Best Estancia Stay in Mendoza: San Ignacio Estancia Andina

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Before we arrived in Mendoza, we knew one of the things we really wanted to do (in addition to drinking copious amounts of malbec and touring the vineyards) was to go horseback riding. 

We had a taste in El Calafate further south in Patagonia, with a brief sunset ride at Estancia Alice, and we wanted to experience more of the Argentine gaucho culture. 

With Mendoza sitting right at the foothills of the Andes mountain range, we thought, why not extend the experience? Instead of just one horse ride, why not escape to the mountains and fully immerse ourselves in the ranch life for a few days? 

After some research, I discovered San Ignacio Estancia Andina, and I am so glad I did!

What followed was three days of horses, asados, Andes views, and a genuine connection with a beautiful Mendocino family whose hospitality gave us one of the best experiences we had in Argentina. 

This post is a recount of our experience at San Ignacio, to help you decide if you should add an estancia stay to your Mendoza plans (spoiler: you should!).

About San Ignacio Estancia Andina

San Ignacio Estancia Andina is a typical Argentine estancia (ranch) located at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, less than an hour outside Mendoza city. 

Although it’s close, it feels worlds away. Spanning over 100 hectares of arid desert landscape, it’s the perfect escape from city life into the peace and serenity of nature. 

The land has a long and varied history, acting as a uranium mine and a children’s summer camp, among other things, before a local Mendocino family purchased the land and created the San Ignacio you see today.

A warm and cosy ranch inviting visitors to experience a taste of the gaucho culture and life on the estancia, which is so typical of Argentina. 

We met only part of the family, but Pedro, Flaca and Pedro were the most kind and gracious hosts, and we loved every minute we spent getting to know them.

San Ignacio Estancia Andina can host a maximum of just 10 guests across the main ranch house and a second outbuilding. All the rooms have en-suite bathrooms. 

The estancia operates with sustainability at its forefront, minimising impact on the land through the use of solar power, water recycling and composting. The entire house was lovingly restored and refurbished using only upcycled items and materials, giving a rustic touch. 

Every stay at San Ignacio is all-inclusive, with three meals a day included as well as activities like horse riding, trekking and cooking classes. 

This is not a hotel, it’s an immersive cultural experience that is the perfect complement to any Mendoza itinerary.

Our experience at San Ignacio Estancia Andina

After a few too many wine tastings in Luján de Cuyo, we were ready to escape to the mountains for some time in nature, and we finished off our stint in Mendoza at San Ignacio. 

After horse riding in El Calafate we were excited to give it another go, this time in an entirely different environment.

We visited in mid-May, which is typically the low season for travel in Mendoza, although the weather was actually perfect. We were the only two people staying at the ranch at the time, which felt so privileged! 

We booked two nights, but we were picked up at 11:00 am on day 1 and didn’t leave until 11:00 am on day 3, so we felt that we got almost two full days on the ranch, which was perfect. 

To give a bit of context to the rest of this post, this was our itinerary: 

• 🐴 Day 1
  • Transfer from accommodation to the estancia
  • Lunch
  • Horse ride
  • Dinner

• 🐴 Day 2 
  • Breakfast
  • Hike
  • Lunch
  • Horse ride
  • Dinner

• 🐴 Day 3
  • Breakfast 
  • Transfer from the estancia to the bus terminal in Mendoza

Getting to the estancia

San Ignacio can provide transfers to and from Mendoza for a small fee if you haven’t rented a car. 

Even if you have, you might not want to take it all the way as the last part of the journey is on an unpaved, bumpy road. 

Pedro picked us up from our accommodation in Chacras de Corio (the best place to stay in Mendoza!) in his 4×4 Toyota Hilux, which was a smooth and comfortable ride on the rough roads. 

Accommodation

Despite arriving at San Ignacio quite early, our room was ready for us. We stayed in a double room inside the main ranch house. 

It was a spacious room with a big bed and a private bathroom. We slept so well here as it was entirely quiet at night. I’m a light sleeper and struggle a lot to sleep when we travel with so much noise around, but there wasn’t a sound out here in the mountains. It was bliss. 

We didn’t spend much time in our room, to be honest, as the rest of the house was so comfy and cosy! 

There was a big open living and dining area with a cosy lounge and fireplace, a big dining table where we had lunches and dinners, and a smaller breakfast table. 

It was decorated with lots of old interesting trinkets and upcycled pieces, with a lot of Mexican influence as Flaca’s mum was born in Mexico. 

I loved the design and styling, it was such a nice rustic, desert vibe. Seeing the sunlight move through the room throughout the day and illuminate different parts of the space was beautiful. 

The kitchen was tucked away behind a rustic barn door, and to my delight, we didn’t enter once – we let the master cocineros do their thing! 

Outside was just as beautiful as inside, with lots of different zones to sit and eat, relax and soak up the sunshine. We spent a lot of time on the deck, but there was also a covered quincho with more seating and hammocks strung up amongst the trees. 

