Best place to vaca or to get away and even fitness I enjoy hiking all through the ranch and next door at hills of Bandera state park. Lots to see and different trails all over the hills. Right now in spring all the wild flowers are out and meeting different people from all over the world coming to visit Rancho cortez to ride horses out in the country site, one of the most beautiful places on earth to ride. read more

Where do I even start?! Rancho Cortez was amazing!! We spent the full day and due to the road trip style of our trip, we didn't stay for any nights and I wish we would've. The food comes fresh out of the big garden on the property, and Denise works her magic in the kitchen. Her desserts are delicious and her meals are all healthy yet taste great. We went on two trail rides and the horses are all healthy, safe, and cared for. Larry, the owner is awesome to talk to and learn from. There's a pool that was a delightful break from the heat and the two wranglers, Charlotte and Dakota, were really nice and helpful. We had fun feeding the longhorns and learning to rope. The office manager, Cheryl, is the most pleasant and helpful person ever. Love Rancho Cortez and will definitely be visiting again. 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

I had two great experiences at Rancho Cortez. First I went there as a fitness guest as part of the Hill Country Health and Fitness Center at the ranch. I didn't know what to expect -- fitness at a dude ranch? But it was great. The group I was with rode horses, did "horse yoga," hiked in the nearby state park, and joined in a lot of fitness classes in the pool and air-conditioned gym. That plus the fitness cuisine resulted in lost pounds and inches. By then I thought the dude ranch setting was good for the mind and spirit as well -- very peaceful and a break from the city. So I brought my family back for a typical dude ranch vacation with lots of horseback riding in the arena, trail rides, swimming, campfires, etc. The kids had a blast. Larry, the owner, went out of his way to make the vacation great for the girls, including bringing out the Belgian horses for bareback riding for a special treat. I cannot wait to go back. read more

My travel partner and I had an awesome time at Rancho Cortez! We had booked a week in San Antonio, so we did not stay at the ranch; we booked a 1/2 day ranch visit. We decided to stop in Bandera on the way. Cute, but doesn't need more than an hour to see. Go to the cafe with the horse saddles as chairs. Super cool. Go to the music halls. Also super cool. Back to Rancho Cortez... we showed up a little early but Larry was completely accommodating. He checked us in, gave us a map, and let us wander his property. We explored the entire grounds, walked up the hiking trail to the ropes course, and learned how to throw a lasso, and that was all in the first hour! After that, we went on our horseback trail ride, which was awesome. I don't think Larry normally goes on all the trail rides, but he went with ours and gave us a lot of history of his ranch and of the land. After getting back we were able to 'trick' ride in his horse corral. We were taught how to maneuver our horses in an 'S' pattern through barrels, turn on a dime, let them trot, gallop, and run. This was the highlight of my day (well, until the s'mores!). Larry was an excellent teacher! Maybe because the Rodeo was in town? At any rate, he was an excellent instructor, and I learned a lot. My travel partner was able to walk into the horse stable to feed the horses as well. Later we got to ride out to feed the longhorn bulls and we all got to get close enough for great pictures. Afterwards most everyone went back to their cabins, but since my travel partner and I were only there for the day we decided to play horse shoes. No sooner after the first sound of a horse shoe hitting dust did Larry come out to teach us how to play. He had a run for his money for the first few rounds (not from me!), but beat my travel partner 11-7. After learning how to play, we went a few rounds, and also threw a few lassos, then it was dinner time. Dinner (and probably all other meals) are what the cook cooks. So, no menu, no decisions. You get what they make, and it is GOOD! The cook is a great chef and the food is really good. There is a boot camp that runs concurrently with the ranch experience, but that does not change the meals that are served. We had pork chops, red potatoes, green beans, salad, and rolls. The food was really, really good! Apparently the menu changes every day except for Sunday when they do a Thanksgiving-style dinner with a turkey and all the fixings. The night was capped off with s'mores over a roaring campfire. But the best part of the evening was Larry's campfire story, which he apparently writes on his own, but he has plenty. For everyone who goes to Rancho Cortez, listen to Larry's campfire story. I (as a 44-year old California girl) was enthralled with his story, his imagery, and his message. Since this is Larry's property, it was so nice to feel that he was opening his 'home' to complete strangers to roam around, ride, feed, play, eat, relax, etc. Thank you! Next time I am in San Antonio, I will most definitely return to Rancho Cortez! read more

