Riding Holidays in Mexico

M E X I C O L I N D O

7 Days/6 Nights

The 'easy/relaxed' riding vacation - longer rides in the mornings (3-5hrs) - shorter rides (1-3hrs) in the afternoon.

Or if you like you may just relax in a hammock and read a book from our library, use the hot tub, enjoy a massage (optional), have a salsa lesson, go hiking or help the cook to prepare one of the fabulous Mexican dinners...

During this trip the riding is mostly walking or once you feel ready to do so... easy canters. You are always free to skip any of the following rides and just relax at the ranch...

Day 1: This trip includes pick up from the airport at 8:30 am (for guests who arrive on a night flight or on the day before the trip starts ... see Travel) and at 4:30 pm**

Morning arrivals will be able, after a nice lunch under the shady old oak tree, to do the following afternoon ride on this very first day...

Explore the countryside close to the ranch at an easy pace. While riding through the village of ‘El Colorado’ enjoy observing how the locals live. Across wide, open country, we arrive at a little lake in the middle of nowhere! Back to the ranch - crossing the river ‘Rio Rosas’. Enjoy your first, fabulous, Mexican Tequila from horseback!

Day 2: Today’s morning ride will take us along the hills of San Agustin. We then follow the river into our village center of San Agustin Buenavista. The central church was built in 1701. After crossing the village we will again join the river on our way back to the ranch, where lunch will be waiting for us.

In the afternoon, the horses will cross the flowing ‘Rio Rosas’, pick up an easy canter along the old water channel to then climb sunset hill. Up there you will have a breathtaking view of the ranch and it's surroundings. Then amble back to the ranch enjoying the sunset.

If you feel like it you may learn at the bar to mix a Margarita or a Piña Colada with or without alcohol, before sitting to a lovely dinner.

Day 3: After a rich Mexican breakfast we ride north through the village of Vista Hermosa -beautiful view-. From there a steep climb takes us up the Cerro del Ahorcado -the hanged mans hill-, with a 360º view of the pink church of Heroes de Carranza and the Lake District. A canter beneath the eucalyptus tree rows takes us down to the lake where the horses love to splash along the shore.

Enjoy the barbeque under the big oak tree

After a short siesta we will be crossing the ‘Rio Rosas’ and take an easy canter between the corn or flower fields. Pass by the race track where once a month ‘illegal’ horse races are held. From there we follow the old Spanish track towards 'El Bordo Viejo’ and pass by Mexican countryside, as you know it from the movies. On the way back to the ranch we will cross rocky terrain which the horses manage without any problems.

Once at the ranch, get ready for an entertaining and unforgettable evening. The theme tonight is ‘Noche Rosa Mexicana’ -Pink Mexican Night-. If you like to coordinate with the table deco, wear something pink! However, formal dressing is not really necessary, but nice attire is always appreciated. The night is filled with Mexican music and folklore... yet another memory of Mexican life to take home!

Day 4: Today we will head to the old Hacienda of Tandeje. Built in 1685 the walls still try to tell us of the past. A cobbled stone path takes us to the enchanted forest of old oak trees heavy laden with Spanish Moss shimmering in different shades of silver. Their roots growing between rocks are overflowed by the rivers waters which then open to a breathtaking waterfall.

On the way back we will pass by ‘El Huizachal’ an old part of San Agustin Buenavista. Behind the former Lienzo Charro ‘charro ring’, a place where they once had festivities with horses, we have a beautiful view of two of the three Cascadas (waterfalls) which are located next to the ranch.

This afternoon we will drive you to the archeological site of the Atlantes of Tula, where you will be able to admire the giant stone figures once you have climbed the steep stairs up to the temple. Along the walkway, to the main square of the site, there are many little stalls with art and handicrafts from all over Mexico. After the Atlantes we will drive to the town center of Tula where you may visit the colorful Zocalo -town square- and mix with the locals or go shopping to a Mexican tack or Western clothes store.

Back at the ranch relax in the Patio with a refreshing ‘Cerveza’ -beer- or a tasty Margarita before enjoying a nice gourmet dinner.

Day 5: Passing through genuine Mexican countryside, crossing old overgrown train rails hidden between cactus, we will ride to ‘Los Organos’ a place forgotten in time. The trail leads us down into the canyon along rivers, where wild horses roam. We visit the ‘Peregrinos Petrificados’ a big rock formation in the middle of nowhere where it is told that they were former Pilgrims turned into stone because they did not want to complete their pilgrimage.

Picnic along the river as goats graze near-by. Here the river is mixed with a warm well so it is nice for a swim while the horses are resting.

Homeward bound the horses climb up the canyon and then we pass through the village of Heroes de Carranza with its pink church from 1697. After a refreshment we cross the wide open country back to the ranch.

Why not relax in the hot tub enjoying your favorite drink, listening to Mexican music in the background as dinner is being prepared.

Day 6: Friday is the big market day in the town of Jilotepec. Approximately a 30 minute drive from the ranch you will have the possibility to discover the largest weekly market in the region where all the people from the surrounding villages bring their goods to sell. All types of live animals, colorful vegetables, tasty fruits, fashionable sombreros, fine leather boots, tack for horse and rider and great mounds of chili peppers are everywhere. On the way back to the ranch we stop at a place where they offer colorful pottery and hand painted Mexican ceramic.

Back to the ranch for lunch and a let’s saddle up for the afternoon ride.

Pack your swimming trunks! This afternoon we will swim with the horses. A 30 minute ride takes us to the lake, the saddle comes off and you will learn to swim bareback on your horse. It will be a once in a lifetime experience.

After the swimming and a short break to dry the horses, the ride takes us to the ancient hacienda of 'La Goleta' built around 1690, where you can admire the wrought iron from Sweden protecting the windows, the tiles from Spain covering the front porch and the original blue wall paintings. The old aqua duct is still providing the water for the many families living there.

Then back to the ranch just in time for dinner with today’s special Romantic Country Night... which will bring back memories of times long gone.

Day 7: If you booked the complete package 'VIVA MEXICO' and are staying on for the second week or you are leaving in the afternoon to go back to the airport you will be able to join our morning ride.

This ride takes us to the neighbor village along the canyon of the 'Rio Rosas'. Enjoy the lively village while passing through and have one last easy canter through the open countryside on the way back to the ranch.

Drop off at the airport either at 8:30 am or 4:30 pm **

If you're with the lucky ones and booked VIVA MEXICO... you will stay on for the next week ready to start longer, more demanding rides. So this very afternoon you will enjoy the first ride with the new arrivals... see COLORES DE MEXICO

Itinerary subject to change!

If you like longer and faster rides see also...

COLORES DE MEXICO... for the more experienced rider

Or why not get the most out of it and do the two rides all in one...

VIVA MEXICO... from easy/relaxed to more demanding rides

To see the latest Movie from the Ranch... click here!

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