Welcome To The Highlight Of Your Trip. Enjoy The Rancho ’e Cuero Experience.

Our commitment is to make your stay at Rancho ’e Cuero the highlight of your trip to Argentina!

Estancia Rancho ´e Cuero is a family-run 3000 hectares guest ranch, located deep inside the Andes Mountains 2500 m high, in Mendoza, Argentina. This ranch, has belonged to the Palma family for over 250 years, and now opens its doors to offer a one of a kind experience. Enjoy horse riding, fly fishing and trekking in a vast and remote land surrounded by river valleys, meadows, and jagged cliffs. Exclusiveness, comfortable accommodation, home-style meals, breathtaking landscape together with a wide array of outdoor activities, will for sure, make your stay at Rancho ´e Cuero the perfect getaway you were looking for.

“One of the highlights of our trip to Argentina/Chile. We were able to spend one night at the ranch and wish we could have spent more. It was absolutely fantastic! Perfect location. Perfect hosts. Perfect experience…”
Amazing stay in the Andes!Comment posted on TripAdvisor
“We visited this ranch about a year ago and I keep recommending over and over to anyone traveling to the Mendoza region. We were a group of 4 couples (one was single) and this portion of our trip to Argentina was everyone’s’ highlight! Accommodations were perfect and we all loved the maintained rustic feeling…The families adult children were our hosts and rotated during our stay…”
Paradise near MendozaComment posted on TripAdvisor
“… The mountain valley setting is splendid, high peaks, their ridges still streaked with snow, deep gorges and clear drinkable creeks. Wildlife abounds — deer, guanacos, eagles, condors, foxes, hares, even a few wild boars. As you would expect, the access to this mountain retreat is by 4wd road. So, what? Let the other fine hotels have their taxi stands and doormen, they can’t have this superlative location. Our four nights stay here was the highlight of our visit to Argentina.”
An Andean mountain oasis of peace, beauty and hospitalityComment posted on TripAdvisor
“This was the highlight of our trip to Argentina. Beautifully located in the Andes foothills at 2,400m., it is truly a unique experience. With superb hospitality, and generous and delicious catering we were made to feel like part of the family. Horse riding trips out were spectacular but comfortable and very safe. We fished successfully for brook trout, and within 2 hours the fish was on a plate…”
Wonderful, away from it all location; superb hospitalityComment posted on TripAdvisor
We spent three amazing nights over New Year this season at Rancho e Cuero with the wonderful members of the Palma family. We cannot put into adequate words the peace, fun, and hospitality we experienced at the estancia, a highlight at the end of an exciting trip to Patagonia. The family and gaucho guided horseback riding was outstanding with beautiful, well-cared for horses, exciting trails, magnificent scenery and wildlife every day…”
New Year’s Treasured MemoriesComment posted on TripAdvisor
“If you are in the Mendoza area, I highly recommend taking a break from visiting wineries, and spending a day or two at this estancia. This ranch is owned by the Palma family and right from pick-up, they all make you feel like family. A huge thank-you to Paula, Leo and Tina for making our stay memorable. It was definitely one of the highlightsof our Chile/Argentina trip! …”
Felt like part of the family – hope we can stay here again!Comment posted on TripAdvisor
“…It is a rare but wonderful experience when traveling to have the opportunity to spend enough time to have meaningful conversations with locals, and the time with these delightful and interesting people was a highlight of our stay in Argentina. The beautifully designed and decorated small lodges they have constructed there, and the gourmet meals provided completed this exceptional experience…”
A very special experience in a spectacular locationComment posted on TripAdvisor
“… If you’re after great hiking, horse riding and food then this is the place for you. After trying more than my fair share of meat on the trip I can say the meat here was the best I had. The horses are beautifully trained and the mountains magnificent. Great hosting by the family and the highlight of our trip.”
Not cheap but what a great time!Comment posted on TripAdvisor
“…Acres and acres of hills with a small river passing through…some wild animals…horses, everything a ranch ought to have and more. Juan was the perfect host; your every wish is granted.One of the highlights of the trip was horse riding in the Andes…”
Authentic Estancia ExperienceComment posted on TripAdvisor
“… While the cost is not nominal, it is well worth every penny to be assured that you are getting the best cuisine, bottomless wine, company, and experience. Based on our entire time in Argentina (11 days), we unanimously agree that this ranch experience was the absolute highlight. The typical travel anxiety of the unknown and unanticipated is completely removed and all that remains is the warm, accommodating, friendly, unique experience of spending memorable time in the middle of the Andes with an extraordinary group of people…”
Experience of a lifetimeComment posted on TripAdvisor
“… The hospitality this lovely family showed us made this day one of the highlightsof our South American trip. It began with pick up at our hotel and continued with the 1 1/2-hour drive, a lot of it off-road, to their ranch at the base of the gorgeous Andes…”
What a wonderful day!Comment posted on TripAdvisor
“… Our day with the Palma family at their stunning property in the mountains was the highlightof our 2-week trip to Argentina. From the moment Juan and Clara met us to navigate the private winding road to their estancia to the end of the day when we said goodbye- tired, sore (3 hours on horseback) and happy) our experiences were a dream come true…”
Crossed Several Experiences off my "Bucket List"Comment posted on TripAdvisor

About Us

We are the Palma family. Ricardo & Analicia together with our grown up children, Agustina, Paula, Juan Ricardo, Analicia, Clara and Maria. We have been hosting guests from all over the world for more than 20 years and now we´ll be happy to host you, making every effort for you to have a memorable stay offering friendly, discreet and professional attention.

