Before I even set foot in Texas, Rancho Cortez had already won my heart with their warm and helpful emails. 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 read more

My family had a blast out here at the ranch. Super family oriented and plenty to do. 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! read more

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Our family of five just returned from a wonderful overnight visit to Rancho Cortez in Bandera, TX. This was the first time we've been out on any overnight since Covid and it was so special. My sons smiles were huge as they rode friendly horses along beautiful terrain in Hill Country. Everyone that works there, works hard! Not only providing for the horses and their care but the the commitment to quality, Texan hospitality. All were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and fun! Mr. Cortez is a hoot! As well as a very welcoming host. The food was good, trail rides lovely, evening entertainment of roping magic, and a nice chill chat around the fire pit complete with s'mores and relaxing guitar music strumming. I highly recommend Rancho Cortez! We will be back. read more

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Very friendly staff! Great experience. Was everything that we expected for a half day trip to the ranch.

Spent the time here with my Grandson. All I can say it was fantastic!!! The people are very friendly and helpful. My Grandson learned so much with self confidence and leadership. This was a vacation to remember! Would highly recommend. Next year my Grandson is going to Cowboy Camp!!!!j read more

This was amazing! My boyfriend and I purchased the half day option for horseback riding, roping, cattle feeding, dinner, and campfire. When we arrived, Trevor, a ranch-hand, directed us to park next to the main office. We met Larry Cortez, the owner of the ranch. Nice guy! Signed all the paperwork about the rules, safety, etc etc. We walked over to the horses. Trevor paired us up with the appropriate horses based on riding experience. He checked all the equipment first and gave us instructions for guiding the horse. The horses knew the drill, they followed the horse in front and really didn't need much leading. The ride was a bit rocky and uneven, but this made it more interesting and really kept me alert. The ride was pretty relaxing! Afterwards, we were going to just hike and walk around the ranch. The owner was actually hanging out giving roping lessons. He gave us a one to one lesson (for free!). Roping is not easy at all!!!! Trevor gave us a group lesson later on that afternoon. We took some time to walk around the ranch and said hi to all the animals. I fell in love with the goats. They were so pleasant and friendly. The horses were great but the pig was a little grumpy. There was a swimming pool and hot tub but we didn't use it since it was a bit nippy. The owner was hanging out with the employees and invited us to sit down to chat. Man, did we learn a lot! It was such a nice afternoon. When it was time to feed the cattle, Trevor invited us to help him put the horses back in their pens. THIS WAS SO COOL! After, we hopped on a tractor and went to feed the cattle. What a breathtaking experience! The scenery, the cattle, and the somewhat friendly donkeys/cattle security guards. Wear long pants, tuck in your socks because fire ants are everywhere! Dinner was great! We stayed for the campfire and hung out with the other visitors. Left around 8pm. read more

Rancho Cortez - Feeding the longhorn cattle - Horseback Riding Near Me - Bandera, Texas

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This was a great little break from the everyday busy city life. We came here to San Antonio for a little vacation. My boys and wife loved it. The horseback trail ride was peaceful through the hillside, then we swam in the indoor pool to cool down before dinner. Dinner was fun in the chow hall. Don't put your hat on the dinner table. Feeding the cows and longhorns was a great treat. One of the cows had recently had a baby just days ago and it was running around with the heard, but staying right by momma's side. The owner Larry was awesome, telling my boys exactly how it was. He wasn't beating around the bush, you know exactly what he's thinking. Loved it! The Texas campfire with s'mores was a treat for the boys. Would definitely do it again. read more

My family and I went to ride horses on the Cowboy Trail and Cody was great leading the way. Staff are all very nice and we'll definitely be back again. We all had a great time. read more

My company held it's summer retreat here, and I was terrified of going. I am very much a city kid and hate the heat. If anyone was ready to find any reason to complain it was going to be me. And yet I had the most magical time. The staff was friendly, fun, and inclusive. The activities were great, and I was blown away by the beauty of the place. I cannot stress enough how this place stole a piece of my heart and I only hope I am able to return someday so I can explore even more. In addition to making my experience amazing, they worked extra hard to make my whole company feel included and supported while we tried to maintain normal company operations alongside enjoying horseback rides and roping lessons. Thank you for chnaging my mind and heart. read more

