Additional Information
Localization and Weather
What to bring
Miscellaneous
Other places to visit
Seashores
LOCALIZATION AND WEATHER:
- Country:
- State:
- County:
- Municipio de Valle de Bravo.
- Town:
- Localization:
- N 19° 21’ 00.70”
- W 100° 07’ 21.40”
- Altitude:
- 6,000 feet over sea level.
- Climatic Zone:
- "Sub-tropical of the high altitudes".
- Temperature:
- Min. 35°F. Max. 88°F. Med. 63°F.
- Rain:
Because of its topographic profile, located in the middle part of the mountains that form the "Sierra Madre Occidental", in the surroundings of Valle de Bravo you can find a great variety of microclimates. Starting from the 10,000 Ft. over sea level, where the mountain forest only have fir trees, coming down to an altitude where pines and oaks are mixed together in the forest, and continue descending to the 5,000 Ft. of altitude to find only the caducifolia jungle typical of the Mexican dry and hot lands. These varieties of ecological steps allow the visitors to see during the same day different vegetations and ecosystems that usually cannot be found one close to the other.
The weather in the town of Valle de Bravo is almost perfect during all year round. Early in the morning it is fresh or sometimes a little cold, but as soon as the sun rises the temperature increases and becomes warm. During the day the wind blows and cools the atmosphere with a very comfortable temperature. Sometimes during the afternoon a short rain may fall but from November to May this doesn't usually occur. The nights are fresh enough to let you have a restoring sleep but you may need an additional blanket or, for the sake of romance, you might want to light the fireplace.
WHAT TO BRING:
- The helmet is not mandatory in the trail rides but it is always a good idea to use it.
- A good hat or a big cap can keep the shade on your face and protect it from the sun.
- Sun-block cream may be needed also to protect lips, face, neck, arms, and hands.
- Short riding boots and half chaps can be lighter than 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 butterflies.
- Riders can bring inside the saddlebags a pair of comfortable walking shoes or sneakers.
- An extra pair of boots if for any reason you may have problems with the first ones.
- English riding pants, jodhpurs, or Western riding jeans, whatever you usually wear.
- A light jacket, easy to tie to the saddle in case some cold wind blows during the day.
- Another thick jacket or a sweater to be used early in the mornings or late at night.
- Long sleeves in your shirt or blouse can help against the sun and the spines.
- A bandana or big handkerchief is very useful as towel, cleaner, and against the dust.
- A pocket knife is always a practical company hanging from your belt.
- Visit a weather channel to check the local weather and know the type of clothes to bring.
- Bathing suit for the jacuzzi and swimming pool.
MISCELLANEOUS
SPECAIL DIET:
- Special care for vegetarians and other special diet considerations are available upon anticipated request.
TIPPING:
- Tipping truly does encourage good service in Mexico.
- In Mexico a ten percent gratuity is used in most of the services except taxis.
MIGRATION:
- A regular passport is needed to come into Mexico.
- Look for specific details at the Mexican Embassy in your country.
INSURANCE:
- Whenever joining a horseback riding vacation you must have your own insurance.
- Most of the Mexican insurance companies do not cover any horse related accidents.
- Find out with your local insurance companies what they can offer for your vacation.
ABOUT SECURITY:
- Mexico City is not so dangerous if you know how to take care of yourself.
- Never stop a taxi in the street, only use the ones from inside the hotels or taxi stations.
- Do not walk by lonely streets or in the night. Always try to go in a group.
- Change dollars into Mexican pesos only in the banks, not at the restaurants or stores.
- When paying for something never show great amounts of money.
- Keep some few pesos in different pockets so you can easily make your payments.
- VALLE DE BRAVO IS NOT MEXICO CITY, OUR TOWN IS CALM AND SAFE!
- Here you can stop taxis in the streets and safely go wherever you want.
- Here you can walk through town without any danger during the day or the night.
- Here the people are friendly and will gladly help you whenever you need something.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
- Riders and non-riders have the opportunity to perform an additional activity.
