Horseback Riding in the Andes from Mendoza, with an Asado: Which Ride and for Whom?
4 min read
For most visitors the sunset ride from a mountain ranch with a barbecue dinner is the one to book: it is the most reviewed horseback tour in the Mendoza area on GetYourGuide, costs €106.96 per person and is rated 4.9/5 from 739 reviews. It is also an 8-hour evening, so check that before you plan dinner or a flight.
The sunset ride with a ranch barbecue
The sunset mountain ride with ranch BBQ takes up to 14 people, with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. A driver takes you from Mendoza to the ranch, which the page says takes about an hour. The horses are chosen for you at the ranch. On the trail there is a 15-minute break for photos at 2,100 metres above sea level, and dinner follows at the ranch, with pork and beef, salads, roasted vegetables and wine. Ask the operator how long you ride. It lists pregnant women, wheelchair users and people over 110 kg as not suited, and asks for long trousers and closed shoes. Tell the operator at least 24 hours ahead about vegetarian, vegan or coeliac needs. It is cancelled only in extreme weather, with a full refund.
The ride with a morning or a sunset option
The ride at the Gaucho Estate ranch costs €106.96 and lasts 5 to 6 hours, with groups limited to 10. You choose a morning ride with an optional barbecue lunch or a sunset ride with a barbecue dinner, a bonfire and, per the page, a folk music session. The ride goes to a viewpoint called Mirador Eagles Nest. The description says 1.5 hours and the list of inclusions says 2 hours, so confirm the real time when you book. The page says there is a vegetarian barbecue option, lists children under 10, pregnant women and wheelchair users as not suited, and does not allow shorts or sandals.
Shorter and different rides
The sunset ride with asado from Mendoza costs €164.01 and lasts 6 hours with a 2-hour ride. The page lists the live guide as Spanish only but names a bilingual local guide among the inclusions, so ask which language your date has. It gives departures at 4:30 pm in winter and 5:30 pm in summer, lists children under 9, pregnant women and people with back problems as not suited, and the number of reviews is still low. The ride through the vineyards with a tasting costs €223.73, takes 5.5 hours and includes a 2-hour ride in Luján de Cuyo, five wines at the Decero winery, then a picada and empanadas. It lists children under 12, pregnant women and people with back problems as not suited. The 2-hour sunset ride in Potrerillos costs €82 and ends with a charcuterie board and a glass of wine above the dam. It is described as suitable for all levels, and the page lists babies under 1 year, people over 70, people over 130 kg and people with animal allergies as not suited. The ride itself is 2 hours, but with the transfer the page gives two time slots: 10 am to 3 pm and 3 pm to 8:30 pm.
| Ride | Length | Group | Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset ride, ranch BBQ | 8 hours | Up to 14 | BBQ dinner |
| Gaucho Estate ride | 5–6 hours | Up to 10 | BBQ lunch or dinner |
| Sunset ride and asado | 6 hours | – | Asado dinner |
| Vineyard ride with tasting | 5.5 hours | – | Picada and empanadas |
| Potrerillos sunset ride | 2-hour ride, 5–5.5 hours with transfer | – | Charcuterie board |
Our recommendation
Book the sunset ride with ranch BBQ if you want the classic evening and can spend the whole evening on it. Choose the Gaucho Estate ride if you prefer a morning ride with lunch, and the Potrerillos ride if two hours in the saddle are enough; with the transfer it still takes half a day. Check the weight and age limits above before bringing anyone. More choices are in the horseback tours and the asado experiences.
