General Info

Ranch holidays at an upscale family owned Mexican hacienda in the colonial town of Valle de Bravo

This riding vacation is center based at a beautiful, family owned Mexican hacienda in Valle de Bravo, located on the shores of a blue lake surrounded by verdant evergreen forests. Valle de Bravo is one of Mexico's "magical villages," a special series of villages that are known for their well preserved history and culture. It's 2.5 hours west of Mexico City.

A beautiful, colorful variety of flowers line the ancient horse trails that lead riders through woods, lakes, rivers, meadows, and villages offering diversity and breathtaking views. This special vacation also allows riders to experience the spectacular natural phenomena of the Monarch Butterfly migration. There's a Monarch Butterfly sanctuary near the haciendas and riders may visit on horseback.

Riders stay at Finca Enyhe for these riding holidays. Your Mexican hosts will share first hand knowledge of Mexican history, culture, and traditions. They speak fluent English. Guides are well known locally, guaranteeing an interactive experience with neighbors and friends. A team of wranglers saddles the horses each day as the groups prepares to discover a perfect mixture of Mediterranean weather and Alpine landscapes. 

Accommodations at Finca Enyhe are in a magnificent hacienda with luxurious and spacious bedrooms, beautifully furnished and decorated in traditional Mexican style. Finca Enyhe is located just five blocks away from the plaza so guests can easily walk and enjoy typical Mexican village life if they please. Others may enjoying tasting a good Margarita or strong Tequila while enjoying a colorful sunset from the outdoor heated swimming pool with Jacuzzi of Finca Enyhe.

Special programs are offered for riders who would prefer fewer hours in the saddle. These guests can have more spare time in order to visit the town or to relax and enjoy the ambience and facilities in Finca Enyhe.

The Mexican kitchen at the hacienda provides guests with delicious homemade Mexican food and gives the guests the opportunity to taste different dishes every day. If you're out riding, lunch may be a picnic on the trail served with typical Mexican "botanas", "tortas", and "tacos" that are warmed on a fire. Sometimes guests laugh as cold refreshments and sodas are carried by "Don Sabino", the charismatic pack mule that also brings whatever might be needed by the riders. 

Awards & Accolades

Federación Mexicana de Cabalgatas A.C.

Packing

Packing for Mexico Riding Holidays

• Laundry service is available on site with an additional cost and also in town.
• Bring your own helmet. The ranch has a couple of helmets to lend, but there are not a variety of sizes, so it is best to bring your own.
• Sun-block is recommended to protect lips, face, neck, and arms, while a good hat will keep you shaded and protected from the sun.
• Long sleeve shirts will also help protect against the sun.
• Short riding boots and half chaps are recommended instead of long English or Western boots. Wide boots that can get caught in the stirrup are very dangerous! The boots should be comfortable for walking, especially during the visit to the butterfly sanctuary.
• Riders can place extra belongings in the saddlebags that are provided.
• A light jacket during the day can be useful in the wind along with a thicker jacket or a sweater to be used early in the mornings or late at night.
• A bandana or big handkerchief is very helpful on dusty trails.
• A bathing suit is a must for enjoying the jacuzzi and swimming pool.

Please see Equitrekking Travel’s General Packing List

About the Horses

The stables for these ranch holidays have 24 stalls and 20 to 25 horses, along with 2 or 3 pack mules, a dressage ring surrounded by bamboo, and a magnificent tack-room. Various breeds of horses, including Trakhenners, Thoroughbreds, Quarters, Appendix, and Criollo are trained and conditioned to work in the different types of terrain found in Mexico. The horses are between 15-17 hands in height and have temperaments from very calm and quiet to quite spirited.

Western, English, and Mexican Charro tack is available. The Mexican Charro saddle is similar to the Western saddle, the main difference being a larger horn and a wider seat. Large saddlebags are equipt with rain gear inside and are part of the tack. Riders can carry their water bottles and personal items in them too. Special leather strings by the sides of the saddles are helpful to the riders so they can easily tie their jackets or sweaters to them. Whichever tack the rider chooses for their riding holiday, all saddles have a comfortable sheepskin seat, called a "manga" (raingear).