My wife, 9 year old daughter and I spent the day at the ranch. We participated in the horse back riding, wagon ride, and feeding the long horn cattle. Additionally our package included lunch dinner and fireside s'mores. Excellent staff with great attitudes. I was impressed with there willingness to help with any extra requests. For example they allowed my daughter to help tend to and feed the horses. While answering all of our horse related questions. Lunch consisted of cold sandwiches which hit the spot. While dinner was a fantastic example of a Texan / Ranch style meal. Smoked meats with all the fix'ins. Bring your swimsuits to enjoy the pools and hot tub between ranch read more

We were looking for a relaxing "non-resort" horse ranch, but something more down to earth and a true Western experience, We found one in Rancho Cortez. We stayed for two nights, enjoying horseback rides, meals, bon fires, and hospitality. We had great rides, Dakota, helped us with our riding skills but even more, he taught us about "horse sense". Learning about the horses made us better riders. Lisa and Jay also shared their wisdom regarding horses. . Cheryl is hospitable and desired to make sure our stay was all we hoped for. Watching Tator Tot do his tricks was fun, who knew that pot belly pigs could be trained? The owner, Larry, takes time to interact with his guests and is usually on site. The cabin was clean and comfortable. The food was good home cooking. By the end of the visit we felt like family. Would definitely consider going back. read more

Our daughter had an amazing week at cowgirl camp. Friendly staff and counselors. Highly recommend!!!

Just got back from our stay with the gang down there in Texas. It is everything I was told it would be. The staff was very helpful and made our stay there most enjoyable. Half hour after arriving, I felt satisfied about my decision to book here. Larry Cortez, the owner met us personally and welcomed us right into his ranch. Julio and Slim, the wranglers, got us up and on horses within the first hour of signing in. We went on a great trail ride and learned lots about the local area and things to do while there. We learned how to rope a steer and got lots of one on one horse time with Larry in the separate arena. Hay rides and getting to feed the horses, (30 of them) was a blast. We used the indoor heated pool to relax as well as the gym. We were able to use the hiking trail and the obstacle course too. There was so much to do I forget to get in the jacuzzi. The lodging is excellent with enough room for about 8 per cabin. Showers are hot and the beds are soft and comfortable.The meals are served in the dining hall and we never walked away hungry. It is delicious home-made cooking. They have activities for all ages ranging from baby goats and swing sets to trails for mom and dad. Myself and my 2 grown adult children, always felt welcomed to join in anything that was offered and we did. At night they have a beautiful campfire to sit and relax by. We played guitar and sang simple songs so all could enjoy. The ranch does a huge business with overseas guests too. We met great people from Germany and the UK and London. The only bad thing about this ranch is I did not stay long enough. Chicago can wreak havoc on your mental being and a place like this can do wonders to relieve stress and make you forget all the unimportant trivial junk. Lots of Texans drive across state to stay there for relaxation time. This is about my 25th trip to Texas and it was fantastic. I would very much recommend to anyone who is interested in a great ranch experience, call Larry Cortez and book your self a trip. read more

Anyone looking for an awesome dude ranch experience - I couldn't recommend Rancho Cortez more highly! They were professional yet rustic, the perfect blend of structured and easy-going. The whole staff goes above and beyond. They were even super nice about accommodating my vegetarian needs. I loved all the details (for example, even the toilet paper holder was horseshoe-themed.) Plus, what can beat scenic trail rides twice a day. I'm already looking for the next excuse to go back! read more

