Rancho de la Osa

Introduction
Arizona USA
Rancho de la Osa is located in Sasabe, Arizona, about an hour and a half southwest of Tucson. We are situated on just under 600 acres of high desert grassland and surrounded by nearly 120,000 acres of the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge.

Rancho de la Osa is the most historic ranch in Arizona. A visit with us will allow you to ride trails frequented by U.S. Presidents and legendary figures like Pancho Villa; relax in the same rooms where notables like John Wayne and Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell once stayed; and enjoy a cool drink in the Cantina—the oldest continually occupied building in the state of Arizona. Our ranch offers an unparalleled experience with exceptional food and wine and unmatched hospitality from our staff.

In addition to horseback riding, we offer guided off-road tours, guided fat tire electric bike tours, sport shooting and archery. We also have a sparkling pool for your enjoyment and plenty of quiet, scenic locations for relaxing. Because we are surrounded by the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, Rancho de la Osa is a prime location for bird watching.
Nestled among huge eucalyptus trees, the lifestyle of the Old Southwest is captured in the 1800’s Hacienda. This elegant building welcomes each guest with a warm and inviting ambience. Furnished with Mexican antiques the Hacienda is a gentle reminder of the fascinating history of Rancho de la Osa.
The territorial-style guest rooms are serene and welcoming, furnished with antiques and vintage furniture. Each of our guest rooms is incredibly unique, both in layout and Southwestern design. All are named after the historical figures that have enhanced the ranch’s colorful history.

Be a part of the history and join us for a truly unique and extraordinary experience.
Single travelers: Love to travel, but enjoy having someone to talk with during meals? Rancho de la Osa is the perfect getaway to relax and rejuvenate while meeting people from around the world. The Ranch is very private and peaceful, which lends itself to rejuvenating your mind and spirit. It is a wonderful place to spend your holidays and never be lonely.

Serving as a Guest Ranch since the 1920’s, Rancho de la Osa became a secluded gathering place for many well-known figures. Past guests include: President Lyndon B. Johnson, Adlai Stevenson, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William 0. Douglas, Hollywood Cowboy, Tom Mix and Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind.

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so you will be staying in the same location during the trip.

Description
This is a small, private guest ranch of 19 rooms (all located on the ground level) and it is one of the oldest haciendas in Arizona. There are three guest wings made of hand formed adobe block.
All guest rooms are within a short walk from the Hacienda, Cantina, heated pool, and corrals. 
Complimentary amenities include: wireless internet, heated pool (open daily until 10:00pm- no lifeguard on duty), in-room coffee, library, horseshoe pit, and croquet.

Please, note that cell phone reception can be spotty at the ranch.

Room Options
Each room includes the following features: private facilities with hairdryer and toiletries, mountain views, fireplace and A/C. All guest rooms are non-smoking. Sorry, we cannot accommodate pets. Laundry facilities are possible for an additional fee.


Deluxe:  1 queen bed or 2-3 twin beds


Premium:  1 king bed


Suite:  two adjoining rooms, one with 1 queen or king and the second with 2 twins

Room Occupancy
Triple occupancy is possible.
Single supplement applies if we are unable to find another rider to share. Single occupancy is only possible in deluxe rooms.



Meals
All meals are included in this trip from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day.
We aim to provide fresh, hearty and healthy meals with a Southwestern influence to honor the ranch’s heritage. Many of our ingredients have traveled only a few yards from our garden to your plate. Our chefs are passionate about their craft and love to prepare meals with creative and tasty selections highlighting Southwestern cuisine. We are known for authentic dining so we’ve collected the best recipes from owners and chefs.

Guests meet in the Cantina for a social cocktail hour around 5:00pm every evening, shortly before dinner is served at 6:00pm.
Meals are eaten in our main dining room in the Hacienda on our large Spanish style dining table. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style, while dinner is plated. Seating is family style.

Wine, beer and spirits are available for purchase. Wine is available by the glass or bottle. We will also be happy to make you a drink anytime and beverages may be taken to your room. Per our liquor license, alcohol purchased from the ranch may be consumed anywhere on property. If you bring your own alcohol onto the ranch, it may be consumed in your guest room only.

Dietary Restrictions
We are able to cater to all dietary restrictions with prior notice.
 

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding level
Whether you are an experienced rider or you have never been on a horse, we have something for you! Our wranglers will match you with a horse appropriate to your experience level and lead you on scenic rides. For more experienced riders, loping and trotting can be incorporated into rides where the terrain allows. Lessons are also available.