Activities/Events

From November to March, the Monarch butterfly migration takes place and is an experience not to be missed.

Area Attractions

Cultural activities are available in town. The local museum has modern painting exhibitions and several places offer lessons for dancing, music, painting and language studies. These activities are not included in the price. 

There are multiple activities that are available in town such as:

• golf, tennis, water skiing, sailing, delta flying, mountain biking, trekking, and bird watching. 

Accommodations/Food

Accommodations for the week are at Finca Enyhe, are in a colonial style house built around a patio with a central fountain, and surrounded by impressive verandas and multicolor hammocks which hang from the columns. This traditional Mexican architecture continues in the bedrooms that are decorated with a collection of furniture from different parts of Mexico. Private bathrooms accompany all rooms. A beautiful garden with an amazing variety of plants, flowers, and fruit trees separates the house from the old fashioned stalls, with a large and very well set tack room, and a riding arena surrounded by bamboo fences.

The House: Finca Enyhe

Six beautiful standard rooms are decorated in traditional Mexican style, each with its own and exquisite particular feature. Most of the bedrooms have their own brick or iron fireplace. Each bedroom has a spacious bathroom, decorated with hand-painted tiles. Some of the bathrooms have a Jacuzzi. Two of the bedrooms face the central patio, two more have the view of the gardens, and the last two have the swimming pool vista. A private bungalow is available with one double room that faces the beautiful horse stalls. The common rooms consist of a library, a TV room, a billiard table and a small gym. Several patios, verandas, terraces, and gardens surround the house.

There is an outside heated swimming pool (45 Ft. long) with an integrated Jacuzzi (7X7 Ft.).

Food:

Days and nights at the Finca Enyhe include a wide variety of flavors from a traditional Mexican kitchen, and are offered to the guests during the week, giving the guests the opportunity to taste different dishes each day. A continental or Mexican breakfast is served with fruit, a main dish, coffee, cereal, milk, and more. Lunch is some days served on the terraces of the finca and others as a picnic offered on the trail during the ride with typical Mexican "botanas", "tortas", and "tacos" that are warmed on a fire. Lunch is served with cold beers and sodas that are carried by a charismatic pack mule. Dinners include delicious Mexican-style cuisine.

All meals are served with purified water, soda, beer or wine. Excellent red and white wines as well as beer are available and up to three drinks per person per day are included in the price. Vegetarians and other special diet considerations are available upon request in advance.

The Ideal Traveler

Any traveler who wishes to experience a luxurious horseback riding vacation and discover Mexico on horseback.

This is a great trip for those wishing to escape the winter cold of North America and Europe. There are different riding holidays available to accommodate riders of all levels and many opportunities for non-riding companions on this trip to join their riding partners.

The Classic Riding Vacation

Dates & Rates 2012

This is an 8 days / 7 night ride with 7 riding days for Strong Intermediate - Advanced riders

High Season:
Jan 8-15, Jan 22-29, Feb 5-12, Feb 19-26, March 4-11 SOLD OUT, March 18-25
Oct 21-28, Nov 4-11, Nov 18-25, Dec 2-9
$2,480 USD* on double occupancy.

Low Season:
April 8-15, April 22-29, May 6-13, May 20-27
$2231 USD* on double occupancy.

Non-riders rate $1,556.25 USD*
$389 USD* single supplement rate for riders who do not want to share a bedroom

* Prices may fluctuate based on currency conversions.

Included: Seven nights in Finca Enyhe, seven riding days, all meals in Finca Enyhe and during the ride (please let us know your special dietary requests at the time of your booking), red or white wine during dinner, three alcoholic beverages per day per person, boat trips across the lake on Thursday and Friday, transfers from Mexico City to Valle de Bravo and viceversa, all transfers in Valle de Bravo (there is no need to rent a car for this trip), more than thirty-five hours riding on the trails.

Not included: Nights in Mexico City or Toluca, Meals before pick-up hour, Farewell dinner in restaurant in town, Internet and telephone calls, Laundry service, Gratuities

Other activities: Massage sessions, Golf, tennis, mountain biking, water skiing, parapent.

Riding Level: Strong Intermediate - Advanced

Hours in the saddle: 4 - 7 Riding hours per day.