Awesome! 6 of my friends from Georgia flew out an met at the Rancho Cortez. We are all experienced rodeo drill team riders. We arrived at the ranch on Friday and we were immediately greeted by the owner, Larry. Rancho Cortez fed us a yummy chicken enchilada lunch. Then we unloaded all of our things into our cabin, which was plenty big for 7 gals! Friday afternoon we took a slow and easy trail ride around the ranch. The horses were all well behaved. After the trail ride we were able to play around in the arena for a while. Friday evening we had a great dinner, and then some of us hung out in the hot tub and others sat around the campfire with Larry and the other guests. Breakfast was delicious and then Saturday morning Larry matched us up with our horses. He did a great job picking horses that matched our riding ability and our personality. Then we got our things ready for an overnight ride, ate some lunch, and headed for the hills. The overnight ride was awesome. We rode along some of the most beautiful views. The horses were sure footed and great on the trail. We had steak dinner over the campfire Saturday night, and a rip snorting good time too. Larry cooked us breakfast Sunday morning and we hit the trail again for some more nice scenery. Then we played with some very intimidating long horn cattle! Larry and his staff were very accommodating. We basically had a trip that was customized to our group of cowgirls and Larry made sure we were well taken care of! I will be back for another ride, and I would recommend the RC as a place to visit! I've read some of the other reviews, if you are high maintenance and looking for a 5 star hotel experience, then you read the brochure wrong. If you are looking for a down home, Texas hill country authentic horseback riding experience, then this is the place for you! read more

We three families went to this ranch to stay for a couple days just before Christmas. Frankly speaking, I didn't expect anything special when we booked the trip. But in the end, we love everything here: horseback riding, rope trick, feeding/cleaning work in the morning (by kids), bonfire in the evening, hiking around and game room play. The room is big and clean. There are plenty of well cooked food, the chef is very good. I also like to hear the bell ringing when the meal is ready. So Western, So Cowboyish! Mr. Cortez is a wonderful owner, loves kids, loves cowboy tradition. The price for the stay is extremely low consider it includes everything: lodging, meals, horse-riding, entertainment, performing, etc. I would definitely go back when I have time. This ranch is going to be my #1 (my kid's too) vacation choice. The only thing need to be careful is that you should go "Ranch Rd 1077" instead of "Ranch Rd 470" (most GPS will point you to go 470) read more

I took my girlfriend to the ranch for her to enjoy the horseback riding and do something she has not done since she was young. While at the ranch, we enjoyed a great trail ride, some dinner and a great bond fire where we made plenty of new friends. The owner and staff were amazing and they went out of there way to help us enjoy every moment of the trip. If you are looking for a great day or week to just unwind and relax with friendly people, I highly recommend Rancho Cortez to anyone who is looking to relax with family and friends or who wants to meet some new friends. Excellent trip. Thank you so much to the owner and staff. read more