- In town several outside activities are offered to people that come to visit.
- Sailing, water skiing, kayaking, golf, mountain bike, Tyrol rope, wall escalade, hiking, etc.
- Cultural activities are also offered in town.
- Ballet, Spanish dancing, painting, languages, music, etc.
- All these activities must be booked and paid by the user directly to the provider of the service.
SOME OTHER MEXICAN PLACES
THAT ARE WORTH TO BE VISITED:
MEXICO CITY:
You may need a whole week to visit all the interesting places you can find in the biggest city of the world. Museums, pre-Colombian ruins, colonial houses, plazas, markets, and restaurants are worth visiting them. A must is a visit to Teotihuacan with the Sun and the Moon Pyramids, Xochimilco with the floating gardens, Tepotzotlan with its fabulous golden convent.
CHIAPAS:
This is a complete state with a big variety of places, towns, and jungles to be visited. It could be the richest state of the Mexican Republic. Its big amounts of indigenous inhabitants are just coming into the modern times. Great jungles, amazing rivers, incredible towns and villages, Mayan ruins, pyramids, a great diversity of plants and birds, indigenous groups, and beautiful places. This is really a great place to know!
CUERNAVACA:
One and a half hours by car. It was named as the "Eternal spring city" because of its perfect weather and great variety of vegetation. Visit the Jardin Borda, las Margaritas, Casa de Cortes, and Hacienda Cocoyoc. Nearby is Cuautla with swimming facilities and Tepoztlan a lovely town with the rocky mountain pyramid. Taxco is one hour faraway; there you may find nice silver jewelry and a picturesque mountain town.
MORELIA:
Five hours by car. This beautiful colonial city with lots of old houses is the capital of the state of Michoacan where most of the traditional Mexican handmade arts and crafts are produced. Patzcuaro with its lake is one hour away and is famous for its Day of the Dead celebrations in November. You must also visit Janitzio, Quiroga, TzinTzunTzan, Santa Clara, Zirahuen and all the lakeshore villages.
OAXACA:
Six hours away by car. This is one of the most amazing colonial cities in Mexico. Indigenous groups still live as centuries ago. Many pre-Colombian ruins can be visited nearby, especially Mitla and Monte Alban. Its food market is famous because of its diversity including lots of pre-Colombian type meals as ants, grasshoppers and snakes. They have very nice pottery and woodcarving.
PUEBLA:
Three hours by car. Known because of its delicious "mole", its great pottery and its 120 churches. In Cholula you may visit a church that is built over a pyramid. You must try all types of desserts, sweets and candies.
QUERETARO:
Three hours by car. It is the geographic center of the country. A colonial city with excellent agricultural land surrounding it. A great zone with lots of dairy installations. One hour away is San Miguel de Allende, where many retired Americans have come to live and a lot of artists sell their art productions.
VERACRUZ:
Six hours away by car. Located in the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Famous because of its cheerful inhabitants and for the delicious and varied seafood they prepare. You must go to "La Parroquia" to enjoy the best cup of coffee you have ever drank and smoke a hand-made black cigar meanwhile you hear the live music of the "Jarochos" singing in one side and "La Marimba" playing on the other side of "Los Portales".
ZACATECAS:
Seven hours away by car. Magnificent colonial city, during the colonial times it was the first producer of silver in the world. Most of the great and rich houses are opened and tourists can go in to visit them. A spectacular hotel has been built inside an old bull-fighting arena. Visit several well-mounted museums and have a tour into the caves of silver mines 300 ft underneath the city.
SEA SHORES:
- Well known and very crowded:
- Nice places and not so crowded:
- Huatulco, lxtapa-Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta
- Very well known for it's fishing:
- Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Los Cabos, La Paz
- Not so known but really excellent:
- Careyes, Tamarindo, Chamela, Isla Navidad.
- Far away, isolated but really beautiful:
- Playa San Agustinillo, Playa Mazunte, Playa Zipolite
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