This place was great! Me and my friends did a full day trip and we loved it. Everyone is super friendly and welcoming. The owner Larry is the best and Dan the cook had amazing food. The views were also so beautiful on the trail rides. I would definitely recommend going to this place if you have a full day to spend. read more

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My girlfriend and I drove 3 hours from Austin to spend some quality time at this ranch. We were super excited about the great reviews and couldn't wait to ride some beautiful horses. We got there early and while she was in the office I went to use the restroom. As I wait by the cafeteria(restaurant, or whatever you want to call this gathering place), to use the restroom, I hear this man speaking to me. He started asking me all sort of questions about what I was doing there and where i came from...and if I wanted tequila.. Although I was clearly not engaging much, he didn't feel discouraged...he kept asking questions. He seems curious about my background, but I tried to not over-analyze I confess that his loud voice, inquisitive behaviour, way to get too close intimate to women can make people uncomfortable, but I couldn't have imagined what was about to come. It was my first time being called cupcake. Pressing forward, he drove by us a few minutes later and by the way he looked at us we could tell that he objectifies women. The jokes and looks and the nicknames...all "too much", as another guest described him later. What bothered me the most, however, was his comments about politics. Knowing that we were from Austin, Larry, later identified himself as the ranch owner, is not afraid to demonstrate his disdain for "liberals". He expressed how ashamed he was of the "liberals destroying Austin, the capitol". He goes on by making comments about the homeless, and the "defund the police", which he seems to understand nothing about. You can tell that he is Fox News and Newsmax brainwashed. No critical thinking. No apologies, no respect, no professionalism. Knowing that I am a foreign - my accent was clearly intriguing to him, and in a hindsight probably the reason why he was interrogating me when I first arrived- , he looked at me and in a provocative way he asked what I thought about what he had said. I relied by saying that I would tell him a story or two later- we were horse hiding and it was not the most pleasant experience with a horse that clearly has behaviour issues abs was agitated all while he downplayed his horse' behavior and the severity of the situation trying to blame on me. It was not the place, the time, or even the most appropriate conversation to have with a guest. At this point, feeling uncomfortable and somehow convinced that he was racist, I tried to keep my distance. Well, trying it not enough. He will call your name, expose you, bully you, make inappropriate jokes and remarks, sexual or otherwise. He can't "read social clues" and have no boundaries. He called my friend to the center of the group - he does that a lot, just like a bully would, and because she couldn't get the task right, he couldn't stop the offensive remarks about her not being intelligent or being too slow...not smiling enough...and never been able to find a man. He will comment on his own desire to find himself a woman and even make suggestive remarks to guests. Letting him know that I was married didn't stop him to suggesting that I should leave mu husband and go out with him. I could go on and on about how inappropriate Mr Larry is, but I guess I have exemplified enough. After the horse-hiding from Hell, we left quietly on the middle of this presentation - aka entertainment phrase of bullying "selected guests". My friend was his main target. We walked away and decided to leave the ranch to never look back My friend complained to someone in the office who said he was Larrys partner at the ranch. As someone described here this person apologised about Larry's behaviour but didn't seem too surprised by the complain. The ranch is nice, although poorly maintained and short staffed. Pool is a joke and the jacuzzi is another joke. Do not expect a retreat place with any comfort. It is a rustic place with no food structure, organisation , or service. It is way overpriced and Larry...ah Larry...could be a resourceful and entertained host, if not chauvinist, disrespectful, racist, bully old man with absolutely no boundaries, care, or class. read more

I decided to give Rancho Cortez a second chance. I am so glad that I did! I love this place! It is in the country. Down to earth. Laid back. Peaceful. Very fun. One complaint: I did not want to leave. ALL the staff members are so nice! Larry Cortez was so fun to be around. Larry and my son bonded so well. My son loved him to pieces. They had all kind of cool animals! Donkeys, goats, long horn cows, horses and a even a dog named Lacy. When you go on the trail ride- you might see more donkeys, wild turkeys and jack rabbits. The food was delicious. Everything was homemade. And lots of fresh vegetables. They have great cooks. They even made my son a birthday cake. I wish they had a menu for every day so we will know what we are eating for the day. I wished they had more BBQ. But I did enjoyed the food. I enjoyed the wagon ride. Enjoyed watching longhorn eat. Afterwards, we came back and had a campfire. Love watching the fire and roasted marshmallows and making s'mores. It was fun to listen to Larry tell a story. We had 4 horse trail rides. It was so fun. The wranglers were awesome! My favorite horse was Red. Overall it has been an awesome experience! Glad that I came back! Thank you everyone at the ranch for making our vacation extra special! read more