Pace: Moderate with several canters and trots.

Riders should arrive any time on Saturday in order to be ready for an early pick-up on Sunday morning.

Description:
The Classic Ride offers different routes that run through the mountains, under the shade of the pine and oak trees, with multicolored flowers growing everywhere. Beautiful forests, meadows, valleys, rivers, streams and agricultural land can be seen while riding. Several birds endemic from Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains can be seen during the daily rides. Riders will to travel to small villages allowing and opportunity to see how local peasants live in the area. Never ending views of mountain ranges with impressive huge rocks are part of every day's ride. The always-blue sky makes a perfect frame for the panoramic "vistas" during the day and in the afternoons the spectacular sunsets invite you to have a "margarita" and listen to typical Mexican music of the "mariachi" after the day's ride.

Riders are always carefully and patiently matched to the horse they will ride during the week according to their riding abilities and preferences. The outfitters are always open to change saddles or horses as many times as a rider may need it until he or she can feel comfortable on both, horse and saddle.

Visiting a country on the back of a horse and getting acquainted with its people and traditions is the best way to travel while sharing this experience with other people that have common interests and love for horses!

Day by Day Itinerary
Saturday:
Riders should arrive any time on Saturday in order to be ready for pick up on Sunday morning.

Sunday:
Riders will be picked up at the lobby of any of the two hotels suggested according to the schedules detailed for each hotel. The transfer by car to Valle de Bravo will take approximately two and a half hours. After registering and getting set in one of the magnificent bedrooms in Finca Enyhe, a delicious lunch will be served in the swimming pool terrace. You will get to know your mount and try your tack inside the arena before going out for a two-hour ride in "Monte Alto" where you will be able to know better the horse you are going to ride during the week. Come back to Finca Enyhe and enjoy the sunset with a margarita made from an old family recipe. Dinner will be served at 7:30 accompanied with delicious red or white wines.

Monday:
A delicious Mexican breakfast will be served early in the morning. After, mount your horse and ride for three hours across agricultural valleys and forests with orchids until lunch time, which will be a picnic on the trail carried by one of our pack mules.

After lunch riders can enjoy a short "siesta" and be ready to ride for one and a half more hours up to around 9,000 feet. The village of "Los Saucos" will appear behind the trees. Here the horses will overnight and riders will be taken by car back to Finca Enyhe.

In the afternoon, you are free to relax in the swimming pool or take a walk to town. During dinner guests will be able to taste the excellent Mexican and international cuisine that comes out of the kitchen of Finca Enyhe and accompany it with high quality red or white wines. After dinner, listen to a talk about the Monarch Butterflies and prepare yourself for a wonderful experience that will be waiting for your next morning in the butterfly sanctuary.

Tuesday:
After breakfast, riders are transferred by car to Los Saucos. Ride for approximately one hour. Then get ready to visit the Monarch Butterflies. You will have to do some walking before reaching the sanctuary. Spend some time experiencing the presence of these mysterious and wonderful butterflies in the fir tree forest. Get ready to walk back to your horses and continue the ride until lunchtime.

Today, lunch will also be a picnic on the trail cooked on a fireplace. After lunch, continue riding for two hours through evergreen meadows and valleys, next to rivers that hold trout farms and beautiful ferns until you reach "Rancho La Compañia". This ranch is one of the oldest ranches in the area where fighting cocks are bred as well as quarter horses. Guests can walk around its beautiful patios and gardens. Transfer back to Finca Enyhe by car where a refreshing margarita will be waiting for you by the side of the swimming pool!

Wednesday:
You'll be transfered by car to "Rancho La Compañia" this morning. Visit a private zoo and ride by peaceful ponds. Continue riding until you are on the top of "La Sierra de Juan Luis", where there are fantastic area views! Here you will feel a change in the temperature, as you will be riding next to a ridge where the hot wind from the "tierra caliente" warms this part of the mountain.

View the colorful bromeliads and orchids that decorate magnificent oak trees. Lunch is a picnic on the trail; this time set next to "El Peñon", a huge rock formation standing aside a chain of mountains.

