Before I even set foot in Texas, Rancho Cortez had already won my heart with their warm and helpful…read moreemails. As a solo traveler visiting the USA for the first time, I had a million questions -- and they patiently answered every single one. By the time I drove up their long, dusty road and caught sight of the charming ranch buildings and heard my first distant neigh, a wave of peace washed over me. I knew I had found something special. My warm welcome included a map to my cabin... which I promptly misread (I have many talents, but navigation is *not* one of them). Thankfully, the wonderful Lisa appeared like a real-life cowboy guardian angel and personally guided me to my cozy cabin. First impression? Spotless. Cool. Authentically Texan. I actually said "wow" out loud -- to no one -- like I was in a commercial. As a true animal lover, I was thrilled to see how well the horses were treated. Guests are encouraged to help groom them, and the wranglers always explain *why* certain things are done -- it's all about respect and care. Whether you're a total beginner or basically Clint Eastwood, they tailor the experience to *you*. Now meet the dream team: Travis, Dawn, Trey, and Cora. Travis and Dawn are the talkers, the entertainers -- always in for a laugh, teasing and challenging each other like true cowboy siblings. Their banter is pure gold, and somehow still leaves space for heartfelt guidance and genuine connection. Trey? He's the quiet cowboy with that dry, perfectly timed humor. When he speaks, you listen -- and when he drops a one-liner, it *lands*. He's got that silent strength vibe going on, and it works. Cora, with her calm and grounding energy, is the soul of serenity. When things get rowdy (and they do), she's the one who gently reins it all in -- the horses love her, and so do the guests. Her presence is like a deep exhale after a long ride. The wranglers feel like a tight-knit family, and you quickly feel part of it. Meals are homey, healthy, and announced by a big ol' bell you'll hear all over the ranch. You'll come running like one of the horses when you hear it. There's always water, coffee, tea, and refreshing drinks during meals, plus your cabin comes with a mini fridge for your own snacks. (The nearest supermarket is about 20 minutes away, but honestly, you won't want to leave.) Between the twice-daily rides, you'll learn to rope like a cowboy, roast smores by the fire, meet the longhorns on a hay ride, or just float in the pristine pool with the sun on your face. My personal favorite spot? A hammock near the dining hall, country music in my ears, goats chilling behind me -- pure bliss. Special shoutout to Miss Katie for the extra riding lessons (worth every penny). The trails are walk-only for safety and horse care, but even as an experienced rider, I never felt bored. They even arranged a more challenging ride when things were quiet -- and let me tell you, there's nothing like the sound of hooves and the warm wind in your ears to remind you you're *alive*. I originally booked one night... I stayed four. The only downside of Rancho Cortez is having to leave. To anyone reading this: whether you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure or a peaceful place to recharge -- book it. Go. Make memories. Laugh at yourself. Ride a horse. Roast a marshmallow. And let your heart be hugged by the spirit of this magical ranch. Thank you, Rancho Cortez. You deserve every star in the Texas sky. Wendy from Belgium

My family had a blast out here at the ranch. Super family oriented and plenty to do…read more If you are looking for an authentic Cowboy ranch, this is it, and I'm talking people too. Mr. Cortez was the ultimate highlight, a true old school Cowboy with that humor of his. He made my family feel right at home, even sat with them at lunch and hilarious conversation. Surprisingly, reading a couple of the negative reviews are taken WAY out of context and no offense to anyone, but it seems like liberals have a problem with the ranch. Here's a big one for instance, as a woman I felt welcomed and not threatened by safety issues. If you are super sensitive with your feelings just stay at home; Cowboys tell it like it is and that's with any Cowboy ranch. Overall, my nieces and nephew had an amazing family day. It was my nephews birthday. His favorite was roping and sure enough, after his visit with the ranch he now wants a rope to practice with! Thanks again for your mentorship and guidance Mr. Cortez. I'll be sure to have my nephew visit again to show you his roping progress!

It may be a nice place but don' count getting your deposit back if you need reschedule. We are…read moreout 728.00 and I'm not happy.