! spent 14 days there over Xmas break on the fitness program, including one week in the Warrior Boot Camp. Everything perfectly fit my or went beyond my expectations. In a word, this place is eccentric. It is authentically down home and not an artificial experience. The exercise and fitness program is serious -- about 5 hrs a day of workouts, hikes, water aerobics etc if you do everything scheduled. It's no frills, no machines, just awesome and expert and personable trainers. Kudos to Michael, Gilbert and all the others. I'm a 63 year old man, short and fat but not terribly out of shape. I was pushed only as hard as I wanted to go ("You get out what you put in,") Gilbert would repeat. So at no time was I suffering or feeling abused. I just got stronger and stronger and thinner and thinner. I lost about 10 lbs in the 14 days and have lost another 10 in the month since I came back (doing about 45 mins of day of walking and some weekend hiking). The food was real country and I never felt deprived or even hungry and I am a big eater. The meals were all high protein and just enough carbs to keep your motors running. Larry, the owner, is a good ole boy from Central Casting and has a great story for any topic you pick. His wife Mary is a mondo hiker and was more than willing to take those of us who wanted more hikes out into the hills. Mark, the head wrangler is a great dude, and I was able to squeeze in two trail rides while I was there. I had a single private room, which I would recommend. The bunkhouse I accomodations are strictly for the young and hearty. The room and the bed were very comfortable and clean and it was great to have the heater right over the bed. There isnt really any cell phone service on the ranch and the one wifi connection in the common lounge was pretty slow. But that was cool, too. It was great to disconnect so cleanly and to get on the grid all you had to do is walk out the gate and go up the road a few hundred feet to get a strong signal. Bring your books or iPad movies as there are no TV's in the rooms and there is nothing around the ranch except other ranches. I picked up a rental car in San Antonio and kept it so I could drive into the hamlet of Bandera 15 minutes away to pick up healthy snacks at the supermarket and other stuff. The nearby towns Berne and Kernville are worth visiting and there's no law against skipping dinner on the ranch now and then and getting a salad or sushi in one of these places. Rancho Cortez was just plain butt-kicking awesome and I am definitely going back for a few days in March as it already feels like a home away from home. Let me also add that I am a spoiled big city writer and professor and not immune to luxury. But I can get that anywhere. Do NOT go to Cortez if you expect to be pampered, immersed in New Age mumbo jumbo or like to eat flowers instead of food. Otherwise, get your butt in gear and book a room. read more

I had the best time. My friend came to visit and she had the best time. This place was very friendly. The horses were amazing and I had so much fun. Thank you guys for the best time. They are also military friendly and offer the greatest discounts. read more

This ranch is perfect.. I would give it ten stars if I could. We spent a half day there, wish we stayed for a couple days. The staff was very nice and helpful. "Cowboy kid" was absolutely fantastic. "Cowgirl Maureen" was just as great. Both of them REALLY love what they do and make the experience so much fun. There is so much to do on the ranch and they will even let you saddle and un-saddle the horses. My son and I had a blast brushing and feeding the horses. We went on a hay ride and not just any hayride. We had two Belgium drafts (very large horses) pull the cart in a full sprint!!!!! It was like the old Wild West!!! So fun. Then we fed bulls, longhorn steers while they were roaming in a field. "Cowboy kid" grabbed a longhorn steer by the horns and let us hold the horns to take pictures!!! That was the best, to be next to a two thousand pound steer with six foot horns!! Then at six they feed you a cowboy dinner, which was fun. Don't expect a five star restaurant because it's a ranch, not a foo foo restaurant. Because of travel plans we couldn't stay for the bonfire and s'mores but that would have been fun too! read more

Tons of Texas fun for 2 jersey girls! Gave us a real ranch adventurs in a beautiful setting with super helpful tour guides. Larry the owner was too funny and might I add some of the cowboys on ranch were pretty darn cute! Over all a total blast!! read more

This was a great way to end our vacation! We did the hour ride, Eileen was our guide. Great horses. Eileen was interactive with us, very nice. Wish we had more time to visit. Rest of staff great too! read more

My family and I did the 1/2 day adventure on New Year's Day. Everyone had a blast. Larry Cortez and his staff were friendly, entertaining, and competent at their jobs. They wanted to make sure everyone had fun but were also making sure everyone was safe. The horses were the best kept horses I have ever seen. They were clean, healthy, well shoed. The trail ride was beautiful. There were enough activities to keep busy. The food was decent. Larry could be an actor his campfire story was so engaging and so historically accurate. My brother-in -law and his family want to go for a long stay soon. I highly recommend this place for a family outing. read more