After lunch, continue riding to another big flat rock formation, "El Coloso". From here, riders are able to see part of what will be covered the following day without of course missing the incredible site of "Los Tres Reyes". A nice ride by a beautiful trail by the bottom of a creek will take the riders down to "El Manzano", a small agricultural valley and again into the forest finish today´s ride in "Cerro Gordo". The car will take you back to the finca where dinner will be, as always, a four course meal based on a delicious mix of Mexican and international recipes.

Thursday:
Upon arrival to "Cerro Gordo", your mount will be ready and eager to start today's ride. On this day, ride through magnificent "vistas" and rock formations. You will be riding thousands of feet above "Zacazonapan" a town located in the "tierra caliente". Riders will experience breathtaking views from the edge of the mountain chain.

Today’s lunch is served in another beautiful spot called "El Divisadero," which means a place from where you can see far away. Feel like the Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes must have felt while riding through the Mexican countryside and high mountains, never ceasing to be amazed by what this land offers to its visitors.

After lunch, you will reach a spot where you'll be able to look back at all of the land you've covered by horse in the past days and the route that is awaiting you for the following days! It is an incredible opportunity to really see all that a horse and rider can do in one week of riding!

A breathtaking descent to where the horses will be left on this day will always be remembered by our guests, especially the vistas of the lake and of "Atezcapan", the beautiful white village that lies next to the ranch where the horses will overnight. Many peacocks will salute you on your way out by truck from "Rancho Calderones" to the lake shore, where a local boat will be waiting for the group to be transferred across the lake to the main deck in the lake located two blocks away from downtown. This is a perfect moment for a picture and riders have time to relax and enjoy the trip across the lake. From the boat you will be able to see "La Peña" another rock formation where the Aztecs came to make human sacrifices, which is now surrounded by outstanding weekend homes.

Friday:
Before meeting your mount, you will cross the lake by boat. This is also a good time to meditate or enjoy this peaceful and quiet boat trip. On the other side of the lake, the truck will be waiting for you to make a five-minute transfer to where the horses slept. 
Today you will ride along the lakeshore until you reach the dam. After crossing by the side of the dam you will continue riding for a couple of hours in what is known as " Tierra Caliente". These are the landscapes for which Mexico is generally known: no forest, no shade, just a vast open valley, all planted and plowed.

The old Mexican style of working with no tractors or machinery, just pairs of oxen, horses or donkeys plowing the land, lead by a peasant and followed by the wife or daughter who manually plant corn seed one by one and strawberries, potatoes and other flowering plants. Just about the time you are wondering when a tree shade will appear, the horses begin reaching the woods. Fresh wind begins to blow whilst pine and oak trees shade the path. Finally a group of rocks set for a fireplace lets you know that lunch time has arrived!

After lunch, the group continues riding for three hours in a different type of forest, where, lots of Spanish moss hangs from the trees. If the river is not too high, experience the excitement of crossing a big river on horseback! Arrive to San Gabriel Ixtla, a small village where the horses will overnight. This time, riders will be brought by car to the finca on a different road.

Saturday:
Today the ride is shorter, only half of the day. Riders will arrive to Finca Enyhe on their horses just in time to have lunch in one of the terraces of the property. You will ride through the main street of "San Francisco Mihualtepec". This is an authentic Mexican town where you will be able to see lots of things. See how local people live in their homes. See how the housewives enjoy taking care of the many pots with flowers on their veranda. See how the butcher works; see how the traditional "barbacoa" or "carnitas" are being cooked. These are traditional meals are prepared only by men. Women do not participate in the cooking; they are only invited to eat. This is a "macho man" chore.

Take in the fields with all sorts of different flowers: paradise flowers, sun flowers, water lilies, agapanthus, gladiolas, etc. 
After leaving this interesting town, visit the biggest ranch in the area. This is "Rancho Santa Rosa," where well-kept forests, evergreen horse paddocks, and magnificent contemporary Mexican style homes are all set in harmony. If you are lucky, you will be able to see how the horses that are bred in this ranch are trained for show jumping. Arrive at 1:00 pm to Finca Enyhe just in time for lunch. Today there will be more time to visit the town and do more shopping. Or if you prefer, enjoy the facilities in the property and have a good and restoring massage session in the comfort and privacy of your bedroom. At 7:30 pm guests will depart to town where a farewell dinner will be offered in a beautiful restaurant located in one of the oldest colonial buildings in town (not included in rate).

