Day 1: Arrival
The drivers will be waiting for you at the airport to help you with your luggage and then drive you directly to the ranch where the staff will be receiving you with a margarita. Ranch Guadalupe will give you a tour around the installations at the ranch and help you get comfortable. If your flight lands early, you will have the possibility to meet and maybe even ride the horses. The dinner will be served later on and you can choose from many of the chef’s specialties.
Day 2: Ajusco surroundings
On your first riding day at the ranch, Ranch Guadalupe will take you up the hills surrounding the ranch from where you can see the small town of Ajusco. This ride is about three hours long and it is the perfect opportunity to get to know your horse better. After a delicious lunch at the ranch, Ranch Guadalupe will take you inside the crater of the nearest volcano called “El Arenal”. During this ride in the evening, you will have an open view of the enormous Mexico City during sunset. Enjoy and relax at the ranch at night and prepare for the next day’s ride!
Day 3: Cerro Pelado “Bare Hill” Volcano
After a delicious and complete breakfast, Ranch Guadalupe will take you for a five-hour ride to Cerro Pelado, a volcano which you can see on the horizon from the ranch. From the highest point of this inactive volcano, you can see all over Ajusco and the surrounding wilderness, this is where forest rangers keep guard on nature in case of forest fires. You will be back to the ranch just in time for lunch. In the evening, Ranch Guadalupe can take you to downtown Ajusco for some shopping and sightseeing or you can do some more riding before dinner.
Day 4: El Capulín hidden village and wild horses
Now that you got a feeling on the horses and got to do some shorter trails, you should be ready for a half-day in the saddle. Today, Ranch Guadalupe will take you to a five-hour-trail to a hidden village called Capulín, where you will have the opportunity to purchase locally prepared beverage called “Conejo” or maybe just an ice-cold “cerveza”. This beautiful village has only about 300 habitants and the nearest city is about two hours' drive away and if you are lucky, there is a possibility to spot a herd of wild horses on your way.
Day 5: Historical volcano “Xitle”
Xitle volcano, which engulfed and covered several Prehispanic settlements, including famous Cuicuilco pyramid in the south of Mexico City, is another interesting sight for a ride from the ranch. This volcano does seem that big from the outside but climbing up to the edge, you can see the enormous 300-meter deep crater. It takes about two hours to ride to this crater from the ranch and the path is so narrow to the top that you’ll have to leave the horses behind and walk for about 10 minutes up to the edge and see the beautiful volcano that destroyed prehispanic settlements in Mexico City several years ago. On your way back to the ranch, you can take a break for some cold beverages in one of the many “tiendas” and support the local community.
Day 6: Ajusco - La Marquesa
After some days of “mountain climbing”, this seven-hour-long ride will take you to a beautiful park called “La Marquesa”. During this ride, you have a possibility to see some more wild horses, if you are lucky, and enjoy the rapidly changing scenery of the wilderness, such as open fields, dense forests, small streams, and old wooden villages. When arriving in “La Marquesa”, there is a perfect place to do a little race galloping to an open spot where you will have a barbeque and ice cold beverages. After a nice evening of eating and resting, you will load the horses on your horse transportation equipment to be taken back to the ranch.
Day 7: Ajusco - Los Dinamos Waterfalls or Chalma
This last day of riding, Ranch Guadalupe wants to take you to a special place called Los Dinamos. This is another national park known for the beautiful scenery with waterfalls, streams, and one of the few rivers providing water to Mexico City. Cold beverages, quesadillas, and other local snacks and dishes are waiting for you at the end of this six-hour trail. You will have the rest of the evening and night to enjoy all the amenities and fine dining at the ranch.
In case you are an expert rider and you feel like doing a very intense trail, Ranch Guadalupe has the opportunity to take you for a 12-hour ride to a place called Chalma, a town that is famous amongst pilgrims all around Mexico. This trail is suitable only for advanced and expert riders because of its very long duration; it is almost like a marathon on a horse. But don’t worry, the horses are in very good condition.
On your way to Chalma, you will see everything from open landscapes to mountains. The lunch will be taken in a small town called Santa Marta and when you arrive in Chalma, you will get to know the famous church of this small town and purchase local handcrafts and sweets. If you are more interested in riding to Chalma instead of Los Dinamos, please let Ranch Guadalupe know.
Day 8: Departure
If you have an early flight to catch, Ranch Guadalupe will serve you a breakfast before it’s time to go and one of your drivers will drive you to the airport upon request. In case your flight leaves at night, you will have time to do one last trail nearby the ranch and Ranch Guadalupe will accommodate with lunch and dinner to your schedule.
General information
If you don't how to ride, you will have to request for a private wrangler for riding in the wilderness. He will help you at all times. Ranch Guadalupe also has two paddocks where you can practice or take some riding lessons in English if you do not feel sure about riding in the wilderness. Ranch Guadalupe also has many other activities for people who are not that in to riding and just want to experience the lifestyle in a real Mexican ranch.
Ranch Guadalupe recommends their trails for medium-advanced to experienced riders who are capable to control a spirited, well-fed horse. All the horses are very well trained and experienced in the fields and they do not get scared easily. Some of the horses are less energetic than the others but mainly they are not for people who have never gotten on a horse. Ranch Guadalupe can arrange short rides for people who have never been on a horse. All beginners should pay for a private wrangler who is there at all times to attend and help you with the horse.
Usually when on a riding trip, the guides mostly walk at a fast pace because the terrain is very varied from ups and downs to open fields. Ranch Guadalupe doesn't have that strict rules on the trails, for example, everyone doesn’t have to stay behind the guides or in a formal order. If you want to canter, Ranch Guadalupe will show you the perfect places to do so and there are many open and straight places suitable for cantering.
In addition, mostly, Ranch Guadalupe uses Mexican Charro or Western tack, but they have some other tacks available upon requests, such as English, Australian, Galápagos, and Women's saddles.
