We are pleased to introduce you to Rancho Los Banos Ranch which is in an isolated location in northeast Sonora, Mexico, only 60 miles from the southeast Arizona town of Douglas and a mere 180 miles from Tucson, the nearest and most convenient airport destination  for both arrivals and departures.Rancho Los Baños is a 30,000 acre eco adventure guest ranch, nature preserve, conservation wilderness area and working cattle ranch located in Mexico at the foot of the Sierra Madre, a mere 60 miles south of the Arizona town of Douglas in safe, secure northeast Sonora, Mexico centered at the crossroads of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. To reach the ranch, you will be driven down from Tucson, across the border and through a guarded mine into the wonderful countryside beyond, it is an area of outstanding beauty. In addition to the riding programme, they offer adventure tours, which may be hiking, kayaking, fishing, trekking, canyoneering, wildlife spotting, taking  jeep ecotours or simply enjoying miles of breathtaking scenery and landscapes. Three meals a day are included along with snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic).

Breakfast is continental style, lunches and dinners consist of home-cooked, fresh, natural gourmet meals consisting of both Northern and Southern Mexican styles plus some International cuisine. Vegetarian meals are available upon request. Given the nature of the wilderness that surrounds the ranch, there is very little space for galloping. The general pace depends a lot on the abilities of each guest as well as the particular trail to be taken. There are many opportunities for both cantering and trotting during the course of a ride. There is a weight limit of 16 stone.

Accommodation is in a number of basic cabins, the El Cumaral Lodge has three rooms, one with a private bathroom/shower. The other two rooms will sleep up to 4 in each and have to share a bathroom. There is a roofed porch that offers outstanding views of the surrounding landscapes. This lodge is fully solar powered, with flatscreen TV, DVD player and satellite radio/cable.  Nearby is a newly refurbished cabin, Cabana de los Vaqueros, with its own bathroom and kitchen/dining area with wood burning stove, it sleeps four. Additionally, near to the corral is Cabana de los Peñascos. It has generator power and hot water in its full bathroom, along with a large kitchen. It offers two large rooms sleeping up to 8.

The ranch is open from August to the end of May and while you may start anyday, it would assist the owners if there were other people to collect in Tucson. The transfer is included in the rates. There are several hundred head of cattle on the ranch but no regular cattlework is available.  According to new regulations, from the 1st May 2010 it is not necessary to apply for a Mexican tourist, business or transit visa. Permanent residents in Canada, Japan, the UK & the USA wishing to travel to Mexico do not require a visa to enter the country as a tourists and business visitors for a 180-day stay and as a visitors in transit for a 30-day stay. American Round Up has not had the opportunity to visit Los Banos but we have spoken to two British visitors who enjoyed their stay at the ranch.