Give yourself the gift of a deeply nourishing renewal retreat in the pristine mountains of Patagonia. Shut off from cell phones, television, and e-mails, Ranquilco is a refuge in deep nature where you can rediscover, create, de-stress, rejuvenate or simply relax. Ranquilco is also a place for adventure and fun, a place to clear or expand your mind, and recharge your physical, mental and spiritual batteries.

We welcome guests who want to experience Ranquilco for one week or one season. Read, write, paint, explore, ride, fish, relax or discover whatever it is that simply needs a place like Ranquilco to manifest itself.

Laura Carrithers has been working with alternative healthcare options for herself, friends, and family for over fifteen years. She recently completed a course in herbology and over 100 hours of E.F.T. training. Laura is working on a Naturopathy degree at Clayton College of Natural Health.

Laura offers wellness consultations to address optimum health and acute or chronic imbalances using a comprehensive holistic approach that includes a solid foundation in anatomy and physiology, nutrition, herbology, homeopathy, E.F.T., hydrology, cleansing and detoxification, and lifestyle counseling. Consultations cost $60 per hour.

Laura is typically in residence at Ranquilco in February and March of every year. E-mail her at lccarrithers@yahoo.com for more information.

Horses have been found to be naturally ‘positively mood altering.’ Simple, everyday interaction with horses has been shown to increase self confidence, communication skills, a sense of trust, and to lower stress levels and feelings of anxiety. All over the world, horses are now used as therapeutic partners to help people re-reframe negative thinking and transform engrained emotional responses, the result is a healthier self-image and more joyful interactions with others.

At Ranquilco, we encourage everyone to take part in self-directed equine assisted therapy. If you are coming to Ranquilco for a wellness or spiritual vacation, we recommend spending a considerable amount of your time in contact with these incredible creatures – caring for them, grooming them, and riding them.

Many who come to Ranquilco choose to head out on a vision quest. These solo journeys into deep nature and solitude are inspired by the classical Native American vision quest. Vision questing at Ranquilco is a personal, spiritual quest alone in the wilderness, often in conjunction with fasting. It is essentially an excursion into mindfulness that comes from an intense connection with the earth and nature.

E-mail Ashley Carrithers if you are interested in including a vision quest during your time at Ranquilco.

“Ranquilco is very remote and pristine. Consider this – the only sounds I ever heard were horses snorting and whinnying, a few human voices, an occasional dog bark, the almost constant breeze in the trees and the faint rush of the river rapids in the gorge just below the main compound. In my six weeks there I never saw or heard an airplane or saw an airplane contrail.” John, guest Jan & Feb 2008.

From October-May (springtime through the autumn), we welcome guests who want to experience Ranquilco for one week or one season. Read, write, paint, explore, ride, fish, relax or discover whatever it is that simply needs a place like Ranquilco to manifest itself. Come alone, with a spouse or friend, or bring your family.

Estancia Ranquilco offers comfortable private cottages with a world class wine cellar and home style Patagonian cooking. Alternatively, guests can opt for one of our extended stay options or a secluded lake cottage. Take advantage of all the activities available on the ranch, as well as our swimming pool, river-side log sauna and volleyball court.

To discuss or reserve your wellness vacation or spiritual getaway, e-mail Ashley Carrithers.