Sunday:
Breakfast will be served a little earlier, 7:00 A.M. Transfer back to Mexico City is programmed at 8:00 A.M. Estimated time of arrival to Mexico City is around 10:00 A.M. Drop off will be at Hotel Marriott Reforma.
 

* This itinerary is subject to changes based on the weather or the trip leader's discretion.

The Relaxed Riding Vacation

Dates & Rates 2012

The "Relaxed Ride" is offered every week from mid October until the end of June and runs 8 days / 7 nights. There are six days of riding with three hours in the mornings. This ride is for Novice to Advanced riding levels. The pace is moderate with some trots and canters.

High Season:
Jan 22-29, Jan 29-Feb 5, Feb 5-12, Feb 12-19, Feb 19-26, Feb 26-March 4, March 4-11 SOLD OUT, March 11-18 SOLD OUT, March 18-25
Oct 14-21, Oct 21-28, Oct 28-Nov 4 SOLD OUT, Nov 4-11, Nov 11-18, Nov 18-25, Nov 25-Dec 2, Dec 2-9, Dec 9-16, Dec 16-23 SOLD OUT, Dec 23-30 SOLD OUT, Dec 3-Jan 6 SOLD OUT
$2179 USD* per person double occupancy

Low Season:
March 25- April 1, April 1-8 SOLD OUT, April 8-15, April 15-22, April 22-29, April 29-May 6, May 6-13, May 13-20, May 20-27, May 27- June 3 SOLD OUT, June 3-10, June 10-17, June 17-24
$1971.25 USD* per person double occupancy

Non-riders rate $1,556.25 USD*
$389 USD* single supplement rate for riders who do not want to share a bedroom

* Prices may fluctuate based on currency conversions.

Included: Seven nights in Finca Enyhe, Six riding days in the mornings, All meals in Finca Enyhe (Please let us know about dietary restrictions or requests at the time of your booking), red or white wine during dinner, three alcoholic beverages per day per person, visit to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, boat trip around the lake on Thursday, transfers from Mexico City to Valle de Bravo and viceversa, all transfers in Valle de Bravo. (there is no reason to rent a car for this vacation)

Not included: Nights in Mexico City or Toluca, meals before pick-up hour, farewell dinner in restaurant in town, Internet and telephone calls, laundry service, gratuities. 

Other activities available at an additional cost: massage sessions, golf, tennis, mountain biking, water skiing, parapent.

Itinerary:

Novice - Intermediate - Advanced.

Hours in the saddle: 3 - 4 Riding hours per day.

Pace: Moderate with some trots and canters.

Description:
The Relaxed Ride is a horseback riding vacation that has been designed for horse lovers who may be not so fit riders or for good riders that do not want to spend so many hours on the saddle. This is a program that combines outdoor trail rides in the morning with free afternoons. This way riders can improve their riding skills at the same time they get fit for longer rides.

This Relaxed Ride gives riders several free hours every day so they can relax and enjoy the facilities in Finca Enyhe, including the outdoor heated swimming pool with a jacuzzi, the billiards table, and the small gym. They can also take advantage of this free time to enjoy one of the multiple activities that are available in town such as: golf, tennis, water skiing, sailing, delta flying, mountain biking, trekking, bird watching, etc. Cultural activities are also available in town. The local museum always has modern painting exhibitions and several places offer lessons for dancing, music, painting and language lessons.

Day by Day Sample Itinerary

Saturday:

Riders should arrive any time on Saturday in order to be ready for pick up on Sunday morning.

Sunday:

Riders will be picked up at the lobby of any of the two hotels suggested according to the schedules detailed for each hotel. The transfer by car to Valle de Bravo will take approximately two hours. Register and get set in one of the magnificent bedrooms in Finca Enyhe. A finca is a rural property, especially a large farm or ranch found in Mexico and other South American locales. Afterwards, you'll have a short briefing about the week's activities and schedule. You will have lunch and a free afternoon to relax and enjoy this Mexican finca.