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My friend and I recently went on a short-lived vacation at this dude ranch. We were looking forward to a relaxing weekend on the beautiful ranch property. We were excited by what we had seen online, especially in a YouTube video about the ranch. Shortly after arriving at the ranch my friend and I met the official. He was an obnoxious man, and I was immediately uncomfortable. I kept my distance, but even though my body language and tone of voice was clear that I did not want to engage, he kept pressing, trying to find out personal information about myself and my friend. Eventually his comments became suggestive, and we broke away from him as soon as we could. Later that day we left the ranch, wanting to explore the small town. When we came back he was in the proximity of our car. I did not want another interaction with him so my friend and I waited in the car hoping he would walk away. He did not. Instead he walked up to the car, asking where we had gone, what we had done, and why we hadn't stayed for dinner. My friend and I felt so unsafe around him that we did not engage in the activities that the ranch had planned for the rest of the evening. Locking ourselves in our room for the night, we decided that we would leave the ranch the next day after the morning horse ride and breakfast. When we went down to breakfast he was in the dining hall with some of the other guests and immediately called us out. He watched our every move, and his suggestive comments only became more bold. I tried to seat us away from him, but of course, he moved closer so that he was in the center of all the guests (who all happened to be young women). He proceeded to make comments about how nice it was to have all these women here, and how he was looking for a wife. He then called out my friend, asking her if she would marry him. All the women were uncomfortable with him, and anytime someone would stand up to take a call, use the restroom, or get more coffee, he would ask them where they were going. After that interaction my friend and I decided to not go on the horse ride and to just leave. I have had experience with men like him before. They test the waters with inappropriate remarks, then gentle touches, until it escalates further. He has all the traits of a predator, and I would recommend women do not come to this ranch without a male companion. The ranch itself was not as nice as had been advertised online. The facilities were run down, the horses looked old and tired, and the other employees were rude and distant at best. Stay safe, and do not waste your time or money coming here. read more

What a disappointment! I was so excited to take my little girl to spend time at a dude ranch. We made a reservation for a half day from 1 pm-8 pm . Wh m I made the reservation I asked if all the activities would be available in late April and told yes. When we checked in at 12:45 I noticed the ranch a bit empty and asked if all we were paying for (riding, hayride, using a lasso lesson, entertainment, dinner etc) would be provided. The woman said yes they still provided the full activities and there were guests but finishing lunch. We ended up doing a walking trail ride with no trot or anything else with about 6 other customers. After completing the ride I asked if they normally trot the horses but was told I needed to request. I asked if we could have another ride. I was told it was another $25 per person. We decided to check out the other activities. Hmmm, what can we do? Oh feed the cattle in about 3 hours. The ranch hands seemed too busy to arrange activities to entertain the 8 guests. I asked about the lasso lesson which was adjacent to the barn but was given no response on when they were doing it, even though 8 customers were all standing at Lund doing "Nothing" following the ride! Hmm you could check out the pot belly pig!!! We could go swimming. But we did not have towels or a place to change. Quite honestly the pool looked like something out of National Lampoon's Vacation. With nothing to do and being in San Antonio for only 2 days, I decided to cut this visit early as we decided not to sit around for 3 hours just to see cattle being fed. I asked how much ch it was just for the ride and was told $50 per person even my 7 year old! I guess it is is only $25 per hour to add an additional ride? To sum it up, I do not feel it was worth the nearly 1.5 hour drive nor the money. If El Cortez Ranch knew they were going to have 8 guests they should have planned to ensure that activities were arranged and coordinated by the staff and not simply leave the guests to loiter around. Very disappointing! read more

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This was a great family adventure. Uncle Larry was a fantastic host, taking time to teach us how to lead and ride his horse. Rusty and Trevor were great "cowboys" and perfect story tellers. Highly recommend a visit to Rancho Cortez! Yeehaw read more

Rancho Cortez - Joey on Zeke, Uncle Larry's horse - Horseback Riding Near Me - Bandera, Texas

My family and I visited yesterday. We were met by friendly people. The horses and other animals looked happy and healthy. Trevor was our guide and he did a great job; friendly, knew the land, we were all happy. Wish we had more time. I would highly recommend and we are currently planning on booking a vacation to the ranch. PS. If you like slow - ask for Big Time. Lol read more

