Description
This beautiful Mexican ranch is a haven for all levels of rider and non-riders alike, providing guests with a taste of Mexican vibrancy, fantastic cuisine, superb facilities and a stable of responsive trail horses. The majority of the staff are Mexican, including most of the wranglers, but the ranch itself is owned by an experienced Swiss lady who ensures high standards. The ranch is great for single travellers looking to make friends, couples wanting a romantic getaway, families or even large groups of friends or colleagues. Single lady travellers will also be made to feel welcome and secure here, just one of the reasons why many guests look to return. Decorated in vibrant and authentic Mexican style, each room offers a beautiful base for your Mexican riding adventure. Meals made with quality local ingredients, beautifully tended gardens and the quality of the horses are just further examples of the owner's exceptional attention to detail and the pride that the staff take in offering you unbeatable levels of service.
If you love horses and free, open riding, you will fall in love with this idyllic location. Set on a central Mexican plateau at 7500ft and bordered by three beautiful waterfalls, the ranch offers varied terrain and fantastic riding opportunities for everyone from the nervous beginner to the seasoned rider looking for a challenge. The rural countryside is unchanged by time and farmers plough the land with oxen whilst longhorn cattle, goats and sheep graze freely on the rocky terrain. As you ride out across the patchwork of small farms and quaint villages, you may cross flowering rivers, view the tumbling waterfalls or perhaps observe the egret and ducks. Depending on your riding level and preferences, rides out might involve gentle strolls around the lake, cantering up a hill side, traversing rocky mountain paths, galloping across the open plains or perhaps swimming with the horses on a sunny day. Advanced riders can enjoy great faster paced riding whilst those with less experience will head out with a separate guide to ensure that all have the best horseback experience.
The extinct volcanic geology of the region has created an area crisscrossed with ancient lava flows. These have evolved into a rich landscape creating low undulating hills, volcanic outcrops, narrow stream valleys, dry seasonal common pasture, ancient barren lava fields, seasonally lush shallow lake shores, high hill climbs with fabulous views and dry plains. The seasons produce fields of maize, wheat, oats, beans, squash and sunflowers. Wild saguaro and nopal cacti, agaves and thorn bushes predominate on the the common grazing land and from June to October, which is the green season, you will see a colourful riot of wild flowers. There is a temperate climate with daily temperatures of around 22C which is ideal for horse riding.
When out of the saddle guests can enjoy one of the many fascinating cultural and historical excursions which are available from the ranch. These optional cultural tours are the ideal way to explore more of Mexico and they can take you to places such as Teotihuacan, where you can see the pyramids of the sun and the moon, or perhaps to the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende. You might also wish to take a dip in the solar heated infinity pool with built in jacuzzi, relax in the hot tub with a margarita or select a book from the ranch library to enjoy in one of the garden's hammocks. Massages can also be arranged on site and offer the perfect way to end a day in the saddle.
A couple of rooms are available for genuine single travellers without paying a supplement - these are allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis.
This destination was visited by Holly from Far and Ride in Sept/Oct 2012. Feel free to call or email the office to ask her about it!