Dining

Three meals a day are included with any stay at San Ignacio Estancia Andina, and this was some of the BEST food we ate in all of Argentina.

Seriously, we had a Michelin lunch at a winery in Mendoza the day before, and I can hand-on-heart say some of the food we had at the ranch was even better!

If the scenery, horses and hospitality aren’t reason enough to stay at San Ignacio, the food absolutely is. I knew we’d eat well, but this was an unexpected highlight. Not only do you get three meals a day, but those three meals are three courses!

Us two foodies were in absolute heaven, and I think Brayden almost cried during one of our lunches when he tasted the steak fresh off the asado, he was so happy.

Pedro and Pedro know how to work some magic in the kitchen and on the asado. These two are absolute master chefs!

While I can’t guarantee exactly what you’ll eat when you visit, I have to share the full menu of meals we had over our three days because they were just that good. Sorry in advance for making you drool.

We also always had drinking water and a thermos of hot water and/or coffee on hand around the dining room.

LUNCHES 

We began our time at the ranch with lunch, and boy was it a good start. Pedro set the fire for the asado, and we watched from our sunny seat on the deck as the logs turned to perfect coals. 

A basket of perfectly baked carne empanadas was delivered to us outside, with a glass of malbec, of course. Brayden watched intently as Pedro prepared and salted huge pieces of meat to go onto the grill. 

We moved inside to the bigger dining table for our main course, with room to fit all the food!

Chorizo, blood sausage, the most perfectly tender and excellently cooked steak you’ve ever tasted, two types of salads and a variety of roast vegetables later – we were absolutely stuffed. 

But alas, the meal was not over! I’ve always got room for sweets, and the poached pear in malbec with cream on top was a perfect finish, alongside a cafecito. 

We actually had to have a nap after this meal. The first nap we’ve had for months and months, it was the best kind of food coma! 

Lunch on day two was just as good, and we had earned it this time around, coming back from a big hike in the mountains. 

It started with a delicious baked pastry full of provoleta with honey and a glass of malbec on the deck in the sun. The main course was a mix of chicken and vegetables in a creamy, beer sauce (yes, it worked!), followed by another excellent dessert.

Baked peaches topped with ice cream, a drizzle of local olive oil and fresh tomillo (thyme) growing wild on the property. It sounds like a strange combo, but it was excellent! If that wasn’t enough, we had a skewer of cheese and quince and a coffee too *chef’s kiss*. 

DINNERS

Dinner on our first night was another Argentine specialty – pasta. Specifically, beef ravioli in a tomato sauce cooked al disco, aka in a deep open pan over fire. This went perfectly with a glass of malbec, and was complemented by a picada (an Argentine cheese platter) by the fire for an entree. 

Dessert was literally one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted. Flan, but unlike any flan I’ve ever had anywhere in Latin America, drenched in a creamy dulce de leche with a touch of liqueur. I’m drooling just thinking about it. I have such a sweet tooth, and this was mind-blowing. 

Dinner on our final night again started with a little picada with a glass of wine by the fire, which was so cosy. 

We got to try another traditional Argentine dish we hadn’t had before, humita. Served in a cast iron pan straight from the oven, humita is a casserole-style dish made from sweet corn. It has a slightly sweet flavour, and Pedro brought cinnamon and a bit of sugar to the table to sprinkle on top. 

Pedro brought his A-game again for dessert, pancakes with that delicious dulce de leche. One happy Sally! 

BREAKFASTS

We rarely stay in hotels when we travel, instead opting for Airbnbs with our own kitchen, but the one thing I always miss is a hotel-style breakfast. I love having a little taste of everything with a mix of sweet and savoury options. 

This was exactly what our two breakfasts were like at San Ignacio. A table full of bits, with medialunas, jams, fruit, toast, scrambled eggs, yoghurt, cereal, coffee, tea, juice. 

It was the perfect start to the day, with a slow meal enjoyed and savoured, not rushed like usual.

Activities

I could end the blog after the food section, and I’m sure you’d be convinced to stay at San Ignacio. But the best part was the activities we got to do around the estancia and living the ranch life for a few days. 

Depending on the package you’ve organised with the team, you’ll most likely do 1 – 2 activities per day, like horse riding or trekking. Plus, you can visit the animals and wander around the ranch anytime you like. 

ANIMALS

Another unexpected highlight of the estancia was the adorable animals they had. I knew there would be horses (seven, plus dozens of others free-roaming around the property), but there were also three dogs, one cat, three llamas, chickens and a goat. 

The three dogs were so sweet, and we spent so much of our time playing and cuddling them. It made us miss our Stanley boy, but it was so nice to get to enjoy some doggo company, more than just a fleeting pat on the street. It really added to our experience, and the dogs accompanied us on all our horse rides and hikes. 

We wandered down to the paddock multiple times per day to pat the horses and llamas, and I loved hearing the rooster crow as we watched the sunrise each morning. 