Rancho Cortez - My middle son on Ace, couldn't have had a better horse. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Bandera, Texas

We loved our time at the Rancho Cortez ranch! Their hospitality is wonderful. I loved and enjoyed all of the activities. Awesome meals. Cute and comfortable Ranch. Cant wait to go back and visit again. read more

Cortez Ranch is exactly the "Cowboy Experience" I was looking for. The entire staff was outstanding. They made sure we had a great time from the moment we stepped on the property and throughout the next six hours we spent with them. The half-day adventure was quite the bargain as it included a scenic trail ride, time with the horses, lassoing, feeding the cows, and other ranching activities. The meal was good and then there was the talented Summer playing acoustic guitar and singing country favorites by the campfire while we munched on smores. The owner Larry was a unique character that my family will be talking about for a long time. Larry seemed focused on ensuring every guest safely enjoyed their experience on his ranch. He was an excellent host. The entire six hours we were there was a well-orchestrated "show", entertaining and delighting us beyond our expectations. We live in Austin and were reluctant to take our out-of-town guests the 2 1/2 hours each way to Bandera. It was well worth the drive. I will definitely take out-of-town guests back for the fun. read more

We took our girl's to Rancho Cortez in March 2023. It was exciting and peaceful. The following activities were among our favorites: Horseback riding, roping, the campfire experience, feeding the animals especially the Texas longhorns. The food was plentiful and totally good. All of the employees were friendly and helpful. The peace and quiet at night was awesome. Larry Cortez and wife Mary were very hospitable at their new home. I can't wait to return. Plan your next trip to the ranch and enjoy the experience. read more

I have visited this place for three time during the last three year and I will go back again. It was a blast every single time. If you want a true ranch and cowboy experience, please check this place. From the horseback riding to the food, music.... Absolutely worth the price. read more

This place is genuine Texas and provides an amazing, soothing atmosphere. Half day tour= 1. Arrive, check in, walk around the gorgeous well developed ranch. 2. 1 hour trail ride with excellent trained horses, through the beautiful hill country. 3. Learn how to rope cattle with well trained friendly staff. 4. Hay ride & drive the wagon. 5. Galloping/trotting training for those who want to participate. 6. Pet the well trained friendly goats. 7. Hayride and feed the long horn cattle in an amazing field, get on top a bucking bull. 8. Wonderful country dinner buffet in nice restaurant on site. 9. Campfire with excellent authentic country signing story telling and marshmallows. I would recommend anyone in the area spend at least a half day at Rancho Cortez. The staff here is absolutely amazing and extremely well trained; the owner has been riding for 60+ years. Amenities: cabins. Treehouse. Two pools indoor and out. Gym. Amazing food. Hiking trails. Love. Hill country horse back riding, galloping, roping, standing on horses, riding a bucking bull, hay rides, Texas campfire! From a genuine customer with a great experience to remember. Thank you Rancho Cortez read more

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Horrible experience!! Went here today 03/09/2024 with my mother,father,and little brother. At first things were great up until we went into the dinning hall for lunch. A rude man who seemed to be in his mid 50s or 60s walked up to our table and rudely smacked my elbows off of the dinning table. I understand I need to have manors but that was uncalled for especially since I have never seen or spoken to the man before. I did not speak to him because he made me very uncomfortable and then he started calling me a mute. Made me very agitated but that wasn't what made me write this review. what happened next is that he goes up to my little brother and has the audacity to tell him he looks like a women with his hair. My brother's hair is around 6-7 inches long which I understand that you might think from a distance "that's a woman" but no. He was making eye contact with my little brother and telling him he looked like a female and saying "you're such a pretty lady" which is extremely rude. My little brother was about to cry but he kept teasing him about it. The whole time he was making bold horrible comments about me and my little brother and even got mad at my little brother for having his phone out to respond to a text message because someone asked him where he was today. And I can tell a lot of people here are under the influence that men can't have long hair because I met the sweetest little girl who thought that my Brother was a girl and when I asked her why she thought he was she said "well boys aren't allowed to have long hair unless they are gay and Mr ____ said gay is bad" (I. Forgot the name" excuse me? This girl seemed like she Was 9-10 maybe. it is horrible to drill these kinds of things into children's heads. I told her that stuff isn't bad and even if someone is it isn't that big of a deal. I'm disgusted by the kind of things people here think and tell children. They had very sweet dogs though. read more

