Do it !
What an experience this was. We (two of us) were picked up from our hotel in central Mendoza, then driven up into the mountains to the north of the city. The two of us saddled up with Diego (the main guy), were taught the ropes, before heading out onto the trail. Don't worry if you can't/can barely ride a horse - we couldn't either! The scenery and views were extraordinary, and Diego was a wonderful guide - both very knowledgeable and helpful. Despite our questionable expertise aboard these beautiful horses, we were trusted to gallop into the ranch to conclude the two hour ride. This wasn't it though, with a wonderful lunch cooked on the grill for us. Having sampled plenty of Argentinian beef on our travels, this was the best we had had, particularly when combined with the homemade chimichurri. Diego also got us in touch with a white-water rafting company, and organised us to go and do that in the afternoon, before making sure we got back to the hotel in time to be picked up.
Overall, this was an incredible experience, and cannot big this up enough. If you're in Mendoza, you just have to do it.
The best riding, scenery, asado, hosts in Mendoza!
I met Diego in 2010 when I visited Mendoza for the first time. A couple of friends and I went on the Cabalgata al Atardecer. It was amazing! I fell in love with the Andes and Mendoza. Diego was a great host. At that time my Spanish was not great and he was very good about accommodating us and explaining everything in English as needed. The views, the horses, the hospitality, the food were all amazing. After dinner we drank wine and talked and played guitar and enjoyed the evening before returning. It was such a great experience that I knew I wanted to return for a longer ride. Nine years later I returned to Mendoza in June 2019 with my girlfriend and I had to contact Diego and take her with me. We went on a 2 day, 1 night ride. It was amazing. Diego is a great guide, host, and person. He will make sure you are well taken care of an have everything you need for a fantastic experience. The other guides and associates working with Gaucho Estate are great as well. Everyone is so nice and welcoming. Diego will go out of his way to make the experience unique, beautiful, and fun. He even helped me set up lodging and other excursions, wine tours, etc. The horses, views, and experience are amazing, but Diego really won me over with his cooking. He prepared a picada with whine, cheese, meats for us the first day which we enjoyed while looking down over Mendoza and watching the animals and scenery around us. It was lovely, but nothing compared to his parrillada. I have never eaten asado like this anywhere in Argentina. It was absolutely incredible. He plans every last detail of the trip including the food, and he does it well. If you’re in Argentina, consider visiting Mendoza. If you are in Mendoza, I highly recommend booking an excursion with the Gaucho Estate. You will not be disappointed.