Mexico’s Eco-Friendly Adventure Ranch: Horseback Riding, Canyon Hiking, Nature, Biking & Fishing

Rancho Los Banos, in northeast Sonora, is considered Mexico’s premier guest ranch at the foot of the Sierra Madre or the Mexican Rockies. At the ranch, guests stay inside 30,000 acres of exclusive, serene, remote, quiet and protected wilderness. Tierra Chamahua Eco Adventures at Rancho los Banos mixes traditional guest ranch activities with sustainable tourism, nature and adventure travel. The ranch ranges in elevation from 7,400 feet above sea level in the northern border to 3,200 feet in the southern canyon country, which includes the stunning El Cajon Canyon.

This is a true off-the-grid ranch. There is no cell reception and electricity comes from solar panels. This is NOT a luxury ranch with nose to tail trail rides and night time barn dancing. This is a working ranch, 4 hours from the nearest grocery store, with “rustic” accommodations. The price for your stay will be 30-50% less than a ranch stay in the US. Tortilla Making Lessons, cooking class, lassoing lessons, kids archery, kids BB gun shooting with targets, horse interaction [grooming/bathing/prepping], cattle work are all available.

Tierra Chamahua Eco Adventures strives to maintain a balance between guests and Nature, with an emphasis on returning our guests to a natural world long since forgotten, a world of immense beauty and peace.

Rancho Los Banos

This off-the-grid adventure guest ranch is 55 miles south of Douglas and 175 miles from Tucson, Arizona with round trip transportation included. With a maximum of 12-14 guests at any one time, you get personalized hosting, hospitality and service that caters to all your needs. Average weekly guest numbers range from 6-8 in late Summer and Fall, 10-12 during holidays, and 8-10 in Spring. Large Group capacity is 16 guests. The season runs from the 15th of October through 30th of April, with the Ranch closed May through October.

The majority of guests come here to horseback ride among the largest ranches in northern Mexico along canyons, riverbeds, vertical and rocky mountains, high elevation terrain, and the rolling foothills. Rides are led by vaqueros, or Mexican cowboys. You may choose any length ride you like, between short rides to six hour treks. With Rancho los Banos being a working cattle ranch, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a cattle drive among a pristine, untouched landscape. Along with the roughly 750 cattle that graze within the 30,000 acres, climbing like goats, the ranch is populated by mountain lion, ocelot, bobcat, black bear, javelina, Coues deer, coatimundi, coyote, and an occasional migrating jaguar.

After 30 years of visiting guest ranches in the United States and experiencing horseback riding adventures in Europe, Africa, Mexico and central America, I can safely say that Rancho Los Banos has surpassed them all, offering the best riding of my life. The vastness of the land, the challenges and beauty experienced, and the unspoiled wilderness ridden through, in a very intimate setting, with great horses, offers riding the way it should be. If you can, riding at this ranch is not to be missed. I will be back.

Susan B- Ranch Guest

Others visit this ranch for wildlife viewing, hiking, kayaking, geocaching, camping, fly fishing, lake fishing, canyoneering, jeep tours or to simply relax within the high Sonoran and Chihuahuan Desert landscapes. The unstructured days lead to spontaneous adventures and a plethora of choices. Start your day with a 6am horseback adventure, followed by a mountain biking, bouldering in the canyon, or paddling whitewater in the Bavispe River. 

Rancho los Banos consists of five one, two, or three bedroom casitas with private bath and solar energy. The three meals each day are communal and consist of authentic Mexican dishes. Alcoholic beverages are not included but can be purchased at the grocery stop before arriving at the ranch.

Rancho Los Banos was perfect! I feel so lucky that I was able to go and experience this beautiful ranch and the kind generous people who live on and run the ranch. 

A chance to step away from the crowds, everyday pressures of daily life and concrete jungle and truly have your own Western adventure.

Tripadvisor Review 2019