Came here for a weekend and we had such a great time with my girls. Mother nature was corporating, so it was very cold and rainy the first day we were there. We manage to make the best of it by playing boardgames we brought and playing in the game room in the facility. My girls loved the 2 wranglers Dave and Buster ( didn't realized the names until my oldest daughter said, get it Dave &Busters...lol) they were very patience with them during our stay and activities. Would recommend this place. My girls did freak out because there were no service even though they had WiFi but my girls got their mind off of that soon after. read more

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2nd time visitors. Last year was amazing!!! There were lots of activities, music at the campfire, Cowboy Larry told campfire stories, etc. This year I was extremely disappointed. There is no schedule to go by. My kids decided they wanted to go to the hot tub so we did and then all of a sudden it was announced that they were going to feed the longhorns!!!! So half my kids missed out. There was no hay ride this year -- no activities at the camp fire. What was the difference? All I can guess is that last year they had more people staying. This year I think we were the only people staying. I was extremely disappointed this year. read more

I just finished the two-week Warrior Boot Camp at Rancho Cortez. I was looking for a fitness-oriented vacation and it was definitely intense, with 5-6 hours of hiking, cardio, and strength training each day starting at 7am every morning. The sessions were small enough that the trainers could get to know each person's specific needs or past injuries, and push us or modify routines appropriately. We also participated in some of the dude ranch activities, like trail rides, hayrides, and hanging out around the campfire in the evenings. The remote location, poor cell phone reception, and limited wi-fi made for not much else to do outside of scheduled activities but on the flip side it gives you no excuses for missing a hike or class. I stayed in the bunkhouse, which was pretty much one step above camping. It's not for everyone, but it's a good option for someone who is focused on jumpstarting their fitness regime and is ok with no-frills accommodations. Everyone there saw results in terms of increased muscle tone and/or weight loss - the classes combined with the low carb, low sugar meals are definitely effective. read more

Wonderful hosts, incredible food, jam packed with fun activities, amazing grounds, and beautiful animals. We had such an amazing time here at the ranch and were made to feel so very welcome. We were take great care of and had some great conversations with Larry and other people working with us throughout the day. Highly recommended!! read more

My girlfriend (now wife) and I found this ranch on google and read some of the reviews. We thought we would take a chance and try something different so we set up a day trip with Rancho Cortez. The place was very easy to find and the staff there was military friendly offering us a discount which is always a nice feature. We spent the day horse back riding, enjoying hay rides, a wagon ride to feed the long horns, eating a delicious lunch/dinner and enjoying an amazing camp fire filled with song and s'mores. The owner of the ranch met up with us during our day trip and even took us on a private horse back ride. This was special bc he did not charge us extra for this as he could tell that we were in love and wanted to do something special for a military couple. It has taken me some time to write this review but it is long overdue for such a wonderful ranch experience. Next time we will be booking an overnight or weekend stay as they also offer cabins for extended stays. Truly a wonderful and amazing experience. read more

Rancho Cortez - Standing on the backs of Belgian horses - Horseback Riding Near Me - Bandera, Texas

We stayed there for 3 nights in December. Was a great family vacation. Perfect place for young kids. Recommending as family vacation. Very unique experience. read more

Choosing this ranch to experience a "cowboy" day was the best decision we could have made. Everyone was absolutely great and Larry (the owner) made our day. We left with a deep desire to go back soon! read more

My family and I just had a great time at Rancho Cortez! We spent 3 days there riding and swimming, beautiful weather and great people. Larry and "Cowboy Rusty" were great, Rusty made a great connection with our shy daughter and got her on a horse having fun in no time. Everyone really seemed eager to please and teach people to ride... Not just put us on the horses and drag us around, but teach us how to control them, get on in several ways and learn something. Food wasn't gourmet, but everything else was great. read more

