentina. In smaller towns, many restaurants and hotels don't take cards so it's good to have cash. Also in smaller towns ATM's are occasionally out of cash.
