About this tour
When Mia from our team rode out at El Pico Palma, a fifth-generation family ranch tucked 2000 metres up in Mendoza's La Carrera valley, she found herself in proper high-altitude cowboy country. You spend a full day on horseback between the Pre-cordillera peaks, then settle in for a proper asado spread—empanadas, regional wines, grilled meat cooked the Creole way, and a dessert table that won't quit. The ranch stays intimate; the Palma family runs it themselves. It's seven hours total, and the altitude and saddle time are real, but the payoff is genuine gaucho life without the tourist-trap feel.
Highlights
- Riding through high-altitude valleys ringed by the Cordón del Plata mountains
- Tasting homemade empanadas paired with wines from the region
- Full asado barbecue cooked on-site using traditional Creole methods
- Family-owned ranch open to guests by the Palmas themselves
- Dessert table with regional Argentine sweets to finish
- Private transport to and from the ranch included
- Working ranch at 2000 metres—feels genuinely remote
What to expect
The day kicks off with a drive out to El Pico Palma, nestled into the valley with serious mountain walls on all sides. Once you're there, you'll be fitted for a horse and head out on a proper ride—not a plodding tourist trail, but actual ranch country. The pace depends on your crew's ability, and the altitude is noticeable. A few hours in, you'll come back to the main lodge where the real food event begins: empanadas and local wine first, then the asado gets going. The Palmas cook it themselves, so you're eating what the family eats. Meat, regional sides, and that dessert spread stretches things out nicely. It's unhurried and genuinely hosted rather than choreographed.
Mia found the riding accessible even for mixed abilities—the ranch adjusts to who you are—but the hours in the saddle and the altitude (you notice breathing at 2000m) mean it's not a gentle pony ride. The isolation is part of the charm; you're genuinely in the mountains, not watching them from a car park.
Good to know
If you want to ride horses in real Argentine ranch country and eat properly cooked asado without a bus full of tourists, this hits both marks. The Palma family's personal touch makes it feel like you're staying with people, not paying for a service. The altitude and mountain scenery are stunning.
Seven hours is a full day—you'll be saddle-sore if you don't ride regularly. The altitude affects some people noticeably; give yourself time to acclimatise beforehand. It's not recommended if you have spinal issues or are pregnant. Small kids can come (in a pram/stroller for non-riding bits), but they won't be riding. Gratuities aren't included in the price but are expected. Peak times will be spring and autumn (September–November, March–May); summer heat at altitude is intense, winter can be chilly.
Sturdy boots or riding shoes, a hat, sunscreen, layers (mountain weather shifts fast), and a decent camera—the views warrant it. The ranch is private; you'll have your group only. Check your fitness for sustained riding beforehand.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.