Valle de Bravo
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◈ It’s as if this place’s mission were to get you in touch with the most primitive natural elements. The immense, beautiful lake is the center of action. The air sparks one’s adventurous spirit. Mexico’s best sailboat operators hail from here, and hang- and paragliding are tremendously fun ways to see it all from above. The land is rich in beauty, with breathtaking mountainous landscapes of green as far as the eye can see. Last but not least, spirit-soothing fire in hearths, bonfires, and temascals offers a chance for continual rebirth.
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◆ Attending a yoga retreat at one of the centers or hotels and spas.
◆ Taking a kayak out on the lake to enjoy nature.
◆ Playing golf or horseback riding at nearby Avándaro.
De La Cruz Hill will be your runway for flying over the lake on a paraglider or hang-glider.
❖ Piers
You can rent yachts and powerboats for water skiing or a stylish lake outing. There are also sailing classes and jet ski rentals.
Additionally, there are seafood restaurants where you can spend a pleasant afternoon. Los Pericos and La Balsa are two of the most famous.
❖ Downtown and Barrio de Santa María Ahuacatlán
There’s no better way to see downtown Valle de Bravo than on foot. With every step, you can soak up the cobblestone streets, red-tiled adobe houses, handicrafts shops, restaurants, and especially, the townspeople who come and go selling delicious food, garden-grown vegetables, flowers, and more.
The gorgeous Santa María Ahuacatlán neighborhood, another place to start exploring the Magical Town, connects to downtown. Here, check out the Black Christ figure on the altar of the Santa María Chapel and the Parroquia de San Francisco with its impressive 16th-century bell tower.
❖ Archeological Museum
Here, you can see over 270 pieces of artwork from 18 archeological sites throughout Estado de México. Part of the collection housed here includes stone heads, figurines, necklaces, vessels, winches, and other tools used by the inhabitants of Teotihuacan, Tlalpizáhuac, Malinalco, Calixtlahuaca, San Miguel Ixtapan, and Tenango.
This museum is one of 28 run by the Estado de México Institute of Culture.
❖ Go for a Walk
There’s no better way to see the town than by walking. With every step you can soak up the cobblestone streets, red-tiled adobe houses, handicrafts shops, restaurants, and especially, the townspeople who come and go selling delicious food, garden-grown vegetables, flowers, and more. The Santa María Ahuacatlán neighborhood is a good place to start.
Check out the Black Christ figure on the altar of the Santa María Chapel and the Parroquia de San Francisco, with its impressive 16th-century bell tower. The Joaquín Arcadio Pagaza Cultural Center is located near the middle of the neighborhood on Alameda Street.
Don’t miss the surrounding areas, starting with Avándaro, where you can not only enjoy a delicious breakfast of chalupas or chorizo quesadillas, but also see part of the lake that has brought fame to this part of the state.
❖ Do Air Sports
Flying is perhaps a human being’s biggest dream. Can you imagine soaring through the air and seeing the whole town from another perspective? Just head up Monte Alto or De La Cruz Hill in Valle de Bravo. When you go, you’ll you can choose from hang or paragliding. It’s important to know the difference.
A paraglider uses a flexible wing and take off consists for running from the mountain top in order to catch natural air currents and gain altitude. You land by going against the wind aided only by your legs.
Whereas a hang-glider consists of a wing mounted on an aluminum frame, where the pilot is in horizontal position. Changes in body position are what propel the wing. The flight can last hours or minutes.
❖ Enjoy the Waterfalls
There’s a park and ecological reserve called Velo de Novia Falls 15 minutes from Valle de Bravo. Its name, which means “Bridal Veil” owes to the fact that the falling water turns a stark white as it crashes against the rocks.
Ten minutes from here, there’s Río del Molino Falls, which are great for a day outdoors. Both have tables and grills for picnicking as well as restaurants and handicrafts shops.
❖ Santa María Fair in Honor of the Black Christ
Anyone who goes to Valle de Bravo has to visit the Church of Santa María Ahuacatlán, which houses the Black Christ figure. At the fair in its honor, tradition holds that the caretakers perform a novena and carry out a special celebration with giant, papier-mâché figures called mojigangas, mass pilgrimages, fireworks displays, and artisanal firework structures called toritos.
When: May 3
❖ Festival de las Almas
In a beautiful natural setting that transcends borders, this festival has an artistic program that takes place in different forums in which national and international creators, performers, and artistic groups take part, as part of Day of the Dead celebrations.
There are dance, music, and theater performances as well as visual art exhibitions, tributes to renowned writers, book fairs, traditional costume displays, a monumental offering, and thematic boat contest.
When: Late October to early November
❖ Fiestas de San Francisco de Asís
Cada 4 de octubre se realizan las fiestas patronales dedicadas a San Francisco de Asís. La fiesta es muy colorida e incluye danzas tradicionales, desfile de mojigangas, exhibición de yuntas adornadas con flores y una verbena popular en la plaza central del Pueblo Mágico.