Monday:

A delicious Mexican breakfast will be served early in the morning. After, riders will get to know their mount and try the tack inside the arena. Once all riders are ready, enjoy a beautiful two-hour ride. The route winds through forests and agricultural valleys that are typical to this beauitful part of Mexico. After the ride, lunch will be served in the terraces of Finca Enyhe.

In the afternoon, relax and enjoy the facilities inside the property. If you prefer, have a two hour evening ride. For guests that like other kind of experiences, they may try one of the multiple activities offered in town. During dinner, guests will be able to enjoy the excellent Mexican and international cuisine that comes out from the kitchen of Finca Enyhe accompanied by red or white wine.

Tuesday:

Today you will ride in one of the most beautiful and biggest ranch properties in the area, "Rancho Santa Rosa". You will have the opportunity to see the numerous horse paddocks full of foals and pregnant mares and if you get lucky watch the training of jumping horses. Venture back to Finca Enyhe just in time for another delicious lunch served in one of the terraces of the property.

From November to March, visit to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary as an afternoon activity. Riders will be taken by car to the place where the authorized guides will take them on their local horses to see the amazing views of millions of butterflies laying on the fir trees.

Wednesday:

By now. everybody will be fit and confident on his or her mount for another three hours ride through pine and oak forests, peaceful meadows, and clear water streams; all covered by an unforgettable variety of colorful flowers.

Riders come back to the finca to have another delicious lunch. You will be able to have a two hour evening ride or if you prefer, explore the colonial town of Valle de Bravo, relax next to the swimming pool with a margarita in hand and why not, have an invigorating and restoring massage in the privacy of your bedroom!

Thursday:

After breakfast, the horses will be waiting for you for another trail ride. As always, lunch will be at Finca Enyhe. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing boat trip around the lake. From the boat, you will have the opportunity to see "La Peña" a historic rock where the Aztecs came to make human sacrifices.

Friday:

Today’s ride includes spectacular views of the main lake and town. Lunch will be served on the terraces of the finca. If you are adventurous enough why not try a tandem flight in hang glider!

Saturday:

After breakfast, the horses will be waiting again for you for another enjoyable ride. As always, lunch will be on one of the terraces of Finca Enyhe. In the afternoon, enjoy resting or visit the shops in town. Since this is your last night in Valle de Bravo, a farewell dinner will be served in the nicest restaurant in town, which is located in one of the oldest buildings of the area (not included in rate).

Sunday:

Breakfast will be served earlier, at 7:00 A.M. Transfer back to Mexico at around 8:00 A.M. Estimated time of arrival to Mexico City is around 10:00 A.M.
Drop off will be at Hotel Marritott Reforma. 

* This itinerary is subject to changes based on the weather or the trip leaders discretion. 

The Cooking Fiesta Riding Holidays

Dates & Rates 2012

April 1-8, May 27-June 3, Oct 28- Nov 4
$2,335* per person double occupancy

Non-riders rate $1,556.25 USD*
$389 USD* single supplement rate for riders who do not want to share a bedroom

* Prices may fluctuate based on currency conversions.

Novice - Intermediate - Advanced.

Hours in the saddle: 3 - 4 Riding hours per day.

Pace: Moderate with some trots and canters.

Description:

The Cooking Fiesta Ride is for guests that want to learn how to cook traditional Mexican dishes after the daily rides and enjoy tasting them at dinner time.

This vacation is similar to the Relaxed Ride with six main differences:

• Breakfast will be served at 7:30 AM instead of 8:30 AM.
• Daily three hour rides will begin at 8:30 AM instead of 9:30 AM.
• Lunch will be served at 12:30 PM instead of 1:30 PM.
• Monday to Friday: the five afternoons will be entirely for cooking lessons, no other activities are programmed.
• Dinner will not have a pre-scheduled hour; it will be served when the food is ready according to the process of the cooking lessons.
• Saturday afternoon is free to visit the town or enjoy the facilities in Finca Enyhe before going for a farewell dinner in a restaurant in town (NOT INCLUDED IN THE RATE).

The itinerary below is the Relaxed ride. Please note the differences mentioned above for the Cooking Fiesta Ride.