A Day With Us.

You can visit us just for the day, with our “Country Day” option or stay for one or several nights, choosing the “Country day with lodging” option instead.

We´ll receive you early in the morning and after having a coffee with some local pastry you´ll go out for horse riding, fishing or trekking. All the options will be given to you at that moment. The idea is for you to feel at home and decide what to do, when to do it and for how long! There is no need to pre-schedule any activities before your visit!

After lunch, normally our typical ASADO, and during the afternoon, you can still go for some activity again if you feel like it, or you can just admire the surrounding countryside and find unique sports to retreat, read or have a glass of wine. If you are spending the night up with us, be ready to continue having appetizers & wine around the fire and under the starriest sky you have ever seen, followed by a lovely dinner inside the lodge.

Food

We are proud to say that 100% of our visitors assure that the culinary experience at Rancho ´e Cuero has been the best they tried so far in Argentina!

We personally select the different meat cuts for the ASADO, getting sure they are tender and savory. Fresh salads, local sides, and excellent wines from the Mendoza wine region will be the perfect match. Homemade desserts will be offered, including of course the traditional Dulce de Leche in many of them.

Also, we´ll honor you with homestyle meals, old family recipes, and delicious local dishes, giving you the opportunity to dive into Argentinian culinary culture.  If you have any kind of dietary restriction or preferences just let us know in advance so we can spoil you even more!

Activities

Go outside. Rediscover nature. We offer a wide array of activities and all of them are included in the daily rate. Unlimited horse riding, trekking and fishing will make you unplug and rediscover nature, finding the peace you were looking for.

Horse Riding

Horse riding in Rancho ´e Cuero is the main activity. Trail riding getting to the highest peaks of the ranch, in a mind-blowing scenery is available for  everyone. Previous experience is not required. If you are a novice we´ll be there to advice and help, making you feel comfortable from the very beginning. We have Criollo horses. Easy to ride, calm, strong, surefooted and familiar with our mountain terrain.  We have a horse to match every riding level. After riding, spend some bonding time with your horse brushing them, offering carrots to them (they love them!) and taking them back to the corral…. Our leather style saddles and tacking attire are comfortable and in good shape making you feel confident and secure.

Trekking

Trekking is a fun and challenging option, walking through green valleys and mountain trails, giving you the possibility to be in real touch with nature, listening the river flow, birds singing and wind noises… There are trails for every level, all of them of incredible beauty. The duration depends on you! From 30 minutes till full day excursions, with a light picnic lunch in the way.  We´ll be happy to guide you and port water and snacks for you!

Glacier Nivero del Plata Excursion: Only available from November till February and a minimum of 4 guests is required. We arrive hiking up to the base of a Glacier located 4300 meters above sea level, on the south face of Cerro El Plata (5956 m), the highest peak you can see from Mendoza. A spectacular emerald green lagoon mirrors the fascinating image of the glacier creating an impressive waterfall which gives origin to the fast -flowing stream that goes all along the estancia. Check on availability and special rates with us.

Fishing

The Guevara stream is perfectly fishable all along the 18 km it runs inside the ranch, offering water ponds, perfect to sink your line catching rainbow trout.

We´ll be happy to drop you by horse up or down river with a pack snack to enjoy your fishing journey way back to the lodge. We´ll provide regular fishing gear, for traditional fishing with bite. For Fly Fishing, you should bring your own gear. Waders are not necessary.

“Fly Fishing Clinic”: This is the only activity not included in the daily rate. Includes a personal guide and professional gear.

Photo safari: bird watching & wildlife

Rancho ‘e Cuero is home to a fascinating and diverse number of flora and fauna species. The preservation of nature allows red deer, guanacos, foxes, hares and an amazing variety of birds, to be permanent residents in this ranch. Whenever you are riding, hiking or fishing, you´ll be surrounded by them.

For Photo Safari lovers this is a fantastic place since the interaction with wildlife is permanent. Enjoy spying on guanaco droves while riding, listen red stags roaring while having breakfast at the terrace or just lay on the grass watching a Condor flight!

Streambaths

Taking a bath in the stream is revitalizing and fun! Accommodate yourself under a small water fall and let your body relax under the natural massage it offers…. There are numerous ponds where to get in within walking distance from the lodge. Spend a perfect afternoon in river banks having a sunbath, listening nothing but the water flow while reading a book.

Accomodation

All six suite rooms at Rancho ´e Cuero are tastefully furnished with traditional Argentinian artworks and local fabrics which combined to spectacular views to the mountain are just what you need after a day spent outdoors: a cozy and harmonious atmosphere. Watch the river flow, spy on red stags roaring and listen the horses getting into the corral early in the morning.