Jeff H.recommendsSeptember 26, 2022
River Site 5
Unspoiled nature
Wonderfully dark skies. Ranch lies at the intersection of various ecosystems: prairie grasslands/piñon, juniper, ponderosa woodlands/lush riparian valley along the Mora River. It has not been abusively grazed, like many western ranches. Tremendously biodiverse plant and animal communities. Duc’s ranch manager Val was incredibly hospitable, easygoing, knowledgeable, and polite: a true native Nuevo Mexicano in all the best ways. The eggs were delicious, and the Great Pyrenees pups, Aspen and Bear were well-behaved, and loyal campsite sentries.
Candace R.recommendsSeptember 13, 2022
River Site 5
Beautiful off the grid camping
Beautiful off-the grid campground that is well cared for by the caretakers. The “River Sites” are more cliff sites as the river is in a canyon that is quite the hike down. We fished some and caught 3 catfish! There are a lot of small catus plants around the area so make sure you bring sturdy shoes with a good sole. The hens and goats are a nice addition and the fresh eggs are great! FYI the rooster will wake you up at sunrise. Overall we had a wonderful time!
Jenny O.recommendsSeptember 12, 2022
Bluff Site 7
Great experience! Be prepared for a long dirt road drive to get to the campsite. Impressive amount of land for sure! We stayed in the bluff sites, and had the place to ourselves! Extremely peaceful if you’re looking to completely check out. Lots of good exploring around the property, tons of cool rocks throughout the campsites and beyond! The tent was great, very heavy duty.
Janet C.recommendsSeptember 12, 2022
River Site 3
Quiet, peaceful getaway
My husband & I wanted a nice getaway & Duc’s place was exactly what we needed! The land is rustic & beautiful. We literally had nobody around us for 2 days. Our favorite part was having the 2 ranch dogs, bear & aspen, never leave our side. So sweet!! The ranch workers were outstanding & willing to help with whatever was needed. It was a spectacular camping trip. We will be back!
Ryan S.recommendsSeptember 11, 2022
River Site 5
Great remote camping experience
This was such a treat. Duc and family own a beautiful piece of land. I recommend giving yourself enough time to explore some of the 1700 acres. Make sure to get in before dark as the drive is not short to reach the ranch. You’ll want to see everything! Duc couldn’t have been better. Helped provide whatever we asked and was an awesome person to chat with. I highly recommend!
Mike E.recommendsSeptember 7, 2022
Bunkhouse 10
Great camp for hiking and exploring
Vida Bonita Ranch is an excellent getaway from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. It's about a 9-hour drive and the drive from Tucumcari has some beautiful views.
The ranch is remote, ~25 miles down a dirt road. There is no traffic noise, it's a great dark sky location with wonderful views of the stars. I had close encounters with free-ranging horses, a few deer crossed my path just 50 feet in front of me. In the mornings, I could hear coyotes howling in the distance.
The ranch has a coop of chickens, ducks, and guinea fowl. There is also a small herd of goats. The owners have a nice garden with a variety of vegetables, melons, and herbs.
Hiking, 4-wheeling, fishing, and biking are all accessible. There are a variety of campsite options. I took one on a hilltop that had some amazing views just on the edge of the site. There are safari-style tents available, an RV, and a travel trailer that are perfectly located with great views. There is a bunkhouse built with thick adobe walls and is fully stocked.
Be aware, that there is no electricity or plumbing. There is a water well and limited filtered water but, plan on bringing your own drinking water or purification system. There are multiple porta potties available and they are well maintained.
I highly recommend this camp and will be back there often.
Michelle R.recommendsSeptember 6, 2022
River Site 5
Camping with amazing views
We loved camping on Duc’s land. It was such a unique and beautiful spot. The views of the river basin/rock formations were perfect from our camping spot and the sunset/sunrise was gorgeous. The hosts were so kind and welcoming, and they made us feel like family. So quiet and peaceful under the stars. We will definitely be back and bring more friends.
Paula L.recommendsSeptember 4, 2022
Site 5 - Large RV Site on Vida Bonita Ranch
Camping off the grid.
We loved the beautiful views that were all around us. The sunrise and sunsets were gorgeous. The stars were so clear it was amazing to see.
Matthew G.recommendsAugust 29, 2022
River Site 3
This was one of the best camping trips I have ever been on. The land is vast and we were able to fish, shoot, star gaze and have camp fires nightly. The host was very gracious and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Thank you Duc!
Suzi M.recommendsAugust 28, 2022
River Site 5
Great campsite for a weekend away!
We had a great time camping at Vida Bonita Ranch! Directions were clear and the campsite was ready for us to set up our tents and start cooking over the fire as soon as we arrived. We were close enough to the main house to use the porta-potty if needed, but far enough away that we felt like we were camping out in the middle of nowhere. Beautiful sunsets, and visits from the horses, goats, and lambs were really cool to see! The view of the river from the edge of the bluff was amazing.
Ananda G.recommendsAugust 21, 2022
River Site 5
Great support and hospitality.
Colleen C.recommendsAugust 17, 2022
Bunkhouse 10
For me it was the about the quiet and the solitude as soon as I stepped out of my car.