This place got it 95% right!! Alec was accommodating and so helpful! Kim and the remaining housing…read morestaff were amazing. The meals were served family style, different every day, and so delicious and local!!! The room was perfect and as expected on a back country ranch. I was surprised and thankful we had an electric heater!! The horses and ranch staff were a bit stand off ish until they get to know you, but then they are super friendly and accommodating, so please give everyone a chance, they are all great people. The facilities are great, though we came at a time of year that the pool was not in use. The only thing we were a bid irked by was how the horses didn't seemed to be brushed daily, and they had burrs and mud caked on them. I would think it would still be a profitable business after being in the family for over a hundred years, to have a hired hand that just took care of the horses on a daily basis, since that is the business' main draw and attraction. Other than that, an outstanding time!!

Went on another ride with Bandera Historical Ride and it was great!!! Had some friends come in town…read moreand they had not ridden before but the horses were great and we went on a 45 minute ride down by the river. Perfect weather and great day to do a ride. Madison was the wrangler we met up with. Super company to do a ride with no matter what your skill level is!!! Highly recommend Bandera Historical Rides!!!

What an experience!…read more I try to go horseback riding on every vacation. This place is the best yet! We went for the cowboy breakfast. It was amazing. 1st the horses are beautiful and so well maintained! The staff was phenomenal-- so nice to us and our kids. The food was great and the coffee was outstanding! I absolutely love this place!!!

First time riding a horse and this experience was wonderful. The wrangler was friendly, answered…read moreany questions and offered to take us pictures along the route. I will definitely come back again during the fall and sign up for a two hour ride. Please don't forget to tip if your experience was wonderful :)

Excellent! Would love to give this more than 5 stars! Horses are matched perfectly with riders…read more Guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Horses were very well cared for and weren't trained to just walk nose to tail. Beautiful setting in the Texas Hill Country. One of the best destination trail rides we've experienced! Can't recommend enough.

When you pull up, you learn that you picked the perfect horseback riding experience. Talia was…read moregreat, very knowledgeable and it was an awesome ride. The horses are very manageable and even tempered, so you can sit back & enjoy the ride without having to navigate much. I know both me and my boyfriend enjoyed riding Laso & Kermit!

We had a great experience with our group of 10 amateur riders. Tawni is an excellent communicator…read moreand made the process smooth and easy, especially for some folks that were reticent to mount a horse for the first time. Everyone had an amazing and very safe ride, and it was an amazing introduction to horseback riding for many of us, including myself. They also take great care of their horses and seem to care deeply for them, which made me feel even better about an already extremely positive experience. I will definitely use them again next time I'm in Bandera!

$30 for each regular rider, and $15 for those that are too young to ride alone. Book ahead during…read morethe summer months because they fill up fast! These stables are right up the road from my parents house, and we have always driven past them as we go into Concan/Leaky. We finally decided to book a ride with Elm Creek Stables and are happy that we did! They made sign-in very easy, the ride started on time, the horses were well behaved and nicely groomed, and our guides were very sweet. The gentleman leading the ride stopped along the way to pickup old horseshoes and let my little kiddos keep them as souvenirs. They were so excited. The ride itself gives very beautiful views of the valley, and they have added cute faces to trees and signs along the trail to give it that "touristy trail ride" feel. After the ride ended, the kiddos got popsicles and we walked around and took a look at the other animals. They had a newborn miniature pony, a pig, a blind axis deer, bunnies, and many many horses. We will definitely be back again in the future.

This place is really great. When we first called for information, the woman on the phone was very…read morehelpful. My boyfriend and I were able to come a little early, so the guides could take us on a more advanced ride at a higher elevation. Morgan and Allison were great guides considering how young they are (14 and 15). They easily navigated a beautiful path that they hadn't gone on in about a month. The views were gorgeous, and much of the trail was shaded. The horses were calm, but definitely have their own distinct personality. The ride was about 90 minutes long, and very affordable for the 2 of us. Overall, we were pretty lucky we got to go on such a beautiful ride with just the 4 of us--a very memorable experience. I look forward to visiting Elm Creek again on our next family vacation to the Frio.

Y'all if you wanna learn about Cowboyin' you best mosey on down to Rancho Cortez. Larry is an…read moreexperience. He'll get you ropin' and Ridin' in no time! For real city boy if you wanna be a cowboy go to rancho cortez.