Daily Schedule
There are 2 scheduled horseback rides per day. We generally run shorter morning rides (about an hour) and longer afternoon rides (2-4 hours), exploring the surrounding area with our experienced and informative wranglers.
Cattle work, guided off-road tours, fat tire electric bike tours, sport shooting, and archery are also offered throughout the week.
All of the above activities are included in the daily rate.

Weight Restrictions
There is no weight restriction for horseback riding.

Horseback riding for children
Horseback riding is available to children 5 years and older. Children 8 years and older may qualify for trotting and loping during rides.

Itinerary


Daily Schedule- subject to changes

8:30am- 9:30am            Breakfast
10:00am-12:30pm         Riding/ activities (ex. sport shooting, archery)
12:30pm- 1:30pm          Lunch
1:30pm- 5:15pm            Afternoon ride/ activities (ex. UTV off-road tour, fat tire bikes, cattle work)
5:15pm- 6:15pm            Happy hour & orientation in the cantina
6:15pm- 7:00pm            Dinner
7:00pm                           Movies/ cantina/ cowboy poetry

Many guests stay for 7 nights at the ranch, but we can offer stays as short as 2 nights. Throughout a single week, we’ll offer a variety of activities including horseback riding, guided off-road tours, fat tire electric bike tours, sport shooting, and archery.


IMPORTANT NOTE: Rides are not necessarily based on experience level, but rather on riding pace with options for slow and fast rides. Faster riding (trotting and some loping) is restricted to areas where the terrain allows. The terrain is quite varied (with some hills and outcroppings), so that does limit the amount of fast riding that can be done at this ranch. 



Activities

Scenic Rides
These rides are available to all levels of riders which and last a minimum of 1 hour. These are great for bird watchers as we ride through waist-high grasses, sandy washes, and marshy ponds that attract birds not normally indigenous to the desert. The surrounding Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge is known for its variety of birds, antelope, deer, coyotes, quail, hawks, golden eagles, white egrets, and more.

Fast Rides
For more experienced riders, we can offer trotting and loping during rides where the terrain allows. We’ll check your ability in the arena before heading out on the trail.

Cattle Work
We have a small herd of Criollo cattle, which is a Spanish breed historically significant to Southern Arizona. We offer opportunities to work the cattle in the arena and learning how to sort them and read their body language. We will focus on the history and significance of cattle ranching in the area and give a hands-on taste of ranch life in the desert southwest. We offer cattle work multiple times per week, offering our guests a true western heritage experience.

Lessons (available at extra cost)
During your stay, let our expert wranglers increase your enjoyment and understanding of horseback riding. 

Guided Fat Tire Electric Bike Tours
Trade one saddle for another and experience the southwest on a fat tire electric mountain bike. You can peddle on your own or get assistance from a high-powered motor capable of 20 mph speeds. Guided Fat Tire Electric Bike Tours are available to children 12 years and older.

Sport Shooting and Archery
• Clay Pigeon Shooting – with biodegradable targets and special 20 gage semi-automatic shotguns
• 22 Range – We’ll have more than a few bottles and targets to shoot at in a safe location.
• 3D Archery Range – Newly built archery range right on the ranch featuring 3D targets and the latest and greatest equipment.
Sport Shooting is available to children 12 years and older. Some firearms are restricted to children 16 years and older.

Hiking
Walk a few yards from your room and you’ll likely run across the same trails forged by legendary figures like Pancho Villa. Walk on red clay trails towards the famous Baboquivari Mountain. Tour Buenos Aires wildlife refuge and run into giant jackrabbits, roadrunners and deer. Hike along old western ghost towns that still feature intact buildings.

Bird Watching 
The Ranch borders the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and is a birdwatching paradise. Our ranch and surrounding areas are home to the endangered Masked Bobwhite Quail and 300 other species including Herons, Gray Hawks, Vermillion Fly Catchers, Loggerhead Shrikes and Golden Eagles,

Guided Off-Road Tours
Go on an off-road adventure in one of our UTVs (Utility Task Vehicle). Out guide will take you and up to four other guests on an adventure to the United States-Mexico border, the nearby ghost town ruins of Presumido or to the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge.

Rates and Dates for Rancho de la Osa

Dates Note: Sold Out Dates (as of 6/13/2023): Jan. 8-14, Feb 4-8, Feb. 18-22, Feb 18-22, March 7-9, March 13-23, May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024.

Other Info
Meeting: Sasabe
Airport: Tucson International Airport (TUS)
Transfer: Tucson

Climate:
                                                Sasabe area