Day by Day Sample Itinerary

Saturday:

Riders should arrive any time on Saturday in order to be ready for pick up on Sunday morning.

Sunday:

Riders will be picked up at the lobby of any of the two hotels suggested according to the schedules detailed for each hotel. The transfer by car to Valle de Bravo will take approximately two hours. Register and get set in one of the magnificent bedrooms in Finca Enyhe. A finca is a rural property, especially a large farm or ranch found in Mexico and other South American locales. Afterwards, you'll have a short briefing about the week's activities and schedule. You will have lunch and a free afternoon to relax and enjoy this Mexican finca.

Monday:

A delicious Mexican breakfast will be served early in the morning. After, riders will get to know their mount and try the tack inside the arena. Once all riders are ready, enjoy a beautiful two-hour ride. The route winds through forests and agricultural valleys that are typical to this beauitful part of Mexico. After the ride, lunch will be served in the terraces of Finca Enyhe.

In the afternoon, relax and enjoy the facilities inside the property. If you prefer, have a two hour evening ride. For guests that like other kind of experiences, they may try one of the multiple activities offered in town. During dinner, guests will be able to enjoy the excellent Mexican and international cuisine that comes out from the kitchen of Finca Enyhe accompanied by red or white wine.

Tuesday:

Today you will ride in one of the most beautiful and biggest ranch properties in the area, "Rancho Santa Rosa". You will have the opportunity to see the numerous horse paddocks full of foals and pregnant mares and if you get lucky watch the training of jumping horses. Venture back to Finca Enyhe just in time for another delicious lunch served in one of the terraces of the property.

From November to March, visit to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary as an afternoon activity. Riders will be taken by car to the place where the authorized guides will take them on their local horses to see the amazing views of millions of butterflies laying on the fir trees.

Wednesday:

By now. everybody will be fit and confident on his or her mount for another three hours ride through pine and oak forests, peaceful meadows, and clear water streams; all covered by an unforgettable variety of colorful flowers.

Riders come back to the finca to have another delicious lunch. You will be able to have a two hour evening ride or if you prefer, explore the colonial town of Valle de Bravo, relax next to the swimming pool with a margarita in hand and why not, have an invigorating and restoring massage in the privacy of your bedroom!

Thursday:

After breakfast, the horses will be waiting for you for another trail ride. As always, lunch will be at Finca Enyhe. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing boat trip around the lake. From the boat, you will have the opportunity to see "La Peña" a historic rock where the Aztecs came to make human sacrifices.

Friday:

Today’s ride includes spectacular views of the main lake and town. Lunch will be served on the terraces of the finca. If you are adventurous enough why not try a tandem flight in hang glider!

Saturday:

After breakfast, the horses will be waiting again for you for another enjoyable ride. As always, lunch will be on one of the terraces of Finca Enyhe. In the afternoon, enjoy resting or visit the shops in town. Since this is your last night in Valle de Bravo, a farewell dinner will be served in the nicest restaurant in town, which is located in one of the oldest buildings of the area (not included in rate).

Sunday:

Breakfast will be served earlier, at 7:00 A.M. Transfer back to Mexico at around 8:00 A.M. Estimated time of arrival to Mexico City is around 10:00 A.M.
Drop off will be at Hotel Marritott Reforma.

* This itinerary is subject to changes based on the weather or the trip leaders discretion.  

The New Year's Day Riding Holidays

Dates & Rates 2012
Dec 28, 2012- Jan 4, 2013
$2,677* on double occupancy.

Non-riders rate $1,556.25 USD*
$389 USD* single supplement rate for riders who do not want to share a bedroom

* Prices may fluctuate based on currency values. 

Riding Level: Strong Intermediate - Advanced

Hours in the saddle: 4 - 7 Riding hours per day.

Pace: Moderate with several canters and trots.

Description:

The New Year's Ride is exactly the same as the Classic Riding Vacation Itinerary with only these three main differences

• The New Year's Ride always begins on December 28th no matter which day of the week it is. This means that the itinerary and schedules thus begin the same as in the Classic Riding Vacation will be adjusted to begin on the day of the week in which the 28th will fall each year.
   