HORSEBACK RIDING

Horseback riding in Mendoza was a must-do for us, and we were able to do one better with two rides around the estancia in the foothills of the Andes. 

On both our rides, Brayden rode Cueca and I rode Almendra. The horses were so well trained, and even as inexperienced riders, we barely had to do a thing. They followed along without much encouragement and were always steady and calm. 

One thing I loved about San Ignacio was that they had traditional ponchos for you to wear while riding. They also fitted us with suede chaps, and it made the experience instantly cooler. We both felt like proper gauchos! 

After lunch (and a siesta) on day one, we went for our first ride. The weather was unfortunately quite cloudy and overcast, otherwise I think we would have seen the sunset, but it was so special to get into the mountains. 

We followed Pedro and the three dogs on an easy trail through the property with not another soul in sight and just the sounds of the birds and the horse’s hooves. 

I was blown away by the arid landscape. After spending two months in Patagonia with forest and ice and snow, it was a welcome change. I love desert scenery and felt so at peace trotting through the foothills of the mighty Andes. 

With better weather and one ride under our belt, we were able to go for a longer ride on day two, climbing higher into the mountains. It was a little more technical than day one, but the horses did all the work, ascending and descending the rocky trails with ease. 

Flaca took us for our ride on day two, and she packed a mate and a picnic to enjoy atop one of the hills. 

The sky was clear and we watched the sun dip behind the mighty Andes while sharing a mate and swapping stories about life in Argentina and Australia. The horses grazed freely, and the mountains stretched out forever in front of us. 

This moment was one I will treasure forever. I walked a little further uphill with my camera in hand to capture the scene and felt one of those pangs, where you know you’re in the middle of experiencing something special. 

HIKING 

Another activity the team at the ranch offers is hiking through the mountains around the property. 

On the morning of our second day, Pedro took us for a 2-hour hike through the mountains. Again, the arid landscape was such a stark change of scenery from hiking through dripping forest and past glaciers in Patagonia, but we loved every minute of it. 

Feeling the warm sun on our skin for the first time in a long time didn’t hurt either!  

We spent the time practising our Spanish with Pedro and chatting back and forth about life in Argentina and Australia. After spending almost a month road tripping in the Carretera Austral, where we barely talked to a soul, it was really nice to connect, learn and exchange. 

The three rascals accompanied us again, which made the hike even better. 

RELAXING

When you’re not horseback riding, hitting the trails or patting the animals, there are plenty of places to rest and relax around the estancia. 

We spent our downtime reading, playing cards, lazing in hammocks, napping, and simply enjoying the views of the mighty Andes. 

It was so nice to unplug for a while and not cram our days with constant activities or work, which we are prone to doing when we travel. 

Booking your stay at San Ignacio Estancia Andina

• 🏩 Where to book: you can get in touch with San Ignacio Estancia Andina via their website, and the team will reach out via email to prepare a custom quote. Alternatively, you can book via Booking.com. 

• 🗓️ How long: I would highly recommend staying 2 – 3 nights. One night is not long enough to relax and really soak up the atmosphere. 

• 💰 How much: all-inclusive packages with food, accommodation and activities at San Ignacio start from $300 USD per night for a couple. This is INSANE value once you realise how much is included. 

• 🚗 Getting there: it’s really easy to work a stay at the estancia into your Mendoza itinerary as San Ignacio offers affordable transfers to and from the ranch to wherever you’re staying in the Mendoza area. You don’t need to specifically rent a car to get here, in fact it’s better not to, given the roads. 

• 🎒 What to bring: you don’t need to pack anything in particular, just some comfortable closed-toe shoes for hiking and horse riding and some warm layers for the evening. Even though the days are warm and sunny in Mendoza year-round, it can get quite cold at night. If you’re planning on taking lots of photos, I’d also recommend bringing a lanyard for your phone. It makes it a lot easier to use while you’re riding! 

Planning a trip to Mendoza?

Planning a trip to Mendoza? Don’t forget to read our Mendoza travel guide (coming soon) too. It covers all the important info you need to know about Mendoza, like getting there, getting around, the best places to eat, which area to stay in and all about the different wine regions.  

🍷 Everything you need to know about Mendoza (coming soon)

Final thoughts: San Ignacio Estancia Andina

I highly recommend adding a stay at an estancia to your Mendoza plans. 

Horseback riding in Mendoza is a popular activity, but I promise you won’t regret extending the experience to live the peaceful, gaucho life for a few days. 

While there are a few different estancias to choose from, I can’t see how any of them would be better than San Ignacio Estancia Andina. Everything about our stay was perfect, and the value for money is incredible. 

This was honestly one of our best travel experiences during our two months in Argentina, and a memory we will always treasure.

MORE MENDOZA POSTS

• Mendoza, Argentina Travel Guide: Argentina’s Wine Country (coming soon)
• The Best Wineries in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza (coming soon)
• Complete Guide to Chacras de Corio, Mendoza (coming soon)