Found this place on TripAdvisor and i am SO glad i did. Stayed in the city, so had to rent a car to get here, but it was most definetly worth the drive out to Bandera. We asked to do a trail ride, and seeing how our ride to the ranch was about an hour, we asked if we could go for more than an hour. The front office, as well as the wranglers were more than happy to take my friend and i out for a 2 hour trail ride. (going for an hour and then coming back, picking up a new group and going out again). To kill time waiting for the group to show up, we got a quick lasso lesson from one of the cowboys. We were shuffled over to a deck where it was super easy to get on the horse. Long story short, our ride was absolutley fantastic, my cell lost service and i couldnt have been happier to be in the middle of nowhere, on a horse, in the middle of nowhere, Texas. I was so relaxed and it was such a good time. I would go back in a second, and probably stay there. Larry the owner was wonderful, the ranch hands were super helpful and i highly...HIGHLY RECCOMEND this place for anything horse related. Thank you Rancho Cortez!! read more

It's unfortunate when the disgusting actions of one, can overshadow an otherwise decent experience. I enjoyed working out with Karen, Doc, and Mary, but I left feeling violated. The owner of the Rancho Cortez Ranch, "Larry" Cortez, has NO respect for women. He should not be apart of anything! Anytime "Larry" joined us for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, he made sure all the women in my group knew his special affection for women especially drunk women. He also told us he did not care of his inappropriate comments about women even in front of his daughter because, Everybody knows how he is and he don't have to hide nothing. Seeing that he just disrespectful, I avoided socializing with him as much as possible. I was already sensitive to being the only African American guest there for an extended stay, having already dealt with another guest racist comments (she called my sweater a African American because it was black, and every time she or I got up to go get coffee she would refer to it as getting some African American). And the thing about all this is. It always happens at the dinner table in a room full of people and everyone just IGNORES everything!!! On my last day, I was beyond singled out and humiliated. I guess "Larry" had to show his dominance and that he was "The Man in Bandera" " and could do whatever he wanted. Larry came up to me from behind, pulled me back into his groin area, put his hand around my neck, and as I am struggling to get out of his grip, not understanding what is happening proceeds to hold me by mouth and forces it open and shoves a bottle of whipped cream in my mouth until he squirts it! Mouth hurting and feeling disrespected and embarrassed, I didn't know how to react or what to do. I wanted to turn around and start fighting and clawing at his face, but I did not want to go to have to deal with police, possible jail!! I am by myself in this beyond small town Texas, where this man has made it clear of who he is there!! I can't use my phone so I sat there wiped away the whipped cream and held my mouth and took his disrespectful behavior with out retaliation. Another guest seeing my disgust tried to make light of it saying, Maybe he's trying to fatten you up because you lost some weight? After they were good and into the campfire stories, I went to "Cheryl" the director in her office, and began to report what Larry had did and he had no rights to put his hands on me. As I am reporting what happened at dinner, "Larry" pops his head in the door and says " I was looking for you young lady, why didn't you come to my campfire". I told his I'm glad you are here so I can tell you to your face that you violated me, what you did was sexual and disgusting and he had no right to restrain me and put his had on me. His response was "Well I do this to all the girls"! I responded. Its not right and and Im not a girl I'm a 40 year old grown woman. I told him That it hurt and I am highly offended. His response was "Well IF your offended, then I apologize". IF IM OFFENDED! I told him he is terrible for the ranch because his constant disrespect for women which he did repeatedly did was the worst part of my experience, and you would think in today's climate, you would have more self control. I guess not in There! Old nasty men can still do what they want. I then look back to Cheryl to hear what she has to say and she just SITTING THERE SHAKING HER HEAD TEXTING, AND SAYING NOTHING! I just got up and left. Feeling alone and unsafe, I didn't want to go the only room to use wifi because thats near where Larry was. Its a scary feeling walking back to your room in the dark with a flashlight and no phone service! Not wanting to go to sleep because I was on "Larry's" property and had accused him. I got out of there at 6am. Cheryl got up that morning and she apologized again for Larry's behavior and hoped it wouldn't keep me from coming back. Come back HA! The problem is, when is "Larry's behavior" NOT OK! When do you stop apologizing for him. His disrespectful behavior seems to be tolerated and ignored or laughed at. Well Larry Cortez. I am here to tell you, it NOT OK! You don't get to physically hurt me! You are the worst part of Rancho Cortez! read more

AMAZING!!!! Visiting a ranch was on our bucketlist for quiet sometime, bt we were very skeptical as didn know what to expect as it was our first time. I did a little research on yelp n finally decided to go with ranch Cortezo..... And in one word if I had to describe my experience here... it was SPLENDID!!!! We spent one day n one night at d ranch n have carried back with us a memory to treasure for a lifetime.... our host n the owner of the ranch Mr.Lary was very warm friendly n witty. We were served with delicious breakfast n dinner( we missed our lunch). We experienced feeding d long horn cattle... . Bt the highlight of our entire TEXAS trip was the horse riding.... it was our first time n a big shoutout n thanks to Dawn n Tony... the entire trail was beautiful n something we had never seen... Overall I loved my stay here n definitely going back.... read more

