Riding Holidays in Mexico

V I V A M E X I C O

14 Days/13 Nights

The ultimate riding vacation experience. Start on the slower rides until you feel comfortable or have gotten used to the saddle again, then take the all day rides and get the most out of your holiday.

COMBINATION MEXICO LINDO & COLORES DE MEXICO

Day 01: 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 02: 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 take your first salsa lesson or learn at the bar to mix a Margarita or a Piña Colada with or without alcohol, before sitting to a lovely dinner.

Day 03: 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 04: 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 05: 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 06: 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 07: 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.

The afternoon we have a nice canter through the beautiful plains of Yonté. A tasty, Mexican Tequila awaits you upon arrival at the ranch. Salud!

Day 08: Now the group is complete and the first ride will take us along the canyon to the village of ‘Xochitlan de Las Flores’. Sunday is a leisurely way of living in the village and a visit takes you to their beautiful old church... a trip back in time.

After a nice canter or gallop you will enjoy lunch back at the ranch. Now it is also time to evaluate the riding abilities and if necessary, split the group.

Back on the horses we take you on another route down to the river. After the crossing there is a steep climb up the rocks. A lovely ride through crops and little ponds leads us to the the sunset hill. There we enjoy a long gallop around it, with a final canter to its top where you will enjoy the stunning view of the beautiful countryside which is ready to embrace you during the rides to come.

A canter or gallop will take us back into the sunset. Horse and rider both will enjoy the sun’s glorious display as it slips silently behind the mountain range.

Day 09: A tasty Mexican breakfast and... we are off, following the old, stone paved 'Camino Real' the route which the royals used to travel from one Hacienda to the other. We stop for refreshments at the Hacienda of San Antonio and then follow the road to the old village of San Miguel de Las Piedras. A beautiful little village built into the canyon, it's ways paved with river stones.

After leaving the village we stop in the shade of the trees along the river where we will enjoy our picnic. If you like you may take a dip in the water.

Refreshed again we follow the canyon, pass by giant rocks and climb up the steep tracks to the top of the canyon. On the way back we cross authentic Mexican countryside and finish the day with a nice canter or gallop.

Day 10: Today after leaving the ranch we will canter across an open plain. The first hours take us into a shady valley full with old oak trees covered with Spanish moss. We climb to the little sanctuary of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the colored virgin of Mexico. After following the river we ride through the village of El Divisadero. Now we are crossing the road into the open country. Nice canter and gallops take us through the vast cornfields.

Crossing our district town of San Francisco Soyaniquilpan de Juarez 'San Pancho' we arrive at a colorful Mexican Fonda -small restaurant- ‘La Mesita Campestre’ where we will have lunch, tasting true local cuisine.

After this break the horses are fresh again for another gallop across open fields on the way back. Before arriving at the ranch we pass our village of San Agustin Buenavista with its church finished by 1701.

Back at the ranch get ready to enter a magical world filled with Mexican Colors, Mexican Ballads and Mexican Dance... a night to remember.

Day 11: Heading out north from the ranch we will pass little villages on the way to the Lake District. Passing along some of the lakes we arrive to Santa Maria Macua, a beautiful village built into the mountains. Experience the Mexican way of life.

Leaving the village we climb up into the mountains and have our picnic on the mountains ridge from where you may admire the mighty canyons and it's typical Mexican landscape from above.

The way back takes us through Heroes Carranza, a dreamy little village with an enchanting old church. Here you will take a refreshment before cantering or galloping back to the ranch.

Day 12: The longest ride will take you today to the Cathedral of Canalejas. Through open fields we pass the village of Zaragoza, from there we canter cross country to arrive at the wells of Mexicaltongo next to the village of El Tejon. Then the route takes us up through the hills of Jilotepec over to Canalejas where we climb the little mountain with its Cathedral on the top.

After the visit of this beautiful Cathedral where many weddings are held we ride down into the village of Canalejas where we will enjoy the real Mexican Tacos at a place well known by us.

On the way back through ever-changing countryside you will have several opportunities for a relaxed canter or a speedy gallop.

Day 13: The morning ride takes us 2,000 feet up the mountains. The countryside changes quickly as the sure-footed horses begin the climb beyond the small villages into the mountains where the landscape is filled with cactus and tequila plants.

The last afternoon ride depends on your likings... galloping across open plains and through the fields or visiting the old hacienda of San Agustin after crossing the beautiful antique bridge ‘Puente del Muité'.

Our romantic night 'HASTA LA VISTA' helps to deepen all the impressions caught over the last days and to seal the new friendships made.

Day 14: Today is the final day... either you catch the early transfer which drops you off at the airport at 8:30 am or you spend the last morning at the ranch and go for the final ride tailored to your taste. After lunch join the transportation which drops you off at the airport at 4:30 pm.

Itinerary subject to change!

If you like to do only part of this tour you have the following two options...

MEXICO LINDO... the easy/relaxed riding vacation

COLORES DE MEXICO... for the more experienced rider

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