• The farewell dinner of the Classic Ride changes for a New Year's dinner on December 31st in one of the best restaurants in town (NOT INCLUDED IN RATE). This dinner can be programmed with two different schedules and riders can decide individually which one suits better for him or her: Dinner at 9:00 PM and pick up at 11:00 P.M. OR Dinner at 11:00 PM and pick up at 1:00 A.M.

• On January 1st, we make some changes to the schedule programmed for Thursday in the Classic Ride, mainly to make it shorter. This day ride (Jan 1st.) will begin one and a half hours later than the programmed schedule. This means that breakfast will be served punctually at 9:00 A.M. The route will be changed in order to make a shorter ride, only four hours long. Lunch will be served on the trail after three hours of riding. The afternoon schedule will be the same as the one that appears in the Thursday program of the Classic Ride.

Related Travel Articles

Meet Your Host of the Mexico Horse Vacation

Get to know your host of the Mexico Horse Vacation, Lucia Guiterrez de Schravesande, and try her tasty guacamole recipe!  I hear that food is a big part of any trip to Mexico, especially for travelers who take your Cooking Fiesta Ride. Do you have a favorite recipe that you’d like… Read more »

Traveler Reviews

Thank you very much for such a wonderful time, and letting us discover the real Mexico by sharing the  wonderful home and getting us right into the heart of the real people and countryside.  The horses are a great credit, so polite and easy to ride and always turned out so beautifully each day.    Hard work made our stay run so smoothly and everyone was always very helpful. 

-- Kim Simkins and R. Atkins March 2009

We had a wonderful time.  The horses are beautiful and the rides were great and felt very safe.  The house is beautiful and our room was very comfortable. We enjoyed the punctuality of the meal times; everything felt extremely well organized.

-- Zoe Hart November 2009

I had a wonderful time.  Cabalgatas La Sierra is a superb experience! Each day´s riding was delightful and each day was different.  Seeing the butterflies in such a natural setting is extraordinary and memorable.  Some of the locations for lunches, high up in the mountains looking out across broad valleys to other mountain ranges, were spectacular.  Arrangements were meticulous.  The finca provides traditional luxury with such nice touches.  All of the meals and drinks were outstanding.  The hospitality combined with the knowledge of Mexico´s history and traditions, flora and fauna make this not only enjoyable but also educational.  One truly feels at home at Finca Enyhe!  The horses are in such fine condition and the choice of tack is great.  This is my second visit and I plan to bring a group of friends.  So I will return for the third time!

-- Feburary 2010

Seems like ages ago that we were enjoying your warm company, beautiful horses, comfortable hacienda and delicious food. What a special place the home and stables are; so much more than anticipated.  I had a wonderful time our ride. Thank you for  making our trip so enjoyable.

-- Bill Otto May 2010

Reading List

Frommer's Mexico 2010 (Frommers's Complete) by David Baird

Exact prices, directions, opening hours,and other practical information, candid reviews of hotels and restaurants,plus sights, shopping, and nightlife, itineraries, walking tours, and trip-planning ideas, insider tips from local expert authors.

 

One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Mexico (101 Beautiful Towns) by Guillermo García Oropeza

This is the armchair traveler’s escape and the serious tourist’s companion, featuring exceptional photography referencing a rich cultural background steeped in ancient Mayan folklore and religious tradition. This book ventures through the countryside providing in-depth histories of the smaller, less trodden towns that speckle Mexico’s varied terrain, and introduces readers to the sights, sounds, and scents that are all a part of Mexico’s powerful allure. Towns are organized by region and are accompanied by information on local delicacies, nightlife, and must-see hot spots. A complete appendix with addresses and phone numbers of recommended hotels, villas, bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants, and more can be found at the back of the book, as well as a suggested reading list to round out your trip.

 

Chasing Monarchs, A MIgration with the Butterflies of Passage by Robert Michael Pyle

A memoir of Lepidoptery, combing the entomologist-author's considerable knowledge of butterflies and their biology with a rambling road trip from British Columbia through the Southwest to Mexico.

 

Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD

Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at Amazon.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.



Equitrekking DVD's featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, available in the Shop section of Equitrekking.com 

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS. 

Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.

Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Season Three: Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Kentucky, Quebec, Texas and Utah.

Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.

    

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.