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A large group of family and friends went to Rancho Cortez for the Dude Ranch experience. We were not disappointed! Our children ranging from 4 to 8 all had horse riding lessons inside the arena before they (ages 6+) went on actual trail rides with the adults. This all inclusive experience was fun, relaxing and entertaining! Larry Cortez, the owner, even brought in a world champion trick roper, a fantastic storyteller/ musician and a grand champion longhorn for riding and picture taking. All the staff was friendly and seemed to really love their job. Larry is a hoot and is involved in all aspects of the ranch. We were even invited to take part in the fitness classes offered for the fitness campers. We are definitely going back! My kids said this was the best vacation EVER! read more

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Spent 5 days on the ranch and had a great time. When I checked in, I was greeted with such a warm welcome by Cheryl in the office. She had heard I was there for my bday and left the sweetest card in my room. Woke up each morning and loved hearing the sound of the bell for breakfast. (The food was the only let down because there's a fitness camp there too and ALL the guest eat the fitness food) this is the one area that could put this place at 5 stars. When you're on a ranch, you want rib sticken' food. My daughter and I enjoyed a trail ride every morning after breakfast, led by the "wranglers" Butch, Neil and Bill. (Depending on the day) They were all so much fun! You can tell how much they LOVE what they do! We also got to help with the care of the horses when we got back from our rides and that was amazing. The bell would ring for lunch and dinner and then each night we'd sit by the camp fire with the other guests and shared tons of laughs. Larry, the owner, a little off the wall, but pure entertainment. His grand daughter,Tayler, is the sweetest ray of Sunshine. She always checked in on us and gave us suggestions on what might be fun. We fell in love with her and her energy. She seems like The ranch's version of Julie from the love boat. This ranch is a great escape for the City Folk like me, but just remember it's a ranch. You're boots are gonna get dirty and PC isn't a part of the cowboy world, but these are the things I loved the most. I can't wait to go back and visit my ranch Family! read more

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A very authentic ranch. You can spend the day here with horse riding, wrangling, bonfire marshmellows and all other amenities. You may also consider spending the night, they offer lodging.The scenery on the trail ride is a must see! read more

Rancho Cortez - Horseback Riding Near Me - Bandera, Texas

Very fun, beautiful place. Met with Larry, Bob, and Trevor. All of these men are excellent and very fun to be around. The horseback riding trip has amazing views of the country hills. Also feeding the Longhorns was a new experience. read more

We had a great time here. The girls went for a 1 hour trail ride while he guys sat at the picnic table talking with the owner Larry great conversation and the girls said the trail ride was perfect for the mixed skill levels. If your new to riding the horses are great. I strongly recommend it as a fun family outing. Make sure you see tator the pig do his tricks too! read more

TREMENDOUS would be the best way to describe my Fitness Program experience at Rancho Cortez located near 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 food 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. read more

Rancho Cortez is awweeeessssooommmmeeeeee! Look no further. This is the place to be, if you want to be at a genuine dude ranch. Went here (arrived Friday at noon till Sunday noon) for the weekend. It is the epitome of a dude ranch but clean, classy, and fun fun fun! Larry is the owner-he is hands on and has some great ranch hands (hey Tyler and Julio!). The horses are very well fed and taken care of. The rooms are clean and very comfortable. There is an indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi, game room, and a fire pit with smores every night! The food is not haute cuisine but very delicious. Since this is also a fitness dude ranch they have healthy options as well. Yummy in my tummy. We were exhausted because we had so much fun. The overnight price includes your room, food, and as many rides as you want to go on. We had a hay ride, riding lesson, and several trail rides each day. No ranch provides this without charging extra. So to the person who clearly should have been staying at the ritz carlton somewhere....and complained of the animal smell and cowboy chow-honey you were in the wrong place to have a good time for you. Also, gratuity and tipping is something that should be done anywhere. We tipped our guides both days, which wasn't necessary, but did yield us extra terrific service, attention, and fresh donuts in the morning! Thanks Larry and crew! read more