he guest services arm of Zapata Ranch offers an extensive program for guests to experience life on a working cattle ranch while enjoying high-end amenities and gourmet food. Guests are hosted in one of our comfortable lodge rooms at the historic Zapata ranch headquarters. Wake up to a hot breakfast served in our rustic dining room before heading out for a morning horseback ride. Horseback activities can include working and moving cattle, exploring the surrounding San Luis Valley, venturing into the adjacent Great Sand Dunes National Park, or participating in one of our specially-organized overnight pack trips into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. “On-the-ground” activities include interpretive nature hikes, fly-fishing our local streams, birding, wildlife watching, geology tours, and more. Guests who desire a true working ranch experience are welcome to work alongside our wranglers and ranch staff on various ranch projects. Or for those seeking maximum relaxation, massages and yoga sessions are available throughout the week. Along the way, guests learn about how we operate our ranches, our land and cattle management philosophy, and the natural surroundings that make our valley so spectacular. And each night, the day’s activities are topped off by a gourmet dinner in back in our cozy dining room.

For more information on our programs or to begin booking your experience, please visit our Rates & Reservations page. 

Specialty Weeks

Ranchlands and Zapata Ranch also offer special themed weeks, including horsemanship clinics, photography workshops, cattle branding experiences, and food-themed weeks. For more information, please see our Events Calendar.