Wow!! What a wonderful place!! I went for a month to lose weight ! I am 60 years old and was really out of shape. Everyone from the owners, Larry and Mary , to the staff and experts were friendly and well qualified. Liz was great for hikes and water aerobics. Cheryl was friendly and always helpful. Dwayne was a great trainer!! Tawni was an expert at lower body work. Brandi was an expert at kick boxing. Stephani was great at stretching us evernight. We had 2 great yoga teachers!! A great palates instructor and a hypnotherapist! We also had letty a great nutitionist and cook, Mike was a great chef!! The cowboys were the sons of Larry and were so knowledgable and helpful. I went on great horseback rides with them!! The cowboys and I became great friends!! NOW the best news!! I lost 35 pounds of fat and added 10 pounds of muscle!! My sitting heart rate went from 74 bpm to 61!! My mile timed walk went from 20 minutes to 16 minutes I also lost 5 1/2 inches in my waist. So if you are willing to work hard and listen to the experts here , this is THE PLACE to go!!! read more

My girlfriend and I stayed 4 days at Rancho Cortez this summer and it was amazing! We loved everything at the ranch. The cowboys Butch and James were very friendly and made our stay unforgettable. Since the beginning we really felt like home. Everyone was very kind and welcoming. The homemade food was delicious and the accommodation was very convenient. The horseback riding with the cowboys were very safe and they took very good care of the horses. We also went to see the longhorns and the bull which was such a good time. The campfire at the end of each day with marshmallows and some beer was like living the real cowboys life. Finally, Larry, the charismatic owner of the ranch, is a great story teller and knows everything about Texas history. We had so much fun there and we also met so many cool and interesting people. We traveled around the country and Rancho Cortez was definitely the highlight of the trip. We are just looking forward to go back to Rancho Cortez. Thank you guys and see you guys soon! Delphine and Emmanuel read more

Just got back from spending the end of Spring Break on the Ranch (our first time there). We (46 male, 39 female, 15 female) all loved it. To sum up the stay/experience: 1) the horse rides go out about every hour, but sometimes lag for unknown reasons (weather?). The rides are fantastic (at least, for first-time riders like us). The horses move at an easy pace and the trails are beautiful. I went out 3 times and each time we rode along a different trail (all Cortez land, not the state park). 2) Larry (Cortez) is a joy. He's got a great demeanor, friendly with the kids, always in charge, and has great stories and jokes/jabs to share. He is constantly at work, too, making sure there is always an activity for everyone if they want to join in. 3) The rooms are clean and quaint with basic necessities (this is a ranch, not a Hyatt). Although they are listed as cabins, there is no fridge in the rooms. 4) The nightly campfire is toasty and bright and there are plenty of songs, stories, and smores to go around. 5) The covered hot tub is nice and hot. 6) The walking trail around the back of the camp is short but beautiful, with some obstacle course structures about half-way. 7) The included meals are your basic comfort food, nothing fancy. You get what they serve; it's not like a buffet. They offer tea and coffee throughout the day, and orange juice in the morning. You can buy a can of soda for $1 from the office fridge. 8) There is a small amount of livestock (plenty of horses, a couple of dogs, a few goats, and we saw one longhorn in a field, from a fair distance. No milk cows, or chickens around for the kids to play with. 9) There is a game room (in a converted barn), but you have to get things from the office to use most of the equipment (pool table, ping-pong). The TV didn't seem to pick up much of anything, and most of the rest of it (games, musical instruments) had been destroyed by former guests (there were a few destructive tykes running amok while we were there, too). 10) Bandera is only about 10-15 minutes away and has a few good places to eat (fantastic malts in the general store), and lots of places to shop. A beautiful state park is right next door to the ranch (for about $6 per person). 11) There is an indoor and outdoor pool. The office mentioned that the indoor pool was kept at about 78 degrees, but we tried it out and it was more like 62, at best. It was too cold for us. The outdoor pool is tiny, maybe room for 4 kids to play around in. We didn't use the fitness room, but there is one. 12) And finally, keep in mind that the office generates a billing slip with a "TIP" line on it, so be prepared for that extra cost and think about it before you show up to check out, otherwise you may feel like you're on the spot when they hand you the slip for your signature. (Oh, and forget about free wi-fi. We couldn't get a signal on any of our phones, cell or wi-fi.) read more