Logan M.recommendsAugust 10, 2022
River Site 5
Very friendly and helpful hosts. Enthusiastic about getting people out there and experience their vast acreage. Wonderful views with a ton of great places to hike around
Joanne P.recommendsAugust 4, 2022
Bunkhouse 8
Beautiful Place
Vida Bonita is as beautiful a place as I have ever seen. I am not a very experienced camper so I appreciated all the help given to set up my tent and get my gear into it. The area is primitive in all the good ways one needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Robbin D.recommendsAugust 2, 2022
Bluff Site 1
Extraordinary primitive camping
I loved the primitive camping site I had! The view was amazing from the site, the host was very accommodating to all my requests and I plan on returning!
Diane A.recommendsJuly 31, 2022
River Site 4
Awesome camp experience! Loved it
My family and I have been campers for years and have been to many places and we are amazed with the Vida Bonita ranch camp site.
The host and team we’re very friendly, helpful and treated us like friends and not just campers. The views are breathtaking and can’t be described in words, it was clean, peaceful, beautiful and fun. It’s wonderful to not only reconnect with nature but enjoy it.
Our daughter and son in law are expecting their first baby next year and I can’t wait to come back with my grand kids. I know they will enjoy talking to all the different animals on the ranch. The host and his family have two beautiful young dogs Aspen and Bear that are the sweetest.
Thanks for a great time Duc, we’ll be back again. Thank you for sharing your beautiful land with us.
This campsite is not your average camp experience. Five stars all the way!
Diane
Staci A.recommendsJuly 25, 2022
Bluff Site 7
Best camping trip ever!!
Serene, peaceful tent camping getaway with everything you could possibly want! Fishing, hiking, views for as far as the eye can see. We absolutely loved our stay here. Duc is a wonderful host and made sure we were very comfortable with the accommodations. Definitely will be back!
V Ginger C.recommendsJuly 23, 2022
River Site 5
Where the journey ends
We had the most awe inspiring view from our campsite. The mornings greeted us with blue skies, deer and roaming horses. The sunsets were truly a display of fires in the sky, but the most spectacular was the night. Millions of stars, the Milky Way, and the sweet smell of pasture land. The camp is a journey, but our hosts were helpful, accommodating, friendly and gracious
Susan D.recommendsJuly 23, 2022
River Site 3
Not Your Average Campground
My husband and I stayed at Vida Bonita Ranch on July 22 and had an amazing time. The ranch is beautiful and the hosts (Duc and Erica) were so welcoming. The hike to the river is invigorating and worth the trip. The ranch has goats and chickens and even a food forest. Would highly recommend this beautiful camping spot. Definitely worth the trip!
Susan
Rick D.recommendsJuly 22, 2022
Bluff Site 7
Perfect Off The Grid Stay!
This ranch is a perfect way to get off the grid and relax. Spent two wonderful nights just chilling, fishing, and enjoying the views. Although Wi-Fi was available I resisted the urge to log in. It was really nice being able to totally unplug. The owner Duc and his family were super nice and went out of their way to make sure I had everything I needed. Also very, very responsive to emails and texts. I will be back!
Ying M. Yang W.recommendsJuly 21, 2022
Bunkhouse 8
Huge Place, Solid-state Relaxation
This is a wonderful place for rest, relaxation, quietude, and peace. If you want to be alone or if you want to be with a group, it is all set. Great fishing. You even can get a concierge to help you set up your tent!! The people have just bought this place and they are solid folks, from cities originally, including a member from the medical field. You will feel like either you can be left totally alone, or that everything is prepped; great conversations, replete with animals, including newborn baby goats!!! Go! Go! Highly recommend!!
Karen A.recommendsJuly 20, 2022
River Site 3
Breathtaking views
Let me start by saying direct contact with the host was an A+. Views were breathtaking !! Wildlife, hiking, fishing and more. I couldn’t have asked for a better vacation. Don’t forget the 2 new baby goats for the kids. I’m bringing the whole family next time. Thank you for an amazing experience
Pauline D.recommendsJuly 18, 2022
River Site 3
Great Camping Experience!
We discovered the HipCamp app on a cross country road trip and decided to reserve an overnight stay at the Vida Bonita ranch. What an awesome experience! The views are breathtaking. We hiked down to the river and went bass fishing. Later that night we enjoyed the company of our gracious and accommodating host with a meal grilled on the fire pit. The best part of the experience, however, was the concierge service! Each guest has access to a staff member who will help with any aspect of their camping experience, like putting together a tent, starting the fire pit--anything! Did I mention they have wi-fi service? I will definitely be returning to Vida Bonita Ranch. Thanks for the experience, Duc!
Cheryl S.recommendsJuly 18, 2022
River Site 5
I heard so much about this ranch before I booked our stay. It is very remote, however, the hosts make people feel right at home during your stay.
There are baby animals and beautiful vistas in every direction. There are not many campgrounds in New Mexico that have a river running through them. Duc’s ranch is perfect for fishermen. It’s untouched acres offer a plenitude of wildlife photography opportunities. One of the reasons we had sn interest in this campground was the remote location offering gorgeous star gazing. We are thinking of going August 11 and 12 for the mteriote sho