A working ranch
under a full moon.
Trail rides through the campo in the morning. Women's equine-wisdom journeys through the day. One family, one herd, one stretch of high desert outside San Miguel de Allende.
Chris and Roberto, our caballerango, have spent a combined eighty years with horses, and Chris's husband Jeff keeps the rest of it running. The herd is loved by name. The village children get lollipops on the way past. Nineteen guests, unprompted, have called it five stars.
Our story →
The teachers.
Wise old souls and trail-riding rockstars. Each with a name, a story, and a job on the ranch.
Twenty minutes and a world away.
San Miguel de Allende is all cobblestones, cathedral bells, and gold light on pink stone. Drive twenty minutes past it, toward the old sanctuary town of Atotonilco, and the city softens into open campo: mesquite, cactus, grazing cattle, and the Sierra holding the far edge of the sky. That is where the ranch sits, on a quiet stretch of high desert where the loudest thing is usually a horse deciding whether to trust you.
You can ride in the morning, soak in the hot springs by afternoon, and be back in town for dinner. We will send you the pin and help you time the day.
The short answers.
How much is a horseback ride in San Miguel de Allende?
At Rancho Baile de la Luna a one-hour trail ride is $1,200 MXN, an hour and a half is $1,400 MXN, and two hours is $1,600 MXN, per rider. The sunset ride is $1,800 MXN. Groups are one to four riders, and single riders are welcome. That is deliberately simpler and less expensive than the all-day deluxe tours most operators sell.
Do I need riding experience?
No. Most of our guests are beginners. We match each rider with a horse that fits their comfort level, give basic instruction before heading out, and keep the pace easy. Horses like Holly and Capitán have carried hundreds of first-time riders.
Where exactly is the ranch?
Rancho Baile de la Luna is at San Miguelito 10, El Fresno, in Atotonilco, about 20 minutes outside San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. We are minutes from the Santuario de Atotonilco, the UNESCO World Heritage site, and the La Gruta and Escondido hot springs.
How do I book?
Message us on WhatsApp at +1 909 240 4981, which is the fastest way, or use the contact form and we will get back to you, usually the same day. A day or two of notice is plenty for most rides. US guests who do not use WhatsApp can text the same number.
We came for a trail ride and left having made friends for life.
The kindest people, and horses that are loved like family.
I had never been on a horse. Roberto made me feel completely safe, and by the village I was grinning like a kid with a lollipop.
The two hour ride was quite exhilarating, through rural trails with spectacular scenery. I really had a wonderful morning.
The best part of working with horses is the connection that forms when you learn to listen to them.
Roberto matched each of us to the right horse and read the trail the whole way. You can tell these horses are worked with every day.
We booked one hour and stayed half the day feeding horses with the kids. Already planning our next visit.
I lease here because of how the horses are cared for. It is the hospitality that made the decision for me.