TREMENDOUS would be the best way to describe my Fitness Program experience at Rancho Cortez located…read morenear Bandera, TX. My weight loss goal during my 60 days of fitness at Rancho Cortez was 35 pounds. Healthy food choices and fat burning exercises allowed me to not only reach my goal but EXCEED it. My final weight loss was 40 pounds, as well as a great number of inches lost. A common sense approach to nutrition - eating REAL food in proper portions at set meal times combined with hiking, core & balance workouts, cardiac and strength training, water exercise and yoga provided the most stress-free environment to focus on my weight-loss journey. A huge THANK YOU to owners Mary & Larry Cortez for providing this Fitness Program. Mary's encouragement throughout my 60 days kept me going. Larry's knowledge of local and state history weaved in with his wonderful story telling abilities made for not only educational but entertaining times at the nightly campfires. The level of expertise, guidance and knowledge shared by Fitness Director Karen and Strength Coach Doc directly IMPACTED my weight loss success. The core and balance work with Karen, as well as her cardiac class and her leading challenging hikes helped me gain confidence and increased my ability to do so many things my overweight sedentary life restricted. Doc's strength training produced better RESULTS than I expected. After 60 days, my overall strength and flexibility makes me feel 20 years younger. The Tabata classes from both Karen & Doc were always interesting, challenging and really helped burn the fat. Regular nutrition classes expanded my knowledge for foot prep and portion control of the RIGHT FOODS. The added wonderful BONUS of visiting weekly with Naturopathic Dr. Kulisz enlightened me to truly healthy alternatives for my life. Restorative yoga with Cheryl A. gave me a totally new view of yoga that benefited both my flexibility and breathing. I appreciated the rest of the RC crew's welcoming attitude. Wrangler's Buster and Bill, Housekeeper Sheila, Maintenance Foreman Fermin, and Cooks Martha & Pat (thanks for the tasty food!) were all gracious to me. General Manager, Cheryl B. is Wonder Woman - to be commended for all the many hats she wears. Handling bookings and check-ins, as well as inventory and constantly answering phones and pitching in to help with cooking, Chery's "git 'er done" attitude keeps RC running efficiently. If anyone reading this review is tired of being overweight and is willing to work hard, KNOW that the Fitness Program at Rancho Cortez CAN work for you.

Such a cool experience! I have never been on a horse before and it was actually pretty easy! My…read morecousin invited me since she had already been here and really enjoyed it. We went on a very rainy day and got soaked but it was still really fun. The owner gave my bf some tips and what to do when the horse stops and stuff like that so it was really cool! I can't wait to come again.

This trail ride was not only bang for buck (longevity, hour long ride for great pricing) the staff…read morewas awesome! They really prioritize the health and well being of their horses and animals. While I was petting their ponies I was immediately handed an apple to feed them which was such a sweet thought! Elijah, Frank, and Frankie were awesome! Would definitely come back next time I get the chance :,)

Its been nearly 6 months since I last got a chance to stop on by sticker trails due to my tight…read moreschedule and to this very day I still think back to what an incredible experience it was. The horses were very tame, gentle, and accommodating to the riders comfortability and experience. Both gentlemen directing the trail ride added to the experience with their down to earth and personable approach throughout, establishing a welcoming environment for each and every person attending. I cant say enough about this hidden gem, its something everyone should experience themselves to get the full aura of

This was a great trail ride. One hour is perfect if you haven't been on a horse in a while. We…read morehad a wonderful time however, the only reason why I don't give it 5 stars is only for my own vain reasons. 1) It would have been nice to be able to get a photo of my wife and I together. Or at least to stop somewhere and get a photo either with us on horse back or holding the horse. 2) Also there are some beautiful areas as you climb the top of the hill. Lots of things to look at, deer trails and the view is beautiful. This would have been nice to have the small group (like we did at the fallen tree) gather at the top to get a few photos. 3) And speaking of vistas one side of the hill over looked an area with homes, some very beautiful homes, however I think, I don't know this for sure, but if we could have gone to the other side of the mountain if just a bit, I'm sure there would have been a beautiful untouched vista. Now I did enjoy the story by the tree but a few (just two maybe) more stops like that to tell about the work being done, the wild life, something and (with his accent and ability to tell a story) it would have been nice to have him gather the group (if more than two) and tell them a story of something historic or just a even a fable regarding that area. Now I can go on forever, but I would have thought a small outpost where riders could unmount and get a drink, feel like they were on a real trail ride. Would have been really cool. But that's not his fault, that's